The Public Health and Preventive Medicine (PHPM) postgraduate program at the University of Ottawa (uOttawa) offers the opportunity for residents to receive comprehensive public health and preventive medicine training while living and working in a beautiful city. Ottawa offers a mix of Public Health training opportunities that are unique to our region: Department of National Defence, Ottawa Public Health, Indigenous Services Canada - First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (national and provincial levels), Public Health Agency of Canada, among others.

Program overview

Our educational program is carefully designed to provide residents with wonderful learning opportunities. We offer a variety of training opportunities in both official languages, in rural as well as urban settings. Our aim is to prepare residents to independently practice public health and preventive medicine at the local, regional, and national levels. Consequently, after training in the foundations of public health has been completed, residents will gradually assume increasing levels of responsibility, culminating in opportunities to act as a consultant and/or at the level of an Associate Medical Officer of Health.

Training is based on a combination of classes & seminars (academic training required by the Royal College), experience-based learning (rotations), resident co-directed collaborative learning (e.g., academic half-day) and self-directed learning that may include online training modules, directed reading, research/scholarly projects.

Healthcare concept with a family cut-out and stethoscope at a wooden desk

The program is committed to tailoring training to resident's learning needs. Formative assessments are used to support reflective practice and help residents direct their learning. All uOttawa residents participate in 360 degree assessments, which provide insight into the perception of your peers, supervisors and staff concerning accomplishment of the core competencies of our profession and CanMEDS roles.

Our program values self-reflection and personal growth. uOttawa provides residents with opportunities to learn through courses, conferences and workshops. UOttawa residents are supported with funding to attend the annual National PHPM Review Course hosted by Queen’s University and the University of British Columbia. Residents are allocated funds to attend conferences, special training events or online modules.

Special academic half-day sessions have included on-site training with professional media relations staff at the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, emergency preparedness and response simulations, and field trips to places like water treatment plants, laboratories and mass vaccination clinics. Our program is flexible and responsive to learner needs, allowing residents to benefit from other opportunities as they arise such as participation in the Canadian Field Epidemiology Program’s “Epi in Action” course and customized "Essentials for Leadership" training for residents. The program takes pride in co-leadership with residents for quality improvement. The Program Director and Administrator meet with the Lead Resident and Resident Representative at least monthly and bi-annual "resident townhalls" provide an opportunity for all residents to provide feedback and share ideas directly with the Program Director. 

Program details

Resources

Please visit the CaRMS website for further information about applying to our Public Health and Preventive Medicine Residency Program.

Program contacts

Director of Residency Program: 
Trevor Arnason
MSc MD CCFP FRCPC

Program Administrator: 
André Purdy
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 613-562-5800 ext. 8281

Lead Resident: [email protected]

Resident Representative: [email protected]