Who can participate?
CanMMP is open to all students currently enrolled at a Canadian medical school, regardless of their year of study. We welcome students from every background and particularly encourage applications from first-generation medical students, students from lower-income or historically marginalized communities, and those who have had limited access to mentorship or professional networks.
Participation is completely free. Mentorship may take place virtually, in person or through a combination of both, depending on the format agreed upon by the student and mentor.
Canadian Medical Students
All Years of Study
Completely Free
Premedical students and students attending medical schools outside Canada are not currently eligible to participate.
What can a mentor help with?
Every mentorship relationship is different. Mentors and students are encouraged to discuss their goals, interests and expectations at the beginning of the program and collaboratively decide which areas they would like to focus on. Depending on the student’s needs and the mentor’s experience, mentorship may include:
Exploring specialties and career paths
Navigating medical school and clerkship
Preparing for residency and CaRMS
Pursuing research and leadership development
Building professional confidence
Managing transitions, challenges and setbacks
Understanding different practice environments
Developing short- and long-term career goals
These are suggested areas of support rather than required components. The focus, structure and goals of each relationship are determined jointly by the mentor and mentee.
Participation in CanMMP is intended to provide guidance and professional support. It does not guarantee research positions, electives, reference letters, residency interviews or other professional opportunities, and mentors are not expected to provide them.
How it works
A simple four-step process:
01 Apply
Tell us about your interests, goals and mentorship preferences.
02 Get matched
We identify a mentor whose background and experience align with your needs.
03 Connect
You receive an introductory email and arrange your first meeting.
04 Build the relationship
You and your mentor determine the format, frequency and goals of the mentorship.
What students can expect
Every mentorship relationship is unique. CanMMP provides a recommended framework, while allowing each mentor and mentee to establish arrangements that reflect their goals, availability and preferences.
We recommend maintaining the mentorship relationship for approximately one year. However, pairs may agree to a shorter or longer relationship based on their individual needs and preferences.
We recommend meeting once every one to two months. Mentors and mentees may choose to meet more or less frequently depending on their goals, schedules and preferred level of engagement.
Mentorship may take place virtually, in person or through a combination of both, as agreed upon by the mentor and mentee.
Students may indicate whether they prefer a mentor from their own province or are open to being matched with someone elsewhere in Canada. Geographic preferences will be considered but remain subject to mentor availability.
Matches will be released during winter and spring 2027. Additional information about application deadlines and matching timelines will be shared with applicants.
Either the mentor or mentee may choose to end the relationship if the match is no longer suitable. Participants should communicate this respectfully and notify CanMMP so that the relationship can be formally closed.
Students may apply again in a future matching cycle, provided their relationship with their previous CanMMP mentor has formally ended.
Student Responsibilities
Successful mentorship requires active participation from both the mentor and mentee. By joining CanMMP, students are expected to:
Initiate contact with their mentor after receiving their match
Communicate promptly, respectfully and professionally
Respect their mentor’s time, availability and professional boundaries
Inform CanMMP if communication breaks down or concerns arise
Come to meetings prepared with questions, goals or topics for discussion
Maintain appropriate confidentiality regarding information shared within the mentorship relationship
Complete brief program evaluations to help CanMMP assess and improve the mentorship experience
Students are encouraged to take ownership of the relationship by communicating their needs, following through on agreed-upon next steps and remaining actively engaged throughout the mentorship.
01
Specialty interests
02
Career and mentorship goals
03
Province and medical school
04
Preferred language
05
Availability for virtual or in-person mentorship
06
Personal background or lived experiences
07
Preferences regarding a mentor’s identity or background, where relevant
Matching preferences
CanMMP considers several factors when matching students with mentors. The application may ask students about their:
Questions about personal identity and lived experience are optional, and applicants are not required to share information they are uncomfortable disclosing.
​
CanMMP will make every reasonable effort to consider each student’s stated preferences. However, specific specialties, locations, languages, backgrounds and mentor characteristics cannot always be guaranteed and remain subject to mentor availability.
