Internal Medicine Specialist (Medical Specialist)

Overview

As a member of the military, Internal Medicine Specialists belong to the Medical Specialist occupation in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and provide high-quality acute and critical care services, whether at Canadian Forces Health Services Clinics or while deployed on international, peacekeeping or humanitarian operations. They have the opportunity to be a leader within the CAF Health Services and serve as mentor and educator to the full spectrum of military health care providers.

Primary responsibilities

• Provide consultative and direct patient care services for CAF members in Canada
• Lead intensive care teams in the management of injured and ill patients in Canada and internationally, in deployed settings.
• Provide in-transport care for injured or ill CAF members during evacuation back to Canada.
• Educate and advise multidisciplinary teams on acute and critical care medicine.
• Maintain a high level of acute in-patient care skills by holding a position within a civilian health care facility.
• Contribute to the development and application of health care policies within the CAF.

Work environment

Internal Medicine Specialists in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) maintain their clinical readiness by being embedded as staff in tertiary care civilian hospitals across Canada, working alongside their civilian colleagues. Part of their time may be spent providing consultative services to support Primary Care Clinicians at Canadian Forces Health Services Clinics in Canada. Participation in education and training tasks, as well as research opportunities, occur nationally and internationally.

They belong to 1 Canadian Field Hospital and maintain their operational readiness by participating in annual military skills training and field exercises. When required, they will be called upon to deploy to unique and challenging clinical environments as part of a Health Services team on domestic and international operations.

If you chose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. However, if you decide to join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.

Entry plans

• Direct Entry Options

If you are a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and have an unrestricted licence to practise in Internal Medicine in a Canadian province or territory, you may be eligible for enrolment and to commence basic training.

Currently, the Canadian Armed Forces supports clinicians who practice in the following Internal Medicine sub-specialties:

• General Internal Medicine
• Infectious Disease
• Critical Care Medicine

Training

At the first available opportunity, you will complete Basic Military Officer Qualification training at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. You will take the Condensed Health Services Basic Military Officer Qualification Training which consists of two weeks of Distance Learning and four weeks of in-house training in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Topics covered include general military knowledge, the principles of leadership, regulations and customs of the Forces, basic weapons handling, and first aid. Opportunities will also be provided to apply such newly acquired military skills in training exercises involving force protection, field training, navigation and leadership. A rigorous physical fitness program is also a vital part of basic training. Basic Military Officer Qualification training is provided in English or French and successful completion is a prerequisite for further training.

Incoming Medical Specialists in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will attend the Rank Qualification Medical Specialist Major (RQ-Med Spec-Maj) course delivered by the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre (CFHSTC). Consisting of an online asynchronous distributed learning (approximately 20 hours) and a five-day residential training phase, this course prepares Medical Specialists to provide expert care within the CAF health system and across operational environments. You will gain an understanding of key common CAF and Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) policies, CAF-specific and specialty-specific operational medicine, and the unique aspects of military healthcare. Upon completion, you will be equipped to deliver specialist healthcare in support of CAF members while leading multidisciplinary healthcare teams in both civilian and deployed settings.

CAF Internal Medicine Specialists may be eligible to apply for the opportunity to specialize their medical practice and, when applicable, can receive subsidy in exchange for additional years of service. Supported training will normally consist of a sub‑specialty fellowship program at a Canadian University, but may include other Post‑graduate degrees and/or courses determined to be complimentary to military practice.

As they progress in their career, Internal Medicine Specialists who demonstrate the required qualifications, ability and potential may be offered advanced training in the following areas:

• Critical Care Aeromedical Evacuation Team Training;
• Forward Acute Care Resuscitation Team Training;
• War Surgery Courses;
• Definitive Surgical Trauma Care Courses;
• Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma Courses;Medical Education and Simulation; and
• Military and health care leadership

Part time options

The role of the Canadian Forces Health Services Reserves is to provide trained personnel to support, augment and sustain Canadian Forces Health Services organizations for CAF operations and training activities, while building and maintaining links between the CAF and the local community.

As a health care professional in the Health Service Reserves, you must have an unrestricted licence to practise in your clinical field (including certification in your specific specialty) and maintain clinical currency within your civilian workplace.

A position may be available for part-time employment with the Primary Reserve at certain locations across Canada. Members of the Primary Reserve are paid during their training. They are not required to move, however, they can volunteer to move close to another unit. They may also volunteer for teaching, training and/or deployment on a military mission within or outside Canada.

Medical Specialists can broaden the medical support capability of the Health Services by joining 1 Canadian Field Hospital Detachment Ottawa. Members of this Primary Reserve unit complete a minimum annual commitment of 14 days of service and/or training at any time during the year, doing any or all of the following: providing health care services to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, teaching and monitoring clinical skills of personnel, attending field exercises to practice and/or provide medical care in a military field environment.

Medical Specialists serving in the Primary Reserve may live and work across Canada, as long as they are within a 100 km of a CAF Health Services unit. There is a small headquarters and administration section located in Ottawa, Ontario to assist them. All members of the Canadian Forces Health Services Reserves may have an opportunity to work internationally as members of a deployed Canadian Forces Health Services Team, on a voluntary basis.

Part-time opportunities within the CAF may exist for specialties and sub-specialties, depending on the requirements and position availability. These include:

• Anesthesiology
• Emergency Medicine
• General Surgery
• Internal Medicine (General, Infectious Diseases, Critical Care)
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Radiology
• Neurosurgery
• Plastic Surgery
• Thoracic Surgery
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Pediatrics
• Otolaryngology
• Urology
• Opthamology
• Cardiology
• Gastroenterology
• Pathology
• Dermatology

Reserve Force members are trained to the same level as their Regular Force counterparts. Incoming Medical Specialists in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will attend the Rank Qualification Medical Specialist Major (RQ-Med Spec-Maj) course delivered by the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre (CFHSTC). Consisting of an online asynchronous distributed learning (approximately 20 hours) and a five-day residential training phase, this course prepares Medical Specialists to provide expert care within the CAF health system and across operational environments. You will gain an understanding of key common CAF and Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) policies, CAF-specific and specialty‑specific operational medicine, and the unique aspects of military healthcare. Upon completion, you will be equipped to deliver specialist healthcare in support of CAF members while leading multidisciplinary healthcare teams in both civilian and deployed settings.

Medical Specialists in the Primary Reserve maintain their civilian positions in tertiary care hospitals across Canada. They belong to 1 Canadian Field Hospital Detachment Ottawa and stay operationally ready by participating in required military skills training and field exercises. Primary Reserve Medical Specialists will be able to contribute to development and delivery of clinical teaching and training tasks delivered across Canada, as well as to deploy to unique and challenging clinical environments as part of a Health Services team on domestic and international operations. In some cases, they may be able to provide medical care in a Canadian military health care clinic or operating theatre. Reserve Force members are paid 92.8% of Regular Force rates of pay, have the opportunity to receive a reasonable benefits package and may qualify to contribute to a pension plan.

Related Careers

Anesthesiologist (Medical Specialist)

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Medical Specialist)

Orthopedic Surgeon (Medical Specialist)