Postgraduate Diploma in Internal Medicine

Program description

Osler Education’s Postgraduate Diploma in Internal Medicine program provides graduate medical doctors with the most up to date and relevant knowledge and experience in internal medicine. This postgraduate program will provide students with medical knowledge and skills for interpreting complex health issues and the important components relating to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases in adults. Students will gain further knowledge in the most key areas of internal medicine including using the most up to date medical science available and the patient-doctor relationship protocol. This is a professional development program, which will allow International Medical Graduates (IMGs) to update their knowledge & get patient exposure to become competitive applicants for medical residency positions.

Benefits of the program
  • Direct exposure to patient care with qualified preceptors at renown teachings sites

  • Attain personalized letters of recommendation and end of placement evaluations

  • US/Canadian clinical experience

  • Establish relationships by working with department chairpersons, program directors, existing residents & fellows.

Family Medicine (12 weeks)

The family medicine component includes building upon the principles of family medicine. This includes learning and focusing on practical application principles through in-patient and out-patient practice. Students will gain further understanding of diseases, the concepts of health and disease, influence of society on disease as well as patient centered medicine. During this time the student is exposed to patients with many common and occasionally rarer health problems. This allows students to build upon patient history taking techniques as well as the proper format to compile an accurately written patient note. Throughout the placement, the student should gain knowledge on how to treat and/or prevent commonly occurring health problems including hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, smoking etc. It is important to obtain sufficient patient-physician interaction skills. When applicable, each case should be professionally presented to fellow team physicians. By the end of the placement, students should be familiar with how to formulate a differential diagnosis, the most commonly used medications as well as most common tests/labs to be ordered for the patient’s condition (next step in management).

Internal Medicine (12 weeks)

The internal medicine component teaches the students a logical approach to patients and their problems. Students will build upon knowledge from each component of disease including management of acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, diabetes and its complications, asthma and COPD, when to order a consult, current prophylaxis and management of common disorders, etc. Students will take information from a presenting or chief complaint, through a comprehensive history and physical examination, to then formulate a differential diagnosis. As such, internal medicine forms the cornerstone of study in the clinical terms, regardless of the students’ future interests. Internal medicine is designed to expose the student to a wide variety of complex medical problems. The student is expected to elicit and assess information obtained from the patient; observe the appropriate way a competent physical examination is conducted; to draw up a problem; to construct a differential diagnosis list and discuss the order of probability; and to discuss an appropriate plan of action in terms of diagnostic therapies and patient education.

The objective of the Postgraduate Diploma in Internal Medicine is to facilitate the successful integration of highly skilled, knowledgeable and experienced internationally trained medical graduates into the internal medicine practice healthcare system in USA or Canada.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Internal Medicine is a professional development program where students will undergo 36- weeks of clinical placements (3 semesters) to achieve more exposure and understanding in the practice of internal medicine in the US or Canadian healthcare system.

This program is specifically designed for international medical graduates looking to achieve more exposure in the practice of internal medicine in the US or Canadian healthcare system. This program does not indicate certification or licensure to practice medicine. Individuals should refer to their local legislative requirements to attain licensure to practice medicine.

What are the registration requirements?
  • Completed application form

  • Official transcript(s) from a World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) recognized medical school

  • Color photograph of the applicant

  • Resume or Personal Statement. A personal statement is summary of the students’ interests, goals, personal attributes, etc. that can classify the student as a suitable candidate for the program of their interest. Please limit personal statements to 500 words.

  • Proof of completion of Medical Council of Canada (MCC) or United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE); if applicable.

  • Proof of English proficiency (IELTS – 6.0 or better); if applicable.

What credential will be awarded upon completion of the course

Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive a Student Performance Evaluation (Dean’s letter) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Internal Medicine.

Course delivery

This program is available through distance education (online) with practicums offered at various affiliated medical centers/hospitals.

  • Duration 36 weeks
  • Credit 180
  • Semester 3