Prince George

Everyone applying to Family Medicine Residency expresses a desire to get to know patients of different ages and circumstances and see to their comprehensive medical needs over time. The recent erosion of full service family practice in various parts of the country may leave you doubting whether that is still attractive or even possible. We offer two years of tonic for your generalist soul: a busy, collegial environment, amongst doctors who still love being doctors and find time for a lot of fun besides.

Family practice teaching in Prince George is centred in a purpose-built clinic that houses 18 preceptors (11 of them grads of our programs) serving 16,000 patients. Most of us give about half-time to our practices and the balance to GP “specialties” like emergency medicine, geriatrics, aboriginal health, and palliative care.

The University Hospital of Northern British Columbia is the busy primary referral centre for Northern BC. Even so, family physicians play a major role in the care of most patients. And we provide most of the ER care and normal obstetrics.

We’re in the business of residency training because we want young colleagues to settle in beautiful Northern BC and share the bounty. If you aren’t having fun and learning a lot, we know you won’t stay. Talk to our residents and grads at the UBC Open House or contact our Chiefs via the email addresses below.

They’ll tell you this is the best all-round family medicine experience anywhere. Our pledge is to equip you with the skills you need for a gratifying, productive time in small town medicine. Why not check us out?

Lawrence Fredeen/Susan Knoll
MD, CCFP, FCFP

Site Directors
Prince George Residency Site

In Prince George and the Northern Rural Program, we have family medicine training designed with the goal of preparing residents for practicing medicine wherever they may choose. The focus of this program is to provide residents with the skill set to practice in smaller communities. The core of our program is learning and experience. These goals are recognized by our clinical instructors as well as the residents. Our strong clinical skills are developed through a high degree of patient responsibility, plenty of opportunity for hands-on experience, and a supportive team of preceptors and medical staff. With very few specialty residents in the community, we have the opportunity to see and do pretty much everything. The interest in providing a positive experience for the residents is shared by the entire medical community, and is shown through the excellent teaching we receive during clinical experiences and academic half-days. The medical community here is fantastic! By the end our two years, we have developed the knowledge, training, and confidence to set out on our careers as family physicians in a community of any size.
In addition to our clinical experiences, there are several opportunities for supplementary education and courses, including Advanced Life Support for Obstetrics (ALSO), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), and ACLS re certification, as well as various CME activities. Seven hundred dollars is provided for each resident for any other conference or certification you wish to obtain.
Prince George and the surrounding communities allow for a balanced lifestyle, essential to a satisfying career in medicine. We have opportunities to explore a wide range of recreation activities such as running, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, climbing, biking, hockey, and skiing; as well as various creative ventures including acting, singing, painting, and more. We pride ourselves on the balanced approach we learn from our instructors here in northern BC, and are able to mold for ourselves during our training.
Thanks for visiting our website. We look forward to meeting you at the CARMS open houses and interviews. We hope to see you next year in Prince George!
If you have any further questions about the program, feel free to contact one of us by e-mail (below) or at one of the CARMS open houses.
 
Susie Butow & Erin Carlson

Co-Chief Residents, Prince George Residency Site & Northern Rural Residency Site

susieh@interchange.ubc.ca
carlsonerin@gmail.com