AFMC Response to Opioid Crisis:

The surge of overdoses and opioid-related deaths in Canada is a national public health crisis. The Government of Canada funded the AFMC, in partnership with Canada’s 17 medical schools, to create a national, bilingual, comprehensive, and competency-based curriculum for medical graduates, residents and practicing physicians interested in pain management and substance use. The evidence-based training aims to fill gaps in educational programs across Canada, including the diagnosis, treatment, and management of pain. In January 2021, the AFMC successfully developed and launched an Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) curriculum and building on this work, we have developed a Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) curriculum.

LEARNING MODULES

Find out about our current curricula.

UGME

The Undergraduate Medical Education curriculum is comprised of 10 modules and an introduction module about the Canadian opioid crisis and addresses gaps in the current undergraduate medical education curriculum.

PGME

Building on the concepts and content of the UGME curriculum, the Postgraduate Medical Education curriculum consists of 8 bilingual & interactive competency-based modules to address current educational gaps.

CPD

The Continuing Professional Development curriculum consists of 8 bilingual & interactive competency-based modules to help practicing physicians address gaps in knowledge related to the Canadian Opioid crisis and treatment options.

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Frequently Asked Questions

UGME List of Contributors

UGME:

  • THE PROJECT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
    Provided high level input into the overall progress and outcomes of the project.
  • THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM EXPERT COMMITTEE
    Provided content consultation and advice into the curriculum; Develops a plan of integration into the UGME programs of their respective organizations/university.
  • THE TRANSITION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
    Provided advice towards the implementation of the curriculum.
  • The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) established the Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ) Assessment Development Committee and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Assessment Development Committee which were responsible for developing a bank of MCQ’s and OSCE’s relevant to the curriculum for randomized inclusion on the MCC Qualifying Examinations I & II.

List of Contributors - PGME & CPD

PGME and CPD:

  • In addition to the committees mentioned, The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and The College of Family Physicians of Canada established the MCQs.

The modules were provided freely to all 17 medical schools across Canada. Depending on the existing curriculum at a faculty of medicine, these modules may be added to enhance learning and understanding.

The modules were created for undergraduate medical students, resident physicians and practicing physicians. However, they are available to any interested stakeholders, other health care professionals and community members.

Each curriculum stream (UGME/PGME/CPD) were created for medical student/resident physicians/practicing physicians. However, any interested stakeholder can sign-up to access any of the curriculum streams they would like. So a practicing physician could indeed access the UGME curriculum.

Who are our contributors?

AFMC would like to recognize the contributors that made this project possible.

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Project Team

For more information:
opioidresponse@afmc.ca

Dr. Lisa Graves

Project Lead

Robert Van Hoorn

Project Manager

Joyce Katshunga

Project Coordinator

Nimra Lalani

Project Assistant

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