Nous réduisons les obstacles, améliorons l’accès et offrons un accompagnement clair pour soutenir les apprenant.e.s tout au long de leur parcours.
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Advancing Equitable Access to Medical Education
Improving the Visiting Electives Experience
Making Learner News Easier to Access
Strengthening Learner Engagement
Protecting Fair Access to Residency Training
Strengthening the Transition to Residency
Building a National Voice for Health Science Trainees
Celebrating the 2026 Gairdner ICAM Scholars
Expanding Global Opportunities for Early Career Researchers
Empowering Learner Voices
The cost of applying to medical school remains a significant barrier for many aspiring physicians. The AFMC MCAT® Fee Assistance and Application Fee Waiver programs help reduce that burden for applicants in financial need.
This year, 343 students received MCAT® fee assistance, with timeline adjustments giving them greater flexibility to secure test dates. The University of British Columbia also joined the Application Fee Waiver program, expanding support at participating schools in Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
étudiant·e·s bénéficiaires
Receiving this award means a lot to me because it makes the journey toward becoming a physician a little more accessible. Preparing for the MCAT is a big step, and the financial support from this award will take away some of the stress and allow me to focus more on preparing and doing my best.
I am very grateful to AFMC for giving me this opportunity and supporting students like me who are working toward a career in medicine. This award motivates me to continue working hard toward my goal of becoming a physician and making a positive difference in the lives of others.
Thank you again for this opportunity and for supporting me on my journey.
— Yazan Darwiche
??? University
Receiving this award means more to me than simply having the financial burden of the MCAT reduced. It gives me greater peace of mind and allows me to focus my time and energy on preparing for the exam and continuing to work toward my goal of becoming a physician. Pursuing medicine is a journey that requires tremendous dedication, and support like this makes that journey feel a little more accessible and attainable.
I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity and of the organizations that recognize and support students pursuing a career in medicine. This award is an encouraging reminder that financial circumstances do
not have to stand in the way of pursuing meaningful goals.
— Aqeela Aslam
University of British Columbia
It means a lot to receive this award from AFMC, and I appreciate it very much! Coming from a refugee background with a low income family with a dream of becoming a physician while supporting my family financially felt very difficult but with this award, I can concentrate on my studies and pursue my dream of becoming a physician and I am very thankful for this opportunity from AFMC and I very much appreciate you for helping individuals such as me to pursue their interests and overcome some of their obstacles more easily!
— Ali Mozafari
??? University
Following the implementation of the capacity-based model, the AFMC Student Portal is making visiting electives more accessible, transparent and affordable. Over the past year, more learners secured placements, faced fewer administrative barriers and saved on application costs.
Increase in Placements
Building on last year’s 36% increase, placements continued to grow, creating more opportunities for learners to pursue visiting electives aligned with their career goals.
Average Savings per Learner
Nearly all students who participated in more than two application rounds received at least one offer, providing greater certainty throughout the electives process.
Average Savings per Learner
The elimination of application fees helped reduce the average cost of securing a visiting elective from $550 to $175, easing the financial burden on learners.
MEDPREPP continues to serve as a trusted resource for learners navigating the path through medical education. This year, AFMC launched Learner News, a centralized hub for program announcements, residency-match updates, key timelines and other developments that can shape learners’ next steps.
By bringing timely updates and practical guidance together in one place, MEDPREPP helps learners make informed decisions from early exploration to residency training.
More than 400 learners from across Canada participated in AFMC’s new Learner Connect series, engaging directly with AFMC leadership and subject-matter experts from faculties of medicine. The interactive sessions focused on topics selected by learners themselves, including visiting electives, residency interview preparation and building confidence in seeking and receiving feedback.
The series provided a national space for learners to share their experiences, ask questions and discuss the issues that matter most to them.
When changes to Ontario’s residency match eligibility created uncertainty for some international medical graduates (IMGs), AFMC worked with faculties of medicine, CaRMS and national partners to support affected learners and promote equitable access to training opportunities.
Our coordinated response helped preserve access to the residency match process while judicial proceedings were underway, providing learners with greater stability and timely guidance during this critical time.
The final year of medical school is a pivotal transition point for learners. To strengthen national coordination around this period, AFMC established the Final Year Implementation Advisory Group, bringing together undergraduate and postgraduate leaders, learners and administrators to advance the 20 priority recommendations outlined in the Repenser la dernière année d’études en médecine 
report.
A national review is currently underway across Canada’s faculties of medicine to identify systemic barriers and opportunities for greater alignment. Its findings will inform structural changes that support a more consistent learner experience and ensure a smoother transition into residency training.
With AFMC’s support, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars launched the Canadian Association of Health Science Trainees (CaHST), creating a unified national voice for health science trainees.
Trainees are now shaping CaHST’s governance and strategic direction. A national survey will identify shared challenges and opportunities, helping ensure the organization’s future initiatives reflect the experiences and needs of health science trainees across Canada.
AFMC’s partnership with the Gairdner Foundation continues to create opportunities for emerging health researchers with mentorship, recognition and international learning experiences.
At ICAM 2026, AFMC celebrated learner excellence through the Health Research Poster Competition, which attracted a record 140 abstract submissions. Hannah Zhang, Adam Mouncef, Anastasia Fahlman and Ali Abdalbari were named Gairdner ICAM Scholars in recognition of their outstanding health research posters. All four scholars will participate in Gairdner Science Week, and Anastasia Fahlman was also selected to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in 2027.
This year also marked the conclusion of Dr. Janet Rossant’s decade-long tenure as President and Scientific Director of the Gairdner Foundation. We are grateful for her leadership and steadfast commitment to strengthening the AFMC-Gairdner partnership and expanding opportunities for the next generation of health researchers.
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Presenting my research at ICAM was an incredible opportunity to connect with inspiring scientists and clinicians from across the country. The experience reinforced my passion for translational research and highlighted the importance of collaboration in advancing discoveries from bench to bedside.
— Anastasia Fahlman
MD – PhD Candidate
University of Ottawa
I am so honored to have received the Gairdner ICAM Scholar award! My time at ICAM has already allowed me to meet so many incredible peers and mentors, and I can’t wait to attend Gairdner Science Week to learn from and be inspired by some of the top scientists in the country. It is so exciting to see all the innovation and research happening in Canada, and I am lucky to be taking a small part in it.
— Hannah Zhang
MD – PhD Candidate
Université du Manitoba
I feel extremely grateful to receive this award, but even more grateful for the people research has brought me close to. Being surrounded by such brilliant and generous researchers is incredibly inspiring. I feel privileged for the opportunity to contribute to translational work that may one day matter for patients.
— Adam Mouncef
MDCM Candidate
Université McGill
Receiving this award is an incredible honour. This experience has strengthened my passion for both conducting and communicating translational research, while providing a unique opportunity to connect with the Gairdner Laureates, leading scientists, clinicians, and fellow trainees dedicated to advancing human health through discovery. It has also encouraged me to think more broadly about how collaboration between scientists and clinicians can translate research discoveries into improved patient outcomes.
— Ali Abdalbari
MSc Candidate
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
AFMC has assumed permanent responsibility for the memorandum of understanding with the Lindau Foundation, strengthening Canada’s connection to a global research network. This partnership opens direct pathways for Canada’s top early-career researchers to engage with Nobel Laureates and international peers.
Five researchers were nominated to attend the 2027 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. This transformative experience will broaden their research perspectives, foster international collaboration and equip them to contribute to discovery and health innovation in Canada.
Alice Morgunova
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Université McGill
Aminmohamed Manji
Postdoctoral Fellow
Unity Health Toronto
Robert Lao
MD-PhD Candidate
University of Toronto
Courtney Marshall
PhD Candidate
Université du Manitoba
Anastasia Fahlman
MD/PhD Candidate
University of Ottawa
More than 600 learners participated in ICAM 2026, sharing their research, experiences and perspectives throughout the Congress.
At the Learner forum, representatives from 10 learner organizations also had the opportunity to share the priorities, challenges and aspirations of medical students, residents, graduate students and postdoctoral trainees from Canada and around the world. Discussions focused on wellbeing, equity, systemic barriers and opportunities to better support learners across the continuum of academic medicine.
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