COS Equity-Focused Mentorship Program

The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) is proud to launch the Equity-Focused Mentorship Program (COS-EFMP), an initiative designed to support and empower first- and second-year Canadian medical students from backgrounds that are under-represented in medicine (URiM). Rooted in COS’s 2022 commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, this program aims to foster early interest, guidance, and representation in the field of ophthalmology.

COS-EFMP provides meaningful mentorship opportunities for students who identify with intersectional identities—such as Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA2+, and financially disempowered communities—while remaining inclusive to all applicants with lived experiences of marginalization in medicine. Whether or not participants plan to pursue ophthalmology through CaRMS, the program offers a supportive community to explore the specialty and build lasting mentorship connections.

Through this initiative, COS strives to help shape a more inclusive future for the profession—and ultimately, to enhance care and access for patients across Canada.

2025-2026 Program Timeline

June 1st, 2025 – Mentor recruitment opens
August 1st, 2025 – Mentor recruitment closes
September 1st, 2025 – Mentee recruitment opens
September 14th, 2025 – Mentee recruitment closes
October 1st, 2025 – Program year begins
June 1st, 2025 – Program year ends

Let’s stay in touch!

Whether you’re a future mentee dreaming about a career in ophthalmology or a mentor excited to help shape the next generation, we’d love to have you on board. Share your email below to receive updates about the COS Equity-Focused Mentorship Program (COS-EFMP), including news, key dates, and how to get involved.