A Quick Guide to U of M Med
-Tips from the Class of 2017-
Congratulations and welcome to the Class of 2018!
We can all remember that incredible feeling while reading our offer email from last year.
We hope to recreate that feeling for you come orientation week at the White Coat
Ceremony!
Make the most of this upcoming summer! Relax, travel, and find time for those things that
you could never seem to before… Orientation Week will be here sooner than you think and
the road to becoming a doctor is never dull!
We have made a Facebook group for your class that will be useful throughout the upcoming
years. For this summer though, you can “meet” some of your future med 2s and pick our
brains about what to expect/prepare for before August rolls around. We will keep you
posted on everything you might want to get involved with over the summer there.
To find the group go onto Facebook and search for “Manitoba Medicine Class of 2018”
and click “ask to join group” on the top right.
We are all really looking forward to welcoming you as peers, colleagues and friends. See
you at Orientation Week!
Please read through this carefully, as there is a lot of information that could help you out!
Sam Sanders & the Class of 2017
You probably have lots of questions and we are here to help! Whether it is about parking,
buying the right textbooks, where to stay, how to find the administration office, or the best
places to study/nap; we have the answers. In this booklet, you will find enough information
to get you started on:
o Where to live
o Where to park
o Textbooks
o Computers/Laptops
This guide, while comprehensive, is not information heavy. So if you want to know the finer
details, please ask on the Facebook group or message someone in the class!
Faculties at Brodie
This year is brand new for everyone, as we are now included in the Faculty of Health
Sciences. Around Bannatyne Campus, you will see students from Pharmacy, Dentistry,
Physiotherapy, OT, RT, etc. You will have the chance to interact with these students in
different capacities, ranging from intramurals to in-class settings.
“260 Brodie”
This is probably the most important room in the entire school to know. If you ever have
comments, questions or concerns regarding your medical education, this bunch of friendly
and energetic staff are always willing to help.
Mailboxes
At the beginning of the school year you will be assigned a locked mailbox that is yours for
the next four years. It is important to check this mailbox frequently for updated lecture
notes, newsletters, etc. With luck, you won’t need stilettos to reach your mailbox, or need to
lie on your stomach either.
Lockers
You will be assigned your own locker in the Brodie Center at the beginning of the school
year. A lock is issued to you by the College of Medicine. If you ever lose or forget your key,
260 Brodie will be able to open your locker for you.
U of M Email
It is extremely important to activate your U of M email account (Note: This is often not
possible for new UofM students until July. Do not worry; this is still PLENTY of time to get
everything figured out!). Throughout the year you will be sent many important messages,
including information regarding the time and location of exams. In addition, most lecturers
will not receive or answer emails from non- U of M email addresses. If you prefer using an
alternate email, it is possible to forward your U of M email to that account. Contact OPAL
support for information on how to do this.
Textbooks
It is a good idea to wait until classes start to buy your textbooks, so you can determine what
you need. The curriculum is changing, but the Med 2s will still be able to help provide you
with a good idea of which ones to get, and which to avoid. There are lots of them that are
provided through library services online. Also, the Med 2 class will release a survey on
which ones they thought were helpful sometime in July/August to help you make your
decision. Finally, there are a few out there that can be found for free online.
Bookstore
Located on the first floor of Brodie, the bookstore carries pretty much every book you will
ever need, plus about 2000 other books that you will never need. It has a computer
department, clinical equipment, and U of M clothing. Feel free to consult the Med 2s when
you are shopping for your books and equipment. We hope that we can be an asset to you by
letting you know what we found useful to purchase.
Anatomy Lab Supplies
You will be given detailed information about the tools you need for the anatomy lab at a
later date. At the start, you will be looking at prosected specimens, so you won’t need
dissecting tools right away! Seriously...don’t buy them yet! You may want to purchase a set
of scrubs to wear in the Gross Lab as your clothes tend to take on a “distinctive” odor after
spending some time in there. You will get a locker down by the lab to keep your supplies in.
These are shared lockers and you need to bring your own lock. Combination locks are sold
at the bookstore.
Medical Equipment
You will be given more information about what equipment to buy at a later date. If you are
eager to get a stethoscope, Littman Cardiology III is the model the majority of our class
purchased. It is available in the Brodie Center Bookstore. The Faculty hosts an equipment
night in October where they have sales and draws for cheap/free equipment…so it may be
in your best interest to wait until then. If you do decide to purchase before this, PLEASE ask
the customer service staff in the Bookstore or a Med 2-4 for advice first.
Laptops
Laptops are not required for medical school, but the majority of our class finds them useful
during class. Laptops allow you to follow along with PowerPoint slides during lecture. Each
seat in the lecture theatre is equipped with an outlet and wireless internet access. The
Bookstore has a nice selection of laptops and the staff is very helpful and knowledgeable.
The OPAL curriculum management system is compatible with both PC and Mac systems.
The most important thing is to get a product you can use, you are comfortable and familiar
with, and that will be reliable, so it can be a valuable tool for learning.
On-site Computers
The library has PC and Mac desktops available during the day. The staff at the library’s
reference desk is very helpful in solving your computer problems.
Neil John MacLean Health Sciences Library
This facility is located on the 2nd floor of Brodie. There are two floors: the 200 level is the
ground floor, and the 300 level upstairs. The circulation and information desks, as well as
computer labs and Medline terminals are located on the 200 level. Current periodicals can
be found here. Your student ID card can also be obtained on this level. The main stacks
of journals and medical textbooks are on the 300 level. There is wireless internet access
throughout the library. The library is staffed by a friendly bunch of people who are always
willing to lend a hand. The chairs just outside the library are a popular hangout for lunch.
Finally, there are newly renovated study rooms that are available for group study (2 or
more people) as well.
Photocopying and Printing
For your photocopying and printing needs, cards can be purchased in the library or you can
put money onto your student card and use that. Photocopying and printing costs are 10
cents/page.
Facebook Communication
Our class has found Facebook to be a useful way to communicate. We have used the group
page to plan countless social gatherings and for questions and answers during exam cram
time. It is a convenient way to arrange carpools for offsite exposures. For those without, it
is possible to create a Facebook account with no public wall, photos, and extremely limited
personal info (if you want an account solely for communication with your classmates on
your class’ Facebook group). Even in a closed group, it is important to be mindful of what
you write as we are representing a professional faculty. U of M email is also a good way to
communicate, so your class can figure out what works best for you.
As mentioned before, your class already has a Facebook group. Feel free to join and start
meeting those new classmates. Search for: Manitoba Medicine Class of 2018.
Student Lounge
This is a popular hangout located on the first floor of Brodie. This is a great place to relax
and mingle with med students in other years as well as students in other healthcare
programs. This is the place to be if you enjoy an intense game of ping-pong or foosball. This
room is equipped with a fridge, multiple microwaves, and a TV. You need to swipe your
student card in order to gain access to the lounge. You will receive information about
getting your student card activated for this purpose at the beginning of the school year.
There is a quiet area with lots of desks and chairs - and wireless internet access.
Joe Doupe Recreation Complex
The gym facilities are located in the basement of the Brodie Centre. They have a very
reasonable student rate, so it is worth it to get a pass. Intramurals are organized at Joe
Doupe, pitting the best of the Health Sciences colleges against each other. Last year, the
sporting events included: soccer, volleyball, dodgeball, basketball, ice hockey and floor
hockey. Your Joe Doupe gym membership doubles as Frank Kennedy gym membership at
the Fort Garry Campus of U of M.
Where to eat on campus
The closest options for food are Aramark, Tim Horton’s, and Pita Pit which are located right
next to the Bookstore on the main floor of the Brodie Center. Tim’s is upgrading soon, and a
Starbucks is currently being built here too! Pedway Café, located between PsychHealth
Centre and the Basic Medical Sciences Building is a very popular place for lunch. They
serve a variety of hot and cold meals. Pedway is open from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm on
weekdays. Recently, Canad Inns opened its doors adding a Starbucks, Bistro and Aalto’s to
nearby food options. There is also a cafeteria located on the second floor of the general
hospital, open 24 hours a day, and lots of ethnic restaurants within close walking distance
of the hospital.
Where to live
Many students choose to live close to the hospital for convenience. The med apartments
are a popular, affordable choice literally a parking lot away from where classes are held.
Below is the website for med apartments. Contact the office via the listed methods for more
information! Just fill out the form and submit a copy of your acceptance letter and they will
put you on the waiting list. They then contact you depending on where you are on the list.
Ask the Med 2s for more information about this and how to get your name on the list ASAP!
http://www.hsc.mb.ca/servicesPlacesToStay.html
- Student Housing
o Apartmentrentals@hsc.mb.ca
o 204-787-4261
Some people choose to live slightly further away from school in Wolseley or Osborne
Village. There are a fair number of students who live in the suburbs and commute every
day. Living near the U of M Fort Garry Campus is also a popular choice. A useful website for
those coming from out of town is: http://www.rentcanada.com/winnipeg/
Many of the apartment buildings offer a referral bonus, so if you are moving in the area into
a building with a bonus, post it up on the Facebook group and you might find an upper year
willing to split the bonus.
Where to park
For those of you who own or have access to a vehicle and plan to use it while attending
school, parking is a concern. There are 3 large parking garages around Health Sciences
Center: Emily Street Parkade, William Avenue Parkade, and the Tecumseh Parkade. Below,
there are the parking website and application form. Traditionally, all parkades will fill early
and will generate quite a long waitlist. As well, sometimes you can sublet a parking pass
from upper year students for short periods of time (1-3 months) as many 3rd and 4th year
med students are scattered around the country on CaRMs interviews and electives and thus
their parking spots are available. If you live in the Med Apts., you will be guaranteed a
parking space.
Finally, many area residents close to Health Sciences Center lease out parking on their
property. If you take this route your best bet is to drive around the neighbourhood and
find out where people are offering private parking. You can then try to get in contact with
those individuals (maybe try knocking on their door, or putting something in their
mailbox).
http://www.hsc.mb.ca/parking/staff.asp
http://www.hsc.mb.ca/parking/PDF/MTHLYPARKCONTRACT.pdf
How to get around without a car
There are many options for those students who do not have access to a car during the
school year. Walking or biking is obviously a good choice if you live nearby. There is a
locked courtyard bike compound located between the Chown and Old Basic Medical
Sciences buildings. There is pretty decent bus service, and since the med campus is located
downtown it is easy to get to by bus. You can plan your bus routes by going to
www.winnipegtransit.com and clicking on “Navigo trip planner”.
Campus Security
The Campus Security office is located in S105 Medical Services Building right next door to
the Brodie Centre. The office can be reached for emergencies from any phone on the 474 or
789 networks by dialing 555, or 9341. For non-emergencies, call 789-3330.
Safe Walk Program
You can request a safe walk to your car or bus stop 24 hours a day by phoning 789-3330
(Bannatyne Campus) or 474-9312 (Fort Garry Campus). It is a wise idea to request a safe
walk if you are leaving on your own after dark. HSC security is at 789-4567.
Emergency Student Aid (financial or other)
If you find yourself in a bind don’t hesitate to call on the helpful folks at 260 Brodie. If they
cannot help you directly, they are more than willing to direct you to the appropriate place.
Counselling Services
The Bannatyne Campus of the U of M offers professional counselling services to all students
(789-3857) with personal, academic or social concerns. Sessions can be arranged for
individuals, couples or families.
Health and Dental Insurance
UMSU (University of Manitoba Students Union) offers a health and dental plan which all
students are automatically registered/pay for. You can opt out of the plan by a specific date
if you can show that you have alternate insurance. See www.umsu.ca for details.
Bursaries/loans
You will receive a comprehensive list of all student bursaries and scholarships sometime in
September. If you have any questions about student loans, the Student Affairs office is the
place to go...or consult your friendly neighbourhood Med 2s. It is a good idea to apply for
Manitoba Student Aid as their loans are interest-free until graduation and are generally
accompanied with grants upon acceptance.
Clubs/Organizations/Interest Groups
There are several opportunities to get involved with clubs/organizations/interest groups
on campus including WISH Clinic, Books with Wings, Jacob Penner Park, Christian Medical
and Dental Society, Family Med Interest Group, Children’s Hospital volunteering, etc. You
will receive information about becoming involved with these groups and many others
throughout the school year.
Fun Stuff
Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking that med school is all work and no play. Between
block (module?) parties, Med Formal, Beer & Skits, RIG trips, Icebowl, class-planned
vacations, etc. etc., sometimes you have to wonder when we get time to study! Keep
checking the Facebook group for more info!
Last tip
Enjoy your first year of med school! You will have many great opportunities that come your
way as a medical student. Be sure to make the most of every opportunity, so that you have
the most memorable med school experience possible!
Student Council
MMSA - Manitoba Medical Students Association
This is the student council for med students. All of the positions on the MMSA are elected.
The President of the MMSA is the Senior Stick. This year, the Senior Stick is Connor
Sommerfeld in Med 3. He will ultimately be responsible for all the actions of the MMSA.
The next longest stick belongs to the Vice Stick Academic/Internal. This is typically a Med 3
and sits on many of the same committees as the Senior Stick. The Vice Stick Academic this
year is Robert Schmidt in Med 3.
The Vice Stick External is usually in Med 3, as well. The person acts as our representative to
the MMA, the CFMS, the Manitoba Government, and other organizations outside of med
school. The Vice Stick External this year is Chris Proctor in the Med 3.
Other executive positions include the Junior and Senior Treasurer (Robyn McClelland, Med
3 & Cielle Wachnian, Med 4). These crafty individuals are responsible for all of the
MMSA’s finances. The Junior Treasurer is promoted to Senior Treasurer the following year.
Two very important positions are the Programmer and Special Functions Coordinators.
These positions are usually held by Med 2s; they are responsible for organizing social
activities such as socials and formals for all medical students. This year, the positions are
filled by Emily Saganski and Alexey Mylnikov both in Med 2.
The CFMS representative (Bryce Barr, Med 2) also holds positions on the executive. Like
the treasurer posts, the junior rep is generally promoted to the VP External in the following
year. This person attends national conferences to discuss issues facing all medical students,
such as the CaRMS match, funding cuts and electives.
The Global Health Liaison (Shilpa Alex, Med 2) is a member of the MMSA and part of the
national Global Health Program (part of the CFMS). This person heads up the Global Health
Interest Group at the University of Manitoba.
The UMSU Representative (Thomas Hall, Med 2) and Senator (Paige Isabey, Med 3)
represent us on the University of Manitoba Students Union and the Senate respectively.
The Communication Representative (Adam Yan, Med 3) is responsible for the secretarial
duties of the council as well as distributing information about what council is doing via
newsletters and the Internet.
The Corporate Relations Representative (Leigh Minuk, Med 2) is a relatively new position.
This person, as the description says, approaches companies for money for the various
things we do at the U of M (Icebowl 2014, O-Week, etc.)
The MD/PhD Cohort Representative (TBD) is responsible for representing the MD/PhD
candidates to the MMSA council and CITAC as well as organizing local research seminars.
The Honorary Senior Stick is a faculty member chosen by the MMSA Executive Council who
provides advice and guidance to the council where required. This year, Dr. Aaron Chiu
holds the position.
The final executive position is that of Medicine 1 Representative. You will have the
opportunity to elect someone from your class to represent you to the MMSA.
The MMSA office is located in the lounge on the first floor of Brodie. You can check out their
website at http://umanitoba.ca/medicine/mmsa/.
CFMS - Canadian Federation of Medical Students
The CFMS is a national organisation of representatives of med students that serves to
improve communication and services for the students. It is made up of two elected
representatives from each of the medical schools and an executive. The CFMS homepage on
the net has all sorts of information about CaRMS and other cool stuff, so check them out at
www.cfms.org.
The CFMS has teamed up with the International Federation of Medical Students to provide
the opportunity for students to do international electives. These students get to do a 4
week elective in another country during the summer after either Med 1 or 2. Interested
students can submit an application to do a 4-week elective in another country during the
summer after either Med 1 or 2, and a lottery system is then used to determine who gets to
go where. Your room and board are covered by the program, but the travel expenses are
the responsibility of the student.
The CFMS provides many other services for students such as billeting for Med 4s doing
their residency interviews in other cities and a cataloguing all possible electives at
Canadian schools. The CFMS has a partnership with Westjet that provides cash-strapped
medical students with easy access to cheap flights.
UMSU - University of Manitoba Students Union
All registered U of M students in good standing are automatically members of UMSU. UMSU
offers students a variety of services and is the students’ voice to the U of M administration
and the three levels of government. UMSU’s main office is located at the Fort Garry Campus,
Room 101 University Centre. They have an office on the Bannatyne Campus in the student
lounge where UMSU Executives have regular office hours. UMSU offers a health and dental
plan. See www.umsu.ca for details.
Class Politics
There is a lot going on in first year and your class will be responsible for a number of
activities. To avoid chaos in these endeavours, there are certain people that are elected
officials from your class (usually in September). Generally, every first year gets involved in
something at some point during the year, so start thinking about what you want to do, and
how much responsibility you want to take on. If you have any questions about the roles,
please feel free to ask the current Med 2s that are listed below.
President (Sam Sanders)
This person is responsible for overseeing class activities and for being the ultimate
representative of the class. He or she is essentially a link between you, the students, and the
faculty. The President sits on a number of committees, including the Committee of
Examiners (a meeting held after every exam), Course Evaluation Seminars (held after every
block) and of course the MMSA.
Academic Reps (Josh Palay and Kevin Stockwell)
There are two people in this extremely important position. One important goal is to attend
the Committee of Examiners (COE) meeting after every exam. If you feel as though one or
more of the questions on an exam were completely uncalled for, then these are the people
who you should tell, because they voice your opinion to the exam committee, who may
eliminate the question.
Course Reps (To-be-elected)
There are two course reps for every course taken in Med 1 and Med 2. As a rep, you will act
as a link between the students and the course director, in addition to being responsible for
attending course evaluation seminars three times during the year with the director of that
course and writing a short summary of what was discussed. Quite simple, but very
important as feedback is what ultimately results in changes over the course of the year.
Yearbook Rep (Adam Hoffman, Caroline Hougen & Mike Onotera)
If taking snapshots of your class in their most vulnerable positions is your thing, then this is
the job for you. At the end of your four years, you will be receiving a book of all your
compiled memories, and it is these positions that make it all happen!
Sports Reps (Laura Sutherland and Alexey Mylnikov)
The sports reps are responsible for constructing rosters of your class’ starting lineups for
intramurals on this campus. These people may organize pick-up games after class or on
weekends and hopefully will create some unique events that your class can enjoy!
Children’s Hospital Volunteer Reps (Adam Hoffman and James Johnston)
The role of the individuals elected to this position is to coordinate your class’ volunteering
at the Children’s Hospital every couple of weeks. There is a big Halloween night where the
class dresses up and gives candy to all the children who unfortunately cannot go door-todoor themselves. This event requires a fair bit of planning so we advise you start as soon as
possible after you are elected. It is a really fun event, and greatly appreciated by both the
children and the parents.
Teaching Awards Rep (Sam Klassen and Michael Periera)
When the teaching staff is presented with their awards, everyone wants to see that the
recipients are deserving of what they have received. That is where this rep comes into play.
Social Reps (Katelyn Sinclair and Evan Klajncar)
Your social reps, if competent, can bring together their class in a variety of events from
post-exam parties to Med Formal, all the way to simple Friday night (or any other night of
the week) get-togethers.
Orientation Committee (Geetanjalee “GT” Sadi and Jorden Arbour)
Just as we have put together an orientation for you, you must do the same for the Class of
2019! It is a lot of fun bringing you guys in, but a lot of organization and preparation over
the summer is required to do it properly. This position is certainly a lot of work, but it is
also tonnes of fun.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the staff at Brodie 260 for all their help and guidance in preparing
your welcoming into Medical School. Huge thanks go out to the O-Week Coordinators, the
Big Sib Coordinators, and the rest of the Class of 2017 for all their hard work in making
sure your entry into your first year is unforgettable!
Again, congratulations and we will see you soon!