Postgraduate Medical Education
Increasingly, postgraduate medical trainees are requesting electives in international settings. The medical and cultural benefits of these electives are recognized by the faculty. These electives pose potential risks for the trainee and the receiving community/institution, therefore proper preparation, supervision and follow up are required. Pre-departure training is an important part of preparing residents for their international placements and is strongly encouraged.
The Global Health Program and the Postgraduate Medical Education Office jointly approve these elective activities. Trainees are required to comply with instructions from the Postgraduate Medical Education Office and the Global Health Program, as well as their respective Program and Program Director.
Global Health Placements
Eligibility
1. Trainees must have permission from their Program Directors to participate in an international elective.
2. International electives should be a minimum of four weeks in duration.
3. Request for approval for international electives must be submitted a minimum of three months prior to the start date.
4.Trainees must receive academic credit from their program for the elective time.
Application Process
Applications for international placements must be submitted to the Global Health Program (globalhealth@uottawa.ca) a minimum of three months prior to their placement start date. This will allow the trainee to properly prepare for the elective and allow enough time for required immunizations, visas, passports, and pre-departure training.
The international elective will be pre-approved by the Global Health Program if the following requirements are met:
a) Trainee is in good academic standing according to their Program Director and the Postgraduate Medical Education office
b) The Program Director approves of the planned elective
c) Trainee requires an international supervisor who must be a practicing physician or researcher (for research electives). The trainee must provide contact information for their supervisor.
NOTE: Trainees must not be supervised by an immediate, extended, or in-law family member.
d) The destination region for the elective does not carry a warning of “Avoid non-essential travel” and/or “Avoid all Travel” on the Global Affairs Canada Travel Advice and Advisories webpage.
- Trainee should read the profile of the country and the region within the country that they are traveling to on the Reports & Warnings website (https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories and https://voyage.gc.ca/voyager/avertissements) and attach the pages to their application.
- Trainee to provide appropriate educational objectives, approved by their Program Director to be accomplished.
- Trainee to provide all required information requested from the application.
NOTE: Once the elective has been approved, it is possible to revoke this decision and cancel due to changes in conditions in the country, loss of in-country supervisor, OR arising academic or professional concerns on the part of the trainee.
Clinical Rotations with uOttawa Partners
Université de Lyon
Interested residents should send the following to the global health program coordinator 6 months prior to rotation start date:
- CV (in French)
- Letter of motivation (in French)
- Letter of support from program director including dates of rotation.
Once approved the following must be shared with the Lyon supervisor:
- Objectives
- Roles and responsibilities
Before Arriving:
- Order your Lyon white coat
- Confirm computer system access
- Ensure you will have hospital ID upon arrival
- Ensure that your program administrator has provided your supervisor in Lyon with a one-time access to One45
France Visa Requirement: Canadians travelling to France for less than 90 days do not require a visa regardless of purpose of travel.
Work permits are issued by DIRECCT.