About IMG Family Medicine Starter Guide
Draft – Pending Clinical Review
About this resource
IMG Family Medicine Starter Guide is an independent educational initiative developed to help International Medical Graduates understand the Canadian Family Medicine clinic environment.
The resource focuses on practical orientation for new IMGs, clinical observers and Clinical Assistants.
It introduces clinic workflows, professional responsibilities, documentation and communication through structured learning and fictional educational scenarios.
IMG Family Medicine Starter Guide is an independent educational project developed by Jasna Karim.
It is intended to provide introductory learning resources for international medical graduates interested in Canadian Family Medicine clinics, observerships and Clinical Assistant roles.
The project is not affiliated with, sponsored by or officially endorsed by any healthcare employer, professional regulator, university, residency program or government agency, unless explicitly stated and verified.
About the Author
Developed by Jasna Karim, MBBS.
Jasna is a Clinical Assistant in Family Medicine based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Drawing on her experience as an International Medical Graduate (IMG), she designed this open-access orientation toolkit to simplify clinical workflows, support transition-to-practice learning, and promote patient safety for internationally trained physicians entering Canadian primary care settings.
Jasna Karim
MBBS
Clinical Assistant – Family Medicine
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Video-Enhanced Learning
The curriculum integrates selected third-party educational videos with original learning objectives, reflection questions, fictional scenarios and interactive knowledge checks to support self-directed learning for IMGs entering Canadian Family Medicine.
External videos remain the work of their respective creators, separate from Jasna Karim’s curriculum-development work. Inclusion does not imply creator or institutional endorsement, accreditation or validated educational outcomes.
Video-related learning materials are Draft – Pending Clinical Review.
Curriculum Development
Project title
Development of a Digital Orientation Resource for International Medical Graduates Entering Canadian Family Medicine Clinics
Developer
Jasna Karim, MBBS · Clinical Assistant – Family Medicine · Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Project type
Independent Medical Education and Curriculum Development Initiative
Educational Need
International Medical Graduates entering Canadian Family Medicine may be unfamiliar with local clinic workflows, team roles, electronic medical records and observership expectations. This resource aims to offer a practical, accessible introduction without replacing supervision or regulatory requirements.
Target Learners
- New IMGs
- IMG Clinical Observers
- New Clinical Assistants
Curriculum Objectives
Learners should understand primary care team roles, appointment types, patient flow, confidentiality, consent, communication and introductory documentation. Observers should understand observation boundaries; Clinical Assistants should recognize individual authorization, supervision requirements and when to seek clarification or escalate concerns.
Educational Methods
- Structured learning pathways
- Scenario-based learning
- Fictional patient simulations
- Communication exercises
- Knowledge checks with educational feedback
- Self-directed reflection
Curriculum Structure
- New to Canadian Family Medicine: clinic teams, appointments, a clinic tour, fictional chart exploration and educational checks.
- Starting an IMG Observership: observer expectations, first-day preparation, consent, confidentiality and communication.
- Starting as a Clinical Assistant: authorized roles, supervision, first-week workflows, fictional EMR and SOAP exercises, communication and escalation.
The Orientation Academy links existing lessons and activities into these sequences rather than duplicating them.
Educational Development Status
Independent educational resource under development and review.
Draft – Pending Clinical Review
Formal clinical review and educational evaluation have not been completed. This independent project does not claim institutional endorsement, research ethics approval, peer-reviewed publication or validated outcomes.
Future Development — Planned
- Clinical content review
- Learner feedback
- Curriculum revision
- Potential educational evaluation
These are planned activities, not completed work or formal research findings.
Content sources
Original curriculum design and original learning activities are distinct from third-party educational videos and official external references. Fictional workflows are illustrative and do not represent official employer procedures.
Educational content is under development and subject to review.
- Last content review date
- Not yet reviewed — no review date recorded.