Society of Canadians Studying Medicine Abroad (SOCASMA)
Societal Issue:
British Columbia, like most Canadian provinces, has a significant shortage of doctors. British Columbians must endure long waiting periods to see specialists, many times to the detriment of their health. Political agendas seem to get in the way of capitalizing on readily accessible doctors who have graduated from medical scho
ols overseas. Increasing the number of residency positions in British Columbia and giving qualified British Columbians and other Canadians who have studied medicine overseas access to these residency positions would go a long way to reducing the doctor shortage and improving the quality of medical care in the province. Values: SOCASMA believes in the fundamental value of equal opportunity to all Canadians. Allowing entry into a profession based
on one’s ethnic heritage, what university he or she attended, or some
other criteria irrelevant to the characteristics and knowledge required or that profession, will inevitably reduce the quality of care. SOCASMA strives to make the parties involved accountable to ensure the following values:
1. That all medical graduates who are permanent residents or citizens of Canada who have passed the national examinations have the right to compete on an equal footing on the basis of merit for the residency positions presently reserved for graduates of Canadian and American medical schools;
2. Fair competition requires that admission criteria and process be transparent and open to public scrutiny;
and
3. Successful applicants should be selected by those best able to identify the best qualified candidate. Goals :
SOCASMA has the following goals:
1. To work towards the development of a system of selection for medical residents in British Columbia that
a. is based on merit with no preferential treatment; and
b.is accessible to Canadians studying abroad in the year that they graduate from medical school;
2. To improve the quality of medical care by putting selection of residents in the hands of program directors and other working
doctors who are most experienced, knowledgeable, and best able
to select for characteristics and skills most suited to the area of practice the medical graduate is applying for;
and
3. medical graduates who have just graduated from medical school overseas home to help fill the doctor shortage that is negatively affecting British Columbia’s quality of life. Facilitating Goals:
1. Increase the number of residency positions in British Columbia;
2. Make available qualifying exams that allow Canadians studying abroad to take these exams in time to be eligible to compete in the CaRMS match in the year that they graduate;
3. Provide all British Columbians, who are first time trainees and have passed the qualifying exams equal and unfettered access to the first iteration of CaRMS;
4. Mandate that the selection of residents is to be determined on the basis of merit with no preferential treatment to any group;
5. Mandate that the selection of residents is to be determined by the program directors and other supervising medical practitioners who are most knowledgeable, experienced, and best suited to identify the characteristics that are necessary to determine the best candidate for the particular areas of practice that is being applied for;
and
6. Establish an oversight mechanism to ensure that these recommendations are carried out consistently, fairly, and transparently within British Columbia.
