Rural Northwest (Terrace)

Over the last decade, the trend in medical education has been towards decentralized and more generalized teaching. The vision of the Rural Northwest Family Practice Residency (RNWFPR) is to offer high quality medical education in rural communities providing a broad spectrum of general and specialist medical care.

The North West Health Services Delivery Area (NWHSDA), a region which extends from Smithers to the Queen Charlotte Islands and north to the Yukon border, provides health care to a population of approx 80,000 in the northwest of British Columbia. The residency program will be primarily locagted in Terrace with opportunities to practice in other centres such as Prince Rupert, Nass Valley, Smithers, Hazelton, and Stewart. While the family practice residents will be based in one community for the majority of their time they will need to travel to the other communities for some rotations so a vehicle is required.

Located on Skeena River, Terrace is known for its great recreational opportunities in areas of sport fishing, hiking, skiing, kayaking, and boating. The region supports a diversified economy, with tourism being a major contributor.

Dr. Greg Linton
Site Director, Northwest Terrace Residency Site

Terrace is a longitudinal integrated program, which starts with a one-month block of family practice followed by incorporation of specialties throughout the remainder of year one. In your second year you have more elective time and this can be tailored to your specific interests or needs.

The program can be summed up with an easy to remember acronym: TERRACE

Training: Includes 2-3 half days per week in the family practice clinic, one Academic Half Day (AHD) per week, and the rest of the week filled with specialist training. You work in a friendly collegial environment alongside other family doctors, specialists, nurses and hospital staff.

Emergency Department: As residents we spend at least one shift per week and one weekend every five weeks in the ED. You work beside experienced family physicians and a designated emergency room doctor. You feel well supported and there are many opportunities for learning and teaching.

Responsibility: Residents are allowed to assume as much responsibility as is comfortable with the knowledge that backup is always close at hand. You are expected to take ED and OB calls as well as do morning rounds with your own patients. This allows you to become competent in managing patients independently and confidently in a rural setting.

Residents: There are currently four residents and three medical students in Terrace. We form a close bond and try to organize activities together as much as is possible. With so few learners around, this means that you will never have to miss out on hands-on opportunities. You will be called to be the first assist or to relocate that shoulder.

Academics: AHD is on Tuesdays this year and includes videoconference learning tutorials presented by specialists, family physicians and fellow residents. We also have periodic journal reviews. We are working on improving the AHD for the upcoming year in order to provide future residents with a better learning experience. The program also provides financial support for courses such as ACLS, ATLS, NRP, ACoRN and Trauma/ER of the North.

Culture: Historical First Nations villages and Native Art work abound. You will also have the opportunity to practice rural medicine in the villages in the Nass Valley on a monthly basis as you progress through the program.

Extra curricular activities: Terrace is an outdoor enthusiasts dream with dramatic scenery everywhere you look. There is world-class fishing with all five species of salmon being caught in the surrounding rivers. Outdoor activities available at your doorstep include hiking, road biking, mountain biking, kayaking, cross country skiing, back country skiing and golf. There are also opportunities for playing hockey, tennis, badminton and for swimming.

I believe that the program in Terrace provides you with the training and confidence necessary to succeed in a full service family practice in any environment in BC or Canada. If you have any questions or require more information please contact us via our provided e-mail.

Regards,

Terrace Site Chief Residents

Drs. Colleen Black & Nichole Sturwold
colleen.black@hotmail.com
nsturwold@hotmail.com