Building the
Island Medical Program
for the future

The UBC Faculty of Medicine is commemorating 20 years of the Island Medical Program (IMP), which was established to address the shortages of physicians, particularly in rural, remote, coastal and Indigenous communities, where healthcare needs are most acute.

This approach of embedding medical education programs in different communities ensures we serve all corners of the province—both rural and urban—by equipping future physicians with the necessary knowledge and skills to meet unique health challenges.

We know that the most effective way to increase the number of physicians in underserved communities is to provide training opportunities within those communities. In fact, on average 93% of learners who trained in BC stayed here to practice after graduation, strengthening local care and contributing to a more sustainable healthcare system close to home.

When you support the Island Medical Program Bursary, you help future doctors complete their training on Vancouver Island by reducing financial barriers. Today’s medical students face increased financial pressures in a province where the rising cost of living greatly outpaces the national average. Even more so, living on the Island presents unique challenges related to travel expenses and accessibility.

As we celebrate 20 years of the Island Medical Program and look forward to the future, we invite you to help ensure that financial barriers don’t limit future IMP students from thriving and going on to make a difference in the lives of patients and communities.

Thank you for considering a gift to the Island Medical Program Bursary. Together, we will continue to bridge the gap in health equity and work diligently to transform health for everyone.

Photo credit: UVic Photo Services