“This was an invaluable experience that provided me with excellent information about the work and role of a family physician.”

Shadowing Program Participant

Incoming Medical Students Shadowing Program is a program collaboration from the AMA’s Section of Family Medicine (SFM), Section of Rural Medicine (SRM), and the Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP). The program provides an opportunity for incoming medical students at the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary to shadow family physicians for a few days in rural/regional and urban health care settings across the province. Taking place over a two-week period in July (University of Calgary) and August (University of Alberta), the shadowing program strives to provide incoming medical school students with an authentic experience and understanding of the scope of family practice in rural and urban settings before starting their formal medical education and acquiring exposure to other medical specialties. A short shadowing experience can offer a window into what family practice might be like for students before they start medical school!

Shadowing Program Guidelines

Each year the Alberta College of Family Physicians sponsors and attends the Medical Students Orientation Day at both the University of Alberta and University of Calgary. Stop by the ACFP booth during Student Orientation Day to meet and learn what the ACFP can do for you.

Thank you to all who respond to our call for volunteers. Your contribution and expertise is invaluable.

Once a year the ACFP organizes a student-family physician meet and greet luncheon or dinner. The event provides a great opportunity for students to meet and speak with practising family physicians. The informal setting is the perfect place for students to ask doctors the really tough questions. How it works is a physician and/or resident will be assigned a room with a small group students (approximately eight to 10 students/group) for dinner. This will provide an opportunity for medical students to meet with family physicians and residents in an informal, relaxed, and interactive manner to ask questions about careers in family practice and/or family medicine residency. There is no set agenda and the discussion will be based on the questions the students have for you. All we request is that you share with students your perspective about and passion for family medicine.

The Alberta College of Family Physicians, with the support of our ACFP Student Liaisons, hosts an annual Clinical Skills Night for first and second year medical students. This invaluable opportunity is made possible by our amazing members who volunteer their time to facilitate the workshops and share their clinical experiences. Due to the current pandemic, we have decided to postpone the Clinical Skills Night until further notice.

The Student Leadership – Rising Star Award supports, promotes, and recognizes students, our future leaders and advocates for family medicine. It is awarded to two medical students (one from the University for Alberta and one from the University of Calgary). Rising Star award recipients will receive an engraved sculpture, and a cash award of $500. Recipients will be acknowledged on the ACFP website, in the President’s Message and included in the ACFP Year in Review document. Recipients who are present at the ACFP’s Family Medicine Summit Award Ceremony will be announced and asked to stand to be acknowledged.

Awards Criteria

To qualify, applicants must:

• Be a student enrolled in the undergraduate medical degree program at either the University of Alberta or the University of Calgary,
• Demonstrate a genuine interest in family medicine which is reflected in his or her experiences and chosen electives,
• Participate in various family medicine activities during their studies (e.g. participation in a Family Medicine Interest Group, Student Information Session, Shadowing Program or attending the Annual Scientific Assembly),
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills in advocacy, community service and/or education.

Additional Criteria: Current members of the ACFP Board are not eligible for nomination of this award. For more information visit the Nominate a Colleague page.

ACFP is pleased to offer discounted rates to students to attend ACFP sponsored conferences throughout the year. Additionally, through our ACFP student liaisons, the ACFP offers conference sponsorships to help alleviate some of the costs of attending our ACFP/CFPC conferences such as:

• ACFP Family Medicine Summit (March)
• CFPC Family Medicine Forum (November)