Program Description

Launched in 2021 as a pilot project, the SRPC Mentorship Program has grown into a nationally recognized initiative, connecting medical students with rural physicians and residents across Canada. With over 65 dedicated mentors, the program provides meaningful guidance, career exploration, and insight into the unique rewards of rural medical practice.

Goals:

• Connecting students to rural physicians across Canada
• Career exploration and guidance
• Increase understanding of the scope of rural practice
• Provide learning opportunities outside of the formal academic environment
• Contribute to the current and growing need of rural physicians in Canada

Your Role As a Mentor

As a mentor with SRPC, medical students will connect with you through the SRPC office manager. Once you are connected, there will be flexibility in how you set up your mentor-mentee relationships, which can be tailored on an individual basis. This may include answering a few quick questions, setting up a longitudinal mentorship plan, or organizing shadowing experiences.

Expectations in your role as a mentor may include:

• Sharing experiences of rural practice with mentees for the purpose of career exploration and guidance
• Being honest and open regarding the rewards/challenges to rural medicine
• Forming a plan and setting expectations with your mentee regarding frequency of meetings and meeting platform to be used
• Sharing appropriate resources
• Recognizing that advice given, while extremely valuable, does not substitute for MD program-specific mentorship and supports

* By registering as a mentor for this program, you consent to allowing the SRPC to share the information you have provided to mentees that register for the program.  As a mentor, you may contact the SRPC at any time and have your name removed.

** Mentors must be SRPC members to participate in this program. (Join here)

Mentee

If you are looking for a Rural Mentor. Visit the SRPC Mentor Program page for all the details.

Please ensure your SRPC membership is up to date. Send your email request to Kristen for a list of mentors and instructions. (kristenk@srpc.ca)

Mentees Must be SRPC members to participate in this program.
(Join here)

Call for Research Abstracts - Rural & Remote 2026

This is your opportunity to have your research showcased at the SRPC's 33rd Annual Rural & Remote Medicine Conference, taking place from April 16th to 18th, 2026, in Quebec City, Quebec.

The SRPC Research Committee is currently accepting submissions for research abstracts on any aspect of health and healthcare in rural and remote settings. We are accepting abstracts for two types of presentations:

1. Research Oral Presentation

2. Research Poster Presentation

All abstract submissions will undergo peer review by the SRPC Research Committee. Adjudication Criteria for All Research Abstracts

Deadlines:

• Research Oral Presentation: December 31st, 2025

• Research Poster Presentation: December 31st, 2025

Submission Requirements:

Abstracts must include the following:

• Introduction: Briefly state the objective of the paper. (~50 words)
• Methods: Describe the approach without presenting results. (~50 words)
• Results: Present findings only, without repeating methods. (~80 words)
• Conclusion: Summarize key takeaways without introducing new results. (~70 words)
  

IMPORTANT:

• Introduction/Methods/Results/Conclusion must not exceed 250 words in total. 
• Pending peer review and approval, abstracts that qualify may be considered for publication in CJRM as submitted.
• Please ensure the accuracy and quality of the abstract (including spelling and grammar) during submission..
• Please make sure all required information is complete before submitting, as changes cannot be made directly after submission. Any modifications must be requested by emailing admin support at info@srpc.ca by the deadline of December 31st, 2025.

Information Required for Submission:

Researcher/Presenter Details:

• Lead Researcher/Presenter Name & Email

• List of Authors; then, the presenter and co-presenter

Presentation Details:

• Title of Research

• Presentation Type

• Student/Resident Poster Contest Participation (if applicable)

Content:

NOTE- Introduction/Methods/Results/Conclusion must not exceed 250 words in total.

• Introduction (including objective/s or aim/s)

• Methods

• Results

• Conclusion

Additional Details:

• References (Optional)

• Tags

• Conflicts of Interest and Funding Disclosure

• Ethics Board Approval

• Additional Information

Submit Your Research Abstract Online Here

Additional Information:

Research Oral Presentation:
Presenters will have 8 minutes to deliver their presentation, followed by a 2-minute Q&A session. *Oral presentation submissions will also be considered for the poster session

Research Poster Presentation:
Posters will be displayed for the duration of the conference, and attendees will have a dedicated time to view them.

Poster Contest:
Students and Residents who register and attend the conference and hold a valid membership are eligible for the $500 prize for the top research poster.

Note: Researchers whose abstracts are accepted are required to register for the conference and attend at least on the day they are scheduled to present.

Notice: Approved abstracts and selected individuals will be notified by mid-February or earlier. Those not chosen will also be informed, but no feedback will be provided.

Drs. Simon Moore and Paul Dhillon will bring us "Vital FM Updates for Primary Care" for the next Rural Reach Webinar.

Please note, this is not an accredited event.

Free for SRPC Members / $50 for General Admission

Date: Thursday January 22, 2026
Time: 8 PM (Eastern Time)
[click to convert to your local time]
Location: Zoom - The link will be in the confirmation email

Can't make it live? No worries! The session will be recorded and shared with registered attendees. 

Description:

Simon and Paul will present a condensed, high-impact webinar designed to help stay up to date with vital primary care updates. Drawing from CFP Journal and other trusted sources, they’ll cover key guideline changes, new medications, and vaccine recommendations. Practical and relevant, this session is ideal for family doctors and learners across the country.

Objectives:
At the conclusion of this activity,  participants will be able to:

• Understand most relevant recent guideline changes for Family Medicine
  
• List new medications that have been approved and are expecting release soon
  
• Provide recommendations on new vaccines and changes in treatments
  
  

Presenter: Dr. Simon Moore and Dr. Paul Dhillon

Dr. Simon Moore hates boring lectures. At night, he dreams of new ways to make learning stick—like recruiting his 3 kids to create a medical study guide... disguised as a children’s book. As a former President of Resident Doctors of Canada, founder of The Review Course in Family Medicine, a Physician Lead for UBC Continuing Professional Development, and a Medical Coordinator for Vancouver Coastal Health, you could say he is obsessed with medical education. His Global Health fellowship and clinical practice have taken him across Canada and the world - under the Northern Lights, in Indigenous Health, and Urgent Care. From the clinic to the classrooms to international conference invitations, Dr. Moore is on a mission to make medicine exciting, impactful, and—dare we say—fun.

Dr. Paul Dhillon is a Canadian Armed Forces physician with qualifications in dive medicine, flight medicine, and submarine medicine, currently serving as the 39 Canadian Brigade Group Surgeon. He was the Chief Medical Officer for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, overseeing the coordination of comprehensive medical services for this international adaptive sports event for wounded, injured, and ill service personnel and veterans. Dr. Dhillon is a past board member of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC) and the editor of The Surprising Lives of Small-Town Doctors, a collection of stories highlighting the unique challenges and rewards of rural medical practice in Canada.

Full details regarding exhibit booths and sponsorship are available in the conference prospectus.

Visit the RR2026 website for all the event details.

If you have any questions, please contact 819-647-7054. 

• Full payment is due 30 days after receipt of your registration form. 

• Bookings will be released for resale if full payment is not received within 30 days of submitting the registration form. 

• We will review your Registration/Invoice, (apply your deposit/discount if applicable) and send you the final invoice.

• Deposits are non-refundable.

Join us in Quebec City, Quebec, April 16-18, 2026, at the Centre des Congrès de Québec

Our theme this year is "The Creative Art of Rural Medicine".

Visit the conference website to get the updated R&R Program. ruralandremoteconference.ca

*ACRRM and RACGP Members, please inquire about special rates before registering. (info@srpc.ca)

Hotel & Travel Codes:

Find booking links, hotel room blocks, travel discounts, and all essential details on the Rural and Remote Medicine Conference website: ruralandremoteconference.ca

Agenda:

The three-day agenda includes over 150 breakout sessions and workshops. Each day begins with breakfast at 7:00 AM, and sessions run from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
 
The R&R agenda will be primarily open access, allowing participants to customize their experience.

But the learning and connections don’t stop there! Join us for optional evening socials each night—great opportunities to network, unwind, and create lasting memories. You won’t want to miss out!

Your registration includes hot breakfast and lunch buffets, plus refreshment breaks to keep you fueled all day.

Need help with registration? Contact us at info@srpc.ca

 Read the SRPC event cancellation policy online.

Recruiters, Exhibitors, and Sponsors Registration

Secure a booth in the exhibit hall - We have limited space. Find out more Discover about Exhibitor Opportunities.