student with preceptor

Electives

Important Update

The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) is launching a new capacity-based model for all visiting elective students in July 2025. The goal of this model is for clerkship students to explore specialties in greater depth (confirm career choices), practice clinical skills, and demonstrate competence in the twelve entrustable professional activities (EPAs). Our Electives Team will be connecting with our electives community to explain exactly how this new model will impact our sites.

Thank you for your commitment to teaching our 3rd and 4th year Elective students from U of T, across Canada and Internationally! Below you will find common resources you will need before, during and after your learner's elective block(s).

All MD Program teachers are asked to become familiar with the following resources when preparing for their teaching roles (1) Psychological Safety and (2) Learner Mistreatment.

The Essentials of Teaching the Elective Student

These essential resources serve as an introduction and refresher to clinical electives teaching, and strategies for being an effective preceptor. 

To access any of the resources, select and click on a link on the right.

Before your Elective Student Arrives

These resources will help you and your clinic get ready for an incoming elective student.

To access any of the resources, select and click on a link on the right.

During your Elective Teaching Block

One of the main goals of the clinical elective experience for students is to explore and learn about the diverse fields of medicine to assist in career decision making and residency applications. As an elective supervisor, you will be asked by students to aid in career planning and electives strategies. These resources will provide helpful tips to guide your counselling.

To access any of the resources, select and click on a link on the right.

After your Elective Teaching Block

Student Assessment
Faculty-appointed supervisors are required to complete 2 evaluations of U of T students during the final week of the placement - one clinical, and one professional. You will receive an automated notification through our online platform, MedSIS, containing a link to the student’s evaluation package. If you are new to MedSIS, you will need to request access at medsis.ume@utoronto.ca. Visiting students will bring a copy of their home school’s assessment requirements which must be completed from their primary preceptor within 2 weeks of the elective’s end.

Student Evaluations
U of T students will complete an evaluation on their elective experience through a Learner Assessment of Clinical Teacher (LACT) and visiting (domestic & international) students will be asked to complete an Elective Evaluation of Elective Experience that is sent through the AFMC.

To access any of the resources, select and click on a link on the right.

Assessing and Supporting Professional Behaviour

Medical students are expected to uphold professional behaviour and clinical supervisors are asked to observe, assess and support the development of professional behaviour. Following resources will help the clinical supervisors understand expectations and assessment criteria as well as provide some tools.

The Electives Office at the University of Toronto

The Electives Office Team provides administrative and operational support for the Electives program, which includes student support to home/UofT students as well as external ‘visiting’ (both domestic and international) students applying to complete an elective with us; staff support to elective supervisors and coordinators at our placement sites; and technical support of our various databases and systems used in application, registration and evaluation processes. You can contact any of our Team Members with questions at any time before, during or after your elective block.

To email, select and click on a link on the right.
“This [Elective] opportunity proved to be transformative, shaping my future career aspirations in ways I couldn't have anticipated.”
- Visiting Elective Student, December 2024