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We interviewed Dr. Bukhari about her CARMS (Canadian Resident Matching Service) experience; here's what she had to say:
Q. When and where did you graduate from?
I graduated in 2016 from Jinnah Sindh Medical University in Pakistan.
Q. Where did you match?
I was matched in University of Saskatchewan's Family Medicine Program in North Battleford.
Q. Were you satisfied with your QE1 scores? Do you think scores matter?
I would say my scores were very pretty average, but I do think they matter. High scores increase your chances of getting matched, for sure.
Q. How did you study for QE1?
I prepared for QE1 for more than one year. I primarily relied on Toronto Notes. It took me roughly six months to complete the first read. I incorporated Canada QBank exams in my study plan during my second read which took almost three months to finish. Finally, I was confident enough to take MCC's mockup exams in the third and final read. I purchased the exams from MCC's official website.
I would study for 8-10 hours every day. Sometimes, I would take Sundays off. However, I kept my momentum going under all circumstances. I honestly believe that if you remain consistent with your preparation, nothing can stop you from succeeding.
I was studying full time. So, apart from household chores, I had no other distractions. During my preparation for QE1, I had three study partners. I found working with studying partners to be immensely beneficial as they keep you accountable and motivated. I met my study partners on WhatsApp and Telegram groups. A word of advice, it takes a while to find study partners who are on the same frequency as you - so please be patient in your search.
Q. How did you study for NAC OSCE?
I didn't have much time to prepare for NAC OSCE. I only got two and a half months. I had no other option but to study full time - 10 to 14 hours every day. I practiced with multiple study partners. Luckily, two of my study partners were friends I was acquainted with since my University days. Practicing with them was less intimidating, and over time, I built confidence and refined the delivery of my answers. I used multiple resources to supplement my preparations; I would vouch for Edmonton Notes and Basil Notes. The only advice I have for people preparing for NAC OSCE is to practice as much as you can, and then some.
Q. If you could go back in time, what's that one thing that you'll change about how you prepared for QE1 and NAC OSCE?
For QE1, I was aiming for a passing score. I've since realized that it wasn't a great strategy. For Canadian residency programs, scores do matter, especially if you want to find residency in the highly competitive provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. So, I would be more patient and thorough with my preparation and will try to lift my scores by at least 10 to 20 points. Remember, you've one shot at acing QE1, so make it count.
For NAC OSCE, I would prepare extensively for post-encounter questions. To start with, I didn't get much time to prepare for NAC OSCE but, in that limited time, I was more concerned with history taking and physical examination. As a result, I didn't pay much attention to other aspects of the exams, which I'll change if I do it all over again. Post encounter questions and identifying differentials are an essential part of the NAC OSCE exam, and you should cover them thoroughly as well.
Q. What work experience did you include in your resume?
My work experience was a cornerstone of my CARMS profile. I was fortunate enough to have extensive work experience in Pakistan. First, I did my post-graduate internship at one of the busiest hospitals in the country. There I did rotations in the emergency department, general medicine, surgery and the cardiovascular department. After my internship, I worked as a general practitioner at a community hospital. There, I was seeing patients independently, with no supervision.
After immigrating to Canada, I worked full-time as a clinical assistant. In that role, I was responsible for both clinical as well as administrative duties. There was a lot of patient interaction as I took inbound calls, managed appointments, updated patient profiles before appointments, took their vitals, etc.
All of the above experiences allowed me to paint a coherent picture of my interest in Family Medicine. It is vital to have a common thread in your work experience that ties your interest back to whatever specialty you're applying for.
It is vital to have a common thread in your work experience that ties your interest back to whatever specialty you're applying for.
Q. How do you find a job in Canada? Which type of work experience increases your chances of getting matched?
I don't think it gets highlighted enough, but you need to do a lot of leg work to find a job in Canada. There are multiple options available to you. For example, you can work as a clinical assistant, medical assistant or research assistant. Even a volunteering experience could prove extremely valuable.
I recommend working as a clinical assistant since it allows you to work closely with both doctors and their patients. Whereas, as a medical assistant, your scope of work is usually restricted to administrative/clerical tasks, and as a research assistant, you might not interact with patients at all.
The most accessible role to find is that of a volunteer. Your scope of work will vary based on where you're volunteering. For example, you can volunteer at a clinic - that is essentially an observership. Or, you can be more hands-on by volunteering at a hospital or a shelter.
Finding work as a clinical or a medical assistant without prior Canadian experience can be extremely hard. So, passively applying for jobs online won't cut it. You need to be scrappy. For example, I found a job as a clinical assistant by cold calling clinics and enquiring about open positions. I knew that, due to the pandemic, clinics are overworked. They would need help. Unfortunately, things haven't changed much on the pandemic front, so finding a job in the medical industry might be challenging, but it's not impossible.
Passively applying for jobs online won't cut it.
Q. Do you have any tips for letters of reference and how to source them?
Let's say you're submitting three letters of reference for a pediatrics program. Then ensure that at least one of those references is from a physician with the same specialty as that program.
There's a misconception that letters of reference from your country of origin aren't as important as those from Canada. It's not entirely true. The content of a letter of recommendation receives far more attention than the country of residence of the writer. However, it's good to have at least one letter of reference from someone in Canada and one from a practitioner with the same specialty as the program you're applying for.
Some programs are particular about the recency of your letters of reference. For example, when I was applying in 2020, few programs asked for letters of reference written no earlier than 2019. You can find instructions regarding the content of the letter of reference in the program descriptions. Programs want your referees to highlight your aptitude and interests using specific examples. To ascertain that you have no sway over the letter's content, CARMS sends a link directly to your referee where they can upload the letter.
I'll recommend sending an email to your references beforehand to ensure their email id is still in use and to let them know that they should be expecting an email from CARMS.
Q. Were there moments when you thought of giving up? If so, what made you pull through?
There were many moments when I thought of giving up. Right at the start, the overwhelming fear of failure was crippling. For many, that'll be the biggest hurdle they'll need to overcome. But, once you conquer that fear and take your first step, you're already two-thirds of the way.
The whole process requires ample patience and resilience. Studying 8-10 hours, day in and day out, gets to you. Even more so because during that time, you're usually dependent on someone else. You can study for the exams while working full time, but doing so requires tremendous discipline and stamina.
For me, studying continuously for over a year was mentally fatiguing. However, what got me through was the fact that supportive friends and family surrounded me. In addition, I always knew at the back of my mind that if things don't work out, I can fall back to another career.
Also, taking regular breaks and taking weekends off allowed me to keep my mental health in check.
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