Frequently Asked Questions
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The first month of the spring semester will quickly review how different types of doctors think, how to take a medical history and create a SOAP note, and habits that successful medical students and doctors all share (the Basics Course). Then students will rotate through different shadowships, similar to how medical students rotate through clerkships. The following is the PreMedSKL specialty rotation schedule, topics are subject to change:
Spring Semester (Typically runs from March to May):
Month 1 – Basics & Neurology (diagnosing, treating, and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system).
Month 2 – Ophthalmology (these doctors are eye surgeons).
Month 3 – Cardiology (including heart diseases such as ischemic heart disease, myocarditis and abnormal heart valves).
Fall Semester (Typically runs from mid-September to early December):
Month 4 – Pediatrics (children and adolescents with infections, inflammation, and congenital/birth conditions).
Month 5 – Gastroenterology (including patients with stomach and bowel problems like ulcers, Crohn’s disease and cancers).
Month 6 – Emergency Room (including life threatening conditions such as heart attack, strokes and trauma)
Upon successful completion of the PreMedSKL program, a certificate will be awarded. These certificates are not university credits, but show your interest in, commitment to, and completion of materials relevant to a career in medicine.
The PreMedSKL curriculum has been designed to be a collaborative step-by-step process that is easily incorporated into the school year. It will require a 2-3 hour commitment per week. This includes a 45 minute Zoom session with our medical students and residents.
Each and every month we will have an additional 90 minute live Zoom session which will consist of presenting mystery cases, Q&A sessions with medical students and reviewing important parts of science fair projects. Dr. Sharma typically will lead this session.
The core curriculum will consist of both pre-recorded lessons that can be consumed at your convenience and live month sessions which will be done in a group setting through Zoom. In addition, there will be weekly live office hours sessions where medical students and doctors will be able to answer your questions about the core material and your personal journey. Finally, there will be patient simulations – similar to the ones used in medical schools – that you will be given access to.
Our program allows students to learn some of the core material that is taught in many medical schools and feeder BHSc programs. In addition, students will be mentored and be given a blueprint for success created by a number of leading physicians and medical students.
There is no guarantee whatsoever that you will be accepted into QuARMS, Canada’s only Direct Entry program, a Direct Entry Program elsewhere or into medical school. However, our program has been built by award-winning doctors with expertise in research and education. Furthermore, our curriculum and the lessons contained within it, are used by many Canadian medical students and others around the world.
Further, we do not guarantee that by enrolling in PreMedSKL that you will win any awards or prizes at local, regional, national or international science fairs. However, the lessons, tips and guidance that will be used in our live training for science fairs have been used by students who have won special awards, Challenge Awards, Best of Fair, and medals at regional, national and international science fairs.
The shadowships are virtual and delivered as autonomous courses students can watch on their own time. The content is based on the experiences medical students have in clinics such as simulations, patient interviews and rotation in different specialties and go pretty in-depth for each “ology” covered i.e. cardiology, endocrinology etc. Students then have the chance to review this content live in weekly office hours and go more in-depth in live monthly 90-min coaching sessions.
Our mentorship program welcomes students of all backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ students and those from historically marginalized communities. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, harassment, or exclusion of any kind and expect all participants and mentors (medical students, residents, and physicians) to model professionalism, respect, and cultural competence.
While we strive to create a supportive and psychologically safe environment for all learners, our program is discussion-based and academically rigorous, and we do not currently provide individualized accommodations or specialized supports for students with significant learning or accessibility needs. Families are encouraged to ensure the program format aligns with the student’s learning style prior to enrollment.