Geriatric Ed

Canadian Schools: this is a listing of Canadian schools that offer Geriatric programs. The listing signify whether they are Internal Medicine programs, or Family Practice year long add ons.

Geriatric medicine in Canada can be pursued through two pathways:

A.) You can enter Geriatrics via a 5 year residency in Internal Medicine, or
B.) You can do an extra year following your Family Medicine residency

A.) You can find the residency programs in Internal Medicine listed at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada website. The following schools have programs in Geriatrics:

University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, University of Alberta, University of Manitoba, University of Western Ontario, McMaster University, University of Toronto, University of Ottawa, Dalhousie University, and Quebec universities (McGill, Universite Laval, Universite de Montreal, & Universite de Sherbrooke

Another thorough list of Geriatric programs and contacts is provided by the Canadian Geriatrics Society

B.) The College of Family Physicians provides a very extensive list of all their third year programs on their website. The schools which offer the third year in the “Care of the Elderly” are:

University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, University of Alberta, University of Manitoba, University of Western Ontario, McMaster University, University of Toronto, Queen’s University, University of Ottawa, Universite de Sherbrooke, Universite de Montreal, McGill University, Universite Laval, Dalhousie University.

Other Educational Resources

Victorian Geriatric Medicine Training Program – Online Modules
Stanford – Curriculum on Ethnogeriatrics – a very interesting outline of questions to consider in dealing with older adults who are also immigrants and/or for whom English is a second language.

US Schools:

The American Geriatrics Society is a great place to start when looking for information on becoming a Geriatrician licensed in the US.

Undergraduate Programs in Gerontology (Canada)
If you are really interested in aging you might consider majoring in Gerontology through one of the many excellent programs offered at universities around the country. Some of these programs offer a BA in Social Science, others are more science-based and offer a BSc, but all are very much interdisciplinary i.e. they combine the work of several departments such as Health Studies, Social Work, Sociology, Family Studies, Psychology, Health Sciences, etc.

I personally went through the McMaster program, but they are all worth considering – the choice is very much a personal one, depending on your ultimate goals and interests. Here is a listing + links to the programs available. I will continue adding post-graduate programs in gerontology as well as I continue my updates. Enjoy!

McMaster – Health, Aging & Society – McMaster offers this program through the Faculty of Social Science.

University of Waterloo – Health Studies & Gerontology – Waterloo offers this program through the faculty of Applied Health Sciences.