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| Dr. Cyrus Salimi is a graduate of The University of Tehran who moved to Canada to pursue his medical career in the mid 1990's. At that time, only 24 positions were available for the IMGs in Ontario which made it very challenging for IMGs to enter the system. After experiencing a lot of disappointment, most IMGs were giving up one after another. Dr. Salimi entered the challenge knowing that it might be a long way to go. As he puts it in his own words: "... Sometimes I thought I should give up, but something inside me said 'keep going' ...". After passing the required exams for IMGs, Dr. Salimi was admitted to McMaster University and finished his specialty training in Internal Medicine. He then advanced his career further by obtaining a sub-specialty training position in Rheumatology at McMaster University. So far, he has successfully helped hundreds of IMGs pass their Canadian exams and enter the system successfully. |
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About The Ontario IMG School
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The Ontario IMG School was established by Dr. Cyrus Salimi in May 2001. Being an International Medical Graduate (IMG) himself, Dr. Salimi experienced all the difficulties that an IMG encounters through the rigorous process of application for medical status within the Ontario healthcare system. After passing the required exams and becoming admitted into The Ontario IMG Program, Dr. Salimi decided to share his experience with other IMGs. By assisting IMGs through the doctor-patient encounter aspect of the exam, which arguably has been the most competitive part of the Canadian process for international doctors, Dr. Salimi has indeed made a difference for all international doctors seeking admission into the medical field in their new home.
The Ontario IMG School prepares the International Medical Graduates who are planning to take the second part of The Ontario IMG Program exam (OSCE) and/or part II of Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam and/or the American CSA. The sessions are six hours long and are held during the weekend, when the OSCE Courses take place between the months of January until September. Each session covers different OSCE scenarios while providing opportunities for students to practise with the standardized patients (SPs).
The course includes three mock exams consisting of ten 10-minute stations, simulating the real OSCE setting. In each station, in addition to the SP, an examiner is present who observes the interaction between the candidate and the SP. The examiner completes the checklist for the station and finally writes his/her assessment of the candidate’s performance, providing an individualized feedback to the candidate. Following each mock exam, a review session is held and the checklists and performance rank order sheet are returned to the candidate to keep for his/her personal records.
Throughout the course, communication skills are emphasized strongly in addition to the necessary medical knowledge. Students are presented with various OSCE-type scenarios and are provided with several opportunities to interact with SPs in order to take history, perform physical exam, or provide counselling. Immediate feedback is given while reviewing the scenario in detail.
All the sessions are held at a conveniently located centre in downtown Toronto that is easily accessible by public transportation. The registration fee also covers the three mock exams and all the required handouts. The fee can be paid in three convenient installments as outlined in the application form.
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