Specialty Café

Royal College Canada
  • 5.0 (7)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Are you a medical student or resident choosing your path in healthcare? Grab a coffee and settle in… this café is for you! Our hosts (med students & residents) chat with Royal College specialists and residents about their day to day lives, the reasons behind their specialty choices, the joys, the challenges, and more! Although conversations are full of specialty insights, you'll gain invaluable life advice about being a fulfilled and excellent clinician (and human being). Feedspot has voted Specialty Café as one of the 10 Best Canadian Medical Podcasts! https://blog.feedspot.com/canadian_medical_podcasts/ Any recommendations or questions about the podcast? Contact us at fellowshipaffairs@royalcollege.ca. Transcripts are available on request.

  1. Hematology: What's it really like? | Clinics, research & residency advice

    FEB 3

    Hematology: What's it really like? | Clinics, research & residency advice

    Explore Hematology with Dr. Mohammad Refaei, FRCPC... from thrombosis and clinics to residency tips, rotations, and choosing the right specialty for you. What is Hematology, really - and who thrives in it? In this episode of Specialty Café, host Mark Garabedian sits down with Dr. Mohammad Refaei, FRCPC, for a behind-the-scenes look at a specialty that blends physiology, detective work, and deeply human patient care. From managing thrombosis and "classical" hematology cases to teaching learners, leading quality improvement projects, and balancing clinic with research, Dr. Refaei shares what a typical week actually looks like, and why hematology is rarely black and white. Curiosity, preparation, teamwork, and comfort with uncertainty aren't just helpful here... they're essential. You'll also get practical advice for medical students and residents: how to approach rotations with an open mind, prepare smarter, ask better questions, find great mentors, and build confidence as you move toward CaRMS and residency. If you love problem-solving, meaningful patient relationships, and making a real impact both at the bedside and beyond, hematology might be your path.   Hematology is a subspecialty of Internal Medicine.  If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free, and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

    21 min
  2. What is General Internal Medicine (GIM)?

    JAN 20

    What is General Internal Medicine (GIM)?

    In this episode of Specialty Café, host Dr. Cameron Wong sits down with Dr. Justin Boyle, FRCPC, just five months into independendent practice. Fresh from residency, Dr. Boyle offers an honest, grounded look at what the transition into practice really feels like - the excitement, the uncertainty, and the steep (but rewarding) learning curve that comes with becoming a General Internist. Dr. Boyle also shares his passion for gender-affirming care within GIM, highlighting how this broad, patient-centred aspect of his practice creates space for advocacy, inclusivity, and meaningful longitudinal impact. Along the way, he challenges the myth of a rigid divide between surgery and internal medicine, and leaves learners with powerful takeaways: seek out mentors early, stay humble in a field where learning never stops, and most importantly... be kind to yourself. A must-listen for medical students and residents curious about General Internal Medicine and life after residency. Dr. Justin Boyle is a recipient of the 2025 International Residency Education Award: Kristin Sivertz Resident Leadership Award. Congratulations Dr. Boyle.  If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free, and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

    25 min
  3. Choosing Physiatry: A Resident's Journey in PM&R

    JAN 18

    Choosing Physiatry: A Resident's Journey in PM&R

    What is physiatry, and why do so many med students discover it later in training? In this episode of Specialty Café, host Mark Garabedian sits down with Dr. Benjamin Green (PGY5  in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Université Laval) to explore the day-to-day reality of life as a physiatry resident. From chronic pain management and sports medicine to interdisciplinary rehabilitation care, Dr. Green breaks down what makes physiatry a uniquely patient-centred and collaborative specialty, and often described as a hidden gem in medicine.   Dr. Green shares lived insights into training in a bilingual healthcare environment, navigating night shifts, and mastering difficult but essential conversations with patients and families. For medical students and residents, this episode offers practical career advice on electives, rotations, fellowships, and what selection committees really value: from initiative and preparedness to communication skills and personal growth. Whether you're curious about physiatry or searching for a specialty that blends medicine, rehabilitation, and long-term patient impact, this conversation offers clarity, mentorship, and real-world perspective.   A big takeaway:  Be helpful. It goes a long way.    Check out the Specialty Café episode with Dr. Alice Kim, FRCPC (staff physiatrist) published on September 16, 2025.    If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free, and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

    19 min
  4. OBGYN Residency, Hockey Sticks & Mucky Boots

    2025-12-23

    OBGYN Residency, Hockey Sticks & Mucky Boots

    A season of planting. A season of watering. A season of harvest. Farm life & OBGYN are actually kind of similar!  Recorded at the 2025 International Conference on Residency Education (ICRE), join Specialty Café reporters Sienna Allan and Dr. Harley Bray (PGY2 OBGYN) as they hijack the podcast lounge for a candid conversation about life in OBGYN residency, mentorship,  and so much more! Dr. Bray draws striking parallels between living and working on a farm and training in obstetrics and gynecology… long days, unpredictable challenges, deep responsibility, and the quiet rewards that make it all worth it. She also reflects on an often-overlooked truth of medical training: while medicine asks a lot, it's essential to save energy for the people who support you beyond the hospital. The conversation dives into Dr. Bray's passion for rural practice and women's health, shaped by lived experience and a strong commitment to improving access to care. From resilience to perspective, this episode is a reminder that "the hard is what makes it great." And yes… a well-deserved shout-out to Harley's mum 💛 If you particpate in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free, and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more

    20 min
  5. A GIM Redefines Physician Inclusion in Medicine

    2025-12-09

    A GIM Redefines Physician Inclusion in Medicine

    Are you a medical student or resident living with a disability and/or chronic illness, and unsure what accommodations you're entitled to during training? Or, as a medical trainee or practicing physician, are you aware of these accommodations so you can better support your peers and colleagues? Dr. Michael Quon, FRCPC (General Internal Medicine), joins host Dr. Cameron Wong to explore an often overlooked but essential part of medical training: recognizing, requesting, and providing appropriate accommodations. Early in his career, Dr. Quon experienced a moderate traumatic brain injury... a moment that shifted his understanding of medicine from both sides of the stethoscope. He explains how this experience motivated his advocacy and leadership in disability inclusion within the physician community. Dr. Quon clarifies what accommodations can look like at the learner level, offering concrete examples for those who may not even know where to begin. He also speaks to the persistent barriers in this work: the widespread lack of awareness around accommodation rights, and the stigma that leaves many trainees reluctant to disclose their needs for fear of being judged as "less capable." Importantly, Dr. Quon also shares how he received the Royal College's Canadian Aid & Action Fund to support the development of the Physician Health Inclusion Community of Practice , an initiative dedicated to advancing accessibility and creating safer, more supportive environments for physicians and trainees across Canada. For more resources, check out the Canadian Association of Physicians with Disabilities.  If you particpate in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free, and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

    34 min
  6. Orthopedic Surgery, Skiing, Leadership… and Belonging!

    2025-12-02

    Orthopedic Surgery, Skiing, Leadership… and Belonging!

    Diversity in surgery - and in medicine - is essential to better patient care and stronger clinical teams. In this candid episode, Dr. Marcia Clark, FRCSC - orthopedic surgeon, mother, athlete and President of the Royal College - shares her honest journey through medicine and leadership. With host Mark Garabedian, Dr. Clark reflects on navigating spaces not always built with inclusivity in mind, the myth of the "boys' club," and what it means to build a career that feels both authentic and sustainable. Her story will resonate with medical students and residents who have ever questioned whether they "belong" or who worry that their path isn't linear. Spoiler: Dr. Clark speaks openly about not matching, choosing another option, and ultimately finding her way back to what truly drives her. Recorded at ICAM 2025 in Halifax. If you particpate in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free, and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

    23 min
  7. Peds Emerg, Child Maltreatment Peds → Leadership

    2025-11-25

    Peds Emerg, Child Maltreatment Peds → Leadership

    Step into a front-row seat with Dr. Anna Karwowska, FRCPC, Vice-President of Education at the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC). A Pediatric Emergency Medicine physician whose practice evolved into Child Maltreatment Pediatrics, Dr. Karwowska brings a rare and deeply human perspective to caring for children and families when they are most vulnerable. In this conversation with host Dr. Cameron Wong, she walks us through the "fluid structure" of her clinical life, from team-based assessments to meeting families at critical moments... and the profound privilege of helping children and caregivers move toward safety and healing. The second half of the episode turns toward leadership in medicine: how opportunities emerge unexpectedly, how careers evolve, and how someone who "never in a million years" imagined a leadership role whilst in med school, now helps shape medical education nationally through her work at the AFMC. Whether you're exploring Peds Emerg, Child Maltreatment Pediatrics, or curious about leadership pathways, this episode highlights the unpredictable, deeply meaningful trajectories that define a career in medicine. If you particpate in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free, and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

    21 min
  8. Why Pediatric Hematology/Oncology? Purpose, Passion & the Power of Communication

    2025-11-18

    Why Pediatric Hematology/Oncology? Purpose, Passion & the Power of Communication

    Ever wondered what draws someone to pediatrics, and keeps them there for life? Host Mark Garabedian sits down with Dr. Jayson Stoffman, FRCPC, Pediatric Program Director at the University of Manitoba and a specialist in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. From babysitting and camp counselling to medical school rotations, Dr. Stoffman always knew he wanted to work with kids. But his career took a meaningful turn when he found pediatric hematology/oncology: a field where science, compassion, and family-centred care intersect. As he puts it: "When a child gets cancer… it's like the family gets cancer." Hear his insights into how CanMEDS roles come to life in pediatric care, especially communication... and how his path to becoming a program director was full of unexpected opportunities that revealed a passion for teaching and leadership. Bonus: Dr. Stoffman shares some insightful CaRMS tips!  Perfect For: Medical students, CaRMS applicants, early-career residents, and anyone curious about pediatrics or subspecialty training in hematology/oncology. If you particpate in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free, and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

    22 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Are you a medical student or resident choosing your path in healthcare? Grab a coffee and settle in… this café is for you! Our hosts (med students & residents) chat with Royal College specialists and residents about their day to day lives, the reasons behind their specialty choices, the joys, the challenges, and more! Although conversations are full of specialty insights, you'll gain invaluable life advice about being a fulfilled and excellent clinician (and human being). Feedspot has voted Specialty Café as one of the 10 Best Canadian Medical Podcasts! https://blog.feedspot.com/canadian_medical_podcasts/ Any recommendations or questions about the podcast? Contact us at fellowshipaffairs@royalcollege.ca. Transcripts are available on request.

Information

  • Channel
    Royal College Canada
  • Creator
    Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2024 Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Specialty Café

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