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Scholars' Program

The Scholars’ Program provides an opportunity for exceptional internal medicine and pediatric residents (PGY1/PGY2/PGY3), and medical students in the final 2 years of their program (3rd/4th year in a 4-year program, 2nd/3rd year in a 3-year program) to explore a career in gastroenterology. The 2025 program will accept 32 Adult and Pediatric candidates in total.

BIPOC Allocated Stream

Since 2021, we prioritize two (2) seats for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) medical students and residents to attend and participate in the Scholars' program as these individuals reflect underrepresented racial and ethnic populations in the medical profession across Canada relative to their numbers in the general population. Black and Indigenous candidates will be given preference based on current levels of underrepresentation in the gastroenterology specialty across Canada.

BIPOC candidates can self-nominate, they will not require a letter of recommendation until after CAG has short-listed them.

Eligibility Criteria for All Candidates:

  • Be a CAG Trainee Member or CASL Trainee Member at the time of submission or will have applied to become one by December 1, 2024
  • Be medical students in the final two years of their program, or internal medicine or pediatric residents in the first, second or third year (PGY1/PGY2/PGY3) of their program
  • Have not previously participated in the Scholars’ Program
  • Be considered likely to select a career in gastroenterology
  • Candidate to submit a brief letter of intent (200 words or less) along with a CV

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates Nominated by their Gastroenterology Program Directors and Divisional Directors:

  • Be identified as completing a clinical or research rotation with an outstanding evaluation, supported by a signed letter of recommendation from either the RCPSC Program Director for Gastroenterology or university Divisional Director for Gastroenterology that includes an agreement that the nominee will be protected from call the day before the program through the day after the program. This is submitted in addition to the candidate’s CV

BIPOC Candidates (self-nomination process)

  • Given BIPOC candidates will self-nominate, they will not require a letter of recommendation until after the CAG has short-listed them. In addition, these two successful candidates will also require written confirmation that includes an agreement that the nominee will be protected from calls the day before the program through the day after the program. All eligibility criteria remain consistent with the regular stream of nominations as per above.

Procedure for Scholars' Program

Step One: Nomination - Deadline is October 21 at 11:59 ET

Please note that any submissions received after the deadline will be considered for the following year.

Although we have established a new BIPOC-allocated stream, BIPOC candidates should still be considered eligible for the traditional stream of applications, even if they have expressed an intent to apply for the BIPOC stream.

The CAG will send out a communication in late August to all Adult/Pediatric Gastroenterology Program Directors & Divisional Directors, as well as Deans of Medicine, as a call for nominations to be submitted for the Scholars' Program. It is important to note that candidates are nominated and not registered for this program. There are many candidates submitted for consideration to this program, and as such, there is a process which involves a competition.

  • The Adult GI Program Director may submit a total of two adult candidates (PGY1/PGY2 residents and/or medical students). Based on strength, the Program Director will rank these two adult candidates for submission. If there is no Adult GI training program at your center, the Internal Medicine Program Director is authorized to submit the candidate (presumably in consultation with the Adult GI Division at your centre).
  • The Pediatric Program Director may submit one pediatric candidate (PGY1/PGY2/PGY3 resident or medical student). If there is no Pediatric GI training program at your center, the Pediatric Gastroenterology Division Head or General Pediatrics Program Director is authorized to submit the candidate.
  • The BIPOC Candidate who meets the criteria noted above is welcome to self-nominate by completing the application via the link below and uploading their Letter of Intent and corresponding CV. The Nomination Process for this group is self-directed by the candidate.

Submission Requirements

PLEASE NOTE: This online form must be completed in one single session. This form cannot save your information to return to at a later time.

Upon successful submission, you will be redirected to a confirmation webpage and will receive an email from us. If this does not occur, please contact the .

Nomination System - Adult

Nomination System - Pediatric

Nomination System - BIPOC

Step Two: Review Process A

  1. All candidates (adult and pediatric) will first be reviewed by the CAG Scholars' Program Co-Chairs to confirm eligibility.
  2. The top-ranked adult candidates will then be accepted from each institution, thus ensuring equal representation in the program. We rely on submitting Program Directors accurately ranking their candidates based on strength.
  3. The pediatric candidates will then be accepted (one per institution), ensuring equal representation in the program.
  4. As the final step, the 2nd-ranked adult candidates will be competitively assessed against all other 2nd-ranked adult candidates to compete for the remaining spots in the program. In this competitive assessment, the program Co-Chairs will be taking into consideration: a) commitment to GI as a career choice (as evidenced by clinical rotations); b) commitment to research/advocacy/education related to GI as evidenced in the CV and supporting letter; c) likelihood to pursue training in GI as evidenced in the supporting letter.

Step Two: Review Process B

  1. All BIPOC candidates (adult and pediatric) will be reviewed by CAG leadership representing the CAG’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and the CAG’s Scholar Committee to confirm eligibility.
  2. In this competitive assessment, CAG will be taking into consideration:
    • Commitment to GI as a career choice (as evidenced by clinical rotations noted in CV);
    • Commitment to research/advocacy/education related to GI as evidenced in the CV and Letter of Intent;
    • Likelihood to pursue training in GI as evidenced in Letter of Intent.
    • Black and Indigenous candidates will be given preference based on current levels of underrepresentation in the gastroenterology specialty across Canada.
  3. Should you be one of the successful candidates who are shortlisted by CAG you will require a letter of recommendation from your Program Director or Clinical Clerkship Lead with written confirmation that includes an agreement that the nominee will be protected from call the day before the program through the day after the program.

Step Three: Notice of Approval or Decline

The CAG will contact all candidates for the program to provide either an invitation to attend or a letter to decline. Please note that once flights and hotels are booked, they are non-refundable and should a confirmed participant not attend the program, their nominating institution may be invoiced for the associated costs incurred.