Indigenous - Family Medicine

The UBC Family Medicine Indigenous - North site offers a unique two-year residency training program focused on providing culturally safe care to Indigenous communities in northern British Columbia. Residents will develop expertise in Indigenous healthcare through relationship-based learning, community engagement, and flexible training experiences across various northern Indigenous communities.

Research

Residents complete a quality improvement project in R1 and a larger scholar project in R2, with presentation at the Indigenous Scholarship event.

Training setting

Training occurs in northern BC Indigenous communities, primarily on unceded Lheidli T'enneh lands, with rotations through Prince George and various northern Indigenous community health centers.

Teaching approach

Competency-based, community-driven learning with emphasis on relationship building, cultural safety, and resident-driven educational objectives.

Setting types

• Indigenous community health centers
• Rural clinics
• Regional hospital
• Community-based clinical settings

Focus areas

• Indigenous Healthcare
• Rural Medicine
• Community-Based Medicine
• Cultural Safety
• Northern BC Healthcare

Patient populations

• Indigenous communities
• Rural and remote populations
• Northern BC communities
• First Nations patients

Highlights

• Relationship-based training
• Longitudinal community immersion
• Flexible curriculum
• Indigenous community outreach
• Academic curriculum with Indigenous focus
• One month international/interprovincial elective option

Strengths

• Unique Indigenous healthcare training
• Distributed training across multiple northern communities
• Strong focus on cultural safety
• Comprehensive Indigenous health curriculum
• Flexible, relationship-based learning approach

Enhanced skills

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

By year

PGY-1

• Family Practice - Indigenous and Rural/RemoteThe emphasis during these 5 blocks will be longitudinal relationships with Indigenous communities and learning in clinical settings that are embedded in community, as well as engaging in community events when appropriate and available. Indigenous community location will be determined by community interest and availability, as well as resident choice. Residents can also choose to do elective time in alternative clinical settings during a small portion of these 5 blocks either in block format or done longitudinally.BLOCK 8-135 blocks
• Family Medicine and OutreachFamily medicine clinic and Indigenous community outreach, which may include a 4 week rotation at Central Interior Native Health in Prince George if available, CSFS clinic and Indigenous community outreach, or other community visits if capacityBLOCK 2-72 blocks
• PediatricsUHNBC Peds CTU 3 weeks, outpatient peds 3 weeks (or other on selective basis - see above)BLOCK 2-71.5 blocks
• OB-LDRUHNBC (or other on selective basis - see above)BLOCK 2-71 block
• Inpatient Care SelectiveHospitalist, Internal Medicine, or Surgical Rotation at UHNBC, or other northern regional community hospitalBLOCK 2-71 block
• Psychiatry and AddictionsFNHA Virtual Psych days interspersed with outpatient addictions clinic in Prince George, or other community on selective basis - see aboveBLOCK 2-70.5 blocks
• Family Practice OrientationFirst block of residency includes rotations through family medicine clinics/Indigenous community outreach, academic sessions, etc.BLOCK 11 block
• VACATIONTo be taken in two 2 week periods during each half of the academic year4 weeks

PGY-2

• Family Practice - Indigenous and Rural/RemoteSimilar to the second half of R1, the emphasis during these 11 blocks will be longitudinal relationships with Indigenous communities and learning in clinical settings that are embedded in community, as well as engaging in community events when appropriate and available. Indigenous community location will be determined by community interest and availability, as well as resident choice – ideally, the resident will continue working with primarily the same community as their R1 year to maintain important relationships and continuity. Residents can also choose to do elective time in alternative clinical settings during a small portion of these 11 blocks either in block format or longitudinally. Electives that are encouraged during this time for supporting practice in remote Indigenous communities include: rural/regional ER, proceduralist/surgery, anesthesia, palliative care, addictions, and sexual health.BLOCK 1-1211 blocks
• Family Medicine Transition to PracticeLast block of residency, transition to practice with reduced supervision and increased independence, transition to practice curricular time. This will be done in the Indigenous community that the resident has worked with for the last 18 months.BLOCK 131 block
• VACATIONSelf scheduled by residents4 weeks

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

What the program looks at

• File review (20%)
• MMI interview (75%)
• FMProC score (5%)

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.

• University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC)
• Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) clinics

Unknown, British Columbia