The DFP Postgraduate Program has expanded to include three new sites—North Okanagan, Cowichan and Rural Immersion—bringing the program to a total of 23 sites across British Columbia. With this expansion has come the addition of 12 new residency spots, and in the coming year, there will be a further 18 spots across both existing and newly-developed sites. Every new site will offer four spots for CaRMS.
For a visual comparison of the sites, click here. Read on to learn more about the new locations.
North Okanagan (Regional Site)
Based at the Vernon Jubilee Hospital, this site offers opportunities to work in Armstrong, Lumby, Enderby and Salmon Arm. The curriculum combines longitudinal and rotational approaches, providing a flexible learning schedule and ample elective time for residents to achieve their learning goals. With various primary care options, residents have control over call shifts and experiences, given the fewer number of them competing for time. This site offers exposure to team-based care in various clinics, where residents train alongside nurse practitioners, registered nurses and allied health professionals.
In collaboration with community partners, subsidized housing was constructed and is now available to welcome residents.
Watch the site recruitment video here.
Cowichan (Rural Site)
This site is based at the Cowichan District Hospital in Duncan, with work opportunities at the Chemainus Health Care Centre, Penelakut Band Council, Malahat Health, Ts’ewulhtun Health Centre, Slhexun Sun’ts’a’ Clinic, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and Victoria General Hospital.
Built on the strong tradition of collegiality and cohesiveness the Cowichan medical community is known for, this site sets a new precedent for providing a comprehensive family medicine curriculum rooted in the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion. It particularly focuses on local Indigenous communities. The Cowichan site aims to offer residents a supportive and expansive learning experience, producing curious, community-engaged, and compassionate family physicians. Additionally, it provides a learner-focused, comprehensive interdisciplinary and collaborative education experience. This incorporates multiple medical specialties, allied health professionals and community members in a supportive and respectful learning environment.
You can watch the site recruitment video here.
Rural Immersion (Rural Site)
This site is entirely unique, aiming to offer full-scope family practice training that prepares residents to be competent in low-resource rural hospital settings. Residents are matched to small rural communities for the duration of their residency, learning directly from family physicians. The communities include Smithers, Burns Lake, Vanderhoof, Quesnel, Mackenzie, McBride/Valemount and Tumbler Ridge/Chetwynd.
This site is ideal for residents who: envision practicing and living in a small rural community; value rural family physicians training future physicians in an environment similar to their future practice; are keen to participate in a program where they are actively involved in curricular development decisions; and value strong relationships with preceptors, patients and healthcare teams. Anyone interested in applying for this program should reach out to Dr. James Card at james.card@unbc.ca prior to submitting their CaRMS application.
To learn more about the postgrad site expansion, visit the postgrad website or reach out to Nicole Cullen.