The Pain Medicine Residency Program offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary training experience within one of Canada’s most diverse and collaborative pain medicine communities. With residents joining us from a range of primary specialties—including Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, and Physiatry—the program attracts learners seeking strong clinical exposure, broad interventional and non‑interventional training, and an academically grounded environment that supports excellence in patient care.
Residents train across an extensive network of clinical sites throughout British Columbia, gaining experience in the full spectrum of chronic and complex pain management. The educational curriculum is fully aligned with Competence by Design (CBD), supported by dedicated Academic Days, structured simulation sessions, hands‑on interventional skills training, and ongoing opportunities for scholarly and professional development. Training pathways continue to expand, including enriched experiences in pelvic pain, neuromodulation, and multidisciplinary team-based care.
Clinical learning is strengthened by rotations at leading pain centres such as the Jim Pattison Pain Clinic, St. Paul’s Hospital, the Bill Nelems Pain & Research Centre in Kelowna, and the Central Island Pain Program in Nanaimo. Residents also participate in simulation-enhanced procedural training, supported by new phantom models and access to national pain and interventional workshops that reinforce clinical competence and exam readiness.
The program continues to broaden its vision for the future. Current initiatives include exploring the expansion to three residency positions annually, advancing a dedicated simulation curriculum for managing interventional emergencies, and strengthening the research foundation of the program. Increased emphasis on leadership development and community engagement further supports residents in becoming advocates for individuals living with chronic pain.