In a few months, we will be welcoming new members of the care team, Associate Physicians, to Island Health.
- Associate Physician Program at Island Health - Dr. Ben Williams
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The following has been sent on behalf of Dr. Ben Williams, Vice President, Medicine, Quality and Chief Medical Officer
September 6, 2023
Dear colleagues,
As many of you are aware, we are preparing to welcome new members of the care team, Associate Physicians, to Island Health.
Associate Physicians are international medical graduates who are not eligible for licensure as independent medical practitioners who can work as part of the care team under the supervision of a fully licensed physician.
The development of Associate Physician programs at Island Health and throughout the province is a key component of British Columbia’s Health Human Resource strategy to tackle the heath care worker shortage, in part, by recognizing the credentials of international medical graduates (IMGs).
To deliver on this strategy, Island Health is working with the Ministry to help meet urgent and emergent patient care needs by facilitating the integration of Associate Physicians.
Associate Physicians will be Island Health employees and as such, hiring decisions will be made at a site level.
It is important to acknowledge that the Associate Physician program is in its infancy and there are logistics to work out before the program can scale and reach its full potential.
Associate Physician programs must be accredited by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. Clinical programs that provide team-based care will be eligible to apply for accreditation. More detail on how to apply for accreditation will be circulated in due course.
Progress to date:
Associate Physician deployment will be based on current and anticipated health human resource gaps, clinical team readiness and a thorough assessment of their potential impact on quality and safety of care.
1. The program will be piloted across three teams prior to regional expansion. Preliminary deployment of Associate Physicians will focus on the following accredited programs:
- Surgery—Victoria General Hospital (VGH), Royal Jubilee Hospital (RJH)
- Perinatal—VGH
- Critical Care—VGH, RJH
2. Accreditation has also been submitted to the College for the following programs:
- Inpatient Care—Cowichan District Hospital, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Campbell River General Hospital, VGH, RJH
3. Island-wide program development is currently in progress for Emergency Departments.
Please join me in welcoming these new team members when they come onboard. I am committed to keeping you informed and sharing information as the program evolves and is ready to expand to other sites.
Questions may be directed to medstaffsupport@islandhealth.ca
Sincerely,
Dr. Ben Williams
What is an Associate Physician?
Associate Physician is a new licensure class offered by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (the College) to internationally trained physicians. The license is an opportunity for physicians who are not eligible for any other class of licensure to practice, under supervision, as part of a care team within Island Health.
- Requirements
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To be granted associate physician registration, an applicant must have the following prerequisites:
- successfully obtain a preliminary assessment from the College of their eligibility for registration
- fulfill the subjects listed in the preliminary assessment from the College
- be a licentiate of the MCC or have successfully completed medical licensing examinations in the United States, acceptable to the registration committee
- submit with the application a sponsorship letter from a health authority, satisfactory to the Registration Committee, that:
- identifies the applicant’s sponsor;
- describes how the applicant will engage in the practice of medicine; and
- notes that the applicant will be working under the direction and supervision of an attending physician
- Clinical Currency
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Associate physicians must be current for practice at the time of registration with the College.
Clinical currency is defined as working at least 24 weeks in the preceding three years to the satisfaction of the College. There is no avenue to regain clinical currency in British Columbia prior to applying for an associate physician employment opportunity with a health authority.
Click here to learn more details regarding the application process.
Why has the Associate Program been introduced?
The development of Associate Physician programs at Island Health and throughout the province is a key component of British Columbia’s Health Human Resource strategy to tackle the heath care worker shortage, in part, by recognizing the credentials of international medical graduates (IMGs).
To deliver on this strategy, Island Health is working with the Ministry to help meet urgent and emergent patient care needs by facilitating the integration of Associate Physicians.
Associate Physicians will be Island Health employees and as such, hiring decisions will be made at a site level.
What stage is the Associate Program at?
The Associate Physician program is in its infancy and there are logistics to work out before the program can scale and reach its full potential.
Associate Physician programs must be accredited by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. Clinical programs that provide team-based care will be eligible to apply for accreditation. More detail on how to apply for accreditation will be circulated in due course.
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Questions may be directed to medstaffsupport@islandhealth.ca
Are You an International Medical Graduate with a Medical or Surgical Specialty?
Join Island Health's health-care team as an Associate Physician, and call Vancouver Island home. Working collaboratively in a team-based environment, you will provide excellent health and care for everyone, everywhere, every time.
Island Health currently is recruiting for Associate Physician roles in Critical Care, Perinatal and Surgery. Thank you to applicants who have submitted applications for these roles, the postings are now closed. If you have any questions, please email MedStaffSupport@islandhealth.ca.
Why Island Health?
Created from the shared core beliefs of our staff, medical staff, volunteers, and Board of Directors, Island Health's vision, purpose and values are the guiding principles we use to provide the highest quality health care services to the populations we serve.
Popular for its mild winters and warm summers, Vancouver Island and the adjacent coastal communities are protected from harsh weather systems and benefit from its proximity to the coast. Kayaking, surfing, sailing, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, scuba diving and fishing are just some of the recreational activities that keep islanders busy year-round. The relaxed pace, easy access to outdoor activities, and an abundance of art, music and festivals ensures that there is something for everyone. Whatever the lifestyle you are looking for, we have it here.
Our Recruitment Team
Our Medical Staff recruitment team is here to support you in your successful journey to becoming an Associate Physician with Island Health.
To get started, please reach out to our team who will be happy to help guide you through this process.
Associate Physician Information:
*If you are using Microsoft Edge please click here: medstaffrecruitment@islandhealth.ca
Subject to the Accreditation of the Program by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC.