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Space Medicine

Aerospace Medicine Elective

We are in the process of updating this section.
Information for 2010-2011 will be made available by March 31, 2010.

Through an agreement with the NASA-JSC Aerospace Medicine Clerkship Program and the NASA-KSC Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Health Branch, the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Operational Space Medicine (OSM) Group funds Canadian medical students or residents to attend a four week Aerospace Medicine Elective at NASA each year.

Purpose

As part of its dedication to promote public awareness of Aerospace Medicine, and to encourage Canadians to pursue interests in this area, the CSA seeks to provide training opportunities for Canadian medical students and residents in Aerospace Medicine. Currently, two Aerospace Medicine training opportunities are available at NASA, one at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) and one at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

The JSC Aerospace Medicine Clerkship Program is designed to provide students with exposure to the clinical, operational and research aspects of Space Medicine. The KSC Medical Education Program emphasizes Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Medicine. In an effort to extend this program to the International Space Station (ISS) Partners, both the JSC Aerospace Medicine Clerkship Program and KSC Medical Education Program have agreed to provide the CSA with the space for Canadian medical students or residents each year.

Description

JSC Aerospace Medicine Clerkship Program

The Aerospace Medicine Clerkship at JSC involves a structured schedule of formal lectures on space medicine topics, exposure to manned testing operations, and familiarization with the medical aspects of space shuttle operations and space station design and function. The clerkship also involves a research project on current issues in space medicine. A written research report and presentation are required.

KSC Medical Elective

The KSC Medical Elective consists of lectures in aerospace medicine topics, clinical rotations at the Occupational and Environmental Health Facilities (for KSC staff), participation in tours and mission support activities and self-study of aerospace medicine data. Participants will also be required to present a research project on an aerospace medicine topic. The curriculum schedule is flexible to be able to adjust to KSC's dynamic schedule of activities.

Successful candidates are required to attend a one-day meeting at the CSA Headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec prior to their elective and return to the CSA following their elective to present their research projects.

Dates and Location

At least one candidate will be selected for each of the following elective sessions:

 

The pre and post-elective meetings at the CSA usually take place in September.

The exact dates of the sessions and meetings will be confirmed with the successful candidates.

Funding

The CSA will fund travel and living expenses up to a total value of $6,000 (Canadian dollars) per student.

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada at the time of application, in the final year of medical school or in a residency program at the time of the elective and have an interest in Aerospace Medicine. Selected candidates will be required to provide proof of citizenship or permanent residency.

Please note that both programs are conducted entirely in English. Selected candidates whose first language is not English may be required to provide evidence of English proficiency.

Interested candidates must mail in a completed application form and supporting documents by no later than April 24, 2009.

Selection

A CSA committee of Operational Space Medicine staff will select at least one medical student or resident for funding for each elective session. Selection is based upon academic, research and work experience, community service, activities, interests and career goals related to aerospace medicine, and an evaluation of the candidate through a letter of evaluation.

Deliverables

Following completion of the program, the successful candidates will be required to provide the CSA with a report on the students' research topics. The subject of the research topic will be negotiated with the OSM group and will relate to current OSM interests.

Contact

Operational Space Medicine - Post-graduate Training
Canadian Astronaut Office
John H. Chapman Space Centre
6767 route de l'Aéroport
Saint-Hubert, Quebec J3Y 8Y9

E-mail: medicine@asc-csa.gc.ca

Forms

• Application form (Word Document, 674 KB)
• Application form (PDF Document, 84 KB)