Understanding the Family Medicine Curriculum

Family Medicine residency training in Canada is guided by three complementary curriculum frameworks: CanMEDS–Family Medicine (CanMEDS-FM), the Assessment Objectives for Certification in Family Medicine, and the Triple C Competency-Based Curriculum.

CanMEDS-FM describes the competencies residents are expected to develop throughout training, including their abilities as Family Medicine Experts, Communicators, Collaborators, Leaders, Health Advocates, Scholars, and Professionals. The Assessment Objectives define the clinical skills, knowledge, and professional behaviours expected of residents and provide a framework for assessment and feedback. Triple C—Comprehensive, Continuity-focused, and Centred in Family Medicine—guides how residency education is organized, emphasizing authentic learning experiences in the context of comprehensive family practice.

As a clinical teacher, these frameworks can help guide your teaching, observation, feedback, and assessment of residents. They provide a shared language for discussing learner development and can help you identify opportunities to support residents as they progress toward independent practice. While you do not need to be an expert in each framework, familiarity with their key concepts can help you align everyday teaching encounters with the goals of Family Medicine residency education

In practice, these frameworks are reflected in the learning goals and objectives, field notes, workplace-based assessments, and feedback conversations that are part of residency training.