Canadian academic and aspiring medical student researchers are exploring the experiences of applicants to medical schools. By listening to aspiring medical students (those who applied but not accepted) and current medical students the researchers will map diversity trends among the two groups of students and between them. As well, your experiences of medical school admission processes will produce valuable evidence to inform novel strategies for enhancing diversity of medical students and future physician workforces. The team invites you to complete an online survey focused on your experiences and perspectives of the admission process. 

To date 430 completed surveys have been received - Thank You! This is the first bi-weekly reminder message inviting participation in their study by completing an online survey focused on your experiences and perspectives of Medical School admission process.

Here is a reminder of what our study is about:

Title of Project: Listening to aspiring and current medical students’ admission process experiences at three Canadian Schools of Medicine

Principal Investigator Team: Annette Schultz PhD, RN Professor College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba (annette.schultz@umanitoba.ca)

Study Purpose: To describe medical school applicants’ experiences to identify systemic (intentional and unintentional) influences shaping opportunities for entry into a Canadian medical school.

Who is Eligible to Participate: Students who applied to the Universities of Manitoba, Alberta and Ottawa Schools of Medicine during the 2018 to 2021 application cycles.

Methods and Incentives: Online survey (questionnaire) should take no more than 20 to 25 minutes to complete. Your participation is voluntary, and survey data will be de-identified. The team members who could access personal information is Drs. Schultz, Chudyk and Neville; along with the study hired statistician Dr. Adriana Mudryj. Dr. Anna Chudyk will be overseeing the two incentive strategies - Incentive 1: for each completed survey, $3.00 will be donated into the development of scholarship funds being set up at each of the three participating universities, to benefit aspiring medical students and/or first year medical students. Incentive 2: upon completion of the survey, who have the opportunity to enter your name for a bi-weekly random draw (now 6 chances to receive a $100 Amazon gift card) and a final draw for one of three $200 Amazon gift cards.

Please note: there are two more reminder emails to be sent bi-weekly

Study Funding: The team received from the University of Manitoba a University Collaborative Research Program grant (2022-2024).

Ethics Approval: This study has been approved by Research Ethics Boards at the Universities of Manitoba (Fort Gary Campus), Alberta, Ottawa. Drs. Schultz, Chudyk, Neville and Mudryj, will be managing data collection; these team members are not located in Schools of Medicine, and will ensure protection of data collected and confidentiality of participation.

Your participation by April 18, 2023 is greatly valued and appreciated. To learn more about the study, view the consent form, and complete the online survey if desired, please click on the following link: Medical School Admission Survey

Thank you for your consideration. Please feel free to reach out to Dr. Annette Schultz (annette.schultz@umanitoba.ca) or Dr. Anna Chudyk (anna.chudyk@umanitoba.ca) if you have any questions!

Kind Regards, Dr. Annette Schultz 

on behalf of our research team:

Co-Principle Investigators: Dr. Sara Goulet and Assem Al Sayed medical student 

University of Manitoba Members: Dr. Lukas Neville, Asper School of Business, Dr. Anna Chudyk, College of Nursing, Dr. Linda Diffey, Department of Community Health Sciences

Dr. Kellie Thiessen, College of Nursing and Midwifery Program

University of Alberta: Dr. Laura Stovel, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Medicine Dept, Dr. Sita Gourishankar, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Medicine Dept, Dr. Wayne Clark, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Medicine Dept

University of Ottawa: Dr. Geneviève Lemay, Faculty of Medicine, Undergraduate Medical Education, Dr. Ewurabena Simpson, Faculty of Medicine, Undergraduate Medical Education

British Columbia Institute of Technology: Jackie Gruber BA, MSc, Director, Respect, Diversity, & Inclusion

Canadian Pre-Medical Students: Momina Ejaz, Gloria Umogbai