Undergraduate Program

Under the Family Medicine Undergraduate Program, medical students in their 3rd and 4th year of study are identified as clerks. They receive training and experience under the guidance of staff family physicians who have faculty appointments in the Department of Community and Family Medicine at the University of Toronto. 

The Undergraduate Program is open to students in the Undergraduate Medical Program at the University of Toronto and for visiting elective medical students from other universities. 

One-on-one clinical teaching

The Family Medicine Undergraduate Program provides one-on-one clinical teaching with considerable hands-on opportunities in a community office setting. For several years, incoming medical residents from other universities have rated North York General Hospital one of the most popular teaching sites in Canada. 

In the North York General Family Medicine Clerkship Program, students are assigned to two preceptor community family doctors who work in offices within the vicinity of both the General site and Branson Ambulatory Care Centre. They can also spend some clinical time in the Family Practice Teaching Unit at North York General. 

All undergraduate students receive exposure to Family Medicine and may go on to choose this as their area of specialty upon graduation from medical school. During their six-week core rotation with North York General Hospital, students have opportunities to participate, alongside their preceptor, in obstetrical deliveries, surgical assisting or the After-Hours Clinic. Core educational experiences are also provided in palliative care, diabetes education, mother and baby postpartum care and the Breast Diagnostic Centre. Other elective opportunities exist in the: Travel Clinic, sports medicine, naturopathic medicine, social work, senior residences/extended care, house-calls and Genetics. 

A seminar series, consisting of three four-hour sessions is taught by family physicians and residents. The series is conducted for the students in cooperation with Sunnybrook and Toronto East General Hospital. 

Short research project

The core University of Toronto students (i.e. non-elective students) are also expected to do a short research project and present this to the hospital family physicians who attend. These are always very well done and can go on to be presented at Family Medicine conferences. There is continuous ongoing feedback from preceptors and the Undergraduate Program Director at North York General, with a consensus evaluation provided at the end of the rotation. 

Elective opportunities are available pending faculty availability. All elective students must register though the Faculty of Medicine. Emergency department electives are booked directly through the office of Dr. Paul Hannam , Chief of Emergency Medicine and Medical Program Director, at 416-756-6165 or email raiza.guerrero@nygh.on.ca.

Research opportunities are also available, including summer scholarships. Please contact Dr. Michelle Greiver, Research Coordinator, Family and Community Medicine Program, at 416-222-3011.