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Dear Clinical Faculty and Medical Students, 

As we approach the fifth week of the FMSQ’s call to members to suspend teaching and supervision of medical students, we write to underline the deep and steadily worsening negative impact this is having. While neither the province’s faculties of medicine nor the over 4000 medical students studying in those faculties are parties to the negotiations, both continue to be caught in the middle of this conflict. 

To our clinical faculty, the coming week is critical. Without resolution soon, we risk delaying the start of residency—a turning point with consequences for the health care system. A missed July 1 start would impact patient care next year, delay future cohorts, and take several years to return to a normal schedule, as we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The uncertainty this situation brings is particularly difficult for our third- and fourth-year students whose rotations remain cancelled at a most inopportune time, notably for fourth-year students with residency applications now open. But we also recognize that students in earlier years are affected, as sessions are delivered via recordings, or run with fewer tutors. This situation is straining morale and the vital relationship between students and faculty. 

To our students, we want to assure you: we continue to advocate for you. The four faculties of medicine in Quebec have sent a to the government and federations once again yesterday, to stress the urgency of the situation. The quality of your education will not be compromised. We continue to explore every possible avenue to mitigate the impact on you, including reviewing individual situations and making adjustments where possible within the parameters we need to work with.  

We implore both the federations and the government to find a path forward that results in a resumption of teaching and supervision activities and allows students to return to clinical settings as soon as possible. 

For our students, if you need support, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Office of Medical Learner Affairs. They are there for you. For our clinical faculty, if you need support, please avail yourselves of the resources available through the .

Lesley Fellows, MDCM, DPhil
Vice-President (Health Affairs)
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine 
and Health Sciences

Mélanie Mondou, MDCM
Associate Dean
Undergraduate Medical Education