Island Health is seeking a Fellowship Trained Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Surgeon at the Cowichan District Hospital in Duncan on Vancouver Island.

The successful applicant will hold FRCSC qualification in Orthopedic Surgery with advanced training (fellowship) in Foot and Ankle Reconstruction. They will also have exemplary interpersonal skills, the ability to work collaboratively within the healthcare environment and demonstrate technical competence in providing orthopedic care.

All surgeons in the orthopaedic division will share hospital based resources (Orthopaedic Outpatient Clinic, OR time) equally. In the current hospital, this will be approximately 1.0 OR days per week and approximately 6.0 hours of outpatient time per week.  In the new hospital (opening in 2027), this will increase to 1.25 OR days per week (range 1.25-2 days per week) and 8 hours of outpatient clinic time per week.

On Call: Level 2 trauma centre, 1:7 call minimum

Cowichan District Hospital is a community/teaching Hospital and is affiliated with the UBC Department of Orthopedics. Participation in resident teaching and medical student teaching, through the UBC Island Medical Program, is expected. Academic appointment through UBC is available to qualified applicants.

The Cowichan District Hospital is a 134-bed facility in Duncan, serving 90,000 people.  The new Cowichan District Hospital is expected to be completed in 2027 and will bring added inpatient capacity in excess of 200 beds, as well as expanded OR and ICU capacity. We plan for state-of-the-art equipment and design.  The Cowichan District Hospital enjoys an exceptionally collegial atmosphere amongst the family practice and specialist medical staff. Clinical specialist colleagues include General Surgery, Anesthesiology, Urology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Internal Medicine, Pathology and Radiology.  

Start Date

First Quarter of 2026 (flexible)

Benefits

May be eligible for additional remuneration in accordance with the Rural Subsidiary Agreement (RSA) including:

Recruitment Incentive: $10,000 (for full-time)
Relocation Costs Reimbursement: up to $15,000 (amount based on location relocating from)
Fee Premium: 4.20%
Annual Flat Fee: $6,508.80
Rural CME: starting at $3000/annum in year 3 & 4 to a maximum of $6,00.00/annum after 4 years.

The above amounts are current as of August 2024 and may be subject to change.
For more information, please visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/physician-compensation/rural-practice-programs/rural-practice-subsidiary-agreement 

Community Info

Located in the beautiful Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, the City of Duncan enjoys Canada's most temperate climate. Characterized by diverse landscapes from lush countryside to scenic coastal villages and charming inland communities, the Cowichan Valley, encompasses freshwater lakes, saltwater beaches and marinas, and farmland. The area offers a wide variety of attractions for outdoor enthusiasts including great hiking and biking trails, golfing, sailing, canoeing and ocean kayaking. In addition to many local artisans and attractions, the South Cowichan Valley boasts five top vineyards and wineries. Public education in Duncan is complemented by several renowned local private schools.

Despite its rural designation, with Victoria located 45 minutes south and Nanaimo located 45 minutes north, the Cowichan Valley also provides convenient access to multiple airports, cultural experiences, and urban amenities.