Terrace

Terrace-Spring_Summer

Welcome Message

Thank you for your interest in the Terrace ICC Program. Terrace serves a large population in Northern BC, where approximately 30% of the population identify as First Nations. As you know, third year is a huge year in a medical student’s development, transitioning from the preclinical years to hands on clinical experience, with a few high stake exams thrown in! Having had many years to develop our program, we are confident in our ability to deliver a complete third year experience. We have a full complement of specialists and many family doctors who are enthusiastic participants in teaching and are familiar with third year content and expectations. Your year in Terrace will give you more than adequate exposure to all disciplines. We also have an active Family Medicine Residency Program and visiting Internal Medicine residents who mentor and teach students.

Dr. Natasha DeSousa
Site Co-Director

Dr. Natasha DeSousa is an Emergency Medicine physician who completed her CCFP(EM) training through Dalhousie University.  She moved to Terrace in 2016, after working in Saint John for a number of years.

General Program Overview

Students take “mini-block” rotations with scheduled flexible learning days distributed throughout the academic year. A typical schedule for a Terrace student is:

  • Three days per week – Clinical duties in specified rotation
  • One half day per week – Family Practice clinic with preceptor
  • Academic Half Days (AHDs) – majority are delivered locally
  • Friday afternoons – Resident teaching sessions
  • Call requirements:
    • One 24-hour ‘on call’ OB/GYN shift per week day
    • One evening ER shift per week
    • One weekend of integrated call (multiple services) per month
  • Flexible learning days where students arrange clinical duties within a current rotation, pursue a special interest project, or study for an upcoming exam.
  • Students work the majority of their time in Terrace with some time in surrounding communities
  • Students rotate between three Family Practice preceptors every four months

All exams are scheduled and written in Terrace except for the final OSCE.

Community Profile

  • Population: 15,000 (medical catchment area 80,000)
  • Geographic hub of Northwestern BC
  • 5 hour flight from Vancouver
  • Located in Tsimshian Territory
  • The area is surrounded by pristine wilderness and is a playground for outdoor enthusiasts including skiing, hiking, mountain biking and kayaking
  • Saturday morning Farmer’s Market May through October

Mills Memorial Hospital

  • Northwest Medical Referral Centre with 35 acute care beds (including 5 critical care) and 8 psychiatric beds
  • Full Medical Services, including: diagnostic imaging/CT/mammography/MRI
  • Fully equipped laboratory

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Natasha DeSousa
ICC Site Co-Director, Terrace
Natasha.desousa@unbc.ca

Dr. Zaneta Lim
ICC Site Co-Director, Terrace
zaneta.lim@northernhealth.ca 

Cara-Lee Malange
ICC Program Coordinator, Terrace
cara-lee.malange@unbc.ca