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Funded fellowship opportunities are now available for self-identifying Indigenous applicants. Applicants are welcome to submit anytime. More details here.


This funding is offered in partnership with First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and the Indigenous Physician’s Association of Canada (IPAC). It is available only for the 2023-24 program.


Interested applicants should email Shanu Sandhu at [email protected].

The program helps prepare Fellows to write examinations with the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM). Fellows successfully completing these examinations are eligible to apply for certification with The Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM).

OVERVIEW & ELIGIBILITY    FELLOWSHIP TRAINING SITES    APPLY

PROGRAM LEADERSHIP    CURRENT & PAST FELLOWS

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

OVERVIEW & ELIGIBILITY

New physician trainees are accepted into the program each year. Fellows typically have backgrounds in psychiatry, internal medicine, or family medicine, but applicants may come from any medical background. The program runs from July 1 to June 30 (one year). There may be some flexibility for residents concurrently enrolled in other programs.

We're pleased to offer Fellowship opportunities with focused clinical rotations in the Interior, Vancouver Island (primarily in Victoria), Fraser Health, and the lower mainland of Vancouver. Applicants should indicate their preferred location in their letter of intent, along with a brief summary of why they would be a good fit.


Fellowship Overview

The Fellowship is composed of 12 four-week rotations, including core blocks and elective time. The following are rotation requirements of all Fellows:

  1. 3 x 4-week blocks in-patient medicine
  2. 1 x 4-week block at outpatient addiction clinic
  3. 1 x 4-week block detox
  4. 1 x 4-week block concurrent disorders
  5. 1 x 4-week block residential treatment
  6. Other strongly recommended opportunities include: 1 x perinatal addiction care, 1 x youth addiction care, 1 x chronic pain and addiction care

Elective blocks are to be decided on with the Program Director.

  • A longitudinal component of the Fellowship includes a year-long half day experience in community-based practice, tailored to the learning needs of each Fellow.
  • For physician Fellows, very little in-hospital overnight call is required, but there are several rotations where call from home may be expected. This is never more frequent than one in four nights. Weekend call obligations will be approximately one day per month.
  • Didactic experiences include a 2-week academic block at the beginning of the year, monthly academic half-days, 4 days of motivational interviewing training, monthly journal clubs with interdisciplinary clinical and research Fellows, and conference attendance.
  • Fellows are expected to each present one talk during the year on the latest research/information on a novel, evidence-based addiction medicine topic, as part of the What’s New in Addiction Medicine series. Fellows are also expected to each present once at a journal club during the year.
  • Fellows are required to complete a scholarly project and present their work at the annual BC Substance Use Conference at the end of the academic year.
  • St. Paul’s Hospital is a rich research environment and home to many addiction-related research projects funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the US National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Fellows will have abundant opportunities to conduct and publish peer-reviewed research and participate in the development of funding proposals. Senior researchers affiliated with the Fellowship have considerable experience mentoring Fellows making the transition to Clinician Researcher.

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from individuals who have graduated from or will graduate from a Canadian or American institution, and are licensed to practice in Canada. Eligible disciplines include family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, emergency medicine, public health, and other medical specialty training programmes. Applicants can be either in practice currently or in their last two years of any specialty residency training program, as long as their current Program Director agrees.

Family medicine applicants can access the program via positions with the BC Centre on Substance Use, or through the CaRMS R3 match. As the applications for family medicine are harmonized, all family medicine applicants are asked to apply through the R3 CaRMS stream and will be considered for all available positions. Family medicine applicants should visit theUBC Enhanced Skills website for the application process and deadlines.

FELLOWSHIP TRAINING SITES

Core Rotation Sites for Vancouver-based Fellows

The St. Paul’s Hospital Addiction Medicine Consultation Service provides in-patient consultation services for patients admitted to all areas of the hospital including Internal Medicine, ICU, Psychiatry, Surgery, OBGYN, etc. Consultation services include initial assessments, ongoing collaborative care in hospital, and facilitating transition to community services at the time of discharge. This includes treatment of addiction, withdrawal management, management of related pain and behaviour issues, education, and advocacy.
The RAAC is a low-barrier outpatient service designed to connect patients seeking treatment for substance use disorders with evidence-based treatment including OAT and alcohol relapse prevention therapies in order to stabilize in the short term. Psychosocial supports and referrals are provided by social work and peers, with patients subsequently transferring to a community care provider for ongoing monitoring, support and rehabilitation. All services are free.
Vancouver Detox provides an excellent clinical learning environment for medical detoxification and related care. Fellows will provide full bio-psycho-social assessments and physical examination for admission and management in this 25-bed inpatient medically supervised detoxification unit.
The Heartwood Centre for Women is a 29 bed, provincial service providing in-patient withdrawal management and residential treatment for pregnant and non-pregnant women within a trauma-informed multidisciplinary setting. Services include a comprehensive addiction treatment programme, psychiatric and full primary care to women with multiple comorbidities.

At least one of:

In-patient consult service providing assessment and treatment for patients with complex pain and/or substance use disorders. This rotation is located at Vancouver General Hospital.
The RCH Addiction Medicine Team is an in-patient addiction consult service located in New Westminster, similar to the AMCT at St. Paul’s Hospital. Fellows will be exposed to a wider range of occupational and family-related substance use issues. Rotations here include visits to neighbouring residential treatment facilities and optional outpatient addiction clinics.

The SMH rotation will involve assessment and management of patients with substance use disorders in the acute inpatient setting and outpatient settings, with an emphasis on co-occurring disorders.



Fellows will provide withdrawal management and follow up of patients at Creekside detox centre. Fellows will also be part of the Substance Use Disorder Consult Liaison Team at Surrey Memorial Hospital throughout the week. They will attend the introduction to addiction services and basic skills group at Quibble Creek, learning how patients are introduced to the services in the area with provision of psycho-education regarding substance use disorders.

At least one of:

This provincial referral source 100 bed treatment centre treats severely concurrently disordered patients. Admission criteria include severe active substance use disorder and psychiatric illness. Acute detoxification, stabilization, and early treatment groups of different types are offered. Fellows will work with Addiction Psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, health care workers and psychologists.
During this 2- or 4-week rotation, learners work one-on-one with a staff psychiatrist to assess and manage patients with co-morbid psychiatric and substance use disorders. Most patients are certified under the mental health act, and are admitted with symptoms of psychosis, mania, or severe depression. Learners work directly with an interdisciplinary team of physicians and allied health, and have the opportunity to see patients independently or with supervision. Patient care utilizes a biopsychosocial framework, including opportunities for motivational interviewing.

At least one of:

Cedars at Cobble Hill offers a full spectrum of addiction recovery programs, tailored to meet individual needs. More information about the programming at Cedars can be found here: https://www.cedarscobblehill.com/. Opportunities exist for Fellows to stay on-site during this rotation.
The Orchard Recovery Center is a private 25-bed inpatient recovery center located on Bowen Island. All of the staff shares the core belief that addiction is a treatable disease and recovery is a process that heals mind, body and spirit. With that in mind, treatment is provided through medical, psychological, spiritual and holistic means in order to treat the whole person.
This private male residential treatment facility focuses on trauma and addiction, with referral sources including the Military and RCMP. Located on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, live-in facilities for visiting Fellows are located on site (at no cost).

Vancouver Island-based Fellowship

There is an opportunity for addiction medicine Fellows interested in completing a Vancouver Island-based (primarily in Victoria) satellite Fellowship. In addition to a few key rotations in Vancouver, this satellite Fellowship will include:

  • Royal Jubilee and Victoria General Hospital Addiction Medicine Consult Service
  • Victoria Rapid Access Addiction Clinic
  • Royal Jubilee Withdrawal Management Services and Clearview Detox
  • Cedars and Edgewood Residential Treatment Centres

Interested applicants should indicate their preference for this satellite Fellowship in their letter of intent, along with a brief summary of why they would be a good fit.

Fraser Health-based Fellowship

There is an opportunity for addiction medicine Fellows interested in completing a satellite Fellowship with Fraser Health. In addition to a few key rotations in Vancouver, this satellite Fellowship will include:

  • Creekside Withdrawal Management Centre
  • Surrey Intensive Case Management Team
  • Surrey Memorial Hospital Addiction Medicine Consult Team
  • Royal Columbian Hospital Addiction Medicine Consult Team
  • Fraser South Rapid Access Addiction Clinic
  • Fraser North Rapid Access Addiction Clinic
  • Quibble Creek Opioid Agonist Therapy Clinic

UBC Category 1 Enhanced Skills in Addiction Medicine

UBC offers a one-year training opportunity through the Category 1 Addiction Medicine program for family practice graduates, which is largely based off of the BCCSU Addiction Medicine Fellowship. The application process for this training is harmonized with the BCCSU Fellowship, and thus all family medicine applicants are asked to apply through the R3 CaRMS stream and will be considered for all available positions. There are positions reserved for family medicine applicants with the BCCSU, separate from the R3 CaRMS stream. Please visit the UBC Enhanced Skills website for the application process and deadlines.

APPLY

Timeline for Applications for the 2024-2025 Fellowship:

  • September 4, 2023: Application process opens
  • October 3, 2023: Application deadline
  • October 3 to October 18, 2023: File review
  • October 31 to November 27, 2023: Interview period
  • December 13, 2023: Acceptance notification
  • January 9, 2024: Deadline for acceptance offer by applicant
  • July 2, 2024: Fellowship begins

Please note: While the Fellowship is envisioned to begin July 2, 2024, there may be some flexibility with the start date, particularly for applicants who bring their own funding.


Application Details

All family medicine based Addiction Medicine Fellowship applicants please apply through the CARMS process and see here for application details. All other Addiction Medicine Fellowship applicants go through the application process described below.

Interested candidates must submit an electronic copy of the following documentation:

  1. A 700-word letter of intent describing:
    • The applicant’s background,
    • The applicant’s preparation for the Fellowship,
    • Why the applicant is interested in a career in addiction medicine, and
    • The ways the applicant imagines their experience as a Fellow will allow them to have impact within the system of addictions treatment and care.
  2. Two letters of reference
    • Please note: If you will be a Resident at the time of the Fellowship start date, please also include a letter of agreement from your current Residency Director with your application
  3. A curriculum vitae

Please send an electronic copy of all application materials to the Fellowship Program Assistant, Raman Jawanda: [email protected]


Interviews
Interviews may be conducted with top candidates from each discipline shortly after the application deadline. Interviews may be in person, on the phone, or via Skype.


General Inquiries
For further information about this fellowship program, please contact us at [email protected].

PROGRAM LEADERSHIP

  • Dr. Paxton Bach, Director, BCCSU Clinical Addiction Medicine Fellowship

  • Dr. Sukhpreet Klaire, Associate Director, BCCSU Clinical Addiction Medicine Fellowship
  • Dr. Ramm Hering, Director, Vancouver Island Addiction Medicine Fellowship
  • Dr. Sharon Vipler, Director, Fraser Health Addiction Medicine Fellowship

CURRENT & PAST FELLOWS

2022-23

  • DR. BRITTANY DENNIS
  • DR. CLARA LU
  • DR. COLE SUGDEN
  • DR. DAVID DENG
  • DR. DAVID READING
  • DR. JAMES WANG
  • DR. KATHLEEN BIRD
  • DR. KEVIN NGUYEN
  • DR. MEARA TUBMAN-BROEREN
  • DR. MICHELLE NG
  • DR. ZOE POLSKY

2021-22

  • DR. ALEXANDRA ANGHEL
  • DR. ALLISON HUDSON
  • DR. DALJEET MAHAL
  • DR. CHERYL GASCOYNE
  • DR. IAN RUIZ
  • DR. TONY ZHAO
  • DR. WILLIAM MAK
  • DR. GENEVIÈVE KERKERIAN
  • DR. JULIA ZAZOULINA
  • DR. VICTORIA TIAN

2020-21

  • DR. BRITT BAILEY
  • DR. CAROLYN MARCHAND
  • DR. CHARLES BOISSONEAULT
  • DR. CHRISTINE MACCAULEY
  • DR. ETHAN REINER
  • DR. JELISIA KAMEL
  • DR. JENNIFER NG
  • DR. JUSTIN KOH
  • DR. TOSH MIZZAU
  • DR. TYLER WILSON
  • DR. VICTORIA WEAVER
  • DR. ANDREA RATZLAFF
  • DR. MEGAN WOOLNER
  • DR. NATHAN STEFANI

2019-20

  • DR. ABHINAV JOSHI
  • DR. ALLISON MARMEL
  • DR. ASHLEY SMITH
  • DR. JITENDER GILL
  • DR. KELSEY RODEN
  • DR. KIM LAN ST-PIERRE
  • DR. LINGSA JIA
  • DR. MISHA BAWA
  • DR. PATRICK MCDONALD
  • DR. PATRICIA CADDY
  • DR. VALERIE NICHOLLS

2018-19

  • DR. REBECCA COISH
  • DR. KATE COLIZZA
  • DR. MARLON DANILEWITZ
  • DR. CATHERINE GRAY
  • DR. BASIA HAMATA
  • DR. JESSICA HANN
  • DR. RENEE JANSSEN
  • DR. SUKHPREET KLAIRE
  • DR. DANNY LEE
  • DR. ELIZABETH PLANT
  • DR. ANNE SUTHERLAND
  • DR. JAY WANG
  • DR. SAMANTHA YOUNG

2017-18

  • DR. PAXTON BACH
  • DR. BRYAN CHOW
  • DR. KATE COLIZZA
  • DR. SARAH ICKOWICZ
  • DR. THEO JANKOWSKI
  • DR. DANIA NOTTA
  • DR. ROTIMI ORISATOKI
  • DR. GEOFFREY WALTON

2016-17

  • DR. BEN TREPANIER
  • DR. ROBERT FOX
  • DR. TARA ANDRUSIAK
  • DR. VALERIE GIANG
  • DR. NAOMI DOVE
  • DR. PRABH LAIL
  • DR. ISABELLE MILES
  • DR. VERENA STREHLAU
  • DR. NICHOLAS MISRI

2015-16

  • DR. NIKKI BOZINOFF
  • DR. JULIUS ELEFANTE
  • DR. NADIA FAIRBAIRN
  • DR. CHRISTOPHER FAIRGRIEVE
  • DR. JOHN HARDING
  • DR. ERIN KNIGHT

2014-15

  • DR. ATAA AZARBAR
  • DR. ALEXANDER CAUDARELLA
  • DR. RITA LUNG
  • DR. MOHIT SINGH

2013-14

  • DR. POUYA AZAR
  • DR. JOHN KOEHN
  • DR. SEONAID NOLAN
  • DR. NITASHA PURI

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

providence-healthcare-logoSt. Paul’s Hospital at Providence Health Care is an acute care, academic, and research hospital located in downtown Vancouver. With over 500 acute care beds in use and home to many world-leading medical and surgical programs, the hospital serves both the local community and patients from across BC. Its downtown location brings many of Vancouver’s tourists and visitors to its doors. St. Paul’s also has a longstanding history of providing care to disadvantaged populations. For more information about St. Paul’s Hospital, please click here.


unc-division-aidsFrom its inception in 2007, members of the Division of AIDS at the University of British Columbia have been involved in various areas of research in the area of HIV treatment and prevention. The Division places considerable emphasis on treating and preventing HIV infection among intravenous drug users.


logo-webThe BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) is a provincially networked resource with a mandate to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based approaches to substance use and addiction. The BCCSU focuses on three strategic areas: research and evaluation, education and training, and clinical care guidance. With the support of the province of British Columbia, the BCCSU hosts the largest interdisciplinary addiction medicine training program in North America, building capacity in the healthcare system in BC to improve access to evidence-based care. Although physically located in Vancouver, the BCCSU is a provincially networked resource for researchers, educators, and care providers, as well as people who use substances, family advocates, support groups, and the recovery community. For more information about the BCCSU, please click here.


ubc-logo-fullThe University of British Columbia (UBC), established in 1908, is one of Canada’s leading research universities, consistently ranked among the top 40 in the world. The university attracts 54,000 students from across Canada and 140 countries around the world to two major campuses. For more information about UBC, please click here.


spf-logoSt. Paul’s Foundation raises funds to support compassionate world-class care, research, and teaching at St. Paul’s Hospital. The BCCSU Addiction Medicine Fellowship is a partnership between St. Paul’s Foundation, St. Paul’s Hospital, the BC Centre on Substance Use, and the UBC Division of AIDS. The program was launched with a $3 million landmark donation to St. Paul’s Foundation, gifted by Goldcorp, Inc. The Foundation continues to secure additional funding to support the program. For more information or to donate, please click here.


vch-logoVancouver Coastal Health is a regional health authority providing direct and contracted health services including primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care; home and community care; mental health services; population and preventive health; and addictions services in part of Greater Vancouver and the Coast Garibaldi area. For more information, please click here.

BC Centre on Substance Use

400-1045 Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9


E: [email protected] | T: (778) 945-7616 | F: (604) 428-5183

24/7 Addiction Clinician Support Line: (778) 945-7619

Online Addiction Medicine Diploma: [email protected].


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