Roadmap Program

With all the twists and turns of medical training, all medical learners could use a Roadmap to help them get to their destination.

Join this program to explore the province, learn valuable skills, spend time with your medical school colleagues, and network with physician leaders.

Each year Roadmap participants travel by bus or plane to communities around the province, where they meet local physicians, learn about practicing medicine in that community, and tour the local sights and attractions. 

Participants can also enter our Passport and Rural & Remote Conference Paid Registration contests.

NOTE: The Roadmap Program is only open to students and residents who are active SMA members. If you are not a member but would like to sign up or renew your membership, contact membership@sma.sk.ca or phone 306-244-2196 or 1-800-667-3781 (within Sask.). 

For more information on Roadmap programs and events, contact roadmap@sma.sk.ca.

2026 Roadmap Events & Tours

The next Roadmap tour will visit Moose Jaw; SK. Registration is now closed. 

SMA student members are encouraged to look for emails from the SMA about upcoming Roadmap events and to check back to this page often. 

Passport Contest

As part of the Roadmap Program, the Passport Contest is an exciting way to participate in opportunities that will help familiarize students with rural Saskatchewan. These opportunities will be noted on a virtual passport and submitted to the SMA for a chance to win some great prizes. This virtual passport will include ‘stamps’ (or participation records) that will be submitted via email prior to the program deadline. 

Eligibility:

  • This program is open to College of Medicine students and residents training at the University of Saskatchewan.

Rules for Pre-clerks:

  • Pre-clerk students will participate in any of the four ‘Roads to Participate’ offered and will keep a record of their participation.
  • Pre-clerk students will submit a virtual passport with 4 stamps or more. (proof of participating 4 times in the program).  A minimum of 1 shadowing experience is required and participation in a minimum of 1 Roadmap Tour is required. 
  • Deadline for submission: February 28, annually.
  • Virtual passports (aka: an email containing the number of ‘stamps’ and related proof of participation) will be submitted via email to: Roadmap@sma.sk.ca

Rules for Clerks:

  • Clerk students will participate in two of the four ‘Roads to Participate’ offered and will keep a record of their participation.
    • Participate in Roadmap Tours 
    • Participate in Roadmap Events
  • Clerk students will submit a virtual passport with 3 stamps or more. (proof of participating 3 times in the program).  A minimum of 1 Roadmap Tour is required. 
  • Deadline for submission: February 28, annually.
  • Virtual passports (aka: an email containing the number of ‘stamps’ and related proof of participation) will be submitted via email to: Roadmap@sma.sk.ca

Rules for Family Medicine Residents (FMR):

  • FMRs will participate in three of the four ‘Roads to Participate’ offered and will keep a record of their participation.
    • Participate in Roadmap Tours 
    • Participate in Roadmap Events
    • Participate in Roadmap’s Rural & Regional Clinical Skills Program (on-call shadowing experience)
  • FMRs will submit a virtual passport with 3 stamps or more. (proof of participating 3 times in the program).  A minimum of 1 shadowing experience is required. 
  • Deadline for submission: February 28, annually.
  • Virtual passports (aka: an email containing the number of ‘stamps’ and related proof of participation) will be submitted via email to: roadmap@sma.sk.ca

Qualifying for entries must have met all of the program as listed above.

  • Pre-clerks: Collect 4 stamps and you’ll receive a cheque for $500.
  • Clerks: Collect 3 stamps and you’ll receive a cheque for $250.
  • FMRs: Collect 3 stamps and you’ll receive a cheque for $250.
  • Variety of prizes (TBD) including some fun SMA branded SWAG.
GRAND PRIZE DRAW: All qualifying entries will be entered into the draw for two expenses-paid trips to the SRPC Rural & Remote Conference 2026 in Quebec City.  April 16 -18, 2026.

Rules:

  • Participants will independently shadow a physician within a rural or regional community in Saskatchewan for a minimum of two hours or more. 
  • Participants will develop their own clinical opportunities. There is no ‘list’ supplied of preceptors offering shadowing opportunities. Participants must contact clinics/preceptors directly to request shadowing opportunities.  
  • Participants will fill out a College of Medicine (CoM) confirmation of shadowing form on their One45 accounts once shadowing is completed. This can be submitted as proof of shadowing along with your virtual passport.
  • Participants must comply with the CoM’s policy on Shadowing:

Shadowing – College of Medicine – University of Saskatchewan (usask.ca)

  • Participation must be done outside of CoM curriculum training.
  • Participants are urged to exercise caution when travelling to and from the selected community, and consider weather conditions, other potential hazards (such as wildlife), and level of fatigue before embarking to or from a chosen site.
  • Mileage will be reimbursed at a flat rate per trip according to the distance from the community you train in (either Saskatoon or Regina) to the community you shadow in. This stipend will be payable after a qualifying virtual passport is submitted.
  • Travel Stipend Distance from Training Site (one way)*
    • $50 up to 100 km 
    • $100 101 km to 200 km 
    • $150 201 km + 

* Based on Google Maps – ie: The distance between Rosthern and Saskatoon is 66.3 km. The qualifying stipend given would be $50.

Eligible Communities

Rural is defined as those communities in which there are approximately 10,000 people or less Regional is defined as those communities which have populations greater than 10,000 people, excluding Saskatoon and Regina. Therefore, regional communities include:

Estevan (included due to its fluctuating populations around the 10, 000 mark), Lloydminster, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Weyburn (included due to its fluctuating populations around the 10, 000 mark), Yorkton

The following “bedroom” communities are excluded from both definitions because of their proximity to Saskatoon and Regina:

Balgonie, Clavet, Delisle, Dalmeny, Langham, Lumsden, Martensville, Pense, Pilot Butte, Warman, White City

Stamps:

  • 1 ‘stamp’ (or proof of a shadowing experience) per community. 

Rules:

The Rural and Regional Clinical Skills Program (on-call shadowing experience) is an incentive to provide the opportunity for pre-clerk medical students and family medicine residents to work for a weekend on call, alongside a rural or regional physician (preferably a family physician) who provides both in-patient and emergency coverage. In this way medical learners enhance their clinical skills and are introduced to rural medicine in a positive way.

  • Participants will work alongside a rural or regional physician (preferably a family physician) who provides weekend call for both in-patient and emergency coverage.
  • Participants will develop their own clinical opportunities. There is no ‘list’ supplied of preceptors offering shadowing opportunities. Participants must contact clinics/preceptors directly to request shadowing opportunities. 
  • With prior approval from the hosting physician, medical learners may shadow in pairs for this program.
  • Participants will follow the detailed parameters listed here and submit supporting documents. Funding and travel stipend associated with this program will be paid upon submission.

The Rural & Regional Clinical Skills Program (on-call shadowing experience) parameters can be found here. 

Stamps:

  • 1 ‘stamp’ (with Clinical Skills program reporting) per community. 

Note: some events are targeted specifically to students or residents. 

Rules:

  • Students and residents will obtain 1 stamp for attending the following events:
    • Saskatchewan Roughrider game 
    • Events (orientation dinner, etc.) 
    • FMF
    • FMR retreat  

Stamps:

  • 1 stamp with attendance.

Stamps:

  • 1 stamp with attendance.

Stamps:

  • 1 stamp with participation.

E: roadmap@sma.sk.ca
P: 306-244-2196

Roadmap Photo Contest: Winter Shines

  • Built into the Passport Contest, this contest is open to residents, and medical
    learners in Saskatchewan.
  • Participants must be current SMA members in good standing at the time of
    submission.
  • Limit of one (1) photo submission per participant.
  • Photos should capture how winter in Saskatchewan shines, including but not
    limited to:
  • Winter landscapes and natural beauty
  • Community life during winter
  • Light, warmth, and connection in the colder months
  • Moments that highlight resilience, calm, or joy in winter
  • Submissions should reflect Saskatchewan and align with SMA values.
  • Original photographs only — photos must be taken by the entrant.
    Image specifications:
    • High resolution (minimum 300 dpi preferred)
    • JPEG or PNG format
  • Minor editing allowed (cropping, exposure, colour correction).
  • AI-generated images or heavily manipulated photos are not permitted.
  • Photos must be professional, respectful, and appropriate for public use.
  • No identifiable patient information may appear in any submission.
  • If individuals are clearly identifiable, participants must ensure appropriate
    consent has been obtained.
  • No logos, advertising, or overtly promotional content.
  • Photos must be submitted to roadmap@sma.sk.ca.
  • Each entry must include:
    • Photographer’s name
      Photo title
    • Short description (1–2 sentences) explaining how the photo reflects Winter Shines
  • Submission deadline: February 12, 2026
  • Entries will be evaluated based on:
  • Interpretation and creativity related to the Winter Shines theme
  • Visual composition and technical quality
  • Originality
  • Emotional or storytelling impact
  • The Recruitment and Retention team will choose the top 10 photos.
  • Once chosen the top 10 photos will be submitted to the Rural & Regional Practice committee for voting.
  • All submissions will receive 1 stamp for the Passport Contest
  • First Prize- $300
  • Second Prize- $200
  • Third Prize- $100
  • Selected photos may be featured on:
    • SMA website
    • SMA social media channels
    • SMA publications and recruitment materials
  • Credit will be given to photographers where possible.
  • Participants retain ownership of their photos.
  • By submitting an entry, participants grant SMA a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the image for communications, promotional, and recruitment
    purposes.
  • SMA reserves the right to disqualify any submission that does not comply with
    these rules.
  • Judging decisions are final.
  • SMA reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the contest if necessary.

Rural & Remote Conference Paid Registration Contest

This program is open to College of Medicine students and family medicine residents training at the University of Saskatchewan

Attend any Roadmap tour and enter your name to win one of 10 paid registrations to the annual SRPC Rural and Remote Conference.

Deadline for submission: Feb. 28, 2026.


E:  roadmap@sma.sk.ca
P: (306) 244-2196