Vernon/Revelstoke

Welcome Message

Welcome to the Vernon/Revelstoke MD Undergraduate Program (MDUP) Integrated Community Clerkship (ICC) Site.

This clerkship offers a unique opportunity to build foundational medical knowledge and refine clinical skills in two exceptional communities in the interior of BC.

In 2023, the Vernon/Revelstoke Integrated Community Clerkship welcomed its first student and will continue to have one student in this site annually. Similar to all ICC sites, the student is exposed to these objectives through ongoing relationships with faculty and patients in both Vernon and Revelstoke that reinforce learning and develop core critical thinking skills. These core competencies will help you to develop into a successful Year 4 student, resident and eventually, independent physician.

The distinction of the Vernon/Revelstoke ICC from the Vernon ICC lies in its structure. The student in the VR-ICC learns and works in Vernon from June until December. After the winter break, the VR-ICC student will relocate to Revelstoke to complete the remainder of the year with a welcoming group of skilled family physicians.

Dr. Carmen Larsen
ICC Site Director, Vernon

Dr. Carmen Larsen is a family doctor with a varied practice of locums, including OR assist, corrections medicine, virtual medicine and end-of-life care. As the ICC Site Director, she not only strives to foster the medical skills and education of Year 3 UBC medical students but also aims to set an example of creating one’s own path in medicine that is sustainable and impactful for individuals and families.

General Program Overview

The Vernon/Revelstoke MD Undergraduate Program (MDUP) Integrated Community Clerkship (VR-ICC) site has been in place since 2023 and utilizes an educational model that optimizes continuity of teaching and patient care. Student support is personalized to meet the needs of students, maximizing learning opportunities and building connections within the local medical communities.

During time in Vernon, the VR-ICC student follows a mini-rotation style clerkship, with a focus on hospital-based experiences. For more details, please refer to the Vernon ICC page.

In Revelstoke, the VR-ICC student has a variable weekly calendar that includes traditional family medicine clinics, emergency department shifts, walk-in clinics, surgical days, maternity care and GP-anesthesia. The VR-ICC student will also work with visiting specialists, many of whom they will already know from their time in Vernon.

Specific Experiences

  • Family Medicine

  • The VR-ICC student is teamed with one family medicine (FM) preceptor for one half day per week in Vernon.
  • Once in Revelstoke, the VR-ICC student is assigned a primary family medicine preceptor for one month at a time.
  • Academic Half Days (AHD)

  • The VR-ICC student continues to participate in one AHD per week via Zoom with Vernon and Trail students. Once a month during the Revelstoke experience, the VR-ICC student returns to Vernon for AHD on Thursday afternoons and participates in the monthly simulation experience on Friday mornings.

Participating Hospital Sites

Queen Victoria Hospital and Health CenterQueen Victoria Hospital and Health Center

  • Queen Victoria Hospital and Health Center is a level 1 community hospital that is well-supported by the community. It has a busy emergency department throughout the year, especially during the skiing and mountain biking seasons.

Selkirk Medical Clinic, Revelstoke

  • Selkirk Medical Clinic is a medical clinic located in Revelstoke, and isSelkirk Medical Clinic made up of a dedicated team of family physicians with diverse skillsets and comprehensive care.

Community Profile

The stunning community of Revelstoke is situated on the banks of the Columbia River, nestled among scenic Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges. Revelstoke is on the territory of the Sinixt First Nation. The Secwepemc, Ktunaxa, and Syilx First Nations also have traditional land use in this region. With a population just over 8,000 people, it is a major destination for those seeking adventure in the mountains.

Revelstoke is world-renowned as a perfect base for adventure. It is approximately 90 minutes from Vernon.

Students are strongly recommended to have access to their own vehicle to participate in the full extent of learning opportunities and recreational pursuits available during their Year 3 in Vernon-Revelstoke.

Check out the Tourism website for interesting activities and things to do in Revelstoke and other practical information.

‘’Revelstoke has long been a destination for mountaineers, hikers and explorers, and was historically referred to as “the capital of the Canadian Alps.” Both Mount Revelstoke National Park and Glacier National Park offer opportunities for mountain recreation, as do the many other recreation sites and parks in the area. Our passionate residents have created a town that encapsulates the diverse interests of the people who live here. From live music to locally made art, the Revelstoke arts scene has it all. Beautiful scenery, warm people, endless adventure and a wealth of arts and cultural experiences can be found year-round”.
[From the Tourism Revelstoke website, 2024]

For details on the Vernon community profile, please refer to the Vernon ICC page.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Carmen Larsen
ICC Site Director, Vernon
carmen.larsen@interiorhealth.ca

Kim Bailey
ICC Site Coordinator, Vernon
kim.bailey@interiorhealth.ca

We would like to acknowledge that the Vernon/Revelstoke Integrated Community Clerkship site operates in the traditional territory of the Syilx People of the Okanagan Nation and the traditional land of the Sinixt, the Ktunaxa, the Secwepemc, and the Syilx nations.