New website enables health professionals to customize their job search

New website enables health search Health Match BC has launched a new website which simplifies our assessment and recruitment process for physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals interested in finding a job in BC. (Currently, our allied health professional services team is targeting clinical pharmacists, medical laboratory technologists, medical radiation technologists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists.) More page 2 Canadian physicians return Canadian home physicians after 14 years return in home the US after 14 years in the US Drs. Ken and Janet Bates recently Drs. Ken relocated and Janet to Bates Chase, BC from recently Eugene, relocated Oregon to Chase, wherebc they from have Eugene, been Oregon practicing where medicine they have for been the practicing past 14 years. Their medicine story for the page past 014 years. Their story page 4 Globe-trotting physician and RN settle down in BC Dr. Evaristus Idanwekhai and his wife Queen, a registered nurse, are originally from Nigeria. Queen moved to Vancouver in 1998, working in the ICU at Vancouver General Hospital. Dr. Eva, as he is commonly called, worked for Doctors Without Borders in Asia. They married in 2003, settling in BC in 2004. Read on page 6 Australian physician makes Port McNeill stopover on world tour Dr. Peter Manns, a family physician, and his wife Lana, a chartered accountant, are from Canberra, Australia. Peter is currently working as a locum in the community of Port McNeill on northern Vancouver Island. Island life COMMUNITIES IN ACTION Port Alberni volunteers run medical clinic In 2006, the community of Port Alberni on Vancouver Island faced a situation that is quite common in rural BC these days: the retirement of a solo-practice physician. With 2,000 patients about to be orphaned, and a clinic building about to be vacated, a group of community volunteers got together to find a way to solve the issue at the local level. What they did page 8 OUR RECRUITERS ON THE ROAD Health Match BC will have a team of experienced recruiters at the following national and international health care conferences: June 3 - June 7: American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting: Chicago, Illinois. June 4 - June 8: Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians Annual Conference: St. John's, Newfoundland. June 15 - June 18: Canadian Paediatric Society Annual Conference: Quebec City, Quebec. September 14 - September 17: American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Conference: Orlando, Florida. September 30 October 1: BMJ Careers Fair: Islington, London, UK. October 13 - October 15: Canadian Psychiatric Association Annual Conference: Vancouver, British October 20 - October 22: Royal College of General Practitioners Annual Conference: ACC, Liverpool, UK. 1

New website enables health professionals to customize their job search Related story: Physicians move to BC in record numbers page 3 The first step is to register with us so you can: Health Match BC has launched a new website which simplifies our assessment and recruitment process for physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals interested in finding a job in BC. (Currently, our allied health professional services team is targeting clinical pharmacists, medical laboratory technologists, medical radiation technologists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists.) get the latest news on licensing requirements be notified about upcoming recruiting events and add them to your calendar upload your CV so you can have your qualifications assessed to see if you would be eligible for licensing in BC explore vacancies in communities that would suit your lifestyle interests find out which communities also have vacancies for your spouse or partner (if they are employed in the health professions we support) save the vacancies that you are interested in to a folder in your private account Having your own online account with us is a free service and it s easy-to-use. How to register There are three steps to registering: 1. Indicate your profession and specialty. 2. Provide your full name and email address 3. Create a user name and password Your personal account Your account features four main areas: Find a Job Click on your profession and which region you d like to live in. We ll then give you a list of vacancies that match your criteria. Discover BC Learn more about the regions and communities in British Columbia, then save the information on the ones that you re interested in. My Account Your private home page features upcoming recruiting events, news, as well as information on communities or jobs that you have saved. Within this section, you can access your profile. My Profile Within your profile, you can tell us about yourself so we can help you find the job and community that meets your career and lifestyle goals. One of the biggest benefits of registering is being able to read job postings with information such as full job descriptions, salary information (in most cases), and job prerequisites, as well as other details that are only available to people with accounts. The new website is also a one-stop shop for finding up-to-date licensing information for health professionals. A great place to start is with our frequently asked questions. 2

Physicians move to BC in record numbers Main story: New website enables health British Columbia is attracting record numbers of physicians from across and around the world. In 2010, Health Match BC helped to fill 256 vacancies with family physicians (99) and a variety of specialist physicians (157). This is the best result since our inception in 1999, and a 9% improvement over 2009. Most of the vacancies were filled on a permanent basis (70%), but a significant number were for temporary positions (30%). New recruits to the province often want to work in more than one community before settling permanently, so temporary positions are an important part of the transition to a new life in BC, particularly for those interested in a rural community. Majority are family doctors Family physicians are our greatest priority, especially for underserved communities. Our results show that we recruited more family physicians than any single group of specialists. Furthermore, they were matched to vacancies throughout the province. Over half (55%) went to communities categorized as underserved under the Rural Subsidiary Agreement (RSA) between the province and the BC Medical Association (BCMA). Others went to other communities in need as designated by our provincial health authorities. Health Match BC continues to prioritize the recruitment of family physicians in 2011. Recently, we attended a province-wide meeting of the new Divisions of Family Practice organized by the BCMA General Practice Services Committee. The attending division leaders are eager to work with us to overcome current and future shortages. Our objective is to work in collaboration with the divisions, health authorities, and the Ministry of Health Services to ensure even better opportunities for family physicians wanting to relocate to BC. Province-wide support The distribution of all physicians recruited to BC was another important part of our work in 2010. Fraser Health had 106 vacancies registered with us, and we placed 85 candidates there. Fifty-one physicians accepted positions in Interior Health, which had 120 vacancies. Northern Health received 35 physicians and had 44 vacancies registered with us. Ten physicians accepted positions with the Provincial Health Services Authority, which had 19 vacancies registered. Vancouver Coastal Health/ Providence Health welcomed 34 physicians and had 48 registered vacancies. Forty doctors chose positions in Vancouver Island Health, which had 91 vacancies registered with us. There are significant changes underway that will affect the number of physicians moving to BC in 2011 and 2012. Some of the changes involve provincial licensing requirements, some will be a result of new educational opportunities for Canadian and internationally-educated candidates, while others are related to changes in immigration. 3

Canadian physicians return home after 14 years in the US Related story: Chase welcomes new physicians to the community page 5 Drs. Ken and Janet Bates recently relocated to Chase, BC from Eugene, Oregon. Both Canadians, Ken trained as an x-ray technician, before attending medical school in Calgary, followed by an internship in New Westminster, BC. Janet trained as a nurse, then attended medical school in Edmonton, followed by a family practice residency in Chilliwack, BC. Health Match BC caught up with Ken and Janet just days after they arrived in their new community. Here is what Janet had to say about their return to, and about choosing the community of Chase: We wanted to move back to British Columbia to be closer to family. We have been in the US for the past 14 years. At the time that we left, it was prohibitively expensive to buy a practice in BC. Dr. Janet Bates and her husband, Dr. Ken Bates, moved back to BC after 14 years in the US. We found Health Match BC after my sisters encouraged me to look for jobs in the province. They said that BC was short of doctors. Ken and I have always lived in small towns and were looking for a small town in BC where the weather was not too cold. We also love to garden and wanted a community that was gardening zone 5 or higher. We spent many years working in northern BC and were ready to be somewhere warmer. We wanted to be near our kids, and an easy day s drive from both of our parents. My parents live in Williams Lake and Ken's parents live in Grand Forks. Both of our sons are living in Kamloops. Chase fit the bill. There were a lot of seniors in the town where we lived for the past 14 years so we have both had a lot of experience with caring for the elderly. I have been the director of several nursing homes, as well as an Alzheimer s special unit. Ken has worked the ER, as well as office practice for 30 years. We also have a band, though our music has taken a bit of a backstage for the past few years. We have five CDs to our credit and for two years we have made it to the Top 20 Canadian groups for airplay on the international folk DJ list. I sing and write songs, and Ken plays bouzouki. I m a social activist at heart, and music is my way of speaking up and making a difference in the world. We are looking forward to cool winters and warm summers. And affordable health care both for us and our patients. We are both very much outdoorsy people. I am a longdistance runner and Ken is a mountain biker. We have two dogs and often just head out on trails for hours at a time. We cross-country skied in the past and are looking forward to that again. We are extremely excited to be back in British Columbia, and are looking forward to meeting the people of Chase. 4

Chase welcomes new physicians to the community Main story: Canadian physicians return home Dr. Sandeep Sharma will move to Chase this summer with his wife Simi and their children Puru and Sidd. Three new physicians have been recruited to the town of Chase: Dr. Janet Bates, Dr. Ken Bates, and Dr. Sandeep Sharma. The community of 2,600 residents is located on the mountainous shores of Little Shuswap Lake in the interior of British Physician couple Drs. Ken and Janet Bates arrived in Chase in early February. Both of them are Canadian citizens and Canadian-trained physicians who have been working in the US for 14 years. They chose Chase for many reasons, including the climate, proximity to family, and opportunities for outdoor recreation. Excited to be back in BC I understand that Drs. Ken and Janet Bates have family in the area and are looking at potentially staying for the long term. We re really pleased about that. With their experience in ER and in geriatrics, they will be a real asset to the community, explained Chase Mayor Harry Danyluk. There is also a possibility of these new physicians serving the Scotch Creek Clinic, which will be a real bonus for the region. He is referring to a community clinic in the northern Shuswap area, which is staffed by a nurse. Doctors used to travel to the rural clinic once a week to allow patients to be seen closer to their homes. It was through the Scotch Creek Clinic that the couple first heard of the need for doctors in Chase. My sister, who has a cottage on the Shuswap, was telling me that there is a clinic at Scotch Creek and that they are always needing doctors, in fact have not had a doctor for years there, said Dr. Janet Bates. We are extremely excited to be back in British Summer move for UBC resident Dr. Sandeep Sharma and his family are also looking forward to their upcoming move to Chase. The second-year family medicine resident at the University of British Columbia (UBC) will complete his training in June 2011. We haven t had enough doctors for quite some time. I envision that this is going to be tremendous for the community and the region. Finally, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Mayor Harry Danyluk I have a small family and I always wanted my kids to grow up in a small community like Chase. When I visited, I was impressed by the natural beauty and the fact that there are so many things to do year-round: golfing, hiking, mountain biking and curling, noted Dr. Sharma. I did a two-month rural rotation in Hope during my residency. I am well aware of the challenges in rural areas, but also the satisfaction, and the appreciation that you get from people. 5

Globe-trotting physician and RN settle down in BC Dr. Evaristus Idanwekhai and his wife Queen, a registered nurse, are originally from Nigeria. Queen moved to Vancouver in 1998, working in the ICU at Vancouver General Hospital. Dr. Eva, as he is commonly called, worked for Doctors Without Borders in Asia. They married in 2003, settling in BC in 2004. Deciding to settle in was not the easiest choice for Dr. Eva. I was enjoying travelling and it was a risk to come here. I did not know if I would be able to practice in. But BC is where we wanted to be. This is where we wanted to raise our family. Dr. Idanwekhai and his wife Queen with their daughters Omuwa and Omone. While Queen continued to work at Vancouver General Hospital, he started on the long road of becoming a licensed family physician in BC. I completed the MCC Evaluating Exam and then started as a Clinical Trainee at Burnaby Hospital. It was there that I met the key people who helped me along the way. Two physicians, one of whom was a former examiner for the Licentiate of the Medical Council of (LMCC) exams, helped Dr. Eva to get settled and get to work on his goals. They became mentors, friends and colleagues. It was a very special day when I was able to invite them to my convocation, he said. A challenging road Once he had gained some clinical experience, it was time to write the next set of exams, the LMCC. My friends all thought I was crazy for not writing the US exams too. But we wanted to be here. So I focused everything on the Canadian exams. And I passed everything. The next step was the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Residency Program where he was shortlisted for a four-month assessment. It was very tough. I was competing with doctors from all over the world many of them specialists - and there were very few spots. At the end of the four months, one of those spots had Dr. Eva s name on it. Return of service Upon completion of the residency program and the Canadian Certification in Family Medicine (CCFP) exam in 2010, Dr. Eva became a fully licensed Canadian physician. The family chose to do a two-year return of service in a community of need in Interior Health. We looked at many communities in BC, especially in the Okanagan. When we first visited Princeton we thought it was too small. But then when we got back to Vancouver, we received a letter from the Mayor and a Regional District Director inviting us back for a proper visit, said Dr. Eva. We were really wowed by the reception on that second visit. The community had arranged everything. We saw schools and met so many friendly people. They also liked the relative proximity to Vancouver, so they could keep in touch with the many friends they have there, and the easy access to the Okanagan. The right opportunity The couple knew that there would be challenges, but they also saw a chance to make a difference. We wanted to serve a place and do something special. We saw how much need there was for a steady doctor, and we decided that this was the right opportunity for us. Dr. Eva started working in Princeton in August, 2010. Queen and their daughters, Omuwa and Omone, followed in late fall. The little girls have adjusted quickly to their new community. Our girls are having the best time here. They love hockey and every Friday they go to the hockey game. They are taking dance lessons and have gone bowling. Pretty soon, they will learn to skate. Queen has started working at the Princeton Hospital and the couple now find themselves working together for the first time since their university days in Nigeria. It s kind of strange, Dr. Eva laughed. But I think we ll get used to it. 6

Australian physician makes Port McNeill stopover on world tour Dr. Peter Manns, a family physician, and his wife Lana, a chartered accountant, are from Canberra, Australia. Peter is currently working as a locum in the community of Port McNeill on northern Vancouver Island. The couple have two grown children, both of whom live in Australia. Dr. Peter Manns and his wife Lana are passionate about travel. The couple have travelled the world and are always on the lookout for new opportunities and new adventures. We try to do a major trip every few years, said Peter. Vancouver Island has inspired Dr. Manns to take pictures of wildlife, especially birds. It was in 2008, as they were planning a trip around the world, that Peter came across the Health Match BC website. We had never been to, and thought that the opportunities on Vancouver Island looked attractive. Unfortunately, it took much longer than anticipated to become licensed in BC, explained Peter. I originally applied in 2008, but it did not work out in time for that trip. But we did visit Port McNeill and met the physicians there. We decided to sort out the paperwork once we got back home, and come back to work at a later date. Settled in quickly Their perseverance paid off, and, in January 2011, Peter arrived on Vancouver Island to begin a six-month locum in Port McNeill. Lana joined him a few weeks later. It didn t take long to settle in to the clinic. There are five other doctors, but they are often doing outreach to rural areas, so sometimes I m alone in the clinic. The hospital is well equipped, and every patient room has a fantastic view of the water and the coastal mountains in the distance. Peter, who has a lot of experience working in rural and remote areas does not shy away from being the only physician on hand. I worked for six years in a town half the size of Port McNeill, and was the only surgeon there. It was 600 miles to the nearest hospital. I would also fly into remote towns and mining towns to work. Local adventures While Peter joked that he and Lana have spent the coastal winter staying inside and keeping warm they have done their share of sightseeing and enjoying local adventures. We ve been to Victoria, Nanaimo and Campbell River. Last week I went on a crabbing expedition with the other physicians from the clinic. We waded up to our hips and searched for crabs with sticks - this was before we went to work. Later, we cooked up our catch for dinner. Before leaving the area the couple plans to hike the North Coast Trail with some Australian friends. Then they will travel to New York City and Chicago for some holiday time. Everywhere he goes, Peter takes his camera. An accomplished photographer, he normally likes to take pictures of people. But his time on Vancouver Island has inspired him to take pictures of wildlife, especially birds. As for Lana, she has been enjoying long walks, reading, getting to know the community and making lots of friends. She s also spending her time learning Russian, in anticipation of the couple s next adventure. A world tour After we leave here in June we will travel to Alaska, then eastern. Then we ll go to Russia, Greece, Serbia and Turkey, and possibly Israel and Egypt before we head back home by the end of the year. 7

Port Alberni volunteers run medical clinic Related story: After working around the world, psychiatrist settles in Port Alberni page 9 In 2006, the community of Port Alberni on Vancouver Island faced a situation that is quite common in rural BC these days: the retirement of a solo-practice physician. With 2,000 patients about to be orphaned, and a clinic building about to be vacated, a group of community volunteers got together to find a way to solve the issue at the local level. The original idea came from Dr. Curt Smecher, an anesthesiologist who was Chief of Staff of the local hospital at the time, said Bev Denning, President of the Pacific Rim Health Care Cooperative. He Staff members Susan Sigurdson and Carrie Isaacson in the newly-renovated waiting room of the Pacific Rim Health Care Cooperative in Port Alberni. suggested we create a facility where doctors could just come in and doctor where they didn t have to look after the administration of the practice. So, that s what we did. Finding the right candidates Incorporated in 2006, the Pacific Rim Health Services Cooperative provides the premises, phone, utilities and staff to run the clinic. The physicians pay their way, but they don t have to look after the business side of things, explained Denning. One of the main ideas behind the cooperative was that providing a turn-key operation would make the community more attractive to physicians. Has it worked? Yes, but it s still not easy. We ve had some gaps that we could not fill. And we need to be careful that those physicians we recruit are prepared for the full-service practice that is needed in Port Alberni, said Denning. We work closely with Health Match BC and the Vancouver Island Health Authority recruiters to find the right candidates. While physician recruitment was, and is, a key part of the cooperative s purpose, there is also a bigger vision at work that of involving the community in the delivery of health care. With a one-member, one-vote system, community members can participate in the decision-making process of the cooperative. And that s a good thing, noted founding board member Anne Graboski. Because our purpose is to meet the health needs of our community, and we can t do that without hearing what our community wants. Dedicated volunteer board Port Alberni itself is a city of 20,000 people, but the local hospital serves a larger population of 35,000. Physicians do a share of emergency calls in addition to their clinic work. The benefit of course is that they get to work in one of the newest hospitals in BC, said Denning. West Coast General Hospital is a beautiful building. The physicians say it is a really nice place to work. Located at the head of a fjord, Port Alberni is not far from spectacular Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park. The mix of recreation here is really unique: surfing, hiking, whale watching and diving are some favourites, added Denning. What makes the cooperative successful is a dedicated and very energetic group of 11 board members. All of us are very committed. We have to be to make it work. One of our members looks after shovelling whenever it snows. We have one member who looks after recruitment. We all pitch in when it comes time to renovate, Denning said. We are all volunteers. We do it because it is important. It s important for people to be able to access a physician. And it s important for our community to be actively involved in how health care is delivered here. For information on current physician vacancies in Port Alberni, check "Find a Job in BC - Region: Vancouver Island" on the Health Match BC website. 8

After working around the world, psychiatrist settles in Port Alberni Main story: Port Alberni volunteers run medical Dr. Samuel Fadeyi, his wife Caroline, and their three children traveled the world since they left Nigeria in 2001. Now permanent residents of, they settled in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island where Samuel practices psychiatry at West Coast General Hospital and a local mental health and addictions clinic. The Fadeyi family loves to travel. After leaving their home in Nigeria in 2001, they spent nine years in Ireland, where Samuel completed his specialist training in psychiatry. They then lived in New Zealand for a short time, and in Ontario,. Even now that they Dr. Fadeyi with his wife Caroline and children Esther, Deborah and Paul. have settled in Port Alberni, the family spends their free time exploring Vancouver Island, the BC Interior, and the northwest coast of the United States. We travel a lot. It s refreshing and relaxing, and a great way to chill out and enjoy time together, said Samuel from his home recently. This weekend we are going to Bellingham, Washington, to see what it is like there. Working in Port Alberni has provided us with a lot of opportunities to explore. When we caught up with Samuel, he and Caroline were enjoying having all three of their children home. Their daughter Esther, 24, recently finished her nursing degree in Ireland and is now completing her licensing with the College of Registered Nurses of BC. Daughter Deborah, 22, is a medical student in Atlanta, and was home with her family between clinical rotations. Son Paul, 8, loves his new community and has adjusted easily to the move. He s travelled a lot in his life, laughed Samuel. He s used to going from place to place. Enjoying the mild weather One thing we were worried about was the weather in, he said. We didn t want to live in a place where it was very cold. We ve been really lucky in Port Alberni. It has some of the mildest weather in BC. The family is also enjoying the small city, which Samuel describes as quiet and friendly. We have a strong sense of belonging here, not just in our personal lives, but when I m at work too. The working environment is really good, and it feels like its own community. I love working here. The content of the cases that I see is more or less the same. But here I get to focus more on clinic work. I also have more flexibility in scheduling my time. As a result, the quality of life is much better here, he noted. I need time to connect with my patients and I feel much more fulfilled in my work when I have time for them. I can t be useful to others if I am stressed out or burned out. Appreciative patients Samuel and one of his colleagues have recently begun to service outlying clinics in Ucluelet and Tofino. I find the patients here are very appreciative of the work we are doing. They say thank you. I m not used to that. It s a big deal in a small community, you feel like you are part of their lives. Caroline, who is trained as a social worker, is happy to focus on getting everyone settled for now. She looks after all of us, he said. And she loves it here so much that after four months, we bought a house. Samuel discovered Health Match BC on the internet. Their consultants were very helpful. The fact that we were already landed immigrants when we arrived in made the process a lot easier. They distributed my CV and put me in touch with many communities. We feel very happy that we chose Port Alberni. Especially because of the weather. So far this winter it has only snowed three times, and we are happy with that. We much prefer the rain to the snow. 9