UBC Addiction Medicine Education Program

The Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia in partnership with the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use offers a range of education and training opportunities in addiction medicine for medical students and resident physicians already in practice. The University also hosts a number of additional educational opportunities that are open to the public.

*UBC faculty and staff are encouraged to contact inquiries@bccsu.ubc.ca with information for cross-posting regarding addiction medicine training and education opportunities not already listed here.

SPECIAL EVENTS

What’s New in Addiction Medicine? Lecture Series

“What’s New” is a free monthly lunch-time lecture series held at St. Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver. These lectures feature local and international experts, clinicians and researchers who deliver the latest research and information on novel, evidence-based addiction medicine topics. Please subscribe to the the BCCSU Mailing List to stay informed of upcoming lectures.

St. Paul’s Hospital Addiction Research Day – Now part of the BCCSU Annual Conference

Every May, St. Paul’s Hospital hosts a free, half-day event featuring an invited keynote address and presentations by various trainees affiliated with UBC and St. Paul’s Hospital addiction medicine education programs. Starting in 2019, the BCCSU Annual Conference will incorporate Research Day into its programming. To receive a notice when registration opens, please subscribe to the BCCSU mailing list. Alternatively, registration information will be posted on www.bccsu.ca. 

EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN ADDICTION MEDICINE

Research Electives in Addiction Research

Eligible: 4th Year Medical students || Medical students have the option of applying for a Research Elective as part of their medical education and training. Examples include the Research Elective in Urban Health, through which medical students are paired with an addiction clinician-researcher to identify and address a research question related to one of the many social and/or medical aspects of addiction. Interested medical students and residents may email Monica Carrasco at monica.carrasco@vch.ca for more details.

Clinical Electives in Addiction Medicine

Eligible: Medical students and residents || Medical students and resident physicians also have the option of applying for a Clinical Elective as part of their clinical education and training. In this case, trainees are paired with a clinician to gain hands-on experience in addictions treatment and care. This elective is available through both the internal medicine and family practice training streams. Interested medical students and residents may email Kathryn Libbiter, Administrative Assistant, Addiction Medicine Consult Team (AMCT) and Rapid Access Addiction Clinic (RAAC) at klibbiter@providencehealth.bc.ca for more details.

Interdisciplinary Addiction Medicine Clinical Fellowship

Eligible: Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine physicians || Through the BCCSU Addiction Medicine Fellowship (AMF), physicians with a background in Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine  have the opportunity to participate in this one year multidisciplinary training program. The AMF has been accredited by the American Board of Addiction Medicine and includes specialty training in in-patient and out-patient Addiction Medicine as well as related concurrent disorders training. The program prepares fellows to work clinically in the exciting field of Addiction Medicine and take leadership roles in an academic setting. The program helps prepare Fellows to write examinations with either the American Board of Addiction Medicine and/or the International Society of Addiction Medicine, and thus be eligible to apply for certification with The Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine. For more information, please click here.

Interdisciplinary Addiction Medicine Research Fellowship

Through the BCCSU Interdisciplinary Collaborative Addiction Medicine Research Fellowship (ICAMRF), physicians and other health care providers who are involved in the care of patients with drug and/or alcohol use disorders will have the opportunity to develop the skills required for a career in addiction research. The Fellowship is a US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded research training fellowship offered in partnership with the BC Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul’s Hospital, and the University of British Columbia. The Fellowship provides $50,000 in funding and involves mentored research training as well as publication and grant development. This part-time, one-year curriculum runs from July 1st to June 30th annually. Four positions are available for competitive candidates. For more information, please click here.

Enhanced Skills Training in Addiction Medicine

Eligible: Family Practice Physicians || In order to provide enhanced training for physicians interested in developing clinical skills in addiction medicine, the Urban Health Research Initiative at St. Paul’s Hospital and the Fellowship in Addiction Medicine are pleased to offer postgraduate training of 3 to 6 months duration. The program aims to provide hands-on learning opportunities across the range of inpatient and outpatient addiction medicine venues. Trainees will develop enhanced skills in the area of opioid substitution therapy, inpatient and outpatient chemical dependency treatment and detoxification and chronic pain management. Trainees will interact with other addiction medicine fellows and can explore opportunities for enhanced training with specific populations (e.g. tobacco, alcohol, opioid addicted individuals). In addition to strong clinical skills training, opportunities to develop research and leadership skills will also be prioritized. For more information, please click here.