The Government of Alberta’s Rural and Remote Family Medicine Resident Physician Bursary Pilot Program is live. This new initiative supports the attraction and retention of family physicians in rural and remote areas across the province.
Although this is not a PARA program, we were consulted during the planning stages and helped advocate for a bursary that is meaningful, flexible and accessible to family medicine residents. We encourage members to explore the opportunity and apply if eligible.
About the Program
This bursary provides:
- $125,000 for rural placements
- $200,000 for remote placements
- Funds are deposited in a lump sum directly into recipients’ bank accounts once all requirements are met.
Eligibility
- Open to any resident in a Family Medicine or Family Medicine + Enhanced Skills Program
- Not tied to a specific CaRMS seat or program
- Service commitment can be fulfilled through work in one location, multiple locations or through locums in eligible communities
Key Details
- Funds can be used however the recipient sees fit – there are no restrictions on use
- Applications are evaluated based on commitment to rural health, community engagement and references
- There is no fixed deadline – applications will remain open until all program funds are allocated
How to Apply
Visit the Government of Alberta’s program page for full details and application instructions. If you have questions about the program or the application process, contact Alberta Health at rural-health@gov.ab.ca.
Information Session
A virtual Q&A session with Alberta Health was held recently to provide more information about the bursary. You can watch the recording here.
Please Note:
At 42:30 in the recording, a question is asked about eligibility for Enhanced Skills residents. We’ve included a clarification below to ensure the most up-to-date and accurate information is available.
Question: I am currently completing a Family Medicine Enhanced Skills Program. Am I eligible?
Yes, you may be eligible. Applicants who completed their Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Alberta or the University of Calgary and are currently enrolled in a CaRMS-matched Family Medicine Enhanced Skills Residency Program at either university may apply.
Your Enhanced Skills Program must not include a post-residency Return of Service (ROS) commitment that overlaps with this bursary’s ROS. Overlapping commitments will make you ineligible.
If you apply during your Enhanced Skills Program, your service commitment will begin the day after you complete the program. You must provide a minimum of 15,210 patient visits (equivalent to three years of full-time practice) within 60 months of completing your Enhanced Skills Program. Patient visits during the Enhanced Skills Program do not count toward your return of service.
If you’re unsure about your eligibility or service start date, contact rural-health@gov.ab.ca with details of your program.
Our intention is to continually improve resident physicians’ professional and personal lives.
We value: Relationships with our members and with our partners. Understanding of our members’ needs and the system in which they work. Diversity in perspective and lived experience. Rigour in meeting the standard of service that our resident physicians deserve.