New family medicine residency for the South Okanagan gives doctors local training opportunities

PENTICTON – For the first time ever, doctors in the University of British Columbia’s Family Practice Residency Program will be able to complete their entire residency in the South Okanagan.

UBC Okanagan is launching a new family medicine training site which will allow young doctors the opportunity to complete two years of residency, or supervised training, to meet the requirements of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, according to a media release.

The two year program will see residents train at Penticton Regional Hospital, South Okanagan Hospital in Oliver and in community clinics in the region, serving in communities like Summerland, Penticton, Oliver and Osoyoos.

Four new residents began working out of the new site in July. Eight residents in training are expected to be working out of the new residency site by July, 2017.

"By increasing opportunities for residents to complete their training and build strong community connections in the Interior, we’re hopeful more physicians will be interested in staying in the region to practice,” Dr. Allan Jones with UBC’s Faculty of Medicine says in the release.

Family practice residencies are also located in Kelowna and Kamloops.

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