Pre-clerkship resources
Mentor with Regional MMI Prep
Interview season can be an overwhelming time for medical school applicants. So much work has gone into reaching this moment, and with the dream of medicine suddenly feeling within reach, the pressure to perform can be immense. Having someone in your corner who has been through the process can make all the difference.
BMSAC invites medical students, residents, and physicians to support Black applicants and applicants from other equity-seeking communities through our Mock MMI Night.
As a mentor and facilitator, you will help simulate realistic MMI stations, provide individualized feedback, and share insights that can help applicants approach their interviews with greater confidence. Whether it is helping someone structure their thoughts, navigate an ethical scenario, communicate their experiences, or simply feel more comfortable in the interview setting, your experience can be an invaluable resource to someone preparing to take this next step.
This is an opportunity to give back, support the next generation of physicians, and help make the path into medicine a little less daunting for those coming after us.
Sign up to be a facilitator here!
Mentorship from Black Physicians of Canada
Understanding the experiences of Black learners and physicians is an important part of building a medical system in which Black professionals can enter, progress, and thrive. The Black Physicians of Canada (BPC) is helping build that understanding through its Pan-Canadian Black Medical Learner and Physician Census, which gathers information from Black medical students, residents, physicians, and international medical graduates. By participating, learners can contribute to a national picture of Black Canadians’ progression through medicine and help inform future work around equitable recruitment, retention, and representation.
BPC also recognizes the importance of mentorship throughout medical training and beyond. Its national mentorship program connects Black residents, fellows, and early-career physicians with Black staff physicians for one-on-one mentorship based on factors such as specialty and location. While the formal program does not currently include medical students, BPC welcomes Black Canadian medical students seeking mentorship to reach out so they can be directed toward potential mentors.
Explore different specialities.
Choosing a medical specialty is one of the most important decisions in a physician’s career. Shaping not only professional trajectory, but also identity, impact, and fulfilment. Yet for many medical students, particularly Black students and other underrepresented learners, the process can feel like navigating a maze without a map.
As members of the Black Medical Students’ Association Council (BMSAC), we have seen firsthand the “hidden curriculum” in medicine; unwritten rules, informal networks, and conversations that shape access to opportunities and sense of belonging. These sessions along with the clerkship speciality guide have been created to make that hidden curriculum more visible.
Our goal is to demystify medical specialties and provide practical insight, key questions, and resources to support informed and confident decision-making. By centering the experiences of Black medical students, we aim to foster a more inclusive and transparent path forward.
Stay tuned for the specialty night sign ups!
Summer Opportunities
Summer research and community-based learning can be an important part of medical training, giving students the opportunity to explore questions beyond the classroom, develop new skills, and discover where their interests may take them. For some learners, an early experience in research can spark an interest in becoming a clinician-investigator, while for others, it can deepen their understanding of advocacy, community health, and how evidence can shape the care we provide.
BMSAC is working with partners to expand access to meaningful summer opportunities for Black medical students across Canada. In Ontario, the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario (BPAO) offers the Community Health Centre Education Program (CHCE), an eight-week paid summer program for 2nd–4th year Black medical students. Through placements in Community Health Centres predominantly serving Black communities, students develop clinical, advocacy, and collaborative project skills. BPAO is expanding the program with Community Health Centres across the GTA, Ottawa, and Windsor, and BMSAC hopes to continue working with partners to create and highlight similar opportunities for learners across the country.
Research Skill Development-COMPASS PROGRAM
The Competency-Oriented Mastery in Project Design, Appraisal, Synthesis, and Scholarship (COMPASS) Program is a flagship initiative of the BMSAC. This 12-week structured research program is designed to empower Black medical students to build strong foundations in scholarly research and academic writing.
Through a combination of interactive lectures, guided mentorship, and small-group collaboration, participants will learn how to develop a research question, design a systematic review protocol, conduct literature searches, and synthesize findings into a publishable manuscript. Sessions are led by experienced librarians, researchers, residents, and faculty mentors who are passionate about supporting equity in academia.
The COMPASS Program provides a supportive and inclusive learning environment where participants can gain practical research skills, expand their academic networks, and contribute to meaningful scholarship that amplifies diverse perspectives in medicine.
Register for the 2026-2027 cohort here!
Interested in contributing as a facilitator or mentor? Email research@bmsac.ca
Conferences & Presentation Opportunities
Explore conferences, research presentations, student meetings and professional development opportunities across Canada. Use the filters below to find opportunities that align with your interests.