We currently have 10 residents. We accept two residents per year. Numbers vary depending on transfers into the program from other programs, maternity leaves, etc.

GF Strong Rehab Centre is a free-standing rehabilitation facility located in Vancouver. It is the “home-base” for the PM&R residents, and is the training site for many of the core PM&R rotations. The resident office/room is based here as are most academic activities.

Residents travel to Whitehorse with a staff physiatrist twice during their residency for one week outreach clinics timed throughout the year and have the option of going more often. PGY5 residents attend a Fraser Health Authority rotation in New Westminster whereby they function in the role of a general physiatrist in the community running both inpatient rehabilitation wards as well as a busy outpatient practice. There is a mandatory month long Orthotics and Prosthetics rotation in Victoria. Residents are otherwise strongly encouraged to attend both outpatient clinics in the community as well as spend time with physiatrists on smaller inpatient rehabilitation wards in community hospitals. We have strong links with physiatrists throughout the lower mainland of British columbia as well as in Kelowna, Kamloops, Victoria and Nanaimo.

Several of our residents have arranged electives abroad. Recent electives have included the USA and Nepal, as well as across Canada.

Residents on an in-patient Rehab rotation typically carry 6 to 12 patients depending on their level of training.

Residents are on-call as required for each service they rotate with. In B.C., the maximum call responsibility is 1 in 4 for in-house call, and 1 in 3 for home-call. While on GF Strong-based rotations, residents are typically on-call for one week per month from home. A staff physiatrist is on call with the resident at all times and residents are encouraged to contact staff with questions or for help.

The residents’ room has a library of key PM&R textbooks, as well as three computers with internet access. Residents have access to e-journals as well as the UBC library electronic resources. Residents have an annual allowance of $1000 for educational expenses. They also receive additional funding to attend the national PM&R comprehensive review course, and may be able to access additional funds for presentation of research projects and for out of town electives within BC, such as specialized funding from the Interior Health Authority for rotations in Kamloops.

Residents are expected to have developed a research question by their PGY-2 year, conducted a review of the literature and an essay to either the CAPM&R or GF Strong Annual Rehabilitation Research Day and completed the research project by the end of residency. Projects can vary in duration from 1 to 4 years. Each project is supervised by an approved preceptor from the University of B.C. Each resident is expected to present his/her research project at the annual Rehabilitation Research Day, and residents are encouraged to present at the Department of Medicine Research day and at a national level conference. Projects should be completed and ready for publication and/or presentation by the end of the residency program.

Recent residents have enrolled in and completed Masters of Medical Education and Masters of Health Care and Epidemiology programs during their residency training.

Absolutely! The importance of an active, healthy lifestyle is emphasized in Vancouver. Physiatrists recognize and value life-work balance. Many residents love working in B.C. because of the year-round opportunities to enjoy hiking, running, tennis, beach volleyball, skiing, yoga, surfing, boating, or just relaxing in the mild climate.

Not necessarily. Most of the teaching hospitals (GFS, Vancouver General Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital, UBC hospital and BC Children’s hospital) are connected by interhospital shuttle and accessible by public transit. Other Vancouver area hospitals are also easily accessible by public transit. Vancouver is an excellent city for cycling and there are car-share programs available in the city.