Family Physician – Coast Salish
Job Description
Description
Position Summary
FAMILY PHYSICIAN- Coast Salish FNPCC
About Us
The First Nations Health Authority is a diverse and transformational health organization of professional, innovative, and dedicated team members and leaders.
The first of its kind in Canada, FNHA works as a health-and-wellness partner with BC First Nations to support self-determination and decision-making to improve health outcomes.
FNHA is proud to have been named one of BC’s Top Employers for 2025. Learn more about why we were selected here .
Title: Family Physician – Successful applicants may eligible for a 0.2 FTE medical lead
Contract: Contract from 0.2 FTE up to a 1.0 FTE-typically 1680 hours a year per FTE
Location: Coast Salish Communities on Vancouver Island
The salary range is per the Physician Master Agreement. Pre- determined rate ranges are per the Alternative Payments Subsidiary (APSA) Agreement. Visit for specific details on rates. Rural Incentives may apply based on eligibility. Family Physicians are not required to contribute to overhead and typically a renewable contract will be negotiated.
FNPCI Initiative
The First Nations-led Primary Care Initiative (FNPCI) aims to improve access to primary health-care services for First Nations people across BC in a way that is culturally safe and closer to home. The FNPCI is part of the province’s primary care strategy, which is integrating team-based care in communities throughout B.C. and changing the way primary care is delivered with the creation of primary care networks in partnership with the Regional Health Authorities.
In order to meet the health and wellness needs of First Nations people, it is very important that primary care be culturally informed where Indigenous ways of knowing and being are woven into services. The aim is for clients to feel safe, welcomed, valued, respected and heard when they access care services at one of these centres.
About The Centre
The Coast Salish Nations have developed a Service Plan designed to enhance primary healthcare services with added considerations for the social determinants of health. The Coast Salish First Nations Primary Care Initiative (FNPCI) Project has also been built upon the goal of all services being culturally safe and trauma-informed. There are 16 Nation-based on-reserve health service delivery locations on Southern Vancouver Island. Each of these Centres, or “spoke sites” receives providers from one of four centralized administration ‘Hubs.’ Each Hub location was chosen based on respective geography to the surrounding Nations receiving service. Teams of Family Physicians will be hired to work collaboratively with wraparound supports to address the pressing primary healthcare needs of the member Nations living both at and away from home. In this way, the FNPCC strives to improve care management and health outcomes for participating Nations and better meet the often complex care needs their communities membership.
About The Role
The Family Physician will be the most responsible provider for a patient panel but is expected to collaborate in team-based care for patients and support the practice of Western and Traditional Wellness approaches to patient health. A minimum panel size is typically expected to reach 650 per 1.0 FTE by year 3 and will be confirmed in the clinical service contract. The Family Physician will be expected to travel on a pre-arranged schedule to different sites to be available for appointments within the community in keeping with the First Nations value of services closer to home.
Responsibilities
The Family Physician (FP) will be responsible for practicing with cultural humility, to provide primary care in a culturally safe, team-based environment that recognizes the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the client (and family) to provide whole person care, in compliance with policies and procedures of acceptable BC health and wellness regulations and standards.
About You
- You are passionate about supporting First Nations individuals and families on their health and wellness journeys;
- You have an active practicing license in good standing with the College of Physicians of BC (CPSBC);
- You have training in Cultural Safety & Humility or are willing to take this training;
- Ideally you have experience working with First Nations people and communities and providing culturally safe care.
- Current valid driving license and willingness to travel to sites primarily throughout the Southern Vancouver Island region
Why Work at the Coast Salish FNPCI
- We have a common foundation at FNHA through our Vision and Seven Directives to guide us in our daily work.
- What happens to communities and people we serve happens to us—we care for and respect one another. What happens to us happens to community and the people we serve—we strive for excellence and believe First Nations deserve the best we have to offer.
- We are wellness champions. We have the historic opportunity to achieve transformative change in First Nations health & wellness, and an obligation to make the most of this opportunity.
- We are for change makers. Those who are called to act, open to cultural understanding and teachings, and undaunted by unique challenges. We are a young organization, still growing and fast changing.
- We provide meaningful work rich with transformational learning opportunities.
- When you work with the Coast Salish communities, you will truly make a difference in your life and for many others.
- Find purpose beyond your profession. “It starts with me”. Here, your work changes lives, starting with your own.
- We work together, not apart, with our beautiful and culturally rich First Nations communities in British Columbia.
- The First Nations Health Authority is committed to respecting diversity within our workforce; preference will be given to individuals who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis.
First Nations Health Authority is a first of its kind in Canada and joining our team means being part of a collaborative, diverse and compassionate organization committed to innovating, transforming and redesigning health service delivery for First Nations communities in BC. Leading with culture, all FNHA medical staff are encouraged to continue with their cultural safety and humility learning and engagement activities. A range of relevant courses are available to medical staff who will complete at least one within the first year of joining FNHA.
Why live on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is world-renowned for its stunning coastlines, rainforests, enriched culture and outdoor activities. The Coast Salish FNPCI is collaborative and rooted in the principle that no Nation be left behind. Geographically, most Coast Salish communities are located between the southern tip of Vancouver Island and Qualicum Beach, facing eastward towards the Salish Sea on some of Vancouver Island’s most pristine scenery. Homalco is located further north, and their traditional territory is off the coast of Campbell River, BC. The Coast Salish communities have similar cultural traditions, however differ in their size, remoteness and language. Each Nation varies in size from less than one hundred members to over five-thousand registered members. Some communities are located in rural areas and remote areas while others are located in or border urban settings. Three communities are located on islands. There is tremendous opportunity for medical staff and wraparound teams to customize service delivery in meaningful ways.
How To Apply
If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please email .
Anticipated Hire Date: Summer-Fall 2025
For information about Cultural Safety and Humility ( ) and for information about Land Acknowledgements ( more information about us, please visit: you have any inquiries or issues please contact Medical Affairs at
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Company
First Nations Health Authority
Location
Ladysmith
Country
Canada
Salary
150.000
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