About this Website

Mission Statement

When they near completion of their residency programs, physicians seeking to gain further experience within their speciality (i.e., a “sub-specialty”) may apply to a fellowship program. With a large population and vast resources invested into medical care and research, the USA is often an attractive option. Some of the reasons that might motivate resident physicians to pursue fellowship training in the United States of American include:

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1. Bringing back skills and approaches to medical problems that may not be available in their home country, for which their future patients may benefit,

2. Live an enriching experience “abroad”,

3. Establish lifelong contacts to build future trans-national collaborations,

4. Make themselves more attractive candidates for a prospective employers.

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Conspicuous by its absence on this list, monetary gains  are rarely or never a motivating factor (at least for the duration of the fellowship), as the difference in salaries for fellowship positions between Canada and the USA is often marginal and may, in fact, end up being disadvantageous financially when considering costs of living. This is especially if considering a fellowship position in some of the cities with the highest costs of living in the world, such as New York and San Francisco.  

Although, from my experience, most Canadian who graduate from American fellowship programs ultimately decide to return to Canada to practice, some decide to stay, either as originally intended, or as an unexpected opportunity arose. Despite the opportunities—for both the trainees and the Canadian healthcare system—Canadian physicians considering fellowship training in the USA are often left to their own devices when applying to fellowship in the USA. This is in stark contrast to the clear (if tedious) path to applying into Canadian medical schools and residency programs, which is characterized by more guidance and "hand-holding".  Canadian physicians who decide to pursue fellowship training in the USA often meet an opaque administrative burden that can feel at times daunting, if not downright punishing. The intent of this website is therefore not necessarily to encourage Canadian residents to pursue a fellowship in the USA, but rather to facilitate the process for those who consider this journey.