The University of Ottawa has overhauled its medical school interview to better identify candidates suited for family medicine, hoping to raise the specialty’s appeal among new students.
Interview redesign targets low family‑medicine interest
Student questionnaires from 2023 and 2024 showed fewer than 2.5% of first‑year entrants listed family medicine as their preferred career. The figure prompted admissions officials to rethink how they select candidates.
Associate dean of admissions Dr. Geneviève Lemay explained at the International Congress of Academic Medicine in April that the interview content would now focus on competencies linked to everyday family‑practice work.
The revamp unfolded in two steps. First, the interview questions were reviewed against current family‑medicine practice. Second, a structured scoring system replaced informal assessor notes.
In 2025 the new format was used in the selection of 605 applicants. The university kept the exact seven competencies confidential to avoid coaching on public forums such as Reddit.
Psychometric review finds the new tool reliable.
A psychometric evaluation conducted by Dr. Lemay’s team found the revised interview could consistently differentiate the presence of the seven targeted competencies.
Scores did not vary significantly by interview day, language of administration, or individual assessor, suggesting the process is fair and free of detectable bias.
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In the same year, the proportion of first‑year students who said they hoped to become family physicians rose to 4%, an increase of five additional students.
It is not a one‑off change, Dr. Lemay said. Ongoing psychometric reviews and periodic audits will keep the assessment aligned with evolving practice standards.
The faculty also plans to monitor CaRMS match data in the coming years to see whether the interview tweak translates into more family‑medicine residency selections.
Beyond the interview, the university is expanding its family‑medicine presence in the curriculum. More practicing family physicians will serve as teachers, leaders, and lecturers.
A dedicated family‑medicine‑focused undergraduate program is slated to start in September 2026, providing additional exposure for all students.
Officials will continue to track outcomes, hoping the combined strategy of revised admissions and curriculum changes will sustain the modest rise in interest observed in 2025.
