Rural and Regional Programs for Family Physicians

Rural and Regional Travel Fund

What is it?

This fund provides travel subsidies to rural and regional physicians who travel to provide service in neighboring communities.

Who is eligible?

Rural and regional physicians who provide services such as anaesthesia, surgical assistance, consultations, satellite clinics, and practice coverage to neighboring communities.

Who can I contact for more information?

For more information, please contact:

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

How do I apply?

Download program guidelines and application form below and submit your completed application to rsprograms@sma.sk.ca.

Rural Relief (Locum) Program

What is it?

The Rural Relief Locum Program provides short-term locum relief to general practitioners / family practitioners who are currently working in a rural community in Saskatchewan with fewer than five practising physicians. 

Join the team - work across the province!

The Rural Relief Locum Program is looking for part-time physicians to join our group. Please contact the Rural Relief (Locum) Coordinator if you are interested:

E: ruralrelief@sma.sk.ca
Office: (306) 244-2196
Cell: (306) 657-4592

Requests can be made for periods of four to 14 days, to a maximum of 30 days per year. The SMA contracts with physicians who are available to travel throughout rural Saskatchewan and replace local physicians on a temporary basis.

Host physicians pay a subsidized rate for each day of locum coverage, as well as an on-call retainer, and arrange accommodations for the visiting physician.

Who is eligible?

General practitioners/family practitioners who are working in a rural community with fewer than five practising physicians.

A physician may request the services of an SMA locum to attend a continuing medical education program, take a vacation, or ensure medical coverage to the community while attending to personal / family matters.

Who can I contact for more information?

For more information, please contact:

Rural Relief (Locum) Coordinator if you are interested:

E: ruralrelief@sma.sk.ca
Office: (306) 244-2196
Cell: (306) 657-4592

How do I apply?

Fill out an application for coverage at ruralrelief.sma.sk.ca

The SMA will contact you (approximately one month in advance) through the portal to let you know if a locum physician is available to fill your request.

Rural and Regional Physician Enhancement Training

What is it?

Every year, this program provides funding for two practising rural or regional physicians and for two second-year family medicine residents to complete a third year of training in a supernumerary position, to enhance their skills in obstetrics, anaesthesia, general surgery, psychiatry, internal medicine, or geriatrics at the University of Saskatchewan.

Practising rural or regional physicians receive income replacement funding, prorated to the program length, totaling up to $110,000 per year in equal monthly installments (beginning the month they begin their program). Third-year family medicine residents in supernumerary positions receive a stipend equal to that of a resident at Pay Level C in the College of Medicine grid.

Recipients must complete a return-of-service. This can be completed in a rural, northern, or regional community. Return-of-service may also be completed through the Rural Relief Program.

Who is eligible?

  • Practising rural or regional physicians
  • Second year family medicine residents

Who can I contact for more information?

For more information, please contact:

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

How do I apply?

Download program guidelines and application form below and submit your completed application to rsprograms@sma.sk.ca.

Rural and Regional Extended Leave Program

What is it?

This program reimburses physicians in rural or regional practice for the costs and foregone practice income associated with personalized educational instruction. 

The program covers costs for periods of one to six weeks in length. Physicians who receive support from the fund will be expected to provide one month of service in Saskatchewan for every week of funding.

Who is eligible?

Physicians in rural and regional practice who are upgrading their skills and knowledge in an area of their choice (e.g., anaesthesia, obstetrics, surgery). Physicians must have 12 months of continuous licensure and have practised in Saskatchewan for at least 12 months prior to applying.

Who can I contact for more information?

For more information, please contact:

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

How do I apply?

Download program guidelines and application form below and submit your completed application to rsprograms@sma.sk.ca.

Rural and Regional Emergency Care Continuing Medical Education (CME) Fund

What is it?

This program reimburses physicians in rural and regional practice for tuition costs and a portion of the travel and accommodation expenses associated with ACLS, PALS, ATLS, NRP, ALSO, ALARM, and AIME.

The program will support physicians to certify or re-certify their skills in emergency care training and risk management. Online courses that do not include an in-person demonstration of the practical skills will be accepted up to December 31, 2021.

Who is eligible?

  • Physicians must have appropriate licensure, and
  • Must be practising in rural or regional Saskatchewan prior to applying to the fund, and
  • Must provide services in rural or regional Saskatchewan after completing the educational activity.

Who can I contact for more information?

For more information, please contact:

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

How do I apply?

Download program guidelines and application form below and submit your completed application to rsprograms@sma.sk.ca.

SRPC Rural and Remote Conference Fund

What is it?

This fund aims to foster rural physician engagement by providing reimbursement to rural and regional physicians for the cost of registration to attend the SRPC Rural and Remote Conference held annually in Canada. The fund will only cover the registration cost (member or non-member). SRPC members have a reduced registration rate, and it is encouraged that applicants become SPRC members. SRPC Rural and Remote conference Fund does not reimburse for travel related costs.

ELIGIBILITY: Physicians must have licensure in the province of Saskatchewan and be practicing in rural or regional Saskatchewan at the time of the course. Physicians receiving monies from the fund will be expected to provide services in rural or regional Saskatchewan after the conference.

Itinerant physicians and physicians working for the SMA Rural Relief Program are eligible to apply to the fund.

Family Medicine Residents (FMRs) that have a return of service to work in rural/regional communities in Saskatchewan are eligible to apply for the fund.

Students – Saskatchewan Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (SLIC) students are eligible to apply. Students presenting rural research and/or part of the Prince Albert rural/regional clerkship may also apply.

Who can I contact for more information?

For more information, please contact:

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

How do I apply?

Download program guidelines and application form below and submit your completed application to rsprograms@sma.sk.ca.

Rural and Regional Winter Driving Fund

What is it?

This fund provides physicians in rural and regional practice support to develop/grow skills in winter driving. Applications will cover registration costs of one course for up to $500 that supports winter weather driving. This is one time payment. This fund does not include travel and accommodation costs. Winter Driving Fund applications for reimbursement can be applied for no later than 6 months from the date of the course.

ELIGIBILITY: Physicians must have licensure in the province of Saskatchewan and be practicing in rural1 or regional2 Saskatchewan at the time of the course. Physicians receiving monies from the fund will be expected to provide services in rural or regional Saskatchewan after the conference.

Itinerant physicians and physicians working for the SMA/RRP Rural Relief Program are eligible to apply to the fund.

Who can I contact for more information?

For more information, please contact:

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

How do I apply?

Download program guidelines and application form below and submit your completed application to rsprograms@sma.sk.ca.