Why choose University of Ottawa for your Postgraduate Medical Education Training!

• Excellent training opportunities: We offer more than 75 training programs that provide innovative clinical experiences through a variety of educational strategies that guide our trainees into well-rounded clinicians. New residency and fellowship training programs are continually being implemented with our partner hospitals as we collaboratively enhance patient care.
• Leading health care settings: Our residents and fellows complete their medical training in our affiliated academic health science centres, including The Ottawa Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Hôpital Montfort, The Royal and Bruyère Continuing Care, as well as hospitals in rural communities in Eastern and Northern Ontario. Additionally, we have one of the largest medical simulation facilities in North America, the University of Ottawa Skills and Simulations Centre.
• Training in a Francophone milieu: Training in French is offered by many programs through our partnership with L’Hôpital Montfort. Furthermore, we offer unique training opportunities with our international partner, L’Université de Lyon in France.
• Specialties, subspecialties, and Area of Focused Competence (AFC) programs: We offer 29 specialty and 37 subspecialty programs that lead to certification by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, as well as core Family Medicine and 7 Enhanced Skills programs leading to certification by the College of Family Physicians of Canada. In addition, uOttawa offers 9 AFC programs that provide advanced post-residency training accredited by the Royal College. These AFCs build on broader disciplines to expand and deepen the scope of clinical practice.
• Fellowships and Clinician Investigator Program (CIP): We offer many fellowship opportunities and accept over 150 foreign trainees annually who bring a wide range of skills and cultural diversity that serve to enrich our programs and Faculty. Our CIP allows residents to complete either a Masters or PhD while conducting research and providing health care.

Our Mission 

To expand our global leadership in a dynamic environment through interdisciplinary innovation in education, research, health of populations, and patient-partnered care, in both official languages. Together, we strive to push the boundaries of medical education and patient care, in alignment with the Faculty of Medicine’s strategic vision: “Leading innovation for a healthier world.”

The University of Ottawa Clinical Emergency Medicine Fellowship is a one-year postgraduate training program designed to provide advanced clinical experience in a high-acuity, academic emergency department. Fellows function as integral members of the emergency medicine team within The Ottawa Hospital—one of Canada’s busiest tertiary care centers—while refining their clinical, procedural, and leadership skills in preparation for independent practice or further subspecialty training.

This program is intended for physicians who have completed residency training in emergency medicine and wish to enhance their exposure to complex emergency care within a robust teaching and research environment. The fellowship offers a unique opportunity to consolidate expertise, gain insight into the Canadian healthcare system, and work alongside leaders in academic and clinical emergency medicine.

Clinical Experience

Fellows are embedded within The Ottawa Hospital’s Emergency Departments at the Civic and General campuses, which collectively manage more than 160,000 patient visits annually. These sites provide exposure to the full spectrum of emergency presentations, including trauma, resuscitation, toxicology, cardiac emergencies, obstetric and pediatric emergencies, and high-acuity medical and surgical cases.

Under direct faculty supervision, fellows work clinically in the role of a junior attending under an educational license. They develop expertise in rapid decision-making, procedural competence, and interprofessional collaboration. Rotations are designed to optimize both clinical breadth and depth, ensuring fellows graduate with a high degree of confidence in managing critically ill and undifferentiated patients.

Fellows may select from a range of elective rotations to further enrich their training, including Pain Medicine, Prehospital and Transport Medicine (PTM), Ultrasound, Intensive Care, Trauma, Simulation, and Ophthalmology.

Academic and Educational Development

As part of an academic department that prioritizes education, fellows are actively involved in teaching medical students, residents, and allied health learners. They participate in weekly Grand Rounds, Academic Half-Days, monthly Morbidity and Mortality Rounds, Journal Club sessions, periodic simulation exercises, and dedicated fellows’ rounds. Regular academic sessions cover advanced topics in emergency care, evidence-based medicine, and critical appraisal.

Fellows are also encouraged to engage in scholarly activities, including quality improvement projects, research initiatives, or curriculum development, under the mentorship of experienced faculty. For interested candidates, there are opportunities to integrate academic projects into future subspecialty fellowship pursuits such as Ultrasound, Prehospital and Transport Medicine, Disaster Medicine, Simulation, or Medical Education.

Mentorship and Professional Growth

Each fellow is paired with a faculty mentor who provides individualized guidance on clinical performance, academic development, and career planning. The program emphasizes reflective practice, resilience, and leadership—core attributes essential for sustainable careers in emergency medicine. Fellows are supported in exploring their academic interests, whether through teaching, research, or systems innovation.

The fellowship also provides structured exposure to interprofessional collaboration, administrative leadership, and the ethical dimensions of acute care medicine. By the end of the year, fellows are well-prepared to assume leadership roles in their home institutions and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of emergency care within their regions.

Program Graduates

Graduates of the Clinical Emergency Medicine Fellowship have gone on to successful careers in clinical practice, academic medicine, and healthcare leadership across Canada, the Middle East, and abroad. Many continue into subspecialty fellowships in areas such as Prehospital and Transport Medicine, Simulation, Ultrasound, or Medical Education through the University of Ottawa.

The program’s emphasis on mentorship, professionalism, and academic engagement ensures that fellows not only strengthen their clinical acumen but also develop the confidence and perspective required to excel in demanding healthcare environments.

Application and Eligibility

Applicants must have completed an accredited residency program in Emergency Medicine and be eligible for an educational practice license in Ontario. The fellowship typically runs from July 1 to June 30, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Selection is based on academic achievement, clinical experience, references, and demonstrated commitment to excellence in emergency medicine

In order to be admissible for a fellowship position, you must meet the following criteria:

• Have a medical degree from an accredited institution listed in the World Directory of Medical School confirming school is recognized in Canada (Sponsor Notes tab);
• Have successfully completed a specialty program before the beginning of the fellowship;
• Be certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) or another recognized international certification board (organization outside of Canada and the United States that certifies medical specialists), or at a minimum, have completed a residency program and be admissible to take the Royal College, CFPC or USA certification exams;
• Have successfully completed an English proficiency test, if applicable. See requirements below.

Language Requirements:

Must provide proof of English language proficiency through ONE of the following:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)-Academic with a minimum score of 7 in each component, OR;
• TOEFL-iBT; passing score of 93, including a minimum score of 24 on the speaking section, OR;
• Occupational English Test (OET)-Medicine with a minimum grade of B in each component, OR;
• The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP General) with a minimum score of 9 in each of the four skills, OR;
• Candidates for whom their primary and secondary, medical school or specialty education was conducted in English, proof must be attached to application, OR;
• World Directory of Medical Schools Language Option – If the instruction and the language of patient care at the undergraduate medical school was conducted completely in English, then a candidate can submit a copy or printout of the World Directory of Medical Schools website (Program Details tab) listing the medical school which clearly states that the language of instruction is English.

Applicants must be able to communicate proficiently in the language of instruction and patient care of the training site.

Note that you may apply only to a Clinical Fellowship in the same discipline (or subdiscipline) in which you are recognized as a specialist.

Sponsorship is mandatory to apply.