Training Programs

This program is matched via CaRMS. Please visit Carms.ca for a full program description and an outline of the application process/timeline.

Length of Program

1 year

Number of positions annually

Vancouver: 2

Fraser: 2

Program Description

The Category 1 Addictions program  is run in conjunction with the existing Addictions Fellowship offered by the BC Centre on Substance Use.

Beginning in July 2025, there will be 2 training sites for UBC Addiction Medicine: Vancouver, and Fraser.

This program is matched via CaRMS. Please visit Carms.ca for a full program description and an outline of the application process/timeline.

Length of Program

1 year

Number of positions annually

5

Program Description

The UBC FPA year is a diverse and challenging blend of high volume/high acuity tertiary centre rotations and rural FPA educational experiences.  The design is intended to provide adequate volume of clinical exposure to achieve learning objectives while still providing exposure to rural broad spectrum FPA practice to prepare our residents for the unique challenges they will face working in rural surgical and critical care environments with limited resources.

This program is primarily based in Vancouver-area hospitals except for a core community rotations in Whitehorse (Yukon Territory),  Terrace or Campbell River, and a flexible elective block. The community blocks are very popular and highly valued as excellent clinical exposure to broad scope FPA practice.

There are up to five positions available each academic year (July 1-June 30).

A brief outline of year structure is as follows:

• Adult anesthesia: A total of 5 blocks at Vancouver General Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital, Lions Gate Hospital, and/or Royal Columbian Hospital.
• Pediatric anesthesia: 2 blocks each at BC Children’s Hospital
• Obstetrical anesthesia: 2 blocks at BC Women’s Hospital
• ICU: 1 block at Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, BC
• Community Rotations: 1 block in Whitehorse, Yukon and second block in either Terrace or Campbell River.
• Elective: 1 block

Successful completion of this enhanced skills program requires passing:

• Rotations
• Written exam
• Oral exam

These programs are matched via CaRMS. Please visit Carms.ca for a full program description and an outline of the application process/timeline.

Length of Program

1 year

Number of positions annually

Vancouver: 7
Surrey: 5
Nanaimo: 2
Prince George: 2
Kamloops: 2

Total Positions Available: 18

Program Description

This program is a continuation of the CCFP Residency Program and is designed to meet the needs of the physician who wishes to acquire extra skills in Emergency Medicine. The CCFP-EM program aims to train physicians with strong clinical, academic, advocacy and leadership skills, focused within the field of Emergency Medicine. Graduates of the program are anticipated to act as leaders in emergency medicine with a major commitment to emergency care and teaching, regardless of where they practice. The program, very clinically based, has a strong academic component. Residents will be based in one of 5 "home" training sites: Vancouver (SPH), Nanaimo (NRGH), Prince George (UHNBC), Surrey (SMH), and Kamloops (RIH). All Residents undertake clinical rotations at a variety of Emergency Departments to ensure high-quality exposure to Emergency Medicine in different settings. A brief description of the five primary training sites follows:

Vancouver: St. Paul's is a busy, urban, tertiary-care hospital in the heart of downtown Vancouver with 88,000 patient visits per year.
Surrey: Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH) has the busiest emergency department in the province. This is a high volume, high acuity department with both adult and pediatric emergency departments. Annual visits are 180,000.
Nanaimo: Located on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) has an annual census of 68,000. They are provincial leaders in ultrasound training.
Prince George: The University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) is the largest Level III trauma centre in northern British Columbia and has an annual census of 45,000.
Kamloops: Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) is a high-acuity, Level II trauma centre that sees 75,000 pediatric and adult ER visits per year.

Physicians interested in this program should obtain all information/application as early as possible.

Length of Program

2 years @ 50% part-time

Number of positions annually

2

This program does not require in-person attendance.

Program Description

Do you have an idea for how to improve practice, health care delivery or any aspect of community-based primary health care? The Enhanced Skills Clinician Scholar Program is a 50% part-time, 2 year program which allows residents to continue their clinical work while also focusing on scholarly projects.

This program will help you to develop your research ideas into  scholarship. It includes scholarship related to:

• Developing and conducting research
• Community engagement
• Contributions to education
• Knowledge translation

Objectives

• To support the development and enhancement of core scholarship skills
• To cultivate scholarship within family medicine
• To contribute to the knowledge base of family    practice and primary health care
• To engage practicing family physicians in conducting  scholarly work
• To foster innovative, interdisciplinary, community-based scholarship

Program Structure

• Clinician Scholars work with their identified Family Practice faculty research mentor. The CSP Mentorship Agreement guides the level and type of support the Clinician Scholar will receive. This is a requirement to apply to the Clinician Scholar Program.
• Overall facilitation of the program is the responsibility of the CSP Co-Directors, Dr. Evelyn Cornelissen and Dr. Brian Ng, with the oversight and guidance of the CSP Steering Committee.

For more information, please visit familypractice.ubc.ca/research/csp-applications/

This program is matched via CaRMS. Please visit Carms.ca for a full program description and an outline of the application process/timeline.

Length of Program

26 weeks

Number of positions annually

2

Program Description

The  Care of the Elderly program is designed to enhance geriatric-focused learning for the Family Physician. Our goal is to develop leaders, teachers and researchers in elder care in the community. Training may occur in Vancouver or Metro Vancouver.

This program includes defined learning objectives for each core rotation in the following areas:

• Family Medicine, Geriatric-Focused Care (Community-based care including Long Term Care, Assisted Living and Home Visits)
• Geriatric Medicine
• Geriatric Psychiatry
• Palliative Medicine
• Rehabilitation Medicine and Movement Disorders Clinic
• Geriatric-Focused Learning: Incontinence Clinic, Fall Prevention Clinic, Wound Care Clinic, Osteoporosis Clinic)

Residents will complete a Geriatric-focused academic project during their 6 month program.

Please refer to CaRMS website for the application process and deadline.

This program is matched via CaRMS. Please visit Carms.ca for a full program description and an outline of the application process/timeline.

Length of Program

26 weeks

Number of positions annually

2

The Obstetrical Surgical Skills program is designed to meet the needs of a family physician practicing low to medium risk obstetrics in a setting where they will be on call for operative deliveries and management of obstetrical complications. Each new learner entering the program will practice in slightly different settings, and as such, their personal goals and community needs vary slightly. The unique attributes of each resident’s program is accommodated through discussion with the program director.

The goal of the enhanced skills residency program is to train family physicians who are competent to provide care at an advanced skills level in any particular domain as part of their practice of Family Medicine. The program is designed to provide the clinical, academic and scholarly activities that help all trainees achieve the competencies, as defined for the Category 1 programs by all the Competency Achievement Requirements (domain-specific, general FM Enhanced Skills, and local program).

Core Competencies:

The successful trainee has demonstrated that he/she is able to independently:

• Manage normal labour and delivery including episiotomy and repair of perineal lacerations.
• Manage abnormal labour including failure to progress, antepartum hemorrhage, chorioamnionitis, fetal distress, premature rupture of membranes, and threatened preterm labour.
• Manage obstetrical emergencies including malpresentation, shoulder dystocia, pre-eclampsia, uterine rupture, umbilical cord prolapse, and abruptio placentae.
• Counsel women and their families regarding the options risks and benefits to elective C. Section and trial of labor after cesaerian section.
• Manage postpartum complications including postpartum hemorrhage( including a D&C), retained placenta( including manual removal), and sepsis.
• Repair 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree perineal injuries.
• Perform cesarean section (elective and emergency) for appropriate indications and manage peri-operative care.
• Recognize and develop strategies for addressing risks and complications of cesarean section (infection, hemorrhage, injury to bladder or bowel, deep vein thrombosis).
• Perform tubal ligation at the time of cesarean section for appropriate indications.
• Stabilize and facilitate safe patient transfer for appropriate indications.

Additional Knowledge (Optional Competencies)

The successful trainee of this program has demonstrated an extensive knowledge of, and, given appropriate clinical exposure, might have successfully attained competency

• Operative vaginal delivery, including low forceps, for appropriate indications.
• 4th degree perineal injuries
• Bakri Balloon insertion.
• B-Lynch suture.
• Cystotomy repair or enterotomy repair.
• Dilatation and Curettage for incomplete abortion
• Postpartum tubal ligation.

This program is matched via CaRMS. Please visit Carms.ca for a full program description and an outline of the application process/timeline.

Length of Program

1 year

Number of positions annually

Vancouver: 5

Fraser: 2

Program Description

The mission of the Enhanced Skills Palliative Medicine Residency Program at the University of British Columbia is is to train family physicians to obtain outstanding palliative care skills and to use those clinical, academic, scholarly, and leadership skills throughout their future careers to improve the quality of living, death and dying for patients and caregivers. During residency, trainee physicians will be supported by a skilled and multidiciplinary faculty to ensure they obtain the skillset to achieve this goal.

On completion of the program, the physician will be able to provide primary and consultant palliative care services, including the education of medical students and physicians, and receive the right to use the CCFP-PC (Palliative Care) Certificate of Added Competence (CAC) designation.

The resident will gain knowledge, skills, and clinical experience in pain and symptom management and the psycho-social and spiritual dimensions of caring for patients and families facing terminal illness.

The program is based primarily in Vancouver or Victoria, but there will be opportunity to gain palliative care experience in other B.C. centers. A new Fraser site will be opening July 2025. Residents in the Fraser site will have the majority of their rotations in the Fraser Health region. The resident will gain experience on palliative care units, acute care hospital palliative consultation services and at BC Cancer and community hospice programs.  There are also a variety of elective options available depending on the specific interests of the resident.

Residents are expected to complete a scholarly project during the one-year residency.

This program is matched via CaRMS. Please visit Carms.ca for a full program description and an outline of the application process/timeline.

Length of Program

1 year

Number of positions annually

1

Program Description

The UBC Sport and Exercise Medicine Program offers a comprehensive educational year to prepare candidates for leadership in the field of Sport and Exercise medicine. Our graduates will be competent in the following areas:

• Assessment and treatment of MSK and sport related medical problems
• Sideline assessment and return-to -play decisions
• Role and responsibilities of team physician
• SEM procedures including landmark and ultrasound guided injections, joint reductions and bracing
• Education of patients, learners and the community on Sport and Exercise Medicine
• Being a collaborative team member
• Participation in research and clinical studies
• Practice of family medicine

The program combines several longitudinal clinics with core rotations throughout the year.

Weekly Longitudinal Clinics:

• ½ day Varsity Clinic at UBC Sport and Exercise Medicine Clinic
• ½ day family practice clinic at UBC Health Clinic
• 1.5 days of Sports Medicine Clinic at UBC Sport and Exercise Medicine Clinic

Rotations:

• Intro to Sport and Exercise Medicine (2 blocks)
• Foot & Ankle
• Radiology
• Sport Cardiology
• MSK-ER
• Pediatric Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
• Hands/Plastics
• Brain Health/Concussion
• Physiatry/EMG
• Orthopedics Sports Medicine
• Electives (2 blocks)

Academic:

• Weekly Sports Medicine Rounds at UBC Sport and Exercise Medicine Clinic
• Weekly UBC Sport and Exercise Medicine Priority Topics 1 hour teaching sessions
• Academic half day: Residents typically have a half day each week to work on research, study, prepare presentations
• Monthly Journal Club
• Monthly Sport Medicine Radiology rounds
• Involvement in research or clinical quality improvement project
• Biweekly CASEM priority topic lectures

Event Coverage:

• UBC Varsity Hockey
• UBC Varsity Football
• Penticton Ironman
• Vancouver Whitecaps FC2 (MLSNEXTPro)
• Opportunity to cover numerous other sporting events in BC

Ultrasound:

• The learner will have ample opportunity to develop their ultrasound guided injection skills by working regularly with preceptors who utilize this modality as part of their practices.

Length of Program

12 weeks

Number of positions annually

4

Program Description

The category two Addiction Medicine program seeks to educate and train practicing clinicians to identify and treat substance use disorders with three months of focused rotations. This time is typically divided between high yield clinical settings that include inpatient and outpatient Addiction Medicine, withdrawal management facilities, residential treatment centres, and culturally focused substance use disorder treatment clinics. Enhanced Skills trainees enter with the goal of providing specialized care to a particular community by developing focused competencies within Addiction Medicine. Previous trainees have completed training within various health authorities including Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver Island Health Authority, and Fraser Health.

Contact information:

Gender & Sexual Health Enhanced Skills is a flexible training program for family physicians seeking to develop additional knowledge and skills to better serve underserviced British Columbia communities or populations.

Length of Program

8-12 weeks

Number of positions annually

1-2

Program Description

The Gender and Sexual Health Enhanced Skills program:

• encompasses a broad selection of disciplines within the realms of Gender and Sexual Health
• assists in finding training opportunities to address personalized learning objectives
• usually incorporates focused time in two chosen areas of skills development
• provides mentorship and support in program development and training

Applicants are expected to propose specific learning objectives to address knowledge and skills gaps in both personal and community practice. Successful candidates will map their skills training objectives into a personalized training program, with the assistance of the physician lead and program coordinator.

Some examples training areas:

• primary care sexual & reproductive health focused practice
• menopause
• sexual medicine
• gender affirming care
• vulvodynia
• medication abortion
• procedural abortion
• women’s cardiovascular health

Funding is at the R3 level for up to 3-months.  Depending on the training sought and site/preceptor availability, it may not be possible to complete the program as a contiguous 3-month block.

Contact information:

Dr. Lauren Galbraith Gender & Sexual Health Program Lead

Ms. Lindsay Gowland, Enhanced Skills Program Coordinator
Email: Lindsay.gowland@ubc.ca

Length of Program

26 weeks

Number of positions annually

1-2

Program Description

This program is designed to prepare licensed physicians to undertake clinical and/or public health work in a resource-limited international setting.  It also provides opportunities for enhanced learning local global health, including refugees and new immigrants.  The program consists of 4 months of Vancouver-based clinical training, live courses, online Global Health resources, in addition to participation in the Global Health journal club; the remaining 2 months will consist of a single placement in an approved, UBC-affiliated resource-limited, international site.  The clinical placement can be extended beyond the R3 program at the resident's discretion and pending site approval.  The overall program objectives are defined in terms of the CanMEDS competencies; the resident will be expected to define a set of shorter term learning objectives tailored to individual interests and goals to achieve within the 6-month training program

For more information about the program, please visit our Global Health Enhanced Skills webpage.

It is recommended that those who are interested contact the program co-leads prior to applying:

Contact information:

Dr. Videsh Kapoor & Dr. Ali Okhowat, Global Health Program Co-Leads

Ms. Lindsay Gowland, Enhanced Skills Program Coordinator
Email: Lindsay.gowland@familymed.ubc.ca

H2SUM (HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health)

Length of Program

12 weeks

Number of positions annually

1-2

Program Description

Providing care for marginalized populations with complex medical and psycho-social conditions can be challenging for most family physicians, as treatments for: HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health conditions, are in constant evolution.

To provide comprehensive training in the management of marginalized complex populations, the BC-Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, in partnership with the Vancouver Costal Health Department of Family and Community Practice, have developed a three-month postgraduate enhanced skills training program. The primary objective of this program is to enhance the skills of family physicians in the care and management of HIV, Hepatitis B and C, substance use disorder, mental health and other related conditions. With access to a network of clinics across the Vancouver Coastal Area including the Hope to Health Research and Innovation Centre, the John Ruedy Clinic (outpatient HIV primary care) and other specialist clinics at St Paul’s Hospital, this program is sure to provide a unique experience to physicians looking to increase their knowledge in these areas.

Contact information:

Dr. Val Montessori, H2SUM Program Lead
Email: vmontessori@bccfe.ca

Ms. Lindsay Gowland, Enhanced Skills Program Coordinator
Email: Lindsay.gowland@familymed.ubc.ca

Length of Program

26 weeks

Shorter training periods in hospital medicine may also be available depending upon availability and capacity.

Number of positions annually

2

Program Description

The Hospital Medicine program offers training and mentorship in integrated hospitalized complex patient, family and system-centered healthcare. Residents work in the context of a multidisciplinary team with the hospitalist having the leading role in managing patients with multiple co- morbidities, and providing a skilled resource to transition of care by meeting the patients, families, hospital and community needs.

Residents in this program are mentored by faculty with focused practices in in-patient care as hospitalists, and by faculty from various sub-specialty training programs. This training opportunity represents one of the pathways for obtaining the Provincial Hospital Medicine Clinical Privileges.

Outline of the Program/ Training Sites

• Internal medicine/ Clinical teaching Unit - Royal Columbian Hospital – 4 weeks
• Nephrology - Royal Columbian Hospital -4 weeks
• Hospital Medicine- Royal Columbian Hospital -4 weeks
• Hospital Medicine- Surrey Memorial Hospital / Eagle Ridge Hospital / Burnaby Hospital -4 weeks
• Hospital Medicine- Vancouver General Hospital / Victoria General Hospital and Royal Jubilee Hospital - 4 weeks
• Hospital Medicine (elective) - Kamloops General Hospital - 4 weeks
• Elective - 6 weeks: Infectious Diseases/ Cardiology/ Addiction Medicine

Upon request, rotations in other hospitalist program sites can be arranged.

This program has a flexible format in terms of the block rotation sequence, and blocks 4, 5 and 6 will be tailored to the candidates’ learning needs.

Residents are expected:

• to attend weekly scheduled Internal Medicine rounds and M&M Hospitalist rounds
• to present a patient case while on each Hospital Medicine rotations that identifies an evidence-based learning point (case-based learning)
• to participate in a Quality Initiative project led by hospitalists or to complete a Scholarly Project (development of a clinical tool, literature review and presentation etc.)

During the VGH / in the next future RCH Hospital Medicine rotations, residents have the opportunity to utilize Point of Care Ultrasound as an important bedside clinical diagnostic tool.

Residents are involved in teaching Family Practice Junior residents, and medical students.

The training curriculum for this program is based on the Canadian Society of Hospital Medicine - Core Competencies in Hospital Medicine.

Contact information:

Dr. Diana Stancu, Hospitalist Program Lead
Email: diana.stancu@shaw.ca

Ms. Lindsay Gowland, Enhanced Skills Program Coordinator
Email: Lindsay.gowland@familymed.ubc.ca

Length of Program

12 weeks

Number of positions annually

1-2

Program Description

For more information about training opportunities in Indigenous Health, please contact us directly.

Contact information:

Dr. Chelsea Monell & Dr. Morgan Lindsay, Family Practice Indigenous Site Co-Directors

Ms. Lindsay Gowland, Enhanced Skills Program Coordinator
Email: Lindsay.gowland@familymed.ubc.ca

Length of Program

12 weeks

Number of positions annually

4

Program Description

Training in low-risk obstetrics with Enhanced Skills usually takes place at BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre, but the opportunity also exists to train at 2 additional sites - Surrey Memorial Hospital, and the Noakes Maternity Clinic/Richmond General Hospital.

Outline of the Program/ Training Sites

BC Women's Hospital (Vancouver, BC)

• Consists of doing two blocks of PCM rotation (low-risk L&D), working as a resident on call with FP physicians and one block of Ob Group rotation (high-risk L&D), working as a resident on call with the Obstetricians or a combination of both rotations depending on learning objectives.  If you are a FP physician who is going into rural practice that incudes maternity care and obstetrics without an Obstetrician, then it is advisable to request to spend more time as an Ob Group resident working with the Obstetricians
• Will have exposure to various Women’s health clinics including prenatal,  menopause, obstetrics medicine, gynecology clinics and more depending on availability.  This exposure depends on learning objectives if you have preference to shadow certain clinics
• Will be evaluated by the Primary Care Maternity rotation supervisor

Additional Sites:

Surrey Memorial Hospital (Surrey,  BC)

Training at SMH is done with FPs at the Surrey Prenatal Clinic. Surrey sees a very high volume of deliveries every year, and the FPs doing OB there often deal with moderate to high risk patients. Residents interested in training at SMH can do all or part of their 3 months there.

Noakes Maternity Clinic/Richmond General Hospital (Richmond, BC)

The Family Practice Maternity group at Richmond Hospital provides the opportunity to train in a community setting.  Richmond is the busiest non-tertiary hospital for maternity care in B.C.  Interested residents should consider spending 4-6 weeks of their program at this site.  We work in collaboration with a collegial hospital team who is excited to have learners.  There is opportunity to tailor your rotation to your learning objectives and work directly with the obstetricians in addition to the FP call group and to spend time in the prenatal clinic if wanted.

For more information about the hospital and group please refer to:

• Richmond Birth Centre website - rhbirthcentre.vch.ca
• Noakes Maternity website - noakesmaternity.ca

Please direct any questions related to this site to Kim.Cottick@vch.ca

Residents interested in training at Noakes would combine it with their training at BCWH.

Contact information:

Dr. Eamonn Rogers, Low-Risk Obstetrics Program Lead

Ms. Lindsay Gowland, Enhanced Skills Program Coordinator
Email: Lindsay.gowland@familymed.ubc.ca

Length of Program

12 weeks

Number of positions annually

4

Program Description

Training periods of up to 3 months are available in Category 2 Palliative Medicine. The Palliative Program has developed specific competencies for a 3 month training period. This program is designed for physicians who intend to practice in an under-served rural community.  Applicants with a desire to practice in a larger centre, such as the lower mainland, Kelowna, or Victoria, should apply for the Category 1 Palliative Care program.

As with other Category 2 Programs, specific training locations are dependent on the resident's own goals and objectives.

Contact information:

Dr. Shannon Bunn, Cat 2 Palliative Program Lead & Cat 1 Palliative Program Director

Ms. Lindsay Gowland, Enhanced Skills Program Coordinator
Email: Lindsay.gowland@ubc.ca

Length of Program

12 weeks

Number of positions annually

2

Program Description

Pediatric specialists are less available in many rural areas in British Columbia, but there are a significant number of patients of the pediatric age group in these areas.  Efforts are being made to improve the number of pediatricians in rural and remote areas, but the presence of Family Medicine practitioners with Enhanced Skills in Pediatrics would provide better care to this patient population.  The trainee would receive skills training in acute management of pediatric patients. Individual learning objectives could also be accommodated.

Outline of the Program/ Training Sites

The initial training will be a three (3) month period with rotations through areas managing acute pediatric and neonatal presentations.

• Surrey Memorial NICU (3 weeks) - this training would have emphasis  on neonatal resuscitation and stabilization, and care of the “older” premature infant
• Surrey Memorial Pediatric Consult service (3 weeks) – assessment and stabilization of term infants, and management of common pediatric consultations/inpatient care
• BC Children’s Hospital Emergency Room (2 weeks) – this will allow exposure to General Pediatrics but also a significant exposure to pediatric acute mental health disorders
• Regional Hospital Experence (4 weeks) – experience in “full service” General Pediatric hospital practice, which includes neonatal care (resuscitation and stabilization) ideally in the regional hospital serving the trainee’s planned practice area (eg. Prince George, Kelowna/Kamloops, Victoria or Nanaimo)

The trainee should have current PALS and  NRP.  Completion of an APLS course is also recommended.  If the trainee has been unable to obtain above certification as a result of COVID-19, assistance can be given in accessing training opportunities

Contact information:

Dr. Mary Bennet, Pediatrics Program Lead

Ms. Lindsay Gowland, Enhanced Skills Program Coordinator
Email: Lindsay.gowland@familymed.ubc.ca