Changes of Program

Residents or Clinical Fellows enrolled in a Residency Program may be permitted to change programs for important pedagogical reasons only.  A Quebec-wide policy applies to all changes of program by RAMQ remunerated residents.

The 4 Quebec medical schools review change of program requests twice a year:  

• 2010 cohort & previous years (residents & clinical fellows):

August 26, 2011    Deadline to submit request

• 2011 cohort & previous years (residents & clinical fellows):

February 3, 2012   Deadline to submit request  

A trainee should not contact the target program unless they have obtained clearance from the PGME office. 

A trainee may submit only one change of program request to one specialty during their training, whether the application is refused or accepted.

To Apply:

1.   Submit a letter of intent to the Associate Dean (postgrad.med@mcgill.ca).

2.   Submit a written release allowing the PGME office to submit his/her file to the target program.

3.   If funded by a source other than the RAMQ, you must also submit a letter of support from your sponsor, and send all documents to the Associate Dean at pgfellows.med@mcgill.ca.

4.   An interview can only be arranged with the target program once the above conditions are met. 

5.   For Ramq remunerated trainees:  If approved by the target program, the request will be presented to the Conférence des vices doyens du Québec (CVDFM) for final approval.  The CVDFM determines whether the change is possible according to the ceilings and the positions available by discipline.

6.   RAMQ remunerated trainees will receive a formal written confirmation from the PGME office of the change of program, informing them of the date and location agreed upon by the faculty where they will continue their training.  Trainees funded by a source other than the RAMQ will receive an offer letter from the PGME office.

7.   If approved, the trainee must inform their home program and obtain a written release from their current Program Director, to be sent to the PGME office. 

8.   All decisions are final.

This page was last edited on 10 August, 2011