The UBC Department of Family Practice is saddened to share the passing of Dr. Theresa van der Goes, a treasured family physician, pedagogue, researcher, and leader in family medicine, medical education, and beyond.
Dr. van der Goes was a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Practice. She was also the Faculty Lead, International Medical Graduate Orientation Associate, as well as the Residency Assessment Director of the Post Graduate Program within the Department of Family Practice (DFP) until her retirement in 2024.
Dr. van der Goes graduated from the medical school at the University of Calgary in 1994, and completed her residency at the University of British Columbia in 1996. For much of her medical career, she practiced in Nanaimo, first as a family physician, from 1996 – 2010, then as a hospitalist, from 2011 onwards. She was appointed to the role of Site Faculty for Assessment & Evaluation for the UBC Department of Family Practice Post Graduate Program in 2007, and reprised the role in 2011. In this central administrative role, Dr. van der Goes championed the education, mentorship, and leadership of Assessment site faculty at all 17 sites across British Columbia.
“Theresa was a force within our program,” says DFP Post Graduate Program Director Dr. Josh Greggain. “She was a family medicine academic with a passion for ensuring the development and implementation of our assessment- and evaluation-related processes were at the forefront of national changes. Theresa worked tirelessly for the improvement of the Post Graduate program and was the initiator and driver behind many nuanced pilot projects, such as TTR, IMGO and Direct Observation. She was the founder of the Post Graduate Program Competency Committee, which laid the groundwork for other programs within UBC and on a national level for competency committees.”
Beyond UBC, Dr. van der Goes was recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in medical education and assessment. She was invited to join the Working Group on the Certification Process, and the Post Graduate Education Committee of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) in 2013 and 2016, respectively. More recently, Dr van der Goes led the Department’s contribution to the CFPC’s Outcomes of Training initiative. Her leadership in these CFPC committees led her to presentations and co-facilitated workshops on the international stage, with the Association for Medical Education in Europe and the International Conference on Residency Education.
“Theresa stood out in her ability to command the respect and insight needed to provide the Department with invaluable direction for the future training of our learners,” remarks Department Head Dr. Robert Petrella. “Her impact reverberates across our programs and will benefit us all, for years to come.”
Through her tireless work and invaluable contributions, Dr. Theresa van der Goes has left a lasting and ongoing legacy in the Department of Family Practice. She will always be remembered dearly for her passion and commitment to the learning environment and outcomes of residents and preceptors. Our thoughts are with her family and close ones at this time.