Quw’utsun
Site Information
Number of Residents: 4 CMG
Location: Duncan, BC
Community: 22,200
Hospital: Cowichan District Hospital
Curriculum Type: Hybrid model including longitudinal and block curricula
R1 Elective Time: 6 weeks
R2 Elective Time: 12 weeks
Site Directors Message
We are privileged to work, live, and play in the unceded traditional lands of the Quw’utsun, Malahat, Halalt, Lyackson, Stz’uminus, Penelakut, and Ts’uubaa-asatx First Nations. We are learning to respect this land that we are guests on and serve our communities’ health care needs with commitment and respect.
Applicants who self-identify as Indigenous and have ties to any of the local First Nations community are invited to submit a letter introducing themselves and detailing their connection to community by emailing Quw’utsun Family Practice Postgraduate.
Discover the hidden gem that is the Cowichan Valley, situated mid-way between Nanaimo and Victoria. It combines the perks of small-town life with the benefits of a big city. Enjoy numerous hiking & biking trails, watersports, BCHL Cowichan Capitals hockey games, and numerous community events. Please note, a car is essential for traveling the breadth of the Valley.
Our medical community is well equipped to provide exceptional experience in full-service family medicine, including ER, hospitalist, addictions, palliative, and obstetrics. Specialist exposure includes general surgery, pediatrics, ortho, gynecology, anesthesia, urology, and internal medicine. We are a close-knit community, happy to help out (no fear necessary in calling a consult). As one of the integrated clinical clerkship sites for third year med students, our preceptors are well versed in teaching.
With the largest First Nation in BC, Quw’utsun Tribes, there is a rich Indigenous history here. We are committed to building and maintaining trauma-informed relationships to support and sustain local Indigenous culture and wellness. These principles are embedded in our curriculum.
We know you’ll love it here, where you’ll receive a breadth of medical experiences combined with the beauty of the Cowichan Valley.
Dr. Lindsey Forest and Dr. Kirsten Yip, Co-Site Directors
About
Contact:
lindsey.forest@gmail.com
kirsten.yip@ubc.ca
Learn more about the Cowichan Valley here.
Lead Resident Message
As a relatively new family medicine site in BC, it was clear from the start that our program was mindfully crafted by a team passionate about training residents in the Cowichan Valley. We have consistently felt welcomed, engaged, and supported. The curriculum offers diverse opportunities through both focused block-based learning and rich longitudinal experiences, including a two-year Indigenous medicine placement with a local Nation. At Quw’utsun, you’ll practice in a tight-knit community hospital, working closely with Family Physicians and consultants. There is a wide variety of interesting medicine here, including high acuity and complex care. Our program directors are responsive leaders who listen to feedback and collaborate with us to create meaningful learning experiences.
Our site offers an ideal scale for training—small enough to provide unopposed learning as the only residency program in the area, yet large enough to ensure strong access to specialists. As a rural site, we benefit from the Enhanced Rural Skills Course and certifications such as ACLS, ATLS, CARE-R, ALARM, PALS, NRP, and POATSP. Because the hospital functioned without residents until two years ago, education here is truly learner-centred rather than service-driven. Academic weeks allow us to reconnect with co-residents, engage in high-yield lectures, and participate in excellent SIM learning. Half of your training will also take place in the new Cowichan District Hospital opening in spring 2027.
We acknowledge that our training occurs on the unceded territories of the Hul’q’umi’num’ and Ditidaht speaking Peoples. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn and work alongside local First Nations communities, with decolonizing medicine, anti-racism, and structural competency as core values.
The Cowichan Valley is a beautiful place to live, work, and, if it fits your plans, raise a family. With access to major Island transport hubs, urban amenities, and abundant nature, the region offers fresh local food, wineries, biking, hiking, and water sports. Consider Quw’utsun for your training and career—feel free to reach out with any questions!
Dr. Ivy Deavy and Dr. Katie Green (R2s) and Dr. Tilly Taylor and Dr. Maria Jaramillo (R1s)
Email: quwutsun.fm.residents@gmail.com
Instagram: ubcfamilymed.quwutsun
