As a member of the military, Anesthesiologists belong to the Medical Specialist occupation in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and provide specialized emergent resuscitative and anesthesia care for CAF members, whether in Canadian Forces Health Services domestic clinics/operating theaters or deployed in support of international operations. They have the prospect to be a leader within the CAF Health Services and serve as mentor and educator to the full spectrum of military health care providers.

• Provide anesthetic consultation for CAF Members in Canada.


• Be part of emergency resuscitation and surgical teams in Canada and in deployed settings, internationally.


• Provide in‑transport care for injured or ill CAF members during evacuation back to Canada.


• Educate and advise multidisciplinary teams on emergency resuscitation, airway management, sedation and acute pain management.


• Maintain a high level of clinical skills by holding a position within a civilian health care facility.


• Contribute to the development and application of health care policies within the CAF.

Anesthesiologists in the CAF maintain their clinical readiness by being embedded as staff in tertiary care civilian hospitals across Canada, working alongside their civilian colleagues. Part of their time may be spent providing consultative services to support Primary Care Clinicians at Canadian Forces Health Services Clinics in Canada. Participation in education and training tasks, as well as research opportunities, occur nationally and internationally. They belong to 1 Canadian Field Hospital and maintain operational readiness by participating in annual military skills training and field exercises. When required,



they will be called upon to deploy to unique and challenging clinical environments as part of a Health Services team on domestic and international operations.

To qualify as an anesthesiologist in the CAF, candidates must be a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and hold an unrestricted licence to practice anesthesia in a Canadian province or territory. Qualified candidates begin with Basic Military Officer Qualification training followed by the Basic Medical Officer Course.

• Basic Military Officer Qualification (BMOQ) – two weeks of distance learning followed by four weeks of in‑house training covering military knowledge, leadership, weapons handling, first aid and physical fitness.


• Basic Medical Officer Course (BMOC) – six‑week blended program at the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre covering structure and history of the Canadian Forces Medical Service and the practice of military medicine.


• Opportunities for sub‑specialty fellowship and advanced training are available, including but not limited to Flight Surgeon and Critical Care Aeromedical Evacuation, Mobile Surgical Resuscitation Team, Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Threats and Response, Forward Acute Care Resuscitation Team Training, Hyperbaric medicine, Epidemiology and Research, Medical Education and Simulation, and Military and health care leadership.

Individuals may choose to serve part‑time in the Primary Reserve. They maintain clinical practice in a civilian hospital while completing the required Basic Military Officer Qualification Training and Basic Medical Officer Course. Part‑time reservists must hold an unrestricted licence and meet operational readiness through periodic training and field exercises. Deployment to domestic or international operations is possible.