BC’s Southern Interior is home to approximately 760,000 residents. The largest metropolitan center in this region is Kelowna. With a population of approximately 222,000, it is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in all of Canada. The next largest metropolitan center in this region is Kamloops, with a population of approximately 120,000. As a newer residency track, the psychiatrists of the Southern Interior have worked hard to uphold UBC’s world-class standard of teaching. Starting in 2023 with Kelowna, our track has since expanded to offer rotations in Kamloops and Penticton. We continue to work on developing a diversity of training opportunities across the region: including Vernon, Trail, and Cranbrook.

The current focal point of this residency program is at Kelowna General Hospital, which offers a variety of psychiatric services. This includes: Psychiatric Emergency Service, Adult Inpatient Unit (34 beds), Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (9 beds), Addictions Medicine Service, Consult-Liaison Psychiatry Service, Geriatric Psychiatry Service, and Pediatric Psychiatry Service. The Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, a specialized tertiary unit with 8 beds, is also located at KGH.  Kamloops, as a secondary site, offers the following services through Royal Inland Hospital: Psychiatry Emergency Service, Adult Inpatient Unit (30 beds including 10 High Intensity beds), Addiction Medicine Service, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service, Geriatric Psychiatry Service, and Child and Adolescent  Inpatient and Crisis Stabilization Services). Several unique tertiary services are also situated in Kamloops out of Hillside and South Hills Centre. Hillside Centre (40 beds) provides tertiary psychiatric care for general adult, geriatric, and neuropsychiatry with a multidisciplinary lens. South Hills Centre (40 beds) provides tertiary psychosocial rehabilitation to adults with severe and persistent symptoms of mental illness.

Outpatient services in the Interior are provided out of ‘Mental Health and Substance Use’ Centres. Services provided here include: ACCESS Psychiatry (intake), Early Psychosis Intervention, Counseling and Treatment (mood and anxiety), Treatment Stabilization and Recovery (severe and persistent mental illness), Assertive Community Treatment, Alcohol and Drug Service, Opioid Agonist Treatment Clinic, and Senior’s Mental Health. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services are offered through ‘Child and Youth Mental Health’ and ‘The Foundry’.

The program still maintains close linkages with the other UBC Psychiatry Residents in the Lower Mainland (Vancouver, Richmond, and Fraser Valley) through the Thursday Academic Days for PGY2-5. Residents attend most of these sessions by videoconference, but once a month, the Southern Interior residents will travel to Vancouver to join the seminars in person. Southern Interior-based residents also have frequent opportunities to travel to Vancouver for other special academic and social events enjoyed by the entire UBC program. Interior residents also have access to the province-wide elective catalogue.

The Southern Interior strikes a gentle blend of rural and urban life, making it a popular vacation spot. The Okanagan and Thompson-Shuswap region boast a sunny and dry climate, with hot summers (28oC July average) and mild winters (1oC January average). Breathtaking views are seen in every direction, with landscapes decorated by beautiful mountains, hills, lakes, beaches, vineyards and orchards. Several provincial parks are situated along the region’s spectacular lakes. Kalamalka Lake was named by National Geographic as one of the 10 most beautiful lakes in the world.

Because of the landscape, the Okanagan and Thompson-Shuswap are often described as a four-season playground, with natural amenities offering outdoor activities all year round. In the winter, experience the region’s famous ‘champagne powder’ by visiting our various local ski resorts. In the summer, soak up the sun while enjoying watersports, boating, and beaches. Or stay active by quickly accessing a variety of well-established trail systems for hiking and cycling.

Kelowna is BC’s third largest metropolitan area, acting as a focal point of recreational and cultural experiences. Here is found the Okanagan Symphony, Kelowna Actors Studio, and Theatre Kelowna. A bustling brewery district offers local craft beers, ciders, and spirits. The Okanagan and Thompson-Shuswap boast hundreds of vineyards, and is known for producing world-class wines. Foodies can access award-winning farm-to-table restaurants, or pick up theirs own locally grown produce from fruit stands and farmers markets.