IMG – St. Paul’s
Site Information
Number of Residents: 12
Location: Vancouver, BC
Community: 600,000
Hospital: St. Paul’s Hospital, Mount St. Joseph, BC Women’s, etc.
Curriculum Type: Partial Horizontal
R2 Elective Time: 10 Weeks + Horizontal
Site Director Message
Welcome to the IMG-SPH Residency Site, the first in Canada to offer family medicine residency training exclusively for international medical graduates (IMGs). Our Site Director, an IMG himself, understands the unique challenges faced by applicants.
Since its inception in July 2006, our program has provided a supportive environment for 12 IMGs in family medicine. Faculty members are selected for their experience with IMGs and are dedicated to enhancing their training. Our Site Coordinator and Chief Residents offer invaluable support, ensuring residents feel connected and empowered.
In the early months, we focus on each resident’s individual needs, helping them navigate the Canadian medical system. We value the diverse backgrounds of our residents, encouraging discussions about their medical experiences abroad, which enriches the learning environment for all.
The program combines traditional block exposure with longitudinal rotations, requiring residents to spend half a day weekly with their family practice preceptor. This continuity allows residents to build relationships with a fixed patient panel. Rotations occur at various hospitals, including St. Paul’s, Mount St. Joseph, and Royal Columbian, with a one-month rural family medicine rotation in the first year for early exposure to rural practice.
In the second year, residents enjoy ample elective time to explore specific interests. This includes two months in a small town or rural area of BC, ensuring well-rounded preparation for future practice. Recent curriculum enhancements include geriatrics psychiatry, longitudinal orthopedics outpatient experiences, and Care of Workers exposures, all crucial for family medicine.
Dr. Michael Mann, CCFP, BMBS, BMedSci, BSc
michael.mann@ubc.ca
About
Contact:
Director – Dr. Michael Mann
Manager – Eva Chan
Click here to view the site presentation.
Learn more about the City of Vancouver here. Further details on recreation activities are here.
Lead Resident Message
Welcome to the St. Paul’s Hospital – IMG Family Practice Residency site, the first fully accredited program in North America designed specifically for International Medical Graduates (IMGs). As the Lead Resident, I invite you to explore our program and consider making it your own.
Located in downtown Vancouver, near popular areas like Yaletown and English Bay, our residency is based at St. Paul’s Hospital, a unique tertiary care center serving diverse and underprivileged communities. Our hospital is known for its commitment to comprehensive, compassionate care and leading clinical research.
While St. Paul’s serves as the primary training site, residents gain enhanced clinical exposure through Pediatrics and Obstetrics rotations at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospitals, renowned facilities in the province. A suburban emergency rotation in the second year complements our urban emergency experience, ensuring a diverse and enriching two-year journey in family medicine.
Our curriculum covers various essential topics, including women’s health, pediatric conditions, addiction, emergency medicine, geriatrics, and mental health. Each resident is paired with a community family physician preceptor, spending at least six months in their practice, fostering strong patient relationships and building confidence as future family physicians.
With these outstanding features, our site stands at the forefront of IMG Family Medicine residency training in Canada. Starting your journey to becoming a Family Physician in British Columbia is both exciting and challenging. Choosing a program that has pioneered IMG residency will ease this transition and enhance your experience. Best of luck during the CaRMS season!
Dr. Elizabeth Perez Guzman & Dr. Mehra Ahsan
