A survey of Canadians enrolled in American emergency medicine residencies

Despite the existence of Emergency Medicine (EM) residency programs in Canada, Canadian physicians continue to pursue EM training in the United States. To determine the factors that may influence these Canadian physicians to return to practice in Canada, a survey was sent to all Canadians enrolled in U.S. EM training programs. Seventeen of 22 (77%) post-graduate trainees responded. Residents said they had chosen U.S. training mainly because of the low number of residents in Canadian EM specialty programs, and they also had the perception that U.S. EM training was superior. Lower salaries, restrictions on location of practice, and an inability to obtain Royal College certification were the factors most likely to prevent a return to Canada. Six of the 17 respondents (35%) said they were definitely or probably returning to Canada. Given the limited number of Canadian training positions and the Canadian Emergency Physician workforce shortfall, the U.S. training route appears to be underutilized, (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.