Specialty Café

"Your patients will remember you." For Patricia Farrugia, MD, FRCSC, that simple message has shaped her approach to medicine, teaching, and leadership. Whether caring for patients, training residents, or mentoring the next generation of physicians, she believes that every interaction matters and that we each have a responsibility to help others succeed. In this episode of Specialty Café, host Sharmin Zahin speaks with Dr. Farrugia, orthopedic surgeon, Associate Dean, Indigenous Health at McMaster University's Faculty of Health Sciences, and Chair of Indigenous Health at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. Dr. Farrugia reflects on her path to orthopedic surgery, shares advice for students navigating specialty choice and the CaRMS process, and discusses the realities of residency training. She speaks candidly about the importance of resilience, surrounding yourself with good support (her husband, mother, and mother-in-law!), and understanding that medicine can be demanding, but that no one succeeds alone. The conversation also explores her leadership in Indigenous health, the importance of representation and mentorship in medicine, and why creating opportunities for future generations remains one of her greatest responsibilities. Whether you're considering orthopedic surgery, preparing for CaRMS, or looking for guidance on building a meaningful career in medicine, this episode offers thoughtful advice, encouragement, and perspective from a leader who is passionate about helping others thrive. More questions about CaRMS? Check out the many resources available on the CaRMS website. If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away.  More information is available on the Royal College's website. 

The CaRMS deadline is just around the corner, and we're bringing back one of our most valuable CaRMS conversations. Originally published last year, this REWIND episode remains as relevant as ever. In this episode of Specialty Café, Kaif Pardhan, MD, FRCPC, Program Director for Emergency Medicine at the University of Toronto, joins host Mark Garabedian (now an MD - PGY1 in Orthopedic Surgery) to share insider advice straight from the selection side of the residency application process. Whether you're putting the finishing touches on your CaRMS application or planning ahead for a future match cycle, the guidance in this episode still holds true. Dr. Pardhan offers practical insight into what programs look for in a strong personal letter, how to approach staff for reference letters, what your CV really communicates, and how to highlight what makes you unique as a candidate. He also shares strategies for ranking programs and preparing for interviews, which arrive sooner than many applicants expect. Key takeaway: Every applicant's story is unique. Diverse experiences and perspectives help residency programs thrive. More questions about CaRMS? Check out the many resources available on the CaRMS website. If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away.  More information is available on the Royal College's website.  Specialty Café REWIND episodes revisit some of our most popular and enduring conversations. While this episode was originally released last year, the advice and perspectives shared remain highly applicable for today's CaRMS applicants.

Can you navigate the CaRMS Match as a couple without increasing your risk of going unmatched? How does the couples match actually work, and what conversations should partners be having long before rank lists are due? In this episode of Specialty Café, Sharmin Zahin is joined by Alessia Di Carlo, MD and Alessandro Ricci, MD - PGY5s in General Surgery at Queen's University who successfully navigated the CaRMS couples match together. Drawing from their own experience matching to residency as a couple and now pursuing fellowship training in different cities, they offer practical advice, reflections, and reassurance for med students who might be in the same situation: being a couple prepping their CaRMS applications.  The conversation breaks down the logistics of couples matching, common misconceptions about match risk, strategies for building a rank list, and the importance of aligning personal and professional priorities. Dr. Di Carlo and Dr. Ricci share how couples can approach difficult decisions, communicate openly about career goals, and remain flexible throughout medical training. Whether you're in a relationship, considering the couples match, or simply curious about how the CaRMS algorithm accommodates applicants with shared goals, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the most nuanced aspects of the residency match process.  More questions about CaRMS? Check out the many resources available on the CaRMS website. If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away.  More information is available on the Royal College's website. 

Demystifying CaRMS 2026: The Residency Match The Royal College extends sincere thanks to the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) for its valuable collaboration on this episode. It's CaRMS season! You've started gathering reference letters, preparing your application documents, reviewing program descriptions, and exploring the CaRMS website. But if you're still trying to understand how the residency match process actually works, you're in the right place. In this episode of Specialty Café, host Sharmin Zahin settles in to chat about all things CaRMS with Geneviève Leroux, Client Services Manager at the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). This discussion demystifies one of the most important milestones in a medical student's journey: the residency match. Drawing on more than a decade of experience supporting residency applicants, Geneviève takes the Specialty Café community behind the scenes of the Canadian residency match process, explaining how applications are reviewed, how the matching algorithm works, and why applicants should always rank programs according to their true preferences. She also addresses common misconceptions about CaRMS, shares practical advice for navigating a competitive application cycle, and so much more! Whether you're preparing your application this year or simply looking ahead to residency, this conversation offers clear, practical insights to help you approach the match process with greater confidence and understanding. More questions about CaRMS? Check out the many resources available on the CaRMS website. If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away.  More information is available on the Royal College's website.   

Your personal letter matters, and authenticity is key. In this REWIND episode of Specialty Café, host Mark Garabedian, MD (now a PGY1 in Orthopedic Surgery), chats with Justin Rivard, MD, FRCSC, General Surgery Program Director at the University of Manitoba, to discuss what program directors are really looking for during the CaRMS process. Dr. Rivard shares practical and reassuring advice on approaching your personal letter, how your background and experiences can strengthen your application, and why qualities like teamwork, professionalism, and a strong work ethic often matter more than technical expertise at the medical student level. He also explains the important role residents play in evaluating elective students and offers insight into choosing where and why to apply. Although this conversation was originally published in 2025, the guidance remains highly relevant for today's medical students in 2026. Whether you're actively preparing for CaRMS or just starting to explore specialties, you'll find valuable advice on making the most of electives, building meaningful relationships, and presenting your authentic self throughout the residency application process. If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

General Surgery in the community vs in academic centres: what's the true difference? Is one practice busier than the other? Being a women in General Surgery... are some of the myths true (for example, do you make less money?). Does being a General Surgeon mean you're in the OR five days a week?  In this episode of Specialty Café, host Sharmin Zahin speaks with Priya Chopra, MD, FRCSC, about the realities of modern General Surgery. From community and academic practice to workload, compensation, operating room time, and common misconceptions about women in surgery, Dr. Chopra offers an lived-look at what the specialty is really like. Dr. Chopra's opinions are based on her personal experience. And she acknowledges that her lifestyle wouldn't be possible without her husband's support.  Whether you're a medical student exploring specialties, a resident planning your future, or a physician interested in career pathways, this episode provides practical insights into one of medicine's most diverse surgical fields. If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

What would you do if going to work no longer brought you joy? If you felt out of sorts, disconnected from your program, and unsure whether the specialty you had once been so certain about was just not the right fit? How do you know when it's time to consider a different path? In this episode of Specialty Café, host Henry Tran speaks with Dr. Xiya Ma, a Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology resident at the University of Montreal who  almost completed a residency in Plastic Surgery. Dr. Ma shares her deeply personal story of realizing that something wasn't clicking, rethinking what she wanted from her career, and discovering a specialty she had never seriously considered was exactly the right fit for her. She reflects on the questions that helped guide her decision, the uncertainty of changing direction, and why it's okay to recognize that the path you once imagined for yourself may not be the one you want to follow. Dr. Ma also opens up about the mentors, program support, and openness that helped make her transition possible. She admits that, in many ways, the stars were aligned: the right people, the right opportunity, and an available spot in pathology. Her experience is a reminder that changing specialties is not necessarily a failure, but it can take courage, self-awareness, and a willingness to explore. Dr. Ma shares what makes pathology such a rewarding fit for her: the intellectual challenge, research opportunities, technical aspects, and the chance to contribute to patient care in a different way. She describes a hugely collaborative and supportive team where teaching is encouraged, discussion is constant, and asking for help is encouraged. Dr. Ma and Henry also explore what students and residents can do when questioning their specialty choice and why sometimes, the specialty you never considered turns out to be the one that feels most like home. If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

"I'm a person who is always looking for the edge… and I sometimes dance a bit too close to the edge." For Dr. Katrina Hurley, FRCPC, a career in Pediatric Emergency Medicine has meant embracing the unexpected, evolving with each stage of life, and finding fulfillment both in and beyond the emergency department. Hosted by Sharmin Zahin, this episode explores Dr. Hurley's journey from being inspired by ER to discovering Pediatric Emergency Medicine during residency. She shares what a typical day looks like, how "fever, fever, fever!" is the bread and butter, and why every shift unfolds differently. She also talks about her appreciation for (and now providing) coaching, the myth of work-life balance, and the importance of being flexible as your career, life, and expectations evolve. Dr. Hurley reflects on what makes the work meaningful - from small (but hugely meaningful) moments of connection with children and families to navigating emotionally difficult situations (and how important your healthcare team is in these times). Her advice for future Pediatric Emergency physicians? Be comfortable with ambiguity, complexity, and not always having the answers. This speciality often has you looking for the needle in the haystack whilst learning when to investigate, when to wait, and when to simply be present. If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

A quote (and the vibe) from today's guest: "Our operating room is the world."   What if improving health meant looking beyond the patient in front of you? How do rural practice, community experiences, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected shape a physician's career and impact?   In this episode of Specialty Café, host Dr. Mark Garabedian speaks with Dr. Douglas Manuel, FRCPC, about his journey from rural and northern medical practice to a career in Public Health & Preventive Medicine. Reflecting on experiences in communities across Canada, Dr. Manuel shares how stepping outside his comfort zone and remaining open to new opportunities helped shape his understanding of health, prevention, and the role physicians can play in creating change.   Their conversation explores the importance of looking beyond the walls of the hospital and considering the broader factors that influence health.  They touch on career flexibility, global health, reflective practice, and the value of engaging directly with communities. A particularly thought-provoking discussion contrasts the immediate satisfaction of "fixing a bone" with the population-level impact achieved through teamwork, prevention, and systems change, highlighting how meaningful improvements in health are rarely the work of a single person.   Whether you're considering a career in Public Health & Preventive Medicine or truly interested in new ways of thinking about medicine, this episode offers a unique perspective on maintaining curiosity, embracing uncertainty, and finding opportunities to make a difference at both the individual and community level.   If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.

Are you okay with 5 am starts... and not seeing the sun for weeks? Orthopedic Surgery may be one of medicine's most demanding specialties... but for the right person, it's also one of the most rewarding (and of course fun too!). Bonus: Our guest shares her journey in law and how it can benefit her life in medicine.  In this episode of Specialty Café, host Henry Tran sits down with Dr. Sophie Ba (now a PGY3),  Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Ottawa, to explore what residency is really like beyond the stereotypes. From long OR days and call shifts to finding balance outside the hospital, Dr. Ba shares what drew her to Orthopedic Surgery and why the culture and collegiality of her residency program made the University of Ottawa an easy first choice. Preparing for CaRMS? Dr. Ba also shares practical advice on electives, reference letters, interviews, and standing out as a medical student. Her biggest takeaway: be a supportive team player, stay authentic, and trust the work you've already put in throughout medical school. Whether you're exploring Orthopedic Surgery, preparing for CaRMS, or simply curious about life as a surgical resident, this episode offers honest insights, practical advice, and encouragement for every medical trainee. Specialty Café is the Royal College's podcast for medical students, featuring  diverse conversations that help trainees explore specialties, prep for CaRMS, build meaningful careers in medicine, and so much more!  If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.