PGME Orientation provides 495 newcomers an opportunity to find their feet and meet their future mentors and peers
The new cohort of 495 residents and fellows (including 234 international medical graduates (IMGs) were invited to join this year’s the Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Orientation, held over two days (four for IMGs) starting on June 19. The new residents and fellows will train in one of over 75 accredited residency programs offered at McGill.
Day 1 was held in person in the McIntyre building, and opened with a “Welcome from the Deans” session, led by VP-Dean David Eidelman, MDCM, and Regina Husa, MD, Associate Dean for PGME, who introduced new residents and fellow to the world of postgraduate education at McGill. Days 2-4 included learning sessions on Constructive Feedback, Intercultural Understanding, as well as presentations on the breadth of support services offered to PGME residents and fellows.
Of note, this year was VP-Dean Eidelman’s last PGME Orientation, as he is stepping down from his role after an impressive eleven years leading the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. In his last speech to incoming residents and fellows as VP-Dean, he reminded them that they are “entering a program that is world renowned for its excellence. Everyone in the McGill School of Medicine shares a common purpose, and that is to provide outstanding, evidence-based health care to all our patients, equally.”
Welcome speeches were also given by Joanne Alfieri, MDCM, Assistant Dean (Curricula), Leon Tourian, MD, Assistant Dean (Fellowships), and Olivia Tse, MDCM, Assistant Dean (Resident Affairs).
A networking luncheon followed, during which incoming residents and fellows shared their thoughts about joining the McGill community. Osei Kwabena Afriyie, an IMG from Ghana starting his residency in Family Medicine at the Herzl Clinic (Jewish General Hospital), said that he was most excited about “the opportunity to be in a diverse environment.” He added: “At McGill, I will have access to this wealth of resources all around me which I believe in the long run will be to my benefit and everybody else’s.”
This sentiment was shared by Esther Tannoury, an IMG from Lebanon who is an incoming fellow in Diagnostic Radiology and Chest Imaging at the Royal Victoria Hospital. Esther is looking forward to living in Montreal, as she has “heard so many good things about it – as well as the McGill experience, of course.”
A warm welcome to all our new residents and fellows!