East Kootenay

Welcome Message

Welcome to the East Kootenay MD Undergraduate Program (MDUP) Integrated Community Clerkship (ICC) site, launching in June 2026.

At the East Kootenay ICC site, students will have the opportunity to complete their clerkship in the vibrant rural community of Cranbrook, BC. Here, students will meet the same curriculum objectives as all UBC Year 3 medical students, while enjoying the unique benefits of a longitudinal integrated community clerkship. Over the course of the year, students will build meaningful relationships with patients, preceptors, and community members, gaining deep appreciation for the continuity of care that defines rural medicine.

Our vision is to foster a holistic, supportive, and dynamic learning environment that empowers students to grow as clinicians, leaders and community advocates. While upholding high standards of accountability and responsibility, the East Kootenay ICC site is committed to innovation, and adaptability, ensuring students graduate as competent, confident, and compassionate physicians prepared to thrive in diverse practice settings, with an appreciation of the complexities of rural care.

Our mission is to encourage genuine connection between students and preceptors, authentic relationships with patients and the community, and deep appreciation for continuity of care which enables students to see patients as people, not merely charts or diagnoses. The ICC experience in the UBC MDUP is designed to shape students into not only skilled physicians, but also humble, kind, empathetic, respectful, collaborative, accountable, well-balanced, and happy individuals.

I am excited to work alongside Kelly Smit, our Site Coordinator, whose extensive community engagement and advocacy experience and passion are instrumental in creating the best possible student experience.

It was not long ago that I was standing in your shoes as a medical student. We look forward to welcoming the first of many cohorts to this remarkable corner of the province, where education, community, and adventure intersect!

Dr. Craig Lynch
ICC Site Director, East Kootenay

Dr. Lynch graduated from the Queen’s University School of Medicine (MD Class of 2017) and completed the UBC Family Practice Residency Program in Victoria, BC, in 2019. Following his training, he practiced in rural communities across Ontario and British Columbia before establishing a home and practice in the East Kootenays in 2023. He enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter and is an avid hockey player, hiker, camper, mountain biker, and skier.

General Program Overview

The East Kootenay MD Undergraduate Program (MDUP) Integrated Community Clerkship (ICC) site will welcome its inaugural class of students in the summer of 2026. The program follows a longitudinal model, allowing students to engage with patients and preceptors across multiple disciplines throughout the year.

Specific Experiences

  • Core disciplines: Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Anesthesia, General Surgery, Psychiatry
  • Opportunities to explore disciplines outside of the core set
  • Continuous Family Medicine exposure
  • Customizable “Flex” options for student interests
  • Dedicated independent study time
  • Academic Half Days (AHDs) on Thursday afternoons
  • Interprofessional experiences
  • Longitudinal community engagement

Participating Hospital Sites

East Kootenay Regional Hospital (EKRH) – Cranbrook

  • East Kootenay Regional Hospital (EKRH) in Cranbrook is the primary referral center for the East Kootenays, offering a full spectrum of acute care services.
  • The hospital has 89 inpatient beds, including a six-bed ICU, and provides comprehensive surgical services, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, and emergency Subspecialty services—including urology, ENT, oncology (in partnership with BC Cancer), and orthopedics—further support its programs. Advanced diagnostic imaging (CT, MRI, ultrasound) enhances patient care.
  • As the regional hub, EKRH combines the resources of a referral hospital with the collegiality and continuity of rural practice, providing students with broad clinical exposure in a supportive learning environment.

Community Profile

Cranbrook is centrally located in the East Kootenays, with excellent road and air connections. By car, it is approximately:

  • 4 hours west of Calgary
  • 3 hours south of Golden
  • 3 hours east of Nelson and Trail
  • 5 hours north of Whitefish and Kalispell, Montana

Cranbrook is also served by Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC), with daily direct flights to Calgary (1 hr), Vancouver (1.5 hrs), and Kelowna (1 hr).

Nestled in a setting where others come to vacation, Cranbrook offers the best of both worlds: a welcoming community with the amenities of a regional hub, and unparalleled access to the natural beauty of the East Kootenays. With hot summers, mild winters, and year-round recreation, quality of life takes center stage here.

Home to more than 21,000 residents—and serving a surrounding population of over 73,000 within 150 km—Cranbrook combines small-town charm with big-city conveniences. Its historic downtown, vibrant arts and culture scene, and diverse healthcare, education, and employment opportunities make it a place where people not only move, but choose to stay.

The outdoors is always close at hand. Cranbrook is safe, affordable, and family-friendly, offering a balanced lifestyle defined by community values and connection to nature. In-town trails and parks, serene lakes, world-class golf courses, and extensive biking and hiking networks are minutes away. Just beyond lie ski resorts, rivers, and snowmobile trails that provide adventure in every season.

  • Highlights:
  • Nearby National Parks: Kootenay, Banff, Yoho, Glacier, Waterton Lakes
  • Nearby Lakes & Provincial Parks: Jimsmith Lake, Moyie Lake, Wasa Lake, Norbury Lake, Yahk, Gilnockie, Premier Lake, Kikomun Creek, Mount Fernie, Top of the World, St. Mary’s Alpine, Akamina-Kishinena, Whiteswan Lake, Elk Lakes
  • Surrounding communities: Elkford, Golden, Fernie, Invermere, Kimberley, Radium Hot Springs, Sparwood
  • Links:

For further Information please contact:

Dr. Craig Lynch 
ICC Site Director, East Kootenay
craig.lynch@ubc.ca

Kelly Smit
ICC Site Coordinator, East Kootenay
ubc.smp.cranbrook@interiorhealth.ca

We respectfully acknowledge that we live and work on the unceded traditional and current territories of the Ktunaxa Nation, including the Yaqan Nuʔkiy, ʔaq̓am, Yaqit ʔa·knuqⱡiʔit, and ʔakisq̓nuk, as well as the Shuswap Band. Unceded means that the land was never agreed to be signed away.