Pain and Symptom Management and Palliative Care - Oncology Clinical Research Fellowship - BC Ca

Pain and Symptom Management and Palliative Care – Oncology Clinical Research Fellowship

Term: 1 year | Typical

Start Date:

July 1 | Duration: 1 year | Final date to receive applications:
Recommended at least 9 months prior to start date (or 12 months for international applicants)

BC Cancer and the University of British Columbia are offering a one‑year Clinical Research Fellowship designed to provide advanced academic training for physicians interested in palliative care research while maintaining meaningful clinical engagement within a multidisciplinary supportive care program.

• Duration: 12 months. Focus:
  Research training integrated with clinical exposure.
• Time allocation:
  Approximately 40% clinical and 60% research.
• Location:
  
  Lower Mainland (Surrey or Vancouver), site to be determined.

The fellowship emphasizes structured research skill development, including formal research education (NIH research course, Institute for Healthcare Improvement quality improvement course, or equivalents), completion of a primary capstone project, engagement in secondary projects, and an aspirational goal of publishing peer‑reviewed manuscripts.

Clinical exposure will be supervised within Pain & Symptom Management services and tailored to the fellow’s prior experience, with careful attention to avoiding clinical burden early in the fellowship. The fellow will participate in 2-3 half‑day clinics per week.

• Eligible to hold a College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC) educational license.
• Hold a CCFP or FRCPC by the time fellowship begins.
• Have 3 or more months of palliative care experience (formal or informal training or work experience).

• Eligible to hold a CPSBC educational license.
• Hold certification in their primary specialty in their country of origin.
• Have Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, or be legally able to live and work in BC.
• Meet English Language Proficiency Requirements as per CPSBC.
• Have 6 or more months of palliative care experience through formal training.

International applicants who require a Canadian work permit must allow sufficient time for UBC processing. UBC requires submission of complete fellowship documentation at least 9 months prior to the intended start date when a work permit is required. International applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications at least twelve months in advance of their desired start date. While July 1 is the typical start date, flexibility may be possible depending on circumstances.

• A provincially coordinated model of care.
• Access to large population‑based datasets.
• Opportunities in outcomes research, quality improvement, health services research, medical education, health equity, and Indigenous cancer care.

• Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Letter of intent including:
  • Their reasons to pursue research training in palliative care.
  • Personal goals and objectives for the program.
  • Areas of personal interest for research, and how they plan to apply their training in future work.
• Two reference letters supporting their application, at least one of which should be from a Palliative Medicine physician (or provide names of two referees, at least one of whom should be a Palliative Medicine physician).
• A brief research proposal (1‑2 pages) describing a potential capstone project.
• Interviews with the selection committee will be conducted with selected applicants after file review.

Julia Ridley, Provincial Medical Director, Pain and Symptom Management/Palliative care –

Please submit applications to:
Shelley Dutchin, BC Cancer, Physician Recruitment Advisor –

PHSA and BC Cancer are committed to employment equity and diversity and hire on the basis of merit. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. We recognize that our ability to provide the best care for our diverse patient populations relies on a rich diversity of skills, knowledge, background and experience, and value a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.