Royal College Canada

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Channel • 5 Shows

Medicine

Medicine

Every two weeks
Medicine

Medicine

Every two weeks
Health & Fitness

Health & Fitness

Every two months
Medicine

Medicine

Updated 12/11/2025
Medicine

Medicine

Updated 12/09/2025

01/10/2025

CaRMS: What You Should Know!

What exactly is the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS), and how does the residency match work? For many medical students, this crucial step brings more questions than answers and often a fair bit of stress. In this Specialty Café ep, host Mark Garabedian chats with Geneviève Leroux, Manager of Client Services at CaRMS, to demystify the residency match process. Geneviève breaks down the algorithm behind ranking, shares practical strategies for creating your rank list, and highlights the support available from the CaRMS team. Whether you're just beginning medical school or deep in CaRMS prep, this episode offers practical advice, planning tips, and clear answers to common questions. Pro Tip: Start your CaRMS journey early... it'll alleviate a lot of stress! Make sure to check out this video on How the Match Algorithm Works https://youtu.be/28CvXJ_DcGo . As Geneviève mentioned, the dedicated CaRMS team is there to help. Never hesitate to reach out. https://www.carms.ca/contact/

01/10/2025

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29 min
14/10/2025

CaRMS, Your Personal Letter, and Advice from a Surgical Program Director

Your personal letter really matters in your CaRMS application, and authenticity is key. In this week's episode of Specialty Café, host Mark Garabedian chats with Dr. Justin Rivard, FRCSC, General Surgery Program Director at the University of Manitoba, to talk about what program directors are really looking for. Dr. Rivard shares practical and reassuring advice on how to approach your personal letter, the role of your social and personal background, and why being hardworking and a team player matter more than perfect technical skills (by the way... not an expectation to get intro a surgical residency!). He also explains how residents play a big role in evaluating elective students, and why it's worth thinking carefully about where and why you apply. This episode isn't just for students preparing for CaRMS: med students in any year will appreciate this reminder about the power of teamwork, professionalism, and effort during electives. Tune in for 'insider' tips that will help you stand out this CaRMS season. 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.

14/10/2025

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23 min
11/11/2025

CaRMS: Tips from an Emergency Medicine Program Director

The CaRMS deadline is just around the corner. We've got you covered! In this episode of Specialty Café, Dr. Kaif Pardhan, FRCPC, Program Director for Emergency Medicine at the University of Toronto, joins host Mark Garabedian to share insider advice straight from the selection side of the process. Whether you're finalizing your CaRMS application or planning ahead for next year, this conversation shares practical guidance for every stage of your journey. Dr. Pardhan gives great insight into what programs look for in a strong personal letter, how to approach attendings for reference letters, what your CV really communicates, and how to show who you are as a candidate. He also shares helpful strategies for ranking programs and getting ready for interviews (they come sooner than you think!). Key takeaway: Every applicant's story is unique... and diversity is what makes a residency program thrive. For more interview insights, check out CanadiEM's CaRMS interview tips. 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.

11/11/2025

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28 min
16/04/2024

Néphrologie (Partie 1 : Transplantation)

Commençons par déboulonner un mythe : la néphrologie ne se limite pas à mesurer des taux de créatine! Les néphrologues accompagnent les personnes atteintes d'une maladie chronique dans leur parcours de soins de santé, un peu comme des chefs d'orchestre. Une relation enrichissante résulte souvent de ces efforts, qui ont pour principal objectif de changer la vie des patient·es. Marie-Chantal Fortin, MD, FRCPC, décrit à l'animateur, Olivier Grimard, MD, les montagnes russes émotives qu'implique une greffe d'organe : d'abord une tragédie, puis une joie incroyable. Ce n'est jamais simple. Que faut-il donc pour devenir néphrologue, outre l'expertise médicale? Empathie, approche systématique, aptitude à relever des défis, intérêt pour la recherche, esprit d'équipe et grand souci du détail (pour ne nommer que quelques qualités). Une carrière en néphrologie peut-elle offrir un équilibre travail-vie personnelle, quelle qu'en soit votre définition? Tout à fait. La Dre Fortin, mère de trois enfants, a réussi à adapter cette vie à ses besoins et à ceux de sa famille.

16/04/2024

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35 min
23/12/2022

Neuropathology

A joyous overview of Neuropathology awaits you! Ever since she was six years old, Laura Schmitt, MD, FRCPC, knew she wanted to go into medicine, work on the brain, and cure epilepsy (for dogs & humans!). Join host Cameron Wong as he delves into this huge field of medicine with Dr. Schmitt. You'll learn why Neuropathology is at the cutting edge of change, what residency looks like, what a typical work day looks like; and more! According to Dr. Schmitt, one of the best things about Neuropathology is sitting at a microscope looking at the brain, neurons, and glia... every… single… day! Some simple but candid advice for med students on their journey to choosing a specialty: Make sure you love what you do. Not only will you be happier – but you'll just be a better medical specialist!

23/12/2022

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30 min
06/05/2025

What does a rural General Surgeon do?

Before we dive into rural General Surgery… a sage piece of advice from our very sage guest: Time flies. On day 1 of practice – plan how and when you want to retire! Review your plan! Host Cameron Wong sits down with Yemi Laosebikan, MD, FRCSC, a General Surgeon practicing in Melfort, Saskatchewan, to explore what it truly means to serve a rural community in Canada. This conversation goes far beyond the scope of general surgery. From managing surgical emergencies with limited resources to advocating for systemic change and mentoring the next generation of physicians, Dr. Laosebikan shares the reality of being the only surgeon—and the only specialist in a town of 7,000 with a catchment area of 20,000. He reflects on how trauma-informed training, preventative medicine, community engagement, and long-term planning all shape his approach to rural practice. Whether you're considering general surgery or curious about the role of specialists in rural health care, this episode is a masterclass in leadership, humility, and service. If you're starting 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.

06/05/2025

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23 min
14/08/2023

Conversations with Jillian - Interview with Dr. Lucie Filteau and Dr. Claude Mercier [07]

In the final episode of a special series entitled, Finding a way back to balance: Wisdom from physician artists, host Jillian Horton, MD, FRCPC speaks with two physicians about their artistic interests. In the first interview, Dr. Lucie Filteau shares how her Lego building hobby transitioned from a creative way to connect with family into a mindful and restorative activity for her own well-being. In the second interview, Dr. Claude Mercier explains how his passion for jazz music and the tenor saxophone enable him to relieve the everyday pressures of medicine and safeguard his mental health. Royal College members: you can earn 0.5 MOC Section 2 credits for listening to this podcast. Look forward to more credits as you apply reflections to the issues brought forward by Dr. Filteau and Dr. Mercier. Dr. Lucie Filteau is an anesthesiologist at The Ottawa Hospital and currently serves as the President of the Canadian Anesthesiologists Society. Dr. Claude Mercier is a pediatric neurosurgeon and Clinical Associate Professor in the Departments of Surgery and Neurosciences at the Université de Montréal.

14/08/2023

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33 min
19/03/2024

Gériatrie

Vous hésitez entre neurologie, psychiatrie et médecine interne? Vous êtes une personne patiente au leadership naturel? Vous éprouvez une passion sincère pour les populations âgées? Si vous recherchez une spécialité qui vous permettra de mieux connaître ces patient·es ainsi que leur famille, la gériatrie est pour vous! Sophie Del Degan, MD, FRCPC, discute avec l'animatrice Christina Toma des nombreuses possibilités de carrière dans cette spécialité, en milieu universitaire ou communautaire. Ensemble, elles explorent en profondeur ce programme de résidence, et la Dre Del Degan raconte une journée dans sa vie de gériatre. Elle explique ensuite la différence entre patient·e âgé·e et patient·e gériatrique (plus complexe qu'on ne le pense!). D'une nature curieuse, vous aimez les énigmes, admirez la sagesse et avez tendance à envisager la personne à traiter dans son entièreté. Vous recherchez aussi une vie équilibrée, et la collaboration n'a pas de secrets pour vous. Si vous souhaitez aider concrètement les personnes que vous soignez et leur famille, la gériatrie pourrait être votre vocation!

19/03/2024

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35 min
14/08/2023

Conversations with Jillian - Interview with Dr. Anne Hennessy [05]

In the first episode of a special series entitled, Finding a way back to balance: Wisdom from physician artists, host Jillian Horton, MD, FRCPC speaks with Anne Hennessy, MD, FRCPC, about her passion for painting. Together they discuss the importance of self-care and (re)discovery of one's human side through play that physicians can often set aside. They also explore being mindful to create space for a pursuit that brings joy so that in times of struggle or great difficulty, physicians can find their way "back to balance." Dr. Hennessy is a community-based psychiatrist and consultant to Psychogeriatric Outreach at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre in Ottawa. She is a clinical lecturer with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa and teaches mindfulness-based coping to caregivers who have partners with dementia. Royal College members: you can earn 0.5 MOC Section 2 credits for listening to this podcast. Look forward to more credits as you apply reflections to the issues brought forward by Anne.

14/08/2023

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57 min
22/02/2024

REWIND: Back to the Primaries - Urology

We're prepping fresh content for the next season of Specialty Café. Stay tuned for exciting new episodes heading your way. We'll continue delving into subspecialties and beyond! In the meantime, gear up for a trip down memory lane. Join us every Tuesday (only a couple more to go) as we hit rewind and release some of our all-time favourite episodes. Let's dive back into the primary specialties that sparked your interest. A huge thanks to our listeners not only in Canada but also around the world! Questions or suggestions for this podcast? Reach out to fellowshipaffairs@royalcollege.ca. What does a day in the life of a Urologist look like? Who is the patient population? Actually - what is Urology? Join Andrew Pauls as he explores and demystifies this specialty with Emmanuel Abara, MD, FRCSC (Richmond Hill, ON) and Amanda Hakala, MD (PGY-1, Ottawa, ON). It's no secret that our guests are hugely passionate about Urology, surgery, their patients, and .....medicine in general! Dr. Abara imparts word of wisdom on his commitment and experiences as a rural Urologist while Dr. Hakala share tips on what makes a good candidate for a Urology residency. What comes through loud and clear is our guests' dedication to their life in medicine. Who knows- this specialty might just be for you!

22/02/2024

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33 min

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