Launch FM 2025

On October 18, 2025, first year medical students from Saskatoon and Regina attended the fourth annual Launch FM event at Westwinds Primary Health Centre in Saskatoon. Hosted by the Department of Family Medicine, the event gives students the opportunity to socialize and see firsthand what a career in family medicine can look like.

Students engage with family medicine physicians, family medicine residents, and allied health providers to learn several family medicine-based procedural skills. This year’s event featured suturing, punch biopsy, IUD insertion, pap smears, IM injections, naloxone kit administration, and point of care ultrasound.  

“I’m very appreciative for this event,” shares one student following the event. “It let me learn and practice skills - and the suture kit and other goodies were really nice. It was cool to see the breadth of procedures you can do as a family physician.”

This is one of the events primary objectives. “Although students are exposed at this event to many procedural skills for the first time, the main goal is to provide the opportunity for students to engage and learn about family medicine as a career, and to target hidden curriculum as it relates to family medicine early in medical school,” shares Dr. Matt Kushineriuk (MD), Undergraduate Director at the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of Family Medicine (DFM).

In a post-event survey 94% of attendees said that the event increased their interest in family medicine as a career.

“It’s crucial to have undergrad student engagement in these types of activities and to continue finding creative ways to highlight the variety of practice that we offer beyond the traditional view of family practice,” shares Dr. Rejina Kamrul (MD), DFM Undergrad Clerkship Director.  

“The direct interaction and the ability to connect students with enthusiastic, skilled and satisfied family physicians and residents provides powerful role models that frame family medicine positively to the students.”

Launch FM is an event that draws people together from all stages of their career. From academic leaders to residents to medical students – it’s about building relationships that help medical students choose the career path that’s right for them. Through mentorship and positive interactions, we hope that events like Launch FM showcase the scope of family medicine as a specialty.

Launch FM is made possible with the help of our sponsors, who have been with the event since its inception. Thank you to the SMA Section of Family Medicine, the SMA Rural & Remote, and the Saskatchewan College of Family Physicians. Your contributions help to showcase family medicine and are instrumental in helping to recruit future family docs. Thank you for your support!

“I had a great time,” says one participant, “I hope you keep doing it for years to come.” 

That’s exactly what we plan to do.