Nanaimo - Family Medicine
University of British ColumbiaNanaimo, British Columbia
At a glance
- Approx. quota
- 81
- Length
- 2
- Applications per year
- 601+201–400
- Offered interviews
- 76–100%51–75%
CMG stream · open to Canadian medical graduates
IMG stream · open to international medical graduates
Thu 12 Nov 2026,5:00–6:00 pm PSTvia CANPREPP source (opens in a new tab)
Interviews
8 dates, 16–26 Jan 2027
Nanaimo, teaching sites not stated on CaRMS page · required rural rotation
What stands out about this program
Six full academic weeks per year, with no rotation or off-service call during them, instead of weekly half-days.
From “Program curriculum” on the CaRMS page
Takes part in UBC's Indigenous Home Territory Selection Pathway for ranking Indigenous applicants from local Nations.
From “Program curriculum” on the CaRMS page
Residents set their own schedules for holidays, call duties and daily work.
From “Program curriculum” on the CaRMS page
- The Nanaimo site is a two-year family medicine residency based in Nanaimo, a regional service centre on central Vancouver Island.
- Each resident builds their own patient panel and follows those patients through both years, including 39 weeks of family practice.
- Residents complete a mandatory 2-month rural rotation in second year, a first-year quality improvement project and a scholar project.
What training looks like
- Setting
- Regional community
- Rural / remote
- Rural exposure
- Required rural rotation
- Focus areas
- Longitudinal / integrated
- Rural / remote
- Research
- Required · scholarly or quality-improvement project
- Enhanced skills
- Emergency Medicine
- Care of the Elderly
- Anesthesia
- Palliative Care
- Sport and Exercise Medicine
- Clinician Scholar / Research
- Other
By year
- PGY-1
- Internal Medicine5 weeks
- ICU4 weeks
- Surgery4 weeks
- Palliative Care4 weeks
- Musculoskeletal2 weeks
- PGY-2
- Hospitalist*4 weeks
- Electives*1-3 weeks
- Proceduralist Service*2 weeks
Other rotations
- Family Practice (39 weeks · including one full day in FM during all non-FM experiences)
- Emergency (4 in R1 and 4 in R2 · 8 weeks)
- Obstetrics/Gynecology (6 in R1 and 4 in R2 · 10 weeks)
- Pediatrics (4 weeks in R2 year & 2 weeks in R1 · 6 weeks)
- Mental Health & Addiction (4 in R1 (2 in Addiction & 2 in Acute) and 4 in R2 (Long Term Management) · 8 weeks)
- PGY-1
- Internal Medicine5 weeks
- ICU4 weeks
- Surgery4 weeks
- Palliative Care4 weeks
- Musculoskeletal2 weeks
- PGY-2
- Hospitalist4 weeks
- Electives1-3 weeks
- Proceduralist Service2 weeks
Other rotations
- Family Practice (39 weeks · including one full day in FM during all non-FM experiences)
- Emergency (4 in R1 and 4 in R2 · 8 weeks)
- Obstetrics/Gynecology (6 in R1 and 4 in R2 · 10 weeks)
- Pediatrics (4 weeks in R2 year & 2 weeks in R1 · 6 weeks)
- Mental Health & Addiction (4 in R1 (2 in Addiction & 2 in Acute) and 4 in R2 (Long Term Management) · 8 weeks)
Where you train
Nanaimo, British Columbia: teaching sites not stated on the CaRMS page; required rural rotation.
About Nanaimo
People
99,863residents, 2021 Census
Housing
$1,709one-bedroom rent a month, new tenants
Winter and summer
4.1 °CJanuary mean18.2 °CJuly mean
Job outlook
Goodfor the specialty here, 2025–2027
How they choose
- Application file components
- CV
- Electives
- Examinations
- Extra-curricular
- Leadership skills
- MSPRs
- Personal letters
- Reference documents
- Research/Publications
- Transcripts
- Other file component(s)
- Return of service, CMG stream
- Not stated on CaRMS page. Check the provincial return-of-service rules.
- Return of service, IMG stream
- Required
- IMG requirements, IMG stream
- Assessment by a provincial clinical assessment program
Interviews and info sessions
- Interview dates (2027 match)
- 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25 and 26 Jan 2027
- Format
- Virtual
- MMI or rotating station
Info sessions
Thu 12 Nov 2026
5:00–6:00 pm PST
Q&A · VirtualCANPREPP source (opens in a new tab)
Pay and call
| Level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| PGY-1 | $71,390 / year |
| PGY-2 | $79,571 / year |
Call
- Call (provincial max)
- 1 in 4 in-house
- Post-call rule (provincial)
- Relieved within 2 hours of the call ending, or by 10:00 if earlier, when a resident on a 24-hour or longer shift could not get 6 uninterrupted hours of rest
Benefits
- Annual vacation
- 4 weeks
- CMPA dues paid
- Yes. Mandatory
- Dental plan
- 100% Premiums Paid
- Educational leave
- Yes
- Extended health insurance
- 100% Premiums Paid
- Life insurance
- 100% Premium Paid
- Long-term disability insurance
- Yes 100% Premiums Paid
- Maternity leave
- 17 weeks, plus up to 78 weeks Parental Leave
- Meal allowance
- No
- Provincial dues (% of salary)
- 1.5%
- Provincial health insurance
- 100% Premiums Paid
- Sick leave
- Yes
- Statutory holidays
- 2 x pay plus extra day with pay
After residency
Family doctors in British Columbia can bill fee-for-service or join a model that pays for hours worked, visits and enrolled patients: the Longitudinal Family Physician (LFP) Payment Model. The New-to-Practice (NTP) contract is primarily focused on new graduates, for up to two years; the LFP Payment Model is also available to new physicians building a panel. To join: at least 250 empanelled patients within four months of enrolling. Compare provinces
Year by year
2027 match
| Stream | Positions | Length | Interviews | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMG stream | 8 | 2 years | 8 dates, 16–26 Jan 2027 | Nothing noted |
| IMG stream | 1 | 2 years | 8 dates, 16–26 Jan 2027 | Nothing noted |
2026 match
| Stream | Positions | Length | Interviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMG stream | 8 | 2 years | 17 Jan – 8 Feb 2026, listed as a range |
| IMG stream | 1 | 2 years | 17 Jan – 8 Feb 2026, listed as a range |
The 2026 page of the CMG stream: our summary of its CaRMS description
- The Nanaimo Site offers a learner-centered family medicine residency program with strong educational focus.
- Residents achieve their own patient population and follow patients throughout their 2-year program, with a comprehensive curriculum that prepares physicians to practice in diverse Canadian communities.
- Research
- Residents must complete a scholar project and present their work at annual Scholarship Day.
- Training setting
- Located in Nanaimo, a regional service center on central Vancouver Island with a population of 110,000+. Residents work primarily in community family practice clinics with multiple preceptors.
- Teaching approach
- Learner-centered curriculum based on principles of effective adult education, focusing on family practice problem-solving skills and integrated rotational approach using CanMEDS-FM roles.
- Enhanced skills
- Not stated on CaRMS page
- What the program looked at
- File review (20%)
- MMI interview (75%)
- FMProC score (5%)
Contacts and links
- Program directors
Dr. Sarah McCorquodale
Dr. Flora Wong
CaRMS lists no email for the directors.
- Program office
Program and Learning Development Manager, Education Coordinator
Per CaRMS. Staff change during the cycle, so check the CaRMS program page(opens in a new tab) before emailing. Site staff and other contacts are listed there too.
Family Medicine elsewhere
Nearest to Nanaimo
- Rural
- Regional
- City
Did this page answer your question?