Our organization
McGill University (www.mcgill.ca) is among Canada's most renowned institutions of higher education and one of the world’s leading universities. International students from more than 150 countries make up nearly 30% of McGill's student body ‒ the highest proportion of any Canadian research university.
The Department of Medicine (www.mcgill.ca/deptmedicine/) is a large, multifaceted academic and clinical entity centered around the medical services of McGill's leading teaching hospitals. It is part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and plays a key role in the undergraduate medical curriculum. The Department oversees numerous residency training programs in core internal medicine and various subspecialties. Additionally, it hosts one of the university's most extensive graduate programs, managed through the Division of Clinical and Translational Research.
The Division of Geriatric Medicine (https://www.mcgill.ca/geriatrics/) within the Department of Medicine is dedicated to advancing research, education, and clinical care. It comprises faculty from the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the Jewish General Hospital, the McGill University Health Centre (including the Royal Victoria Hospital and the Montreal General Hospital), and the affiliated division at St. Mary's Hospital. Faculty from the Department of Family Medicine play a vital role in the division, and there are strong links with the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry. Faculty from Epidemiology, Basic Science, and Neurology, with a keen and active interest in aging research, have been incorporated into the division. There is ongoing, close collaboration with nursing, physiotherapy, kinesiology, occupational therapy, and social work for clinical work, teaching, and research. Our academics conduct biomedical, translational, clinical, and population health research across multiple areas, including neurocognitive disorders, geroscience, musculoskeletal diseases, frailty, nutrition, falls, fractures, and more.
The Simone & Édouard Schouela RUISSS McGill Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health of Seniors (Schouela CEDurable) (www.cedurable.ca) is a PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Sustainable Health Solutions for Older People. Based at the Santé Québec West-Central Montreal Health and Social Services University Network (Jewish General Hospital) and part of the Réseau Universitaire Intégré de Santé et Services Sociaux (RUISSS) McGill, the Centre advances and implements validated solutions to improve the health and well-being of older adults. We translate research into practice, strengthen effective programs, and share knowledge locally and internationally to help older adults remain healthy, mobile, and engaged.
The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) (https://rimuhc.ca/) is a world-renowned hospital-based health research centre. The Institute is the research arm of the McGill University Health Centre affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at McGill University. The Institute offers a dynamic, multidisciplinary research environment that fosters collaboration and leverages discovery to advance precision health across the life course. The Institute was built to support investigator-initiated, discovery-driven research that creates new knowledge in healthcare. This includes fundamental biomedical research; patient-oriented and applied clinical research; research on health services and health systems; and population and health promotion research, including societal and cultural effects on health.
Our Resources
The Division of Geriatric Medicine conducts clinical activities at our affiliated hospitals. This includes inpatient wards, outpatient clinics (such as the Falls & Fracture Prevention Clinic, General Geriatrics, Memory Clinic, and Oncogeriatrics), and a Day Hospital. Together with more than 40 clinicians, our multidisciplinary team performs comprehensive geriatrics assessments and develops care plans. It provides care to over 2000 patients each year, making our unit one of the busiest in Canada.
Our teaching activities include medical students and residents from McGill University who rotate through our services and receive close supervision and guidance from our staff. Following the Strategic Goals of our Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, or Division, embraces evidence-based, learner-centered educational approaches that foster deep learning and value student and trainee engagement in the educational mandate. We promote and encourage a culture that supports interdisciplinary and interprofessional partnerships rooted in a collaborative educational environment.
Our research activities encompass a wide range of programs led by researchers at the RI-MUHC, the Lady Davis Institute, the Genome Center, the McGill Life Sciences Complex, the Department of Family Medicine—Health Services and Policy Research (ROSA research group), and the Goodman Cancer Center. We are dedicated to a translational, bed-to-bench and community research model that significantly influences policy and practice.
The Visiting Scholars Program
The McGill Division of Geriatric Medicine welcomes trainees (residents and fellows), clinicians, researchers, and academic leaders from around the world through its International Visiting Scholars Program (https://www.mcgill.ca/geriatrics/education/observership). The program is designed to promote international collaboration, knowledge exchange, mentorship, and innovation in geriatric medicine, geroscience, and the care of older adults.
The program offers visiting scholars an opportunity to engage with a multidisciplinary academic environment including clinical care, education, research, and knowledge mobilization. Depending on their background and the nature of their visit, visiting scholars may participate in clinical activities, research programs, academic conferences, seminars, and collaborative projects.
The program offers three principal streams:
1. Clinical Observers at the MUHC and JGH: The Clinical Observer Program is intended for Canadian and international physicians and other qualified health professionals who wish to gain exposure to the practice of geriatric medicine within the McGill University health-care system. Clinical observers may attend clinical activities under appropriate supervision and in accordance with institutional policies, including inpatient and outpatient consultations, multidisciplinary rounds, geriatric assessment, and other educational activities. The experience is primarily observational and is intended to provide insight into models of comprehensive geriatric care, multidisciplinary practice, clinical education, and the organization of services for older adults.
Clinical observers will have opportunities to interact with Division members, fellows, residents, allied health professionals, and other members of the clinical team. Where appropriate, their program may also include participation in academic rounds, seminars, case discussions, and other educational activities. Clinical observers are also invited to attend the team meetings at Schouela CEDurable to observe and learn about knowledge mobilization activities.
The Clinical Observer Program is particularly suited to individuals seeking to:
- Learn about contemporary approaches to comprehensive geriatric assessment and management.
- Observe multidisciplinary models of care for older adults.
- Explore approaches to frailty, multimorbidity, cognitive disorders, falls, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and other common geriatric syndromes.
- Develop international professional relationships and opportunities for future collaboration.
- Bring innovative approaches and best practices back to their home institutions.
Clinical observers do not provide independent patient care and must comply with all applicable institutional, regulatory, privacy, and infection-prevention requirements. Any clinical exposure will be limited and subject to staff and local resource availability. This program is not intended for international graduates applying for medical licensing in Canada. Research activities are not allowed.
Maximum duration allowed: 3 months
Contact person at the MUHC: Mrs. Lorraine Paquette (CUSM_MUHC_DirEns_EducDir [at] MUHC.MCGILL.CA)
Contact person at the JGH: Ms. Anna Andrianova (contact [at] cedurable.ca)
2. Visiting Research Fellows: Conducted at the RI-MUHC, the Visiting Research Fellows Program welcomes investigators, postdoctoral fellows, doctoral students, and other researchers seeking a defined research experience or to develop collaborative projects with members of the Division and its research partners. Visiting researchers may be embedded in an established research laboratory, research group, or collaborative program for a defined period of up to 4 months. Depending on their expertise and project, they may contribute to ongoing research or develop new collaborative initiatives in areas such as geroscience, musculoskeletal aging, osteosarcopenia, frailty, intrinsic capacity, biomarkers, oncogeriatrics, health care for older people, gerotherapeutics, clinical trials, artificial intelligence, and translational research.
The Division offers a highly collaborative research environment connecting clinical investigators with basic scientists, epidemiologists, data scientists, trainees, and knowledge users. Visiting researchers may participate in research meetings, seminars, journal clubs, conferences, workshops, and other scholarly activities.
The Visiting Researcher Program is particularly suited to individuals seeking to:
- Develop or advance a specific research project.
- Establish collaborations with McGill investigators and research groups.
- Access expertise, methodologies, datasets, or research infrastructure where appropriate and subject to institutional requirements.
- Develop grant applications, manuscripts, protocols, or other scholarly outputs collaboratively.
- Gain exposure to translational and clinical research methodologies.
- Build longer-term international research partnerships.
Each visiting researcher will normally have a designated academic host within the Division and a mutually agreed program of activities and objectives. The RI-MUHC manages applications to this program.
The maximum duration allowed is 4 months. A work permit should be requested upon arrival, and its issuance is at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the point of entry. Citizens of certain countries are not permitted to enter Canada under this program. This program is not intended for international graduates applying for medical licensing in Canada.
Maximum duration allowed: 4 months (longer programs are allowed but must go through a different process and should be directly discussed with the hosting academic).
Contact person at the MUHC: Mrs. Caroline Bedard (caroline.bedard [at] muhc.mcgill.ca)
3. Visiting Professors: The Visiting Professor Program is designed for internationally recognized clinicians, scientists, educators, and academic leaders who wish to engage with the Division through a focused program of scholarly exchange and collaboration.
Visiting professors are invited to contribute to the academic life of the Division through activities such as invited lectures, grand rounds, research seminars, workshops, mentorship of trainees and faculty, collaborative research discussions, and strategic academic exchanges. Visits may also be organized around a specific scientific or clinical theme, major research initiative, or institutional partnership.
The program offers distinguished international experts an opportunity to share their knowledge and perspectives while developing meaningful collaborations with faculty, trainees, and research teams at McGill University.
Visiting professors may be invited to:
- Deliver lectures, grand rounds, seminars, or educational workshops.
- Meet with faculty members and research teams to explore collaborative opportunities.
- Mentor residents, fellows, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career investigators.
- Participate in research and academic conferences.
- Develop joint research initiatives, publications, grant applications, or educational programs.
- Contribute to strategic discussions concerning the future of geriatric medicine, geroscience, and healthy aging.
Visits can be tailored to the professor's expertise and the Division's academic priorities and may range from a short intensive visit to a longer period of academic engagement. The Department of Medicine coordinates these appointments following the Division Director's recommendation.
Maximum duration allowed: Up to 1 year.
Contact person at the MUHC: Mrs. Margherita Marcone (margherita.marcone [at] muhc.mcgill.ca)
A Global Community of Geriatric Medicine and Geroscience
Across all three streams, the International Visiting Scholars Program is grounded in the belief that international exchange accelerates innovation and strengthens the capacity to improve the health and well-being of older adults. We particularly welcome scholars whose interests align with the Division's broad clinical, educational, and research activities, while recognizing the value of interdisciplinary and complementary expertise. The program seeks to establish enduring relationships rather than one-time visits, creating opportunities for continued collaboration, trainee exchange, joint research, and shared academic initiatives.
Prospective visiting scholars are encouraged to identify a potential academic host within the Division and to develop a proposed program of activities and objectives in advance of their visit. All visits are subject to institutional policies, space and resource availability, applicable regulatory requirements, and the appropriate approval processes.
- Structure/Schedule: The schedule is based on the selected area. For biomedical activities, the Scholars are linked to one of our research teams and based at their corresponding labs. For clinical and population health activities, the Scholars are assigned working stations at Schouela CEDurable or one of the hospitals. Scholars are expected to attend the regular academic activities of the Department of Medicine and the Division of Geriatric Medicine, including (but not limited to) Grand Rounds, research seminars, and team meetings. The rest of the time, the Scholars are expected to devote themselves to academic activities.
- Certificates: A completion certificate will be issued at the end of the visit. These certificates do not confer a formal degree.
- General Rules: The Visiting Scholars from overseas:
- Should have written confirmation of full sponsorship (salary, travel, and personal expenses) from their Institution (or proof of self-funding) for the duration of this program.
- They should have completed all the documentation required for their visa.
- Should not apply for residency in Canada after they complete their training. Their travel dates should correspond to the expected starting and ending dates.
- Are not expected to apply for any practice license in Canada
- Cost: For some programs, the Division charges an administrative fee of $600 for programs up to 6 months and $1,000 for up to a year. The Division has no funding available to cover these visits.
For more information, please contact:
Mrs. Margherita Marcone (margherita.marcone [at] muhc.mcgill.ca)
Ms. Anna Andrianova (contact [at] cedurable.ca)