Nanaimo
Site Information
Number of Residents: 8 CMG, 1 IMG
Location: Nanaimo, BC
Community: 85,000 – 90,000
Hospital: Nanaimo General Hospital
Distance From Vancouver: 86 km, includes Ferry Travel
Curriculum Type: Partial Integrated
R2 Elective Time: 2-9 Weeks
Site Director Message
Nanaimo Site has 18 positions, 9 in the R1 year and 9 in the R2 year. The R1 and R2 residents who have matched to Nanaimo have had a great learning experience centered at our Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) and the surrounding community. NRGH has 320 acute care beds and a medical staff of more than 200 physicians.
Nanaimo’s central Vancouver Island location makes it an ideal community for Family Medicine learning. The Nanaimo medical community provides a warm welcome to Family Practice residents. Nanaimo is a convenient hub for travel to and from many island adventure activities.
Family Practice residents at the Nanaimo Site are matched to a community family practice clinic for your 2 years of continuity and longitudinal care.
Ample social, recreational and cultural activities are available in all four seasons of the year. Our mild climate and adventure culture provides great opportunity for a balanced lifestyle.
Nanaimo has a strong palliative care program delivered by skilled family physicians. Nanaimo has a high-volume emergency room that provides excellent teaching and experience for learners. Surgery, Internal Medicine, ICU, Low Risk Obstetrics, Child and Youth Health and Mental Health and Addictions/Substance Use are all strong rotations at this site. There is lots of opportunity in subspecialty electives in ENT/plastics, cardiology, dermatology, and others. There is an abundance of role models and mentors to meet residents’ program support needs.
Our academic activities are done in 1-week academic blocks throughout the year to allow a strong focus on the academic curriculum in family medicine. Examination preparation is facilitated effectively. The site has excellent academic space including a human performance laboratory (Simulation Lab).
The Nanaimo Site will ensure that you will become a competent, confident, healthy and resilient family physician ready to practice in any Canadian community.
Dr. Shelley Chopra, MD, CCFP & Dr. Sidney Morrison MD, CCFP, & Dr. Steve Beerman MD, CCFP
Lead Resident Message
Welcome to Nanaimo! We are a close-knit group of 9 residents per year who takes full advantage of the flexibility this site provides, and we have a close relationship with our site administration!
Program Highlights
- Education Over Service: Residents mostly self-schedule call and have significant input into educational activities.
- Longitudinal Family Medicine: Residents return to their designated clinics one day per week for two years. Clinic preceptors have diverse interests including obstetrics, addictions, palliative care, Indigenous health, and MSK.
- Flexibility: R2 is particularly customizable to fit individual goals!
- Academic Weeks: Didactic learning occurs in 1-week blocks, during which residents are exempt from rotations and call.
- Inpatient Rotations – At Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH), our learning is broad and hands-on due to the rarity of other residents. NRGH has most specialist services, and staff are eager to teach. Rotation highlights include 4 weeks of Palliative Care, 4 weeks of ICU in a highly supportive learning environment, 2 weeks of Addictions Medicine, and 4 weeks in our beautiful and busy Emergency Department. Additionally, our Hospitalist evening call builds confidence with inpatient care.
- Simulation Sessions – Our state-of-the-art lab hosts over 35+ fun, low-stakes SIM sessions per year.
Our Community
Our residents foster connection and fun outside of medicine through various social activities, retreats, and during academic weeks.
Nanaimo itself features a revitalized downtown with restaurants shops. Outdoor activities like hiking, sailing, and kayaking are readily available, with skiing and surfing a short drive away. Fun fact: We are the closest residency site to Tofino!
Overall, we hope to attract folks who are passionate about learning and living fully. Our supportive, adventurous group values community and looks forward to meeting you. Feel free to contact us with any questions!
Drs. Anna Gleave & Brooke McDonald
