Indigenous - Family Medicine

The UBC Family Medicine Indigenous - Mainland Vancouver site offers a unique two-year residency program focused on providing safe and appropriate care for Indigenous peoples. Residents are connected with Indigenous communities, encouraged to participate in community activities, and learn about health and healing through respectful engagement.

Research

Residents complete a small research or quality improvement project in R1 and a larger scholar project in R2, which is presented at the Indigenous Scholarship presentation.

Training setting

Urban and rural Indigenous clinical sites in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, including Sheway, Kilala Lelum, Lu'Ma Native Housing, and Musqueam community clinic, with additional rural community outreach opportunities.

Teaching approach

Competency-based medical education with a focus on relationship-building, cultural safety, and community engagement. Emphasizes progressive independence and reflective practice.

Setting types

• Urban Indigenous clinic
• Community health center
• Rural Indigenous clinic
• Academic medical center
• Tertiary referral hospital

Focus areas

• Indigenous Health
• Urban Indigenous Medicine
• Community-Based Care
• Cultural Safety
• Inner City Medicine
• Addictions Treatment

Patient populations

• Indigenous communities
• Urban Indigenous populations
• Inner-city patients
• Pregnant and parenting women/nonbinary individuals
• Patients with substance use and addiction challenges

Highlights

• Mandatory Indigenous community visits
• Academic weeks with Indigenous ceremony and knowledge integration
• Relationship-based training
• Community outreach options
• Research project requirements
• One month international/interprovincial elective option

Strengths

• Distributed training across 23 sites
• Strong Indigenous health focus
• Comprehensive academic and administrative support
• Emphasis on cultural safety
• Diverse clinical experiences

Enhanced skills

• Emergency Medicine
• Care of the Elderly
• Anesthesia
• Palliative Medicine
• Sports and Exercise Medicine
• Clinician Scholars program

By year

PGY-1

• Family Practice - general and addictionsPrimary care clinic at either Lu’ma medical clinic or Musqueam community clinic, and a clinic with focus on inner city medicine and full scope addictions treatment through a lens of cultural sensitivity at Kilala Lelum. Will include some overnight hospitalist call shifts at the same site as hospitalist rotation).2.5 blocks
• Family Practice OB (Sheway)Downtown eastside clinic providing primary care to women and nonbinary individuals who are pregnant or parenting, with a focus on antenatal care, sexual health, and addictions. Large volume of infant/child care as well. Option to have longitudinal days spent with outpatient visiting psychiatrist and pediatrician. Will include some overnight call shifts at BCWH for LDR and obstetrics triage experience.2 blocks
• Family Practice OrientationFirst block of residency includes rotations through the primary clinics, orientation sessions, academic curriculum, etc.1 block
• Rural FPCarrier Sekani Family Services Fly in to Takla Landing and Yekooche throughout horizontal family practice (four 1 week trips) or a 4 wk block in the ‘Namgis territory (Alert Bay), Nisga’a, Bella Bella or Hazelton1 block
• ElectiveResident driven and self-scheduled1 block
• OB-LDRBCWH-OB, working with Family Med OB, option to request other hospital locations subject to availability (funding for selectives away from home site may not be available)1 block
• PediatricsBCCH Pediatric Emergency and RICHER (subject to availability) OR Selective (inpatient or outpatient, can be done out of province - selective self-scheduled by resident)1 block
• VACATIONTo be taken in two 2-week periods during each half of the academic year4 weeks
• Family Practice HospitalistHospitalist rotation at MSJ or other similar hospital depending on rotation availability, for inpatient care and hospitalist call shifts.0.5 blocks

PGY-2

• ElectiveResident driven and self-scheduled4 blocks
• Family Practice HorizontalPrimarily FM home site (either Sheway, Kilala Lelum, or Lu’ma) with option to self-schedule longitudinal experiences in chosen areas (care of elderly, gyne, etc)3 blocks
• Rural Family PracticeVarious communities around BC, option to extend rural experience to 4 blocks2 blocks
• Family Medicine Transition to PracticeLast block of residency, transition to practice with reduced supervision and increased independence, transition to practice curricular time1 block
• VACATIONSelf-scheduled by residents4 weeks
• Ward/HospitalistPsychiatrySelective, Mount St. Joseph’s or Ridge Meadows Hospital, or other based on availabilityPsychiatry Selective0.5 blocks0.5 blocks
• Surgery or ProceduralSelective0.5 block (2 weeks)
• PalliativeSt. Paul’s Hospital or UBC, option for resident to self-schedule other location subject to available0.5 block (2 weeks)

From the program's rotation list. CaRMS 2026› source

What the program looks at

• File review (20%)
• MMI interview (75%)
• FMProC score (5%)
• Personal letter
• Reference documents

Applications per year

601+ CaRMS 2026› source

Applicants offered interviews

76–100% CaRMS 2026› source

Dates (2026 match)

17, 17–27, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27 and 28 Jan 2026; 8 Feb 2026 CaRMS 2026› source

Programs can change interview dates. Confirm on carms.ca.

• Sheway
• Lu'Ma Native Housing
• Kilala Lelum
• Musqueam Primary Care Clinic
• St. Paul's Hospital
• British Columbia Women's Hospital

Unknown, British Columbia