Observership

Hi everyone,

I recently got an opportunity for a nephrology observership at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for about 2–3 weeks in August. As an IMG, I know getting Canadian clinical exposure is important.

The issue is the cost, between flights (Pakistan → GTA → Thunder Bay), accommodation, food, and transportation, it’s coming out to around CAD $2,000 for roughly 2 weeks. I’ve been trying to find cheaper housing (sublets, rooms, etc.) but options seem limited and still expensive.

I’m having a hard time deciding if this is worth it, especially since it’s a short observership.

For those who’ve gone through the CaRMS/IMG route:
- Is a 2–3 week observership in a place like Thunder Bay actually valuable?
- Would this realistically help with references or networking?
- Or would you recommend saving the money for something longer/more hands-on?

Any advice or personal experiences would really help. Thanks!