The Waiting Room.

On November 10, 2025, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) issued an official statement saying they have been notified by the Pan American Health Association (PAHO) that Canada has lost its measles elimination status, which it had since 1998. This is the result of a mult-jurisdictional outbreak persisting over the course of 12 months since October 2024. Canada can only regain its status once transmission of this particular measles strain causing the outbreak has been halted for at least 12 months. For perspective, it took Venezuela and Brazil 5 years to regain their status after losing it in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Over 5,000 measles cases have been recorded in Canada this year. 84% were in Alberta and Ontario, with Alberta accounting for 38%. Former chief medical officer, Dr. John Talbott, was critical of the Alberta government’s response to the situation saying, “I think they should be embarrassed… I think they owe an apology to Albertans, to admit that we fumbled. We have the worst record in North America.” He says it is particularly saddening because this is “totally preventable.” According to Dr. Craig Jenne, an infectious disease expert in Calgary, this represents a step backwards that “reinforces the critical need for strong, proactive public health leadership in this province.”

Unfortunately, the increase has been associated with waning uptake of the MMR vaccine. Vaccination rates need to be at 95% of the population to achieve herd immunity. But “if we look in some regions of Alberta, we have seen vaccine rates as low as 40 per cent,” Jenne said. 

Part of how Venezuela and Brazil regained their elimination status was a coordinated vaccine effort to immunize millions of people, and Canada will need to respond similarly in the coming years if we are to achieve the same result. 

It is an unfortunate reality for many rural communities in Canada that healthcare professionals are overworked, underpaid, and burnt out. A new program is being tested in several rural communities in British Columbia (BC), called Virtual Emergency Room Rural assistance (VERRa). Here, emergency and primary care physicians around Canada communicate with on-site nurses via Zoom, typically throughout the night shift, to relieve in-person physicians from 24-hour call days. However, for high-risk or unstable patients, a local emergency physician is always on-call.

Some community members are concerned forpatient safety, nurse workload, and the quality of care that comes with VERRa. Critics are worried that virtual assessments may miss subtleties or not be adequate for more serious conditions since the physician is notphysically present. Additionally, a similar VERRa system is not set up for nurses, who are still expected to work through the night. Nurses have also criticized the iPads that are used — assessments and coordinating with remote doctors add complexity that may be difficult for seniors.

Despite the criticisms, VERRa helps keep ERs open, increases patient access, and reduces burnout for physicians. Unfortunately, closure of rural ERs at night is growing more common due to a lack of personnel; VERRa is crucial for avoiding unnecessarily long ambulance rides to neighbouring hospitals. Fundamentally, VERRa is about increasing access to local healthcare. When physicians get a full night's rest, they have increased decision-making ability, increased communication abilities, and increased bedside manners and as a result, quality of care increases drastically.

While VERRa is a BC program, serving approximately 168 communities, it is slowly being implemented throughout Canada. As with any system, there are pros, cons, and kinks to work out. VERRa is a hybrid approach to rural healthcare aiming to increase access, retention, and quality of care.

Simon Fraser University | Surrey, BC

With the increasing demand for doctors in Canada, efforts are being put into place to increase medical school training opportunities. Efforts by major federal and provincial programs like Team Primary Care, Health Canada, and Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick, aim to support funding, specialty programs, and initiatives in medical education. 

In British Columbia, a new medical school associated with Simon Fraser University (SFU) is expected to open at the Surrey campus in spring 2026. On October 15, 2025, SFU announced they have received preliminary accreditation from the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS). 

With this news, applications for SFU medical school are due electronically by December 8th, 2025 and multiple-mini interviews will occur in-person on March 28 & 29, 2026.

Currently, the school is proposing a three-year medical degree rather than the traditional four-year degree, with a focus on primary care and family medicine. The program will also include an emphasis on community-embedded training, cultural safety and humility, competency-based learning, and include First Nations perspectives. Once accreditation is given, the school hopes to welcome 48 students to its inaugural class, eventually growing the class size to 120 after a few years.

Admission requirements such as the MCAT, the CASPer, and GPA thresholds have recently been released. SFU has developed an innovative application which acknowledges students may have different academic strengths.

For more information, applicants can visit SFU’s medical school page here. Good luck!

Sepsis is a life-threatening immune response to infection causing organ dysfunction. It is one of the most frequent causes of death worldwide, representing 20% of all deaths in 2020, according to WHO. In Canada, a federal report from the same year estimated 75,000 annual cases of sepsis on average, resulting in nearly 18,000 deaths. 

Dr. Kali Barrett, a Toronto critical care physician and scientist, completed a literature review with a research team, which is forthcoming in the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia. Alarmingly, they found that most provinces do not have specific policies and guidelines regarding sepsis. She has even said that “every physician completing their training in Canada needs to know what sepsis is, and presently that’s not the case.” Training gaps are leading to delayed response, echoed by Gurinder Sidhu, whose wife died of postpartum sepsis. He recounted how doctors and a student nurse did not take the situation seriously until it was too late. There needs to be better recognition and diagnosis of sepsis, as it is a race against time. 

To bring about change, Barrett advocates for a coordinated national action plan, including policy changes from Accreditation Canada or Physician Training Standards. Taking proactive action now can help reduce the number of preventable sepsis deaths—something grieving families want to see.

➡️Read more here:

Sepsis is a 'public health emergency,' warn Canadian researchers after mother dies shortly after giving birth | CBC News

Canada not prepared to prevent sepsis tragedies: researchers

Sepsis

Government of Canada invests $5.7M in new research network to study deadly blood infections - Canada.ca

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that targets primarily the digestive and pulmonary systems. The disease causes mutations in a gene that produces the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein (CFTR). In healthy individuals, CTFR promotes fluid balance in various tissues. Alternatively,  individuals with CF lose that balance, resulting in excess mucus buildup and subsequently to difficulties with breathing and digestion, among others. Cystic Fibrosis Canada estimates that one in 25 Canadians is a carrier of the CF mutation, equating to approximately 1.6 million Canadians.

While there is currently no cure for CF, healthcare professionals are working tirelessly to develop cutting-edge treatment plans and novel pharmaceuticals. On July 22, 2025, Health Canada approved Alyftrek, a novel CF drug targeted towards the most common disease variant F508del. The drug is also effective in individuals with at least one responsive mutation in the CFTR gene. A responsive mutation implies that a treatment can partially/fully restore the affected gene’s function and/or mitigate its harmful effects. 

Alyftrek was approved by the United States Food and Drug Agency (FDA) in December of 2024, so Cystic Fibrosis Canada is now urging Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA) and Quebec’s Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) to recommend public funding for this treatment. These recommendations are expected later in the fall of 2025; until then, Canadians with CF must continue to pay up to $300,000 per year for this novel therapy. 

➡️Read more here:

https://cysticfibrosis.ca/about-cystic-fibrosis

https://cysticfibrosis.ca/news/health-canada-approves-cf-drug-alyftrek-for-canadians-with-cystic-fibrosis

University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine

The University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) has made some notable changes to admissions for the 2026 application cycle, the major one being the opening of a new program called SAMP. They have also decreased the percentage of their matriculated class who will be from out of province (%OOP). 

SAMP:

The Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP) has been created to address an urgent need for more rural physicians in Alberta. Created in partnership with the University of Lethbridge, it aims to provide applicants with “strong roots in rural and regional communities” an exceptional opportunity. The idea is that students with a strong rural connection are more likely to return to those communities and serve the population there after completing their medical training, supporting the program’s goal of attracting and retaining physicians who will improve rural healthcare. The program will be delivered at the University of Lethbridge and includes 8-16 weeks of clinical experience in rural communities in Southern Alberta. 

It was revealed in an information session (transcript available below) that the SAMP will have 20. Any CSM applicant can indicate their interest in applying to SAMP within UCAN. An additional reference letter and essay are required describing the applicant’s rural connection. These will be used along with a Rural Regional Connection Score (holistic review) and a Rural Regional Index (the amount of time spent in rural communities) to assign each applicant a SAMP Suitability Score (SSS).

%OOP:

In response to Ontario lowering their %OOP to 5%, CSM has lowered theirs from 15% to 10%. During an information session, the Dean of Admissions said he believes this will not put OOP applicants at a bigger disadvantage because in previous years they were not over 10% and they went through their entire offer list with no non-Albertans remaining on the waitlist.

➡️Read more here:

https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/sites/default/files/teams/4/Admissions/Applicant%20Manual%202025-2026_final_July4_25.pdf

Link to the zoom meeting with passcode to access video and transcript: https://ucalgary.zoom.us/rec/share/0UalLnoGwxbMxHeGWgrVwMzxhksYtbo29Sz6pBEztNRmUQ5LXFY2oJZsFnEclBvT.kD5HJbSYvLwrkL2o

Passcode: ^0pz!BR7 

In the last 200 years, disease has run rampant in communities all over the world; smallpox, the plague, and measles, to name a few. Since the development of vaccines, many of these diseases no longer pose a threat to society; however, with the uprising of anti-vaccination movements, these diseases have started to re-emerge. One devastating illness that is materializing in North America is measles. The Mayo Clinic describes measles as a common childhood virus, spread through the air potentially causing fever, conjunctivitis, dry coughs, Koplik spots, and a rash. Measles is described as a preventable disease, with 90% of cases occurring among the unvaccinated population. Luckily, measles is rarely life-threatening but the risk of becoming seriously ill with long-term impacts to the immune system is unpredictable and highly dependent on the patient. Evidently, prevention is the best medicine. 

The Facts

• As of August 26 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States reported 1408 confirmed cases of measles by 43 jurisdictions. In 2024, there were 16 outbreaks reported. 

• However, as of August 2025, the number of outbreaks had already doubled to 32. In Canada, the outlook is no better

  • The World Health Organization states that Canada has 1069 confirmed cases of measles spanning 5 provinces between January 1st and April 12th 2025. 

• This number has increased drastically from the 177 cases confirmed during the same time frame in 2024.

Parents have stopped vaccinating their children due to fearmongering which is the main reason easily-curable diseases like measles are re-emerging in society. There is no scientific proof that vaccines are harmful, so please help keep your community safe: get vaccinated!

➡️Read more here:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/measles/symptoms-causes/syc-20374857

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html

https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON565

Ottawa, like many cities across Canada, is grappling with the effects of a doctor shortage. A lack of access to doctors and increased wait times has led to a growing push in the nation’s capital to help its people receive timely access to crucial healthcare.

According to the Ontario College of Family Physicians, unless urgent action is taken, up to 318,000 Ottawa residents might not have a family doctor by 2026. This represents approximately 29% of Ottawa’s population. Moreover, a study published in Canadian Family Physician found that increasingly more family doctors are nearing retirement, with 1.74 million patients in Ontario currently assigned to a physician aged 65 and older.

 In April, the Ottawa city council voted to direct city staff to develop a strategy aimed at attracting and retaining more physicians. Just a few months later, premed students began noticing an update on UOttawa’s website, finding that their medical school would be increasing their regional preference from 50% to 70% for the upcoming application cycle. This preference was first introduced two years ago and it is for applicants who are Ottawa residents or have a strong community connection. Clearly, the increase reflects a strategy to improve the likelihood of UOttawa medical graduates staying in Ottawa and to train a group of new physicians who are more representative of and connected to the population they will be serving.

While many find the move understandable, others can’t help but feel this adds to the growing list of restrictions placed on their applications that are outside of their control. Some believe this reflects a trend of perpetuating “protectionism” among Canadian medical schools and worry this could extend to future restrictions.

➡️Read more here:

https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-medicine/undergraduate/application-process

https://www.uottawa.ca/about-us/news-all/more-family-doctors-near-retirement-raising-concern-about-future-primary-care

https://www.cfp.ca/content/71/6/406

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/ottawa-city-council-approves-plan-to-develop-doctor-recruitment-strategy/

In a bold and surprising move, the University of Waterloo and St. George’s University (SGU) have teamed up to launch a new direct-entry MD pathway, calling it the first program of its kind in Canada.

Overview

First earn a Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMSci) from Waterloo.
Secure guaranteed entry into SGU’s MD program (Grenada).
Canadian students can skip the MCAT and apply through SGU’s simple admissions process.
6-year track: Students may enter the program directly from high school after completion of basic sciences.
5-year track: Students may enter the program after completing first-year university, including basic sciences.

Why?

To address the shortage of physicians in Canada.
To fast-track medical training.

When?

Accepting applications for 2026.
Note: Applications will be stored but not processed until the program is approved by the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance (Quality Council).

Where?

Preclinical studies at the University of Waterloo.
MD Year 1 at SGU’s Grenada campus or in the UK through SGU’s partnership with Northumbria University.
Note: The program is still pending final approval by Ontario’s Universities Council on Quality Assurance, so applications will be stored but not processed until greenlit.

The pathway sounds promising, however, it is not a perfect golden ticket.

Things to Consider:

Cost: SGU is expensive. The full MD program tuition can exceed $400,000 CAD by graduation.
Residency match risk: Historically, SGU graduates have found it difficult to match in Canada and often complete residency in the US.
Some worry that high school students may not fully understand what they are signing up for— a costly path that doesn’t guarantee a career in Canada.

As always, potential applicants should be thorough in their research to understand the different perspectives around this development.

➡️Read more here:

https://uwaterloo.ca/news/innovative-new-program-addresses-canadian-doctor-shortage

https://www.sgu.edu/school-of-medicine/waterloo/

EDIT: Similar pathway for Bachelor of Technology (BTech) Biotechnology graduates from McMaster.

With the ever increasing competitiveness of Canadian medical schools, changes to residency requirements can significantly hinder typical applicants' success for matriculating. However, for underrepresented students such as Black and Indigenous students, this success may be even lower.

To combat these intrinsic biases in our society, changes are currently being implemented by Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine for the 2025 application cycle. The six out-of-province positions at the Halifax campus are now reserved exclusively for individuals applying through the Indigenous Admissions Pathway and/or the Black Learners Admissions Pathway. This increases Dalhousie’s seats for equity-deserving individuals to between 6 and 16 (depending on the number of applicants) and is a positive step forward in medical inclusivity.

Now, Dalhousie University along with Queen's University, Mcgill University, and Ottawa University are the only Canadian medical schools that reserve seats for marginalized groups. Though other medical schools have various initiatives to increase representation, they do not reserve seats. 

Unfortunately, this change is not viewed as positive by everyone; many non-maritime pre-medical students have expressed their disappointment online as this reduces their chances of matriculating even further. Implementing changes in medical schools will never be 100% supported; there will always be a group that disagrees. However, this new admissions regulation is a beneficial step aiming to increase equity in the Canadian medical school system.

➡️Read more here:

https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/core-units/admissions/about.html

https://meds.queensu.ca/academics/mdprogram/admissions/admissions-pathways-programs

https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-medicine/undergraduate/pathways-md-program\

https://www.mcgill.ca/medadmissions/applying/categories/special-pathways-underrepresented-groups/indigenous

JUNE 5 2025 UPDATE: UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA HAS REMOVED CASPER AS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE 2025-2026 CYCLE 

Pre-med student, Erik Soby, has successfully brought the issue of the CASPER test's relevance and efficacy in screening medical school applicants to mainstream media.

After much concern over the grading of the CASPER, an ethics exam written for 12 Canadian medical schools, the CBC has published a report outlining the issue. 

Major problems?

• Students do not receive their actual score, only a quartile

• The people grading have various academic backgrounds and may not be assessing each test fairly in order to increase their pay 

• People find their score to fluctuate heavily from cycle to cycle

• You must write your CASPER each year that you intend to apply 

• It can be pricey: $50 to write and $18 to release the score to each school

The greatest issue that has come to light is this: the CASPER test, despite having been used for years, does not have compelling evidence to be effective in assessing applicants. Plus, there are issues with conflict of interest as some CASPER-supporting studies have been done by Acuity staff (the host organization). 

What does this mean for CASPER? Could something new will be added, or perhaps other sections will be weighted heavier? 

More developments are yet to come.

➡️Read more here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/gopublic/casper-test-medical-school-1.7507308

What’s New?

• $88 million investment over 3 years starting in 2026.

• Expands the Learn and Stay Grant to now include Family Medicine.

• Covers full tuition + direct education costs (books, supplies, equipment).

• In return? Students must commit to practice in Ontario with a full patient roster.

Why This Matters:

• Roughly 1 in 10 Ontarians still don’t have a family doctor.

• Goal: Connect 1.36 million more people to primary care.

Medical School Changes

• Starting in Fall 2026 (should apply to the 2025-2026 cycle applicants) 

  • 95% of med school seats reserved for Ontario residents.

  • Remaining 5% for out-of-province students.

  • Reviewing visa trainee programs to protect training spots for Ontarians.

• More support for internationally educated doctors to complete their training here.

More Schools, More Spots

• Two new med schools at TMU and York U.

• Largest med school expansion in a decade:

  • • Over 500 new undergrad spots.

    • Over 740 new residency spots by 2028.

Other Key Moves

• Practice Ready Ontario: Up to 100 foreign-trained family docs in rural communities by 2026.

• Extra $546 million to connect 600,000 more Ontarians to interprofessional care teams.

➡️Read more here: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1005226/ontario-expanding-learn-and-stay-grant-to-train-more-family-doctors-in-ontario