Associate Physicians are a new restricted class of physician practitioners introduced by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (the College).
Associate Physicians are international medical graduates who are able to work as part of a care team under the direction of a fully licensed physician. They are not eligible to practice as independent medical practitioners.
Associate Physicians are non-contract employees of Island Health. They function similarly to senior residents and are addressed as Doctors.
Why introduce Associate Physicians to Island Health?
The Associate Physician role will be rolling out across British Columbia as a component of British Columbia's Health Human Resource Strategy to help address health care worker shortage.
The Ministry of Health has directed all health authorities across the province of British Columbia to introduce Associate Physicians into their health authority, with the goal to have 10 or more Associate Physicians join annually.
Associate Physicians are not replacing any staff or medical staff positions.
Qualifications of an Associate Physician
Associate Physicians are individuals with a medical degree and some post-graduate training, who will work within an accredited program under the direction of a physician with active or provisional medical staff privileges and who meets the licensure requirement of the College.
Determined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, registration in the associate physician – acute care class permits a registrant to practise in accredited acute care settings within the scope of their education, qualifications, and experience.
Medical degree and clinical currency are necessary requirement for applying to become an Associate Physician. Please visit the College website for further details.
How to request an Associate Physician
Programs which are eligible for an Associate Physician program within it are structured programs that provide team based care – for example, surgical programs, intensive care units and cancer agency programs.
The Health Authorities are required to accredit each program (site and service specific) in order to become eligible to receive and Associate Physician. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (the College) evaluates and accredits all Associate Physician programs in British Columbia. Please visit the College website for further details.
Contact Manager, Partnerships and Programs to enquire if your program is eligible.
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