Specialty Café

Your personal letter matters, and authenticity is key. In this REWIND episode of Specialty Café, host Mark Garabedian, MD (now a PGY1 in Orthopedic Surgery), chats with Justin Rivard, MD, FRCSC, General Surgery Program Director at the University of Manitoba, to discuss what program directors are really looking for during the CaRMS process. Dr. Rivard shares practical and reassuring advice on approaching your personal letter, how your background and experiences can strengthen your application, and why qualities like teamwork, professionalism, and a strong work ethic often matter more than technical expertise at the medical student level. He also explains the important role residents play in evaluating elective students and offers insight into choosing where and why to apply. Although this conversation was originally published in 2025, the guidance remains highly relevant for today's medical students in 2026. Whether you're actively preparing for CaRMS or just starting to explore specialties, you'll find valuable advice on making the most of electives, building meaningful relationships, and presenting your authentic self throughout the residency application process. If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

General Surgery in the community vs in academic centres: what's the true difference? Is one practice busier than the other? Being a women in General Surgery... are some of the myths true (for example, do you make less money?). Does being a General Surgeon mean you're in the OR five days a week?  In this episode of Specialty Café, host Sharmin Zahin speaks with Priya Chopra, MD, FRCSC, about the realities of modern General Surgery. From community and academic practice to workload, compensation, operating room time, and common misconceptions about women in surgery, Dr. Chopra offers an lived-look at what the specialty is really like. Dr. Chopra's opinions are based on her personal experience. And she acknowledges that her lifestyle wouldn't be possible without her husband's support.  Whether you're a medical student exploring specialties, a resident planning your future, or a physician interested in career pathways, this episode provides practical insights into one of medicine's most diverse surgical fields. If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

What would you do if going to work no longer brought you joy? If you felt out of sorts, disconnected from your program, and unsure whether the specialty you had once been so certain about was just not the right fit? How do you know when it's time to consider a different path? In this episode of Specialty Café, host Henry Tran speaks with Dr. Xiya Ma, a Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology resident at the University of Montreal who  almost completed a residency in Plastic Surgery. Dr. Ma shares her deeply personal story of realizing that something wasn't clicking, rethinking what she wanted from her career, and discovering a specialty she had never seriously considered was exactly the right fit for her. She reflects on the questions that helped guide her decision, the uncertainty of changing direction, and why it's okay to recognize that the path you once imagined for yourself may not be the one you want to follow. Dr. Ma also opens up about the mentors, program support, and openness that helped make her transition possible. She admits that, in many ways, the stars were aligned: the right people, the right opportunity, and an available spot in pathology. Her experience is a reminder that changing specialties is not necessarily a failure, but it can take courage, self-awareness, and a willingness to explore. Dr. Ma shares what makes pathology such a rewarding fit for her: the intellectual challenge, research opportunities, technical aspects, and the chance to contribute to patient care in a different way. She describes a hugely collaborative and supportive team where teaching is encouraged, discussion is constant, and asking for help is encouraged. Dr. Ma and Henry also explore what students and residents can do when questioning their specialty choice and why sometimes, the specialty you never considered turns out to be the one that feels most like home. If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

"I'm a person who is always looking for the edge… and I sometimes dance a bit too close to the edge." For Dr. Katrina Hurley, FRCPC, a career in Pediatric Emergency Medicine has meant embracing the unexpected, evolving with each stage of life, and finding fulfillment both in and beyond the emergency department. Hosted by Sharmin Zahin, this episode explores Dr. Hurley's journey from being inspired by ER to discovering Pediatric Emergency Medicine during residency. She shares what a typical day looks like, how "fever, fever, fever!" is the bread and butter, and why every shift unfolds differently. She also talks about her appreciation for (and now providing) coaching, the myth of work-life balance, and the importance of being flexible as your career, life, and expectations evolve. Dr. Hurley reflects on what makes the work meaningful - from small (but hugely meaningful) moments of connection with children and families to navigating emotionally difficult situations (and how important your healthcare team is in these times). Her advice for future Pediatric Emergency physicians? Be comfortable with ambiguity, complexity, and not always having the answers. This speciality often has you looking for the needle in the haystack whilst learning when to investigate, when to wait, and when to simply be present. If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

A quote (and the vibe) from today's guest: "Our operating room is the world."   What if improving health meant looking beyond the patient in front of you? How do rural practice, community experiences, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected shape a physician's career and impact?   In this episode of Specialty Café, host Dr. Mark Garabedian speaks with Dr. Douglas Manuel, FRCPC, about his journey from rural and northern medical practice to a career in Public Health & Preventive Medicine. Reflecting on experiences in communities across Canada, Dr. Manuel shares how stepping outside his comfort zone and remaining open to new opportunities helped shape his understanding of health, prevention, and the role physicians can play in creating change.   Their conversation explores the importance of looking beyond the walls of the hospital and considering the broader factors that influence health.  They touch on career flexibility, global health, reflective practice, and the value of engaging directly with communities. A particularly thought-provoking discussion contrasts the immediate satisfaction of "fixing a bone" with the population-level impact achieved through teamwork, prevention, and systems change, highlighting how meaningful improvements in health are rarely the work of a single person.   Whether you're considering a career in Public Health & Preventive Medicine or truly interested in new ways of thinking about medicine, this episode offers a unique perspective on maintaining curiosity, embracing uncertainty, and finding opportunities to make a difference at both the individual and community level.   If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.