GIM Electives

  • Internal Medicine Residents (PGY1-3) must contact the Internal Medicine Residency Training Program to organize electives.

    Please visit: https://medicine.med.ubc.ca/education/residency-vancouver/

    And/or email Natalie Cheng: natalie.cheng@ubc.ca

    General Internal Medicine Residents (PGY-4 and 5 (or IM residents who will be a GIM Resident at the time of the elective)) looking for GIM Rotations in BC should contact Andrea Toker: andrea.toker@ubc.ca

    Process for applying for a General Internal Medicine Elective (PGY4 and 5) at UBC:

    1. Contact Andrea Toker. Ensure you include your PGY level, your home university, the planned dates of the elective and your site preference if you have one. If you wish to undertake a community General Internal Medicine elective, please ensure this is clearly marked.
    • For Community Rotations: Advise Andrea of the community you are interested in or reach out for ideas. We have rotations in many sites, and they are often utilized by Internal Medicine as well as General Internal Medicine, so not all sites are always available.

    Community sites: Comox, Campbell River, Cranbrook, Comox, Duncan, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Nelson, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Terrace, Trail, Vernon, Victoria

    We also have community rotations within the lower mainland which are also shared with Internal Medicine.

    Lower Mainland Community Sites: Abbotsford Regional Hospital, Burnaby General Hospital, Langley Memorial Hospital, Mt. St. Joseph’s Hospital (Vancouver), Ridge Meadows Hospital (Maple Ridge), Richmond General Hospital, Surrey Memorial Hospital.

    • For CTU Rotations: Andrea will help you organize this rotation based at one of the CTU sites we use: Vancouver General Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital, Royal Columbian Hospital or Royal Jubilee Hospital (Victoria).
    1. You will be provided with contact details for the site/rotation supervisor and are responsible for setting up the rotation directly with them. You will need to request a Confirmation Letter from this UBC Preceptor confirming the elective dates.
    1. Once you have a Confirmation Letter (with dates) from the UBC Preceptor, you need to follow the UBC PGME Visiting Elective Process: https://postgrad.med.ubc.ca/prospective-trainees/postgraduate-visiting-electives/
    1. Once you’ve completed the UBC PGME Visiting Elective Application Form, Andrea will apply to Dr. Tessaro, the GIM Fellowship Program Director for approval. Andrea will then submit the UBC PGME Visiting Elective Form and Dr. Tessaro’s approval to the UBC PGME Office for you.
    1. The UBC PGME Office will contact you to confirm the elective, and advise you how to register with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC in order to become licensed. For further information, visit the CPSBC Resident-Elective
    1. For CTU rotations, one month before the start of your elective, you should contact the Lead Medical Resident at the site you will be working to confirm your schedule etc., where to report etc. You can reach the LMRs at the following addresses:
    1. Computer Access
      • Paul’s Hospital: Cerner access is set up automatically by the PGME Office.  The Cerner office will contact you directly regarding training.
      • Vancouver General Hospital: For an VGH elective, access is organized online. A letter of support is also required; please contact Andrea once you have completed the necessary training and she will arrange the letter from the CTU director at VGH.  It is best to apply for this after you have your CPSBC ID #.
        • For transcription services at VGH, you will require a CPSID from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. As soon as you are given a CPSID number, contact transcription services at transcriptionalerts2@vch.caor call 604-806-9696.
      • For all other sites, you will need to have your site supervisor assist with setting up computer access

    Arriving in BC:

    Upon arrival in British Columbia, you need to complete/arrange the following:

    1. Report to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC to pick up your temporary educational license
    1. Pick up a temporary hospital ID as follows:
      • VGH – VGH Lead Medical Resident: vghcmr@gmail.com
      • SPH – SPH Lead Medical Resident: sphcmr@gmail.com
      • RCH – RCH Lead Medical Resident: cmr@gmail.com
      • For all other sites, you will need to have your site supervisor assist with ID Cards.
    1. Useful Links

Browse other training programs below:

GIM Fellowship