The Rural Stream allows Family Medicine residents to complete 3 to 6 months of their R2 in Val-d'Or or Shawville rather than limiting their rural exposure to the usual mandatory rotations.

The program provides practical, versatile, and diversified training while exposing Family Medicine residents to the realities of rural medical practice and helps develop greater autonomy, broaden their clinical skills, gain continuity of care experiences, and become integrated members of their local healthcare communities.

Eligibility

  • Available exclusively to McGill University Family Medicine residents.
  • Open during PGY-2.
  • Residents may choose a Rural Stream experience lasting between 3 and 6 months.

Why Choose the Rural Stream?

  • Broaden your clinical experience through exposure to diverse patient populations and clinical presentations.
  • Develop confidence and autonomy in rural practice.
  • Experience continuity of care and longitudinal patient relationships.
  • Work closely with multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
  • Explore future rural or regional practice opportunities.
  • Immerse yourself in a community and gain a better understanding of rural healthcare realities.

Rural Stream Sites

Available Rural Stream Training Locations
InformationVal-d'OrShawville
RegionAbitibi-TémiscaminguePontiac (Outaouais)
Population42,97020,300
LanguagesFrench (English is an asset)Approximately 60% English, 40% French
Hospital Profile73 beds, approximately 650 deliveries and 48,000 emergency visits annually31 acute care beds, approximately 165 deliveries and 1,200 surgeries annually
Clinical Opportunities
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Family Medicine Group (GMF)
  • Minor procedures and surgeries
  • Prenatal and postnatal care
  • Obstetrics
  • Intensive Care Unit
  • Walk-in Clinic
  • Inpatient care
  • Long-term care
  • Teaching activities
  • Visits to Indigenous communities
  • Rural Family Medicine
  • Rural Road Map curriculum
  • Airway management
  • Intrapartum care
  • Procedural sedation
  • Pediatric emergencies
  • Clinical courage
  • Comprehensive Family Medicine

Available Stream Configurations

Residents may customize the length of their Rural Stream experience from 3 to 6 months.

Rural Stream Options
DurationShawvilleVal-d'Or
3 Months2 Family Medicine
1 Procedural Skills		2 Family Medicine
1 Procedural Skills
4 Months2 Family Medicine
1 Procedural Skills
1 Emergency Medicine		2 Family Medicine
1 Procedural Skills
1 Emergency Medicine
5 Months2 Family Medicine
1 Procedural Skills
2 Emergency Medicine		2 Family Medicine
1 Procedural Skills
2 Emergency Medicine
6 Months2 Family Medicine
2 Procedural Skills
2 Emergency Medicine		2 Family Medicine
2 Procedural Skills
2 Emergency Medicine

Application Process

Interested residents are invited to submit an application during the annual application period, typically held in November.

Applications are submitted through an electronic form distributed by the Distributed Medical Education team.

Placements are currently allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Questions?

Contact us