The Manitoba government has expanded emergency medicine focused residency training at the University of Manitoba, increasing the number of annual training seats to 17 from 11, to help build a stronger pipeline of emergency physicians for communities across the province, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced on September 16.
"Emergency physicians do incredibly important work for Manitobans and we need more of them," said Asagwara. "That's why we are investing in training more doctors right here at home, giving more physicians the opportunity to build their careers in Manitoba and strengthening the workforce our emergency departments rely on. There is more work to do, but growing the emergency medicine training seats is meaningful progress."
The University of Manitoba offers two pathways for physicians pursuing training in emergency medicine. Beginning with the July 2026 intake, the Manitoba government increased the number of positions in the five-year Royal College emergency medicine residency program to seven from five and increased the number of positions in the one-year family medicine enhanced skills emergency medicine program in Winnipeg to eight from four, while maintaining two positions in Brandon.
The family medicine enhanced skills program provides physicians with an additional year of specialized emergency medicine training after completing a family medicine residency.
"For the last 14 years, I've lived and trained in Manitoba, studying nursing at the University of Manitoba, working at Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg and later returning for medical school," said Tobi Morakinyo, a resident in the Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada - Emergency Medicine (CCFP-EM) training program. "The training here is comprehensive and hands-on. As a northern-remote graduate, I've also trained in remote communities across the province, where physicians often need a broader skill set. The +1-emergency medicine program helps provide that training. I'm grateful to be learning from excellent preceptors in Winnipeg and excited to see this program continue to grow."
All 17 positions were successfully matched for the 2026 intake, and residents began their training July 1.
"Manitoba's health-care system provides a training ground second to none in Canada and we're extremely proud of our two programs ability to train and graduate world-class emergency physicians," said Dr. Robert Gourlay, program director, CCFP-EM residency program. "Expanding our resident cohorts is a step toward supporting emergency room and urgent care staffing vacancies with much-needed, highly trained emergency physicians."
"PARIM looks forward to welcoming these residents and supporting them throughout their training," said Dr. Jacqueline Donner, president, Professional Association of Residents and Interns of Manitoba (PARIM) "These additional training opportunities will help grow the physician workforce in areas where gaps have been identified, while giving more residents the opportunity to train and build their careers here."
The expansion is part of the Manitoba government's broader work to grow Manitoba's physician workforce by increasing training opportunities, creating more pathways for internationally educated physicians and recruiting physicians from abroad.
