McGill University and Wilderness MD are partnering to offer Canada's only 1-month elective for resident physicians. Our unique program gives participants a chance to learn from our distinguished faculty, master their skills with daily simulations, and enjoy the backcountry in 4 different nature reserves and provincial parks.

Our course covers everything from review of the essentials to numerous advanced topics including polar medicine, wilderness management of obstetric emergiences, altitude illness in pediatrics, consideration planning for special populations, wilderness ultrasound and point-of-care testing, wilderness EMS medical direction, and more.

Details

The next program will be taking place March 11 to April 7, 2024. The program will take place at multiple sites including Parc Nationale des Monts-Valins, Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier, and the Reserve Fauniques de Matane. Candidates will be required to complete online modules in preparation for the course. Course includes accomodation while in the wilderness sites. Candidates are responsible for their own food and basic equipment. Avalanche beacons, shovels, probes are provided for the CAA Avalanche course and the portion of the course to take place in sloped terrain. Enrollment cost is currently estimated at $8790 + tax.

The application period is now closed.

Application period for 2025 will open early in 2024.

Eligibility

The course is open to residents with a specific interest in wilderness medicine who are completing at least their second year of a residency program (R2). Demonstration of a level of fitness appropriate to the activities and wilderness experience is mandatory. Participants should be comfortable on skis or snowshoes (preferably both). Application to the program is open though preference will be given to students with previous training/experience and for individuals intending to pursue a career in this field.

Residents who meet the eligibility criteria and who have a serious interest in attending our 2025 program are invited to fill out an application when the next application period opens in 2024.

In Partnership with

Testimonials

  • Thank you for a wonderful experience - I have already been gloating that the elective was my best block of residency so far!

    Residency Elective Participant

  • Overall an extremely impressive elective in terms of organization, location, content, and overall experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat. By far the most interesting elective I have done in residency!

    Residency Elective Participant

  • The course could generally be described as fabulous. The course staff were complimentary in their experience, teaching style, perspectives: a great teaching and support team.

    Residency Elective Participant

  • I feel fortunate to have participated in a lot of wilderness medicine courses over the years, ranging from weekend wilderness first aid and WFRs, to [multiple] medical student electives. I can say that hands-down, the RPEWM is the most impressive undertaking by far and away. The quality of the instructors, with BOTH real-world outdoors expedition experience and medical experience was unparalleled.

    Residency Elective Participant

  • A great success - I feel more confident than previously in dealing with medical/trauma situations in the wilderness, in a way that can only come from sustained exposure. I saw beautiful parts of Quebec that I hadn't seen before, and met some wonderful people. All in all, it was an utterly unique learning experience that was challenging while being incredibly enjoyable.

    Residency Elective Participant

  • THANK YOU again for putting together this elective. This was an amazing opportunity for us. It was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my residency training thus far and has totally motivated me to continue to pursue further education and training in the area. If thats not a successful outcome then I don’t know what is!

    Residency Elective Participant
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