Quw’utsun
Site Information
Number of Residents: 4 CMG
Location: Duncan, BC
Community: 22,200
Hospital: Cowichan District Hospital
Curriculum Type: Hybrid model including longitudinal and block curricula
R1 Elective Time: 6 weeks
R2 Elective Time: 12 weeks
Site Director Message
We acknowledge that we are privileged to work, live, and play in the unceded traditional lands of the Quw’utsun, Malahat, Halalt, Lyackson, Stz’uminus, Penelakut, and Ts’uubaa-asatx First Nations. We are learning to respect this land that we are guests on and serve our communities’ health care needs with commitment and respect.
Are you ready to be part of something new and exciting by being the inaugural class of 2024 at the Quw’utsun site?
We cannot wait for you to discover the hidden gem that is the Cowichan Valley, situated mid-way between Nanaimo and Victoria (each a 45 min drive away). It combines the perks of small-town living (lower cost of living, no traffic, surrounded by nature) with the benefits of a big city (major retailers, grocers, craft breweries). You can enjoy numerous hiking & mountain biking trails, watersports, BCHL Cowichan Capitals hockey games, our many wineries, and numerous community events.
The Quw’utsun medical community is well equipped to provide exceptional experience in full-service family medicine, including ER, urgent care, hospitalist, addictions, palliative/hospice, and obstetrics. Specialist exposure includes general surgery, pediatrics, orthopedics, gynecology, anesthesia, urology, and internal medicine subspecialties. You’ll find we are a close-knit community, happy to help out (no fear necessary in calling a consult). As one of the integrated clinical clerkship sites for third year med students, our preceptors are well versed in teaching and eager to welcome residents into the fold.
With the largest First Nation in BC, Quw’utsun Tribes, there is a rich Indigenous history here. We are committed to building and maintaining trauma-informed relationships to support and sustain local Indigenous culture and wellness. These principles will be embedded in our curriculum.
Of note, the Cowichan Valley covers a vast amount of land from Mill Bay to Ladysmith with most medical locations located just off the highway, meaning a car is essential to getting around. Having a bike is nice for local trips, but ill-advised for commutes from Cowichan District Hospital to Chemainus Health Care Centre.
We know you’ll love it here and where you’ll receive a wide breadth of medical experiences combined with the beauty of the Cowichan Valley. We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful home.
Dr. Kirsten Yip & Dr. Tom Rimmer, Co-Site Directors
About
Contact:
tom.rimmer@ubc.ca
kirsten.yip@ubc.ca
CaRMS Page
Learn more about the Cowichan Valley here.
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Resident Life
Dr Erin Carruthers, UBC Indigenous Site – Quw’utsun, Resident Grad 2021:
My experience doing residency in the Cowichan Valley was beyond my expectations. The preceptors are fantastic, the medical community is so welcoming, and there is so much to see and explore in the valley. My learning was always the number one priority, and self care was valued and respected. I was treated like an equal in both the hospital and clinic, and given the flexibility to tailor my learning to my interests. CDH is still primarily run by family physicians, so you’ll get extensive hands-on inpatient care experience, but with a team of friendly specialists to call on. I would highly recommend this site for anyone looking for an immersive learning-based program in a beautiful semi rural location.
Frances Perry, UBC 4th Yr Med Student, ICC Grad 2023:
The Cowichan Valley itself is a hidden paradise and it is only made all the more wonderful by the incredible community that call it home. I feel very lucky that I got the chance to spend an entire year under the tutelage of the medical staff there. At each step, I felt supported by my teachers and the medical community as a whole. It was a safe environment to try new things, make a mistake and learn from the experience to be a better clinician. Being one on one with staff was so great for my learning and clinical judgment that I feel I am ahead of my peers in some ways.
Kevin Gill, UBC 4th Yr Med Student, ICC Grad 2023:
The Duncan medical community is incredibly welcoming to learners. Physicians and staff go out of their way to say hi to you in the hospital, or even provide teaching from important cases.
The primary care experience in Duncan is incredible, with opportunities to follow patients throughout their entire journey of care. You may see your family practice patients in clinic for routine care, while working in Emergency, while rounding in the hospital, or even in specialty clinics.
Alex Benny, UBC 4th Yr Med Student, ICC Grad 2023:
In Duncan you very quickly feel like a valuable member of the community. All of the staff at the site are really focused on making sure you are consistently improving your medical knowledge, all while facilitating a safe learning environment. If you are looking to have medical independence while having a supportive group of staff to back you up, then Duncan is the place to be. Duncan itself is a nice town, with a good mixture of local cafes, stores, and a decent variety of cuisines. There are also many beautiful sights to see around the area. Some of the most beautiful sunsets I have seen were in Duncan, either at nearby Stoney Hill, Cowichan Bay, and even outside of my front door. As a previous learner in Duncan, I strongly recommend the site to anyone with a passion for non-urban medicine
