New residency program aims to keep more family doctors in the Yukon

The Yukon is launching its first-ever medical residency program.

Starting in July, a recent medical graduate who grew up in the Yukon will become the program's first participant. The government said the new doctor was not available for an interview as she was busy preparing to start. 

A family medicine residency lasts two years in Canada. The pilot program is a partnership between the Yukon Government, Yukon Medical Association, and the University of Alberta where the new doctor will also be doing a portion of their training during their residency.

The program has been championed by Whitehorse physician Dr. Julie Warren. She says the program is long overdue. 

"We've certainly had, I think, a big gap for a long time in how we transition people into practice," said Warren. 

She said the pilot program will help keep family doctors in the territory long term.

"Having a pathway to residency just makes it so much easier for them to be ready to work here when they're finished their training," said Warren.  

Dr. Martin Tieu is the assistant program director of the family medicine residency program at the University of Alberta. He spent a few days in Whitehorse touring facilities. 

He says the new resident will have access to a lot of hands-on training including "seeing patients independently with supervision, doing procedures in hospital, on oncology wards, and in delivery wards." 

The resident will also take part in community-based rotations. Warren says working all over the territory is important to ensure "we develop culturally safe physicians". 

She says that means incorporating a patient's culture into the way physicians care for them, so they feel heard, supported, and respected. She says this applies to all Yukoners, and in particular Indigenous patients. 

"We want them to be able to look after all the people who live here, no matter where they live," said Warren.  

The residency program in Yukon is modeled after a similar program started in 2020 at the Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife. Dr. Tieu says that program has been a big success. 

"[Participants] always report back excellent evaluations, excellent exit interviews, they're just having a really, really good experience embedded in that community," said Tieu.

In a statement from the Yukon's Health and Social Services, the organization estimates the territory needs 20 to 25 new family physicians over the next five years to keep up with growing demand, and to replace retiring physicians. As of January, there were 4,154 people waiting to be matched with a family doctor, which represents approximately 11 per cent Whitehorse's population.

A news release from the Yukon government says that by training physicians closer to home, "the initiative will help build a more resilient and sustainable health care system for Yukoners."