Family Medicine Residents: You Rock!

Dear Family Medicine Residents across BC,

The future of family medicine is being built today by you, and Resident Doctors Appreciation Week is an opportunity to recognize the incredible work you are doing across the province. The family medicine residents I am privileged to work with are my teachers as well as my learners; the fresh insight and new ideas you bring to primary care are invaluable.

Family medicine has the potential to be the most rewarding medical career choice. Family docs do indeed rock! Family doctors are foundational to the broader health care system, and the power to make a monumental difference in the lives of your patients and your colleagues begins in residency. Every time you think outside the box to make a challenging diagnosis, or show empathy by holding their hand while truly listening to a suffering patient, deliver a baby, or perform a life-saving procedure in a rural ER, you are changing that patient’s life for good; never underestimate the value YOU bring to every patient encounter.

And for this reason, it is also very important to take care of your mental, physical and spiritual health throughout all the challenges of residency and the career beyond. Working to ensure work-life balance is a sign of a healthy and successful family physician, and I hope you will always keep that as one of your priorities throughout your medical career.

At the BC College of Family Physicians (BCCFP), we are proud to support you, advocating for sustainable practice conditions and for a health system where you can build meaningful, fulfilling careers.

We are also pleased to share that nominations remain open for our five Resident Awards, recognizing residents who demonstrate outstanding leadership and commitment to patient care. Nominations can be submitted by peers or through self-nomination, and we warmly encourage you to take part in celebrating the exceptional work happening within your residency community. Deadline to nominate is February 26, 2026.

Submit your nomination

Thank you for the care you provide, the compassion you show, and the difference you are already making across British Columbia. It is a privilege to support and celebrate each of you during this important stage of your professional journey.

With gratitude,

Dr. Jennifer Lush, MD CCFP

BCCFP President