Program Information

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Number of Residents: 13
Location: Kelowna, BC
Community: 118,000
Hospital: Kelowna General

Curriculum Type: Block / Integrated
R2 Elective Time: 14 Weeks
Phone: 250-862-4014
Contacts: Director - Dr. Lynne Tereposky - lmtereposky@gmail.com / Coordinators - Shirlee MacDonald - shirley.macDonald@interiorhealth.ca , Linda Misura linda.misura@interiorhealth.ca
Chief Resident: Doug Page or John Sauvé - dougbrianpage@gmail.com or john.sauve@utoronto.ca  

Overview

Our program attracts residents who are motivated to practice in isolated areas, who enjoy what rural life has to offer, and who seek the challenges of experiential, independent self-directed learning. Our residents thrive on trying new things…and can fit most of their belongings into their car in their second year!

The first year is spent in the Kelowna area, in a non-academic center which is currently becoming more academic as a medical undergraduate program is being implemented (to start January 2012). Rather than group/team learning, there are one-on-one preceptorships which allow for individualized learning, and lots of “hands-on” experience. The transition from an academic center to a non-academic center can be unsettling for some residents …but most are successful in making the transition and find the learning style ideal for their level of learning.

The second year is spent all over BC. Residents do two 16 week blocks in rural communities (e.g. Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Creston, Grand Forks, Lillooet, Masset, Port McNeill, QCC, Revelstoke, 100 Mile House, Cranbrook, Gibsons, Inuvik, Powell River, Smithers, Trail & Vanderhoof). Four weeks are spent doing a trauma or an emergency rotation. The rest of 2nd year consists of elective time; residents choose what and where they want to learn. During the second year, residents also travel to Vancouver and/or Kelowna for academic time and for resident research day. This, along with travel for exams, conferences, etc. means our residents are on the road a lot more than in other programs…but they get to see lots of BC (and beyond if they decide to do an international elective!)

Residents who do well in our program enjoy self directed learning – meaning they are comfortable working in a hospital where they need to take the initiative to get involved with patient care to meet their personal learning needs. In the R1 year, because we are not a service based hospital, the level of responsibility may be less on some rotations (compared to other programs) …but in the R2 year, responsibility is pretty much at the level of a practicing rural physician (with support of course). Residents need to be able to motivate themselves in the R1 year, so they are not overwhelmed in the R2 year.

Residents who struggle in our program tend to be those who have difficulty being away from their partner/family, especially in the R2 year when it is difficult to travel for a weekend getaway. Due to the remote locations and travel in the second year, we have found that residents with partners/families do much better if their family is mobile, and can move with them.

Program Highlights

Sample Rotation