Our History - CaRMS

2021

FM/EM Match becomes FM/ES Match

The Family Medicine / Emergency Medicine (FM/EM) match is renamed the Family Medicine / Enhanced Skills (FM/ES) match to reflect the national participation of all Category One enhanced skills programs.

The disciplines that join the match include: Addiction Medicine, Care of the Elderly, Enhanced Surgical Skills, Family Practice Anesthesia, Palliative Care (1-yr academic), and Sport and Exercise Medicine.

2020

CaRMS’ 50th anniversary

CaRMS celebrates 50 years of serving the Canadian medical education community.

2018

Early data release

CaRMS releases key R-1 match data in advance of the annual CaRMS Forum for the first time, to better inform important discussions taking place at the Conference on Canadian Medical Education (CCME).

2016

Pain Medicine joins the MSM

The Pain Medicine program joins the Medicine Subspecialty Match (MSM) for the 2017 match year.

2016

French-language learner groups become official CaRMS member organizations

French-language learner groups Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec (FMEQ) and Fédération des médecins résidents du Québec (FMRQ) become official CaRMS member organizations.

2015

John Gallinger becomes CEO

John Gallinger succeeds Sandra Banner as CaRMS’ CEO.

2015

physiciansapply.ca transfer introduced

CaRMS introduces a new MCC examination data transfer function in CaRMS Online which connects CaRMS Online directly to physiciansapply.ca.

2014

Medical Identification Number for Canada (MINC)

CaRMS becomes a licensed user of the Medical Identification Number for Canada (MINC).

2012

CaRMS Online is released

CaRMS entirely rebuilds its online application system using the latest technology to ensure its ability to efficiently and effectively support multiple matches well into the future. The resulting platform, CaRMS Online, is released for the 2013 R-1 Main Residency Match.

2010

The Pediatric Subspecialty Match is introduced

The Pediatric Subspecialty Match (PSM) is for residents currently in a pediatric residency training program who are looking to apply for subspecialty training.

2009

The Medicine Subspecialty Match is introduced

The Medicine Subspecialty Match (MSM) is for residents currently in an internal medicine residency training program who are looking to apply for subspecialty training.

2009

New user portals

The undergraduate (UG) and referee portals are launched.

2006

The Family Medicine/Emergency Medicine Match is introduced

The Family Medicine/Emergency Medicine Match (FM/EM match) is for applicants who are completing or have completed postgraduate training in Family Medicine in Canada and want to pursue enhanced skills training in Emergency Medicine.

2005

A national match

Québec’s French-language medical schools enter the R-1 Main Residency Match, making the match a truly national service that includes all of Canada’s medical schools.

2002

Online application process launched

CaRMS launches its online application process for the match, for both applicants and medical education programs.

Late 1990s

CaRMS Forum

CaRMS begins holding its annual CaRMS Forum at the Canadian Conference on Medical Education (CCME) to share R-1 Main Residency Match data and insights with the medical education community.

1997

Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) Dean’s Office services

CaRMS acts as Dean’s Office for Canadian medical graduates applying for PGY-1 residency positions in the US through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

1994

CIMS becomes CaRMS

CIMS is incorporated under its current name – the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) under Part II of the Canada Corporations Act.

1993

Two iterations for the R-1 match

The second iteration is introduced for the R-1 Main Residency Match.

1993

R-1 match moves to multi-discipline model

The R-1 Main Residency Match moves from rotating internships to a multi-discipline match

1988

A centralized system

CIMS introduces a central application system for PGY-1 training for English medical schools in Canada.

1986

Sandra Banner is named Executive Director

Dr. Chuck Casterton retires, and is succeeded by Ms. Sandra Banner as CIMS’ Executive Director.

1982

CIMS establishes itself as an independent body

CIMS establishes itself as a self-supporting non-profit body, independent from any medical organizations, to provide matching services and related support.

1971

CIMS Joint Committee

Dr. Al Cox is named the first Chair of the CIMS Joint Committee.

1970

Dr. Chuck Casterton is named Executive Director

The Association of Canadian Medical Colleges assumes a secretariat role and an advisory committee composed of founding medical organizations is established to set policy.

1970

The Canadian Interns Matching Service (CIMS) is created to offer a PGY-1 match internship for all programs

The founding organizations are: the Association of Canadian Medical Colleges (ACMC); the Association of Canadian Teaching Hospitals (ACTH); the Canadian Medical Association (CMA); the Canadian Association of Interns and Residents (CAIR); the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC); the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC); and the Federation of Medical Licensing Authorities of Canada (FMRAC).

Pre-1970

Canadian Association of Medical Students

Before 1970, the matching of medical students with residency positions is organized and conducted by the Canadian Association of Medical Students.