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University of British Columbia - Family Medicine - Okanagan South

2025 R-1 Main Residency Match - first iteration
IMG Stream for IMG

Last approved on November 08, 2024

Summary of changes

Approximate Quota:

 1 

Accreditation status : Accredited

Provincial Criteria


Dr. Joshua Greggain
Faculty of Medicine – Department of Family Practice 
300-5950 University Boulevard 
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3
UBC CaRMS Website

Program Contacts

Jana Ogdenova
Program Co-manager
residency@familymed.ubc.ca

Kelly Jacobs
Program Co-manager
residency@familymed.ubc.ca

Cindy Choi
Education Coordinator
residency@familymed.ubc.ca

Kristen Hart
Site Coordinator
Kristen.Hart@interiorhealth.ca

Dr. Michelle Linekin
Site Director
michelle.linekin@ubc.ca


Important Information

Prospective residents should refer to the Family Medicine Residency Selection website for ongoing updates, deadlines and detailed information.

In order to apply for a residency position in the CaRMS match, International Medical Graduates (IMG’s) must be selected through the UBC Clinical Assessment Program (CAP). The IMG BC website provides key information regarding this process.

IMG residents matched into a UBC program are required to attend a mandatory multi-day orientation prior to the start of their residency.

 

FMProC: Important timelines

For the 2025 residency selection cycle ALL FM residency programs in Canada require applicants to sit FMProC for those applying in both rounds of CaRMS. 

 

FMProC test window for CaRMS first Iteration is from October 28 (8AM ET) to November 11, 2024 (10AM ET). 

Registration opens from September 11 (12 noon ET) and closes on November 07, 2024 (10AM ET). 

 

To register and find out more about the test please go to www.fmproc.com. All test related updates will be posted on the website. 

Requests to register or to sit the test outside of the posted deadlines will not be considered. 

 

Upon completion of FMProC, you must upload your FMProC result letter to CaRMS for your application to be considered complete.

 


Return of Service

The IMG stream is subject to a Return of Service (ROS). Successfully matched applicants are required to sign a contract with the Ministry of Health as a condition of accepting a medical residency position. Templates of the ROS contract and allocation details can be reviewed on the MOH ROS website here: International Medical Graduates - BC


General Instructions

Program application language: English

Resident selection for the UBC Family Medicine program is a collaborative process between all of our sites. Logistics and administration of resident selection is managed by our central program office in Vancouver, located at the UBC Point Grey Campus.

As the UBC Family Medicine Program is distributed into 23 unique sites and locations, candidates should apply to each site they are interested in. 
Applicants must submit same application package to all sites to which they apply.  

Regardless of the number of sites applicants apply to and rank, only one interview will be conducted

A variety of virtual information sessions will be held to provide prospective residents with the opportunity to learn more about the programs and discuss the training experience with faculty and current residents. Please visit Program Events for upcoming events. 


Supporting Documentation / Information

Canadian citizenship
CaRMS partners with third-party organizations to verify your citizenship or permanent resident status. If your status is verified by one of these organizations, you will not need to provide citizenship documents in your application. If your citizenship status is not verified, you must provide one of the documents listed below.
Document must be notarized/certified
Required
Submit one of the following documents to verify your Canadian citizenship:
• Canadian Birth Certificate or Act of Birth
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
• Passport page showing Canadian Citizenship
• Canadian Permanent Resident Card (both sides of card)

Required documents for applicants submitting Citizenship documentation via CaRMS (and not participating in third party verification)

Canadian Citizenship

The province of British Columbia will accept one of the following notarized/certified documents as proof of the citizenship/permanent residency and is required for all types of applicants. Photocopies are accepted but, citizenship documents other than what is listed below are not accepted.  Proof of citizenship/permanent residency must be submitted to CaRMS by the File Review deadline.  No allowances for late submission.

  • Canadian Birth Certificate
  • Canadian Passport
  • Canadian Citizenship Certificate
  • Canadian Citizen Card (both sides)
  • Current Canadian Permanent Resident Card (both sides)
Language proficiency
Conditionally required
Submit one of the following documents to verify your language proficiency:
• IELTS
• Occupational English Test (OET) - Medicine
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) - General

IMG applicants:

IMG applicants need not provide evidence of English language testing if the primary language of medical education or patient care was in English. If the primary language of medical education or patient care was NOT in English then applicants must fulfill the English language proficiency requirements by the start of Ranking Period.

 

See CPSBC English Language Proficiency Requirements here for more information: https://www.cpsbc.ca/files/pdf/REG-ELP.pdf

Examinations
Required
MCCQE Part I
  • Score and document(s)
  • MCCQE Part I - Statement of Results
  • MCCQE Part 1 Exam Information: https://mcc.ca/examinations/mccqe-part-i/

    FMProC
  • Score
  • Your FMProC assessment result is sent directly to CaRMS. The FMProC assessment is only valid for one admissions cycle. If you have taken the assessment in previous years, you are expected to re-take it.

    To register for the FMProC assessment visit www.fmproc.com.

     

    NAC
  • Score and document(s)
  • NAC examination - Statement of results
  • Reference documents
    Required
    Number requested: 3

    Three letters of reference are required.

    • Regardless of reference source, reference letters should speak to an interest in Family Medicine and aptitude for the discipline.
    • Using anecdotal narrative if possible, letters should provide evidence of attributes and abilities well suited for a career in Family Medicine.
    • These attributes and abilities are also evaluated in our interview process (see interview criteria and components).

    Note: Traditional narrative letters will NOT be accepted. 
    Please note that should your reference submit a traditional letter it will not be reviewed and your application may be deemed incomplete.

    Additional documents
    Required
    Medical School Transcript 

    Your medical school transcript can be submitted through one of the methods below:

    1. Obtain your medical transcript from your school and upload it directly to your CaRMS Online account. Follow your school’s policy regarding accessing or requesting your transcript;
    2. Ask your medical school to upload your medical transcript through their CaRMS Undergraduate Portal account; or
    3. International (IMGs) and United States (USMGs) medical graduates can transfer their transcript from their physiciansapply.ca account.

    Medical Student Performance Record 

    For International (IMGs) and United States (USMGs) medical graduates, you can submit your MSPR through either of the methods below:

    1. Upload your MSPR directly into your CaRMS Online account; or
    2. Ask your medical school to upload your MSPR through their CaRMS Undergraduate Portal account.
    If your MSPR is in a language other than the program language of English or French, you are required to have the document translated.

    Personal Letter 
    Word count
    Minimum : None
    Maximum : 750

    Provide a biographical letter (max. 750 words) that includes answers to the following questions:

    1.       What life skills or lived experience do you have that demonstrate your suitability for family medicine residency training?

    2.       Why would a career in Family Medicine be a good fit for you?

    3.       Why UBC? Why British Columbia? Please elaborate with specific examples of any connections you might have with the province of B.C., like community connections, education, work experience, etc. 

    4.       What clinical experience have you had in Canada?

    5.       What experience do you have in community-based family medicine?

     

    Note:  The same letter must be submitted with each site application.

    Custom Résumé / CV 

    IMG-BC Clinical Assessment Program 

    The UBC Clinical Assessment Program (CAP) Letter is provided to CaRMS by UBC IMG Office.

    Applicants should only provide the documents requested by the program. No other documents submitted will be reviewed.

    Optional - will be reviewed
    Family Medicine rural addendum/questionnaire 

    Rural Questionnaire:

    • Candidates are strongly encouraged to include this supporting document when they apply to a rural site.
    • Completion of the rural questionnaire will identify the applicant as someone with a special interest in rural training and practice.
    • If you apply to both urban and rural sites, completion of the rural questionnaire will not prevent applicants from being considered for an urban placement.
    • A score attributed to the questionnaire will be provided to Site directors at rural sites for consideration after the interview period. This will be a stand-alone metric and does not contribute to the total file review score.
    • The following sites are considered rural and will use the rural questionnaire score when generating their site rank list:
      • Kelowna Rural
      • Kootenay Boundary
      • Northern Rural
      • Northwest - Terrace
      • Northeast - Fort St. John
      • Okanagan South
      • Prince George
      • Strathcona
      • Rural Immersion
      • Quw'utsun
    • Note: Training at the Indigenous sites include about 50% rural training, but will not use the rural questionnaire in their ranking

     

    Rural Questionnaire:

    (Answer the following questions. Please write your responses under each question; 250 words max per question)

    1. Describe your personal rural background and/or rural involvement and experience, both prior to and during medical school.
    2. What has led you to apply for a residency in rural Family Medicine and why would you value a rural residency position?
    3. Describe the type of future rural practice that would fit you best.

     

    Note: You must upload your responses under 'Family Medicine Rural addendum/questionnaire'. Any responses submitted to 'Program questionnaire' or any other sections not relevant to Rural addendum/questionnaire will not be considered. 

     

     


    Interviews

    Dates:

    • January 18, 2025
    • January 19, 2025
    • January 20, 2025
    • January 21, 2025
    • January 22, 2025
    • January 23, 2025
    • January 24, 2025
    • January 25, 2025
    • January 26, 2025
    • January 27, 2025
    • January 28, 2025
    2025 R-1 match interviews will continue to be in a virtual format. 

    The national interview period is January 18- February 09, 2025.
    UBC interviews will take place between the dates of January 18-28, 2025. 

    Please note that candidates will be interviewed once, regardless of number of training sites you apply to. 

    Program will notify all applicants through CaRMS Online and will send email invitations directly to applicants selected for an interview.
    All interviews will be conducted in a live, synchronous MMI format. The UBC Family Medicine (FM) program will contact the selected applicants by email to provide program-specific interview details and interview links.

    If you wish to add a new program/site to your rank list after your interview, you must update your CaRMS application by our Program deadline, January 29, 2025. This date will be posted here as soon as it is determined.

    Any additional sites added to your application after this date will not be considered for ranking.


    Important: you must also link your documents to any newly ranked site.

    Regardless of the number of sites to which you apply, one final score will be generated after the interview.
    If you are matched, the program will be unable to facilitate transfer from one site to another.


    Selection Criteria

    Applicants must submit an application to each site they are interested in and should assign the same set of documents to each site. Selection is based on file review and one set of MMI interviews. Each file is reviewed and given a score. This file review score determines whether a candidate is offered an interview. The file review score is then combined with the interview score and FMProC score to create a total score for each applicant. The file review score will contribute to 50%, interview score will contribute to 45%, and FMProC score will contribute to 5% of the overall global score. This total score informs the creation of a rank list which is submitted to each site for consideration. Some sites will use this as the final rank list while some sites will apply their own adjustments to this list based on local site selection committee input.

     

    Program goals

    1. To graduate residents who have developed the competencies needed to begin independent family practice in diverse community settings.
    2. To deliver an effective academic, clinical and scholarly educational program.
    3. To graduate residents who are inspired, resilient, and balanced.
    4. To graduate residents who demonstrate evidence-based and reflective practice.
    5. To provide working and learning environments that ensure residents, faculty and staff feel respected and supported.

    Selection process goals

    1. Identify individuals with an aptitude for family medicine who are most likely to thrive in our diverse residency sites and in the unique context of British Columbia communities.
    2. Identify individuals with a demonstrated solid foundation of clinical skills and clinical approach which equips them for Postgraduate Education training.
    3. Identify individuals who have consistent professional behavior; who interact appropriately with patients, colleagues and staff.
    4. Identify mature, motivated individuals with a broad range of life experience which they can draw upon to adapt to the demands of residency training.

    File review process

    Review team composition : The review team is composed of faculty leadership from across our distributed program, the program director and senior administration.

    Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 201 - 400

    Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 51 - 75 %

    Evaluation criteria :
    File component Criteria
    CV We do not evaluate this file component
    Electives Clinical experiences gained through electives are considered
    Examinations We do not evaluate this file component
    Extra-curricular We do not evaluate this file component
    Leadership skills Leadership skills are considered in the context of the personal letters and reference letters
    MSPRs Taken into consideration only if professionalism issues are identified
    Personal letters Demonstrated suitability to Family Medicine and training in BC through experience and life skills
    Reference documents Demonstrated suitability through attributes, abilities and interest in the discipline
    Research/Publications We do not evaluate this file component
    Transcripts We do not evaluate this file component
    Other file component(s) 1. Graduation Year
    2. BC Clinical Assessment Program Quartile Rank
    3. MCQQE Part I

    Note: A CV, the MSPR and transcripts are required supporting documents by CaRMS but are not scored as part of the UBC Family Practice file review process.

    Elective criteria

    Clinical experiences gained through electives are considered

    Interview process

    Interview format :



    We do not re-schedule interviews for applicants after we have completed the scheduling process.

    Interview evaluation criteria :
    Interview components Criteria
    Collaboration skills Yes: with patients and colleagues
    Collegiality Yes we evaluate this criteria
    Communication skills Yes we evaluate this criteria
    Health advocacy Yes we evaluate this criteria
    Interest in the discipline Yes we evaluate this criteria
    Interest in the program Yes: UBC in general, and in specific programs (rural, under-served populations, inner-city context etc.)
    Leadership skills Yes: assessment of leadership of self and others
    Professionalism Yes we evaluate this criteria
    Scholarly activities We do not evaluate this interview component
    Other interview component(s) Ability to handle Ambiguity/Uncertainty
    Advocacy/Compassion
    Resilience
    Patient centeredness

    Information gathered outside of CaRMS application

    Specifically, we may consider:







    Ranking process

    The behavior(s) exhibited below during the interview process may prevent an applicant from being ranked by our program :
       
       
       


    Program Highlights

    Uniquely B.C:  UBC Family Medicine

    Family Medicine training in BC presents you with many unique opportunities. We are a fully accredited distributed program with 23 training sites and multiple training communities. In an effort to meet the evolving needs of our society, each site provides a solid foundation in the knowledge and clinical skills of Family Medicine so that our graduates are prepared to practice in a variety of settings. While our program offers diversity of training, it is based on common goals, learning objectives, and assessment standards.

    All residents are required to do a mandatory 2-month rural rotation in Family Medicine in their second year. Residents in the Coastal, or rural programs in the Okanagan or the North complete longer rural placements. Residents can also apply to participate in Enhanced Rural training for a total of 4-6 months in rural communities.

    There is extensive academic and administrative support for the entire residency program. Our central program administrative team is based in Vancouver on UBC campus. At the site level, leadership teams are made up of a Site Director, Site Faculty, Lead Residents and administrators. Lead Program Faculty provide provincial education support in the areas of curriculum, assessment, faculty development, scholarship and behavioral medicine.

    The Family Practice Postgraduate Education Committee has representation from all sites to ensure a connected, distributed program that fully meets accreditation standards. Residents are represented at all levels of governance.

    A wide range of amazing recreational and cultural opportunities are at your doorstep, as well as a collegial community of residents and physicians with whom you can learn, grow, and play. We want your experience to be in BC to be a positive and enjoyable one.

    Training Sites: Overview

    Visit the UBC Family Medicine Postgraduate website for a detailed overview of each of the 23 sites and their surrounding communities.  Each site provides opportunities to experience Family Medicine in their unique context, offering special opportunities to gain experience and skills unique to the area where you are training.

    The following is a list of our sites and their base community/hospital. Each site serves the surrounding community (see training sites for full details):

     

    Greater Vancouver / Lower Mainland

    • Abbotsford-Mission
    • Coastal (North Vancouver, Lion’s Gate Hospital)
    • Chilliwack
    • Indigenous (Greater Vancouver and rural Indigenous communities)
    • St. Paul's (Downtown Vancouver, Inner City)
    • Surrey South Fraser (Surrey Memorial Hospital)
    • Vancouver Fraser (New Westminster, Royal Columbian)

     

    Interior Region

    • Kootenay Boundary (Trail, Nelson, Rossland, Castlegar)
    • Kelowna Rural (Kelowna R1 year; rural communities across BC in R2 year)
    • Kelowna Regional
    • North Okanagan (Vernon)
    • Okanagan South (Penticton)
    • Kamloops

     

    Vancouver Island

    • Indigenous (Victoria, Ladysmith and rural Indigenous communities including Pacheedaht, Penelakut, ‘Namgis)
    • Quw'utsun (Duncan)
    • Nanaimo 
    • Strathcona (Comox, Campbell River and Courtenay)
    • Victoria

     

    Northern

    • Fort St. John (Northeast)
    • Northern Rural (Prince George R1 year; rural communities across BC in R2 year)
    • Prince George
    • Rural Immersion (Hazelton, Smithers, Vanderhoof, Mackenzie, Valemount/McBride, Chetwynd/Tumbler Ridge)
    • Terrace (Rural Northwest)

     

    IMG positions are offered at the following sites:

    • Abbotsford-Mission
    • Chilliwack
    • Coastal
    • Fort St. John
    • Kamloops
    • Kootenay Boundary
    • Nanaimo
    • North Okanagan
    • Okanagan South
    • Kelowna Rural
    • Kelowna Regional
    • Prince George
    • Strathcona
    • St. Paul’s
    • Surrey South Fraser
    • Vancouver Fraser
    • Victoria

    Resident Support

    Resident resilience and wellness is our top priority. Important resources have been developed by our program to support our residents throughout the course of the training.

    All UBC programs are allocated a fixed amount of funding per resident for Resident Activities.  This funding is used to provide educational support to residents during their 2 years of training. This includes funding for residents to attend program-wide courses and events. Additionally, residents may identify conferences and educational materials that would supplement their training experience. A discretionary, per resident funding will also be allocated to the sites for a similar purpose at the site level.


    Program Curriculum

    This residency program is for 2 years.

    Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.

    Introduction

    The Okanagan South Family Practice Residency Program started in 2016. We are a medium-sized rural program with a focus on graduating physicians ready for independent practice in rural areas. We are looking for residents who are motivated, self-directed learners willing to excel in rural medicine.  We serve the South Okanagan, with residents placed in Penticton, Summerland, Oliver/Osoyoos, and Princeton.  We also serve the Okanagan indigenous nation, the Sy’ilx-speaking peoples, and acknowledge the unceded territory on which we live and work.

    The South Okanagan is an engaged collegial medical community. The program is strongly anchored by family physicians — in their offices, in rural, remote, and regional hospital settings, and in community clinics and facilities. The specialty rotations are delivered by a supportive group of specialists who work directly with family physicians.  The family physicians are well-organized with our Division of Family Practice, an active Medical Staff Association, and a community-run walk-in clinic.  We are based out of Penticton Regional Hospital, a 242-bed (including 102 long-term care beds) newly built in 2018.

    Our program is delivered in block rotations, but with a longitudinal attachment to a home family practice clinic. We focus on rural training, with 5 months total of rural rotations. PGY1 training is done mostly in a regional setting providing access to specialist teaching and resources, while PGY2 is rural placements and electives.  There is a site emphasis on Emergency Medicine which has a block but is also scheduled longitudinally.

     

    PGY1 Rotation Overview

    This year focuses on consolidating competencies/skills in a professional medical environment.  R1s rotate through family practice and specialties while doing training in SIMs, POCUS, and certifications in ACLS, ATLS, ALARM, PALS, NRP, and OAT.

     

    PGY1 Core Rotations

     

    Rotation Length

     

    Orientation

    2 weeks

    Family Medicine

    10 weeks 

    Community Inpatient Service

    4 weeks

    Psychiatry

    2 weeks

    BC Children’s Emergency Medicine

    2 weeks

    General Internal Medicine & ICU

    5 weeks

    Internal Medicine Sub-Specialty

    4 weeks

    Emergency Medicine

    2 weeks

    Pediatrics

    4 weeks

    Care of Underserved

    2 weeks

    BC Women’s Hospital OBS

    2 weeks

    OBS GYN

    4 weeks

    Princeton Rural

    4 weeks

    General Surgery & Subspecialty

    5 weeks

     

    PGY2 Rotation Overview

    This year has four months of rural rotation, chosen by R2s through UBC’s rural match process, and three months of electives which allows R2s to direct their learning interests.  R2s continue weekly in their home office when local and are encouraged to develop a panel of patients.  R2 do enhanced rural skills training and attend rural medicine conferences.

    PGY2 Core Rotations

     

    Rotation Length

     

    Emergency Medicine

    4 weeks

    OBS GYN

    2 weeks

    RACE Clinic (Rapid Access Cardiac Evaluation)

    2 weeks

    Internal Medicine Sub-Specialty

    2 weeks

    Procedural Skills

    2 weeks

    Family Medicine

    4 weeks

    Palliative Care

    2 weeks

    Local Elective

    4 weeks

    Away Elective

    8 weeks

    Care of Underserved

    4 weeks

    Rural Rotation

    16 weeks

    Transition to Practice

    4 weeks

     

    Academic Curriculum

    Academic Half Day is taught weekly, in-person and interactive.  Content is focused on practical tips and skills.  Mostly local specialists/family physicians/nurses/physio/etc. deliver the academic sessions.  We have an excellent UBC teaching space, with video connections to include residents away on rural rotations.  Resident wellness activities — created by residents — are also scheduled during AHD.  We also offer:

    • Procedural skills sessions (casting, IUD insertions, suturing)
    • Point of Care Ultrasound Curriculum
    • 5-6 SIM Days are arranged per academic year and bimonthly SIM Codes are also arranged
    • Indigenous cultural competency is provided by San’yas and placements in Band clinics.

     

    Research

    Evidence-based medicine is taught in both academic and clinical areas with our Scholar Faculty.  R1s complete a quality improvement project with their family practice preceptor.  R2s complete a scholar project and present their work at UBC Regional Scholar Day.  Residents learn presentation skills by teaching self-chosen topics to their peers at AHDs. Residents develop collateral references of preferred external databases and rural POC aids (like MaBAL and RUDi), to help quickly in clinical questions that come up in real-time and remote.  Residents provide evaluations of academic sessions that will perform an instrumental role in shaping the educational experience for future residents at the site.

     

    International Electives

    Residents can do one month of interprovincial or international electives during their training.

     

    Further Training

    Third year training positions are available in the area of Emergency Medicine, Care of The Elderly, Anesthesia, Palliative Medicine, Sports and Exercise Medicine, Clinician Scholars program and a wide range of other category 2 Enhanced Skills programs.


    Training Sites

    The Okanagan South Family Practice Residency Program is in the sought-after Okanagan Valley. Together with 14 suburban and rural communities, the centrally located urban area of Penticton has a population of approximately 90,000 people.

    Where most people vacation is where we call home. Situated between 113-km long Lake Okanagan and Skaha Lake, and surrounded by highlands and mountains, Penticton is a draw for outdoor recreation, including swimming, boating, windsurfing, kiteboarding, golf, rock climbing, hiking, cycling most of the year, and downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. With over 2,100 hours of sunshine and only 15 inches of rain annually, the area has a comfortable climate year-round.

    Agriculture and viticulture are important to the economy, and food and wine festivals abound. Penticton is at the centre of the Okanagan wine country, with over 110 wineries in the surrounding Okanagan Valley and Similkameen Valley communities of Summerland, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos and Keremeos, many recognized among the world’s best in international competition.

    Penticton and the south-central region are easily accessible from major urban centres by highway and by air. We are approximately 4.5 hours driving time from Vancouver and 8 hours from Calgary, with the nearest larger urban centre located 1 hour away in Kelowna. Penticton is served by a local regional airport, while Kelowna is served by an international airport.


    Summary of changes

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