Vancouver Fraser
Site Information
Number of Residents: 13 CMG, 4 IMG
Location: Vancouver, BC, Home base is New Westminster
Community: 600,000 – 2,000,000
Hospitals: Royal Columbian, Burnaby General, Mount St. Joseph’s, Richmond, BC Women’s and Children’s, Eagle Ridge Hospital, Peace Arch Hospital
Curriculum Type: Block
R2 Elective Time: 14 Weeks
Site Director Message
Welcome to the Vancouver-Fraser Site of the UBC Family Practice Residency Program!
Our site offers the unique opportunity to live in the vibrant, world-class city of Vancouver while engaging in diverse clinical experiences across community clinics and various hospitals throughout the Lower Mainland. Although based at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, your training will span multiple locations familiar with Family Practice training.
Recently, we’ve added two Team-Based Primary Care Learning Centres alongside our established community practices. These centers, along with smaller hospitals and clinics, will provide you with hands-on experience working independently and in team settings. You’ll work alongside experienced family physicians and specialists, gaining exposure to a wide range of practice environments.
Residents benefit from substantial elective time and a variety of locally available electives to tailor their training to their interests and career goals. Our robust academic program features a diverse lineup of engaging speakers to enhance your skills and prepare you for the CFPC examination.
Many faculty and directors at our site are alumni, reflecting the site’s enthusiasm and the strong mentorship available to you. Our supportive administrative staff will ensure you feel at home throughout your residency.
We are well-connected with local Divisions of Family Practice and their Primary Care Networks, helping you become familiar with local resources and supports for your future career. Graduates of our program excel as community longitudinal family physicians, emergency physicians, addictions specialists, palliative care experts, medical leaders, and more. We look forward to meeting you at our virtual and hopefully in-person events. Please reach out with any questions—we’re here to help!
Dr. Vincent Wong, BscPharm, MD, MHA, CCFP, CHE
vincent.w.wong@ubc.ca
Dr. Amritpal Arora, BSc, MD, CCFP
amritpal.arora@ubc.ca
Co-Site Directors
About
Contact: vincent.w.wong@ubc.ca
amritpal.arora@ubc.ca
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Learn more about the City of Vancouver here. Further details on recreation activities are here.
Lead Resident Message
The Vancouver Fraser Site (VFS) offers a diverse training experience across both smaller community hospitals and high-volume academic centers in beautiful British Columbia. Our flexible program allows you to tailor your experience to meet personal learning goals.
As a VFS resident, you’ll primarily be based at Royal Columbian Hospital but have opportunities to train at various sites, including Mount St. Joseph’s, Burnaby General, Richmond, BC Children’s, BC Women’s and others. Unique rotations include Pediatric Emergency Medicine at BC Children’s Hospital and CTU (Clinical Teaching Unit/Internal Medicine) at Royal Columbian Hospital. Second-year residents also enjoy a Sports Medicine rotation instead of Orthopedics.
Our program focuses on developing strong outpatient clinical skills, with residents based at the same family practice for their first year and having the option to continue in their second year. You’ll also spend two months working with a Family Physician in a rural BC community.
Unlike many urban tertiary centers, our program emphasizes learning over service. Residents manage appropriate clinic duties and have time to explore areas of interest within Family Medicine. You will attend a full academic day every other week, alternating with a call-back day, ensuring continuity of care and maximizing your academic and clinical time.
In your first year, you can spend up to three half-days per week in horizontal electives, such as Dermatology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology, and Emergency Medicine. Second-year residents have 14 weeks of elective time to pursue specific interests or additional training. The program is designed to be resident-driven. UBC residents enjoy four weeks of vacation per year.
Socially, you’ll connect with peers at bi-weekly academic days and at program funded retreats. Our graduates excel as office-based clinicians, hospitalists, and specialists in many areas.
Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to meeting you at our Virtual Events. Feel free to reach out via email with any questions.
Vancouver Fraser Lead Residents,
Dr. Sarah Tahir and Dr. Bessie He
