The Office of Student Affairs provides support for students looking for help with mistreatment, health, wellness, accessibility and academia in the College of Medicine.
We are a first point of contact when students are in need and will provide resources, support, and referrals to other knowledge experts or professionals.
Quick Access
Mission
The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) provides a safe, welcoming place for students to explore ideas and work toward solutions in an open-minded, proactive environment. Our office offers confidential support and advice at “arm’s length” from the academic/administrative offices of the College of Medicine (CoM). We provide students with an independent and informal forum in which to clarify concerns, identify goals and explore options for managing or resolving concerns.
It is our goal to enhance the ability of all students to effectively deal with challenges and we are committed to helping students thrive during their time in the college. We encourage students to seek assistance as soon as possible as outcomes are often much better with early consideration.
Wellness Support
Emotional, physical, social and financial wellness are all key parts in leading a balanced life as a student. Wellness initiatives are tailored to student need by site.
Please contact OSA staff at your site for wellness programming available at each site.
If you need immediate care, please go to your nearest emergency room or dial 911.
You may also dial or text 211 from anywhere in Saskatchewan and they will connect you to the services you require. If you prefer to chat with 211 Saskatchewan staff please visit: https://sk.211.ca/
Local Emergency Contacts
- Suicide Crisis Helpline (24/7) call or text 9-8-8 if you or someone you know is thinking about suicide. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Student Wellness Centre - virtual or in-person appointments, including same day when needed 1-306-966-5768
- SMA Physician Health Program 306-657-4553 (Saskatoon) 306-359-2750 (Regina)
- Counselling Connect Saskatchewan: https://www.counsellingconnectsask.ca/
- HealthLine 8-1-1 (24/7)
- Hope for Wellness Help Line (24/7) | 1-855-242-3310 | https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/
- Kids Help Phone (24/7) | 1-800-668-6868
- Mobile Crisis Services (24/7) | 306-757-0127 | https://mobilecrisis.ca
- North East Outreach & Support Services (24/7) 1-800-611-6349 | https://www.neoss.ca/ (Melfort and NE SK)
- Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit | 306-764-1011 | https://www.pacrisis.ca
- Crisis Suicide Helpline Regina (24/7) | 306-525-5333
- Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Service (24/7) 306-933-6200
For information regarding the University of Saskatchewan safety programs and resources, including how to download USAFE, the university's safety app, please visit the webpage below.
Your emotional and mental well being are important. Find out what services are available.
Taking time for physical activity can help manage stress.
Joining a student group or volunteering is a great way to meet new people and learn new things and skills.
Maintaining financial wellness while attending medical school can be very challenging, particularly when you are uncertain of where to start. Below are some of the options you have for receiving financial assistance. OSA staff can assist you with completing application forms if you need help.
If you wish to seek assistance from the University of Saskatchewan financial staff directly, please contact the Student Finance and Awards office at awards@usask.ca or by phone at 306-966-2863. For more information about the services they provide please see their page.
Our Financial Literacy Consultant, Tara Yagos (virtual appointments / all sites), can assist with the following areas among others:- Student loans
- Personal savings
- Lines of credit
- Spousal support
- Awards, scholarships, bursaries
- First Nations band funding
- Parental support
Please note that you will receive the calendar invite and reminder from tarayagos@medmoneymatters.ca.
If you are in financial distress and need to speak with someone, please contact your local OSA staff.
Financial Curriculum
During your pre-clerkship years, the Financial Literacy Program is offered through the Success in Medical School courses. In Year 3, it is offered during Selected Topics and in Year 4, the sessions are offered in the Preparation for Residency course. For further information, please see the course syllabi section of the curriculum page.
Financial Aid Resources
- Government Student Loans
- USask Scholarships and Bursaries
- Emergency Loans through Student Central
Other Financial Resources/Tools
- How to develop a budget
- The Credit Counselling Society provides free online personal budgeting webinars on topics such as budgeting and debt solutions
- The Credit Counselling Society has online financial calculators that can be used for savings, debt, loan, credit card and car payment calculations
Learner Resources
Emotional WellnessCounselling Support The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) Regina campus maintains a list of Counsellors and Psychologists within the community available to medical students. Please talk to a member of the Regina Office of Student Affairs for more information. Mental Health Services Saskatchewan Health Authority-Mental Health Clinic |
Emotional WellnessStudents in Saskatoon who are concerned about their emotional wellness may contact OSA staff to book a one-on-one appointment. OSA staff can assist them with seeking the help they need. Students may also contact the USask Student Wellness Center, which offers urgent and non-urgent physical and mental health care to USask students and their spouses and children. Mental Health Services
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Physical WellnessFind out what activities are available right on the Saskatoon campus. |
Social WellnessIn the fall of 2019, the Living Well Program was launched in Saskatoon. This is a pilot program that focuses on wellness. There are a variety of monthly activities coordinated by the Office of Student Services that focus on students interacting with each other in a non-academic setting. The activities are communicated via emails and posters to the students. |
Opportunities for Connection
Healer’s Art offers a reflective space to explore meaning, connection, and the human side of caring for others. Through shared conversation and guided reflection, participants can strengthen resilience and reconnect with their purpose.
Professional Learning Networks bring colleagues together around shared interests, challenges, and areas of practice. They create opportunities to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and build supportive professional connections.
The Wellness Task Force advances initiatives that support the well-being of our community. It brings people together to identify needs, promote resources, and foster a culture of care and belonging.
Student Health Services
The following is available to all students:
- Health and Dental Plans
- Physician Health Program — Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA)
- CMA Centre for Physician Health & Well-Being
- CFMS Wellness Program (registration required for most resources)
The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) Regina campus maintains a list of family physicians who have otherwise full practices but have agreed to accept Regina based medical students into their practice and will provide care.
Students are encouraged to contact the OSA for an updated copy of the family physician list.
Health Services are available to students at the Saskatoon campus via the Student Wellness Centre.
The Student Wellness Centre now offers counselling appointments. Call the Student Wellness Centre at 306-966-5768 or visit the centre (third and fourth floor of the Place Riel Student Centre).
Prince Albert students should refer to the orientation package they received at orientation prior to the start of their clerkship. This includes contact information for the Prince Albert Student Affairs Director, information on local family physicians who are accepting new patients, and a reminder of the SMA Physician Support Program.
Services of the Physician Support Program of the SMA are available to physicians, trainees and their dependents throughout the province of Saskatchewan. The director of the program is available to assess a client’s needs by travel to their community as needed, and local health providers contract services in support of the SMA-PHP.
If you have any questions about health services available to you, please contact the Prince Albert site director.
Services of the Physician Support Program of the SMA are available to physicians, trainees and their dependents throughout the province of Saskatchewan. The director of the program is available to assess a client’s needs by travel to their community as needed, and local health providers contract services in support of the SMA-PHP.
SLIC students should work with their home site OSA staff in order to determine the health services available to them at their sites.
Support Pathways
We are here to support you in your academic success. Come and talk to us as soon as possible if you are experiencing any academic difficulties, or if you want to explore how you can study or prepare for exams more effectively.
For any academic-related concerns, please reach out to Ayesha Iqbal at ayesha.iqbal@usask.ca or Meghan Nelson (Regina site) at meghanemily.nelson@saskhealthauthority.ca or the Academic Support email at med.academicsupport@usask.ca.
As well, academic difficulties are commonly related to non-academic life concerns, please also reach out to the OSA staff should you have any questions.
USask Resources
- Student Learning Services offers a variety of tools to help you with your academic success including help with writing, math and statistics and study skills.
- Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) mentors help fellow students with academic skills, provide group study sessions and support the transition to university life.
- Access and Equity Services (Formerly Disability Services for Students) is here to help students requiring accommodations based on disabilities, religion, family status and gender identity.
The Physician Advocate for Learners (PALs) program connects faculty physician volunteers with learners who would benefit from the support of a physician who shares a relevant facet of their identity (ie: gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability, or history of trauma).
Should they experience or witness mistreatment relating to a particular aspect or aspects of their identity, learners can request to be matched with a PAL who has a similar lived experience. Their PAL can then help them debrief the experience and decide on a way forward. By increasing connection and reducing isolation in this way, OSA hopes to support every learner navigating medical education at the USask CoM.
Should you want to talk about something that has happened, please reach out to med.studentaffairs@usask.ca and state which of the identities shared below are relevant to your concern. OSA will then connect you to the physician(s) who share them with you.
Identities cover a broad range of representation, including in the following areas:
- Gender
- Sexual Orientation
- Race/Ethnicity
- Religion
- Disability/Conditions
- Trauma
If you feel you have been mistreated, both formal and informal support/help can be provided by the OSA, depending on what you are comfortable with. The College of Medicine takes all mistreatment concerns very seriously and will respond promptly with appropriate action to any concerns brought forward.
For more information about mistreatment, please visit the Mistreatment, Discrimination & Harassment page.
We encourage you to reach out to your local OSA staff for support and guidance on how you wish to move forward.
If you wish to submit your complaint anonymously, please complete the form below with as much detail as possible so that we may investigate your concern.
Please note: This form is for University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine students only. If you are a patient, please contact the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) Patient Advocate Services at 1-866-411-7272 for support.
The College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan is committed to supporting applicants and students with disabilities through the use of appropriate accommodations.
While a disability should not preclude a student from consideration for admission, the disability must not prevent the student from communicating with patients and colleagues, from making observations and analyzing clinical data, and from making the medical judgments expected of a physician who has completed the educational program leading to the M.D. degree at this University.
Declaration of Accomodation Needs
An applicant's declaration of a need for accommodation is voluntary, but extra time may be needed to process accommodation requests.
If an applicant does not indicate accommodation needs until an offer of admission is made, the College of Medicine reserves the right to defer entrance for one year pending review of the request by the Accommodations Team.
Students with disabilities are encouraged to pursue their studies as long as their continued involvement does not pose a health or safety hazard to themselves or others, and as long as they are able to meet the requirements for a medical degree.
The College of Medicine Student Information Guide and Student Clerkship Guide outlines expectations for students in regards to Professionalism, Student Academic and Non-Academic conduct and Appeals Processes. All College of Medicine policies and procedures can be found on our Policies and Procedures page.
If you have questions about any of the expectations, processes or procedures contained in these documents, please come and talk to us at the Office of Student Affairs.
The Office of Student Affairs can also assist students in exploring how to handle Breach of Professionalism issues. In the case of a formal allegation and investigation of unprofessional conduct. Student Affairs can be available to accompany the student through the hearing and/or appeal process.
Common policies and procedures accessed by students:
Beyond the Chart: Conversations in Medicine
Beyond the Chart is an initiative which offers an honest, relatable, and compassionate space for medical students to explore wellness in all its forms. Through conversations with physicians, residents, and learners, we explore the realities of medical training—the transitions, challenges, relationships, identity shifts, and moments of growth that often go unspoken.
Beyond the Chart: Conversations in Medicine is a podcast dedicated to supporting learners as they navigate the journey into and through medicine.
This podcast is brought to you by the Office of Student Affairs at the College of Medicine in collaboration with the student-led Wellness Task Force.
Beyond the Chart – Noon Consults is an informal lunchtime forum for discussing the human, ethical, and relational dimensions of medicine. Held on the first Thursday of every month. Participants can share perspectives, explore challenging situations, and learn with colleagues in a supportive setting.
Contacts and Appointments
If you have questions or concerns about academic support, counseling, wellness, stress management, mistreatment, financial concerns, student health services, accessibility and accommodations, or any other reason, please contact the Office of Student Affairs staff listed below. You can also email: med.studentaffairs@usask.ca.
Staff are available to meet students for individual confidential appointments, or can assist you by email or telephone.
Unsure of who to contact? Reach out to the OSA Adminstrator at 306-966-7331.
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Student Services Advisor |
Student Services Advisor |
Student Services Advisor |
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Student Affairs Coordinator Tel: 306-766-0620 |
Student Affairs / OCAM Coordinator Tel: 306-766-0527 |
General email: med.studentaffairs@usask.ca
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Edith Conacher |
| Bev Digout Student Affairs Coordinator (Saskatoon) Tel: 306-966-8224 |
General email: med.studentaffairs@usask.ca
For SLIC students, please contact the OSA staff at your home site and they will be happy to provide you with assistance and support.
Tel: 306-966-7331
Looking for some advice, academic or otherwise? Book an appointment with one of our team members.
Our team works to establish a safe, welcoming place for students to explore ideas and work toward solutions in an open-minded, proactive environment.
- Book with Edith Conacher
- Book with Bev Digout
- Book with Sue Schmidt
- Book with Saba Qureshi