Hi everyone! Our names are Fareen Karachiwalla and Ken Mendoza, and we are the National Exchange Officers of the CFMS Global Health Program.
Canada participates in a bilateral international exchange program where medical students undertake clinical electives or research projects in a foreign country for a period of four weeks. This is the 14th year that the CFMS is offering clinical exchanges and the 8th year that it is offering research exchanges to its members.
Last year 97 Canadian medical students participated in the IFMSA-CFMS exchange program. LEOs (Local Exchange Officers) at each medical school facilitate the process for outgoing Canadian medical students, as well as for incoming international medical students.
Canadian participants for the 2009 CFMS Exchange Program have now been selected.
If you have questions or concerns about the program, please contact Fareen Karachiwalla at exchange@cfms.org.
Frequently Asked Questions - Application Process
- How are applicants selected?
- How many students will be selected at my school?
- Can students talk to someone who has been involved in this program?
- Can students apply for both bilateral and unilateral exchanges?
- Can students apply for both research and clinical exchanges?
- The exchange conditions for certain countries say that they must be a “clinical student”. What does that mean?
- Can a LEO or LORE apply to the exchange program?
- Can I extend the deadline beyond November 7th, 2008?
Frequently Asked Questions - Outgoing Students
- How do I know where I am going?
- When will I be going on my exchange?
- When will I find out exactly when and where I am going?
- Can I talk to someone who has taken part in this exchange program?
- Since I was chosen for the exchange, does that mean I meet all of my host country’s exchange criteria?
- The exchange criteria for my host country requires me to be a “clinical” student, what does that mean?
- Can I switch to a different country or from a bilateral to a unilateral exchange?
- If I have been accepted for a bilateral contract, do I have to find accommodations for a student coming to my university?
- How much do I have to pay to take part in my exchange?
Additional Information - Outgoing Students
- Cheques/Money Orders
- Health Insurance
- Language Certificates
- Letter of Intent
- Letter of Motivation
- Letter of Good Standing/Letter of Recommendation
- Additional Documents
- Malpractice Insurance
- Electronic Application Forms
- Pre-departure Training
Frequently Asked Questions - Application Process
1. How are applicants selected?
Applicants are selected randomly. Students’ names will be drawn until all positions are filled at each school. Students will be matched with their highest available country choice.
2. How many students will be selected at my school?
The number of exchange positions depends on the number of students your school has committed to hosting.
3. Can students talk to someone who has been involved in this program?
Absolutely. Below is a list of past participants who have offered to help answer questions. You can also try contacting other past participants not listed below to see if they could help.
Allison Leonard, Ghana, aleonard4@hotmail.com
Gillian Sheppard, Czech Republic, gillian.sheppard@gmail.com
Erin MacLellan, Finland, evmclll@mta.ca
Diana Noseworthy, Brazil (IFLMS), diananoseworthy@hotmail.com
Kathryn LeGrow, Spain, katelegrow@gmail.com
Natasha Krich, Germany, nkrich@ualberta.ca
Kelvin Leung, Romania, kelvin.leung@ualberta.ca
4. Can students apply for both bilateral and unilateral exchanges?
Yes. But bilateral positions will be selected first. If they are selected for a bilateral spot, their name will be removed from the unilateral pool.
5. Can students apply for both research and clinical exchanges?
Yes. But they cannot take both positions if they are selected for each one. They will have to choose which one they prefer.
6. The exchange conditions for certain countries say that they must be a “clinical student”. What does that mean?
Canadian medical students are considered clinical students unless otherwise specified.
7. Can a LEO or LORE apply to the exchange program?
Yes, all LEO Sr.s are guaranteed exchanges and will be guaranteed one of their top three choices. They will be placed before the random draw for other students. Please note that if you chose to go on exchange you will be responsible for appointing a substitute to help with LEO duties while you are away.
8. Can I extend the deadline beyond November 7th, 2008?
No. This deadline is firm. It is earlier than last year’s deadline because we ran short of time to get everything done. If you run into any problems, please let me know.
Frequently Asked Questions - Outgoing Students
1. How do I know where I am going?
In your electronic application form (the one for which you were given a password and login information), you get to rank cities from your host country. It is extremely rare that you will not be accommodated in one of your top three choices.
2. When will I be going on my exchange?
You are able to indicate on your electronic application form your desired exchange period. Please double check your host country’s exchange criteria (available on the IFMSA website) to see what months are available. International NEOs will try their hardest to accommodate you during your desired period, but it is not always possible.
3. When will I find out exactly when and where I am going?
Exact details of your exchange will be provided by your host country anytime between mid-March to as late as 8 weeks prior to your elective. Please note that we have had situations where students weren’t informed at least 8 weeks prior to the exchange. While this is rare and against IFMSA policy, sometimes host countries have internal issues and have a hard time with placements. It is important to keep in mind that this is a student run organization and one must be mentally prepared for issues such as finding out a placement late. The CFMS will try to accommodate as best we can you should any issue beyond our control arise.
4. Can I talk to someone who has taken part in this exchange program?
At this point we are compiling a list of contacts who have attended exchanges in the past. We will hopefully be able to provide with the names and emails of students quite soon.
5. Since I was chosen for the exchange, does that mean I meet all of my host country’s exchange criteria?
It is up to you to make sure you meet all of the criteria. You should have only ranked countries you are eligible for. The CFMS does not verify that you meet their requirements/ You can double check this by accessing the exchange criteria on the IFMSA website.
6. The exchange criteria for my host country requires me to be a “clinical” student, what does that mean?
First and second year Canadian medical students are considered clinical students unless otherwise specified.
7. Can I switch to a different country or from a bilateral to a unilateral exchange?
No. There are only so many exchange contracts available each year, and they have now all been filled.
8. If I have been accepted for a bilateral contract, do I have to find accommodations for a student coming to my university?
Yes. It is up to you to arrange accommodations for another student. This student may come while you are gone on your exchange or when you are still there. If you do not have a room where they can stay, you must arrange an alternative such as subletting an apartment or leasing a room at a campus residence for four weeks. It is up to you to pay for this on your own.
9. How much do I have to pay to take part in my exchange?
You must pay the CFMS a $250 program fee (money order or certified cheque only). You are also responsible for your flight and other transportation that may be needed. Accommodations will be provided, but, depending on the country, you may be responsible for some of your meal costs. Most countries will have a social program arranged for you, but you may also want to budget for tourism-related expenses such as excursions and outings. Unilateral students need to pay an extra fee to the host Country upon arrival. This fee varies between Countries. Bilateral students must provide accommodation for one incoming student, whether it be in your residence or by paying for them to stay elsewhere.
Additional Information - Outgoing Students
1. Cheques/Money Orders
You need to submit a $250 certified cheque or money order to your LEO with the rest of your documents. The cheque should be made out to “Canadian Federation of Medical Students” and it must be certified (i.e. from a bank, not a personal cheque).
2. Health Insurance
Almost all countries require you to send proof that you have health insurance as well as for you to bring your health insurance card with you on your exchange. Proof of health insurance would be a photocopy of your card or an official document from your provider. Most of you should already have health insurance through a private plan or through your university. You may need to get additional travel insurance for your exchange, so please talk to your provider. If you are unable to arrange travel insurance prior to finding out the exact dates of your exchange, please send in proof of your regular health insurance and then you can submit documentation of the additional traveller’s insurance when you are able to obtain it.
3. Language Certificates
Many countries request proof that the student speaks English. While Canada is often exempt from this requirement, it is probably best to get you faculty to write a very brief letter saying that you are completely fluent in English. If your exchange country requests proof of other languages, you can use something like a file documenting that you took and passed a course in that language, or simply have the faculty write you a letter saying that, to their knowledge, you are also fluent in this second language.
4. Letter of Intent
This is a general letter explaining your reasons for wanting to go on an exchange. Submit a printed copy of this letter with the rest of your documents to your LEO. You should write about why you chose the program and the country, what you hope to learn, what you can offer the program, etc. Maximum is one page.
5. Letter of Motivation
This is the letter you submit on your electronic application form for each department you are applying to. You can include your experience in the area, your reasons for wanting this department, what you hope to learn, your future goals, etc. You can use parts of your letter of intent for your letters of motivation and vice-versa.
6. Letter of Good Standing/Letter of Recommendation
This is a letter written by your faculty stating the name of your University, year of study, length of program, and that you are a fulltime student in good standing who the faculty supports going on an exchange program.
7. Additional Documents
In your Acceptance letter, there was a list of documents you need to submit for your exchange. Everything mentioned here except the Agreement Form you signed and your certified cheque goes to your host country. So, if your host country has requested photos or a letter of good standing, these are the same ones mentioned in the first letter. Also, please review your host country’s exchange conditions to see if they have requested any other documents specific to their program.
8. Malpractice Insurance
Most if not all of you should be covered by your university for your exchange. Please verify this with your faculty if it is requested on the exchange conditions of the country you will be going to. Also, some countries can arrange for malpractice insurance upon your arrival. Please check the exchange conditions for more details.
9. Electronic Application Forms
You should have received a login ID and password for the electronic application system when you were offered your exchange position. However, it seems that some people’s junk-mail filters have blocked this messages, so if you haven’t be given access to the system, let us know ASAP.
10. Pre-departure Training
If your school offers pre-departure training for students going on medical outreach trips or overseas electives, it is imperative you attend. Your LEO and GHL will provide you with the information regarding registration at your school, etc. You will also need proof of attendance (a letter signed by your LEO will suffice). Should your school not offer pre-departure training, you will be required to complete an online module provided by the exchange program. The purpose of requiring exchange students to engage in pre-departure training is to enhance their cultural sensitivity, ensure they are considering the ethical implications of their work, ensure they understand how to be safe while traveling and ensure they understand that they are ambassadors of the CFMS when they travel.
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