by asupangco | Jul 31, 2026 | News
Physician recruitment in Richmond, BC is a strategic, relationship-driven function that supports clinic stability and long-term community care. RDFP’s high-touch, concierge-style approach connects qualified candidates with the unique needs of Richmond clinics, focusing on long-term fit, professional integration, and retention. By prioritizing sustainable recruitment outcomes, we help physicians and clinics build lasting success.
Recruitment Improvements Implemented
Navigating Complexity and Overcoming Challenges
Recruitment in Richmond involves navigating a high volume of candidates across multiple pathways, each with unique regulatory, licensing, and contractual requirements. These may include Return of Service obligations for UBC residents, provisional registration pathways for internationally trained physicians, and other practice-specific considerations.
To support both candidates and clinics through this process, RDFP has developed a comprehensive, multi-stage recruitment framework. This personalized approach helps physicians successfully transition into practice while ensuring clinics find candidates who are a strong long-term fit.
Our recruitment process includes:
- Initial outreach and exploratory Meet & Greets
- Interview facilitation and clinic matching
- Contract negotiation and healthcare system navigation
- Licensing, immigration, and clinical onboarding support
The Streamlined Recruitment Concierge Model
Highlighting the journey and early outcomes of the first new graduate supported through RDFP’s Concierge Recruitment Model and its locum-to-permanent pathway since July 2025.
- 100% Placement Success: From initial engagement in July 2025, the physician secured four clinic locum placements through signed Alternative Payment Option (APO) agreements during a single recruitment cycle.
- Full Early-Career Capacity: The flexible onboarding model enabled the physician’s schedule to be fully booked from August 2025 to January 2026, providing six months of clinical coverage that helped alleviate provider shortages and reduce burnout across the medical community.
- Strong Early Retention: Comprehensive onboarding and ongoing support allowed the physician to focus on patient care and successfully transition into practice, resulting in an additional six-month part-time locum commitment through June 2026.
- Expanded Practice Exposure: Locum opportunities enabled the physician to experience a variety of clinical settings before selecting a long-term practice home, while also beginning to establish patient relationships and build a future patient panel.
Early Impact
This pilot demonstrates how a structured, relationship-driven recruitment approach can support successful physician integration, strengthen retention, and increase access to primary care services in Richmond.
Learn more about how the Richmond Division is improving family physician recruitment in our Annual Impact Report.
by asupangco | Mar 13, 2026 | News
We’re excited to introduce the enhanced Richmond Long-Term Care Home Profiles, a new feature on the RDFP Recruitment Website designed to better connect physicians with opportunities in our community’s long‑term care sector. This expanded resource offers a clear, centralized way to explore Richmond’s diverse care homes, understand their unique practice environments, and access active LTC physician vacancies—all in one convenient place.
New Long‑Term Care Home Profiles Now Live on the RDFP Recruitment Website
Mirroring our popular Family Practice Clinic Profiles, our new LTC Home Profiles provide an in-depth look at local care homes. Each profile highlights care home characteristics, unique work contexts, patient populations, and on‑site clinical teams — helping prospective physicians gain a clear sense of where they might thrive. Each LTC profile links directly to active LTC physician vacancies now found on Richmond’s Job Board – also soon to be dual-listed on HealthMatchBC and VCH Physician Jobs for maximum reach – bridging the gap between talented providers and Richmond’s care homes.
Explore LTC Opportunities in Richmond Today
To dive deeper into the Richmond Long-Term Care Initiative, follow the ‘Learn more about the LTCI here’ link on the LTC Profiles homepage to access our specialized LTCI FAQ on our main Division site.
Explore LTC in Richmond: Visit our Richmond Long-Term Care Home Profiles tab today to see how we’re showcasing Richmond’s LTC community!
by asupangco | Jan 27, 2026 | News
Choosing where to build your career as a family doctor BC is about more than finding a clinic—it’s about joining a community that supports your growth, values collaboration, and enables a fulfilling life inside and outside of practice. Richmond offers exactly that. Watch the video here
A Connected and Physician-Led Medical Community
Richmond is home to a highly connected, physician-led medical community where collaboration is part of everyday practice. Family physicians work alongside colleagues, specialists, and interdisciplinary teams who are committed to improving care for patients and supporting one another professionally. This culture of connection helps physicians feel welcomed, heard, and supported—whether they are early in their careers or well established.
Innovative Supports for Family Doctors in BC
Innovation is a defining strength of Richmond’s medical community. Through locally driven programs and Primary Care Network initiatives, family doctors have access to practical supports that reduce administrative burden and enhance patient care. Shared resources, team-based care models, and quality improvement initiatives allow physicians to practice medicine in ways that are sustainable, adaptable, and professionally rewarding. Richmond’s approach empowers family doctors to shape solutions that respond to the evolving needs of their patients and practices.
Practice Medicine While Enjoying Richmond’s Lifestyle
Beyond the clinic, Richmond offers an exceptional lifestyle. With scenic waterfronts, extensive walking and cycling trails, parks, and vibrant neighbourhoods, physicians can enjoy the balance they seek between professional fulfillment and personal well-being. Richmond’s natural beauty and strong sense of community make it easy to feel at home in the place you serve.
Watch our recruitment video to hear directly from physicians and discover why Richmond is an innovative, supportive, and welcoming place to practice as a family doctor in BC. Once you are ready, take a look at the current opportunities in Richmond.
by asupangco | Jan 21, 2026 | News
Dr Yau’s Post-Graduate Journey into Family Practice in Richmond
Through the lens of Dr. Olivia Yau’s post-grad journey, discover how prospective practitioners are increasingly utilizing locum-to-permanent roles to find the right long-term fit; a process that offers incoming family physicians’ low-pressure exposure to potential clinical homes while delivering essential burnout relief to Richmond’s local family practices.
“I graduated in July 2025 from the UBC Vancouver Fraser Family Medicine Program and, like many new graduates, felt both excited and a little overwhelmed by the question of where to start. I was eager to explore different practice settings and learn from a variety of clinic environments before committing to a permanent role, but navigating those options on my own initially felt daunting.
I reached out to the Richmond Division of Family Practice for guidance, and their support made a meaningful difference. They connected me with local clinics, shared clear resources about opportunities in the community, and facilitated introductory meetings that allowed me to learn about different practice styles, patient populations, and clinic cultures in a low-pressure, supportive way.
Working as a locum across multiple Richmond clinics has been an incredibly positive experience. I’ve felt genuinely welcomed by clinic teams and patients alike, and it’s been rewarding to begin building relationships within the Richmond medical community. I’m grateful for how approachable and responsive the Division has been throughout this transition, helping turn an overwhelming moment into a confident and exciting start to practice.”
– Dr. Olivia Yau, Locum to Permanent Family Physician in Richmond
Start Your Locum Journey in Richmond
Considering locum work in Richmond? As shown by Dr. Yau’s experience, the Richmond Division of Family Practice is here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring practice options, looking to build connections with local clinics, or thinking about a longer-term fit, RDFP can help make the process clear, supported, and low pressure. Reach out to our team and start your locum journey in Richmond with confidence.
by asupangco | Nov 27, 2025 | News
The Practice Ready Assessment BC (PRA-BC) program helps Richmond clinics recruit experienced internationally trained physicians to meet patient care needs. With the support of the Richmond Division of Family Practice, clinics can navigate the rigorous application process and match with highly competent doctors who bring global expertise to local care.
Positive Recruitment Experience with PRA-BC in Richmond
When Dr. Sharon Dodd first heard about the Practice Ready Assessment-BC (PRA-BC) program, she wasn’t sure it was the right fit for her clinic. “I was hesitant at first,” she admits. “I wanted to make sure an internationally trained Physician would provide a high standard of care to patients in our province, without having gone through a Canadian residency program.”
But with her clinic actively seeking new doctors, the Richmond Division of Family Practice stepped in to help. “The recruitment team thought a PRA-BC Physician could be a good fit for my needs,” says Dr. Dodd. “They helped with the application, provided candidate lists, arranged interviews, and facilitated the match. They were ready for me.”
Now a strong advocate for PRA-BC, Dr. Dodd is also serving as a Clinical Field Assessor for the program. She’s currently evaluating a Physician who arrived in Canada with 18 years of practice. “Within the first week, I knew this Physician was very experienced and knew what he was doing,” she says. “Patients are even asking where this Physician will be practicing. They are enjoying his care, and there is such a great need.”
The PRA-BC program is rigorous—candidates must have run their own family practice abroad for at least two years. “So much of our expertise comes from experience,” Dr. Dodd explains. “These Physicians exude confidence, both with patients and with the assessors.”
The candidate who matched to Dr. Dodd’s clinic is currently completing her clinical field assessment elsewhere, and is expected to join the team in September. Dr. Dodd has already expressed interest in PRA-BC recruitment again. “It’s a tried and tested method,” she says. “My experience has been extremely positive, well supported, and the program consistently selects Physicians who are highly competent and experienced.”
Programs like PRA-BC—paired with strong operational support from the Richmond Division—are key to nurturing effective recruitment pathways, addressing community needs, and ensuring high-quality care for patients today and for years to come.
Supporting Clinics and Patients Through Experienced International Physicians
Dr. Sharon Dodd’s clinic successfully integrated a PRA-BC physician, praising the program’s thorough candidate vetting, operational support, and emphasis on high-quality care. Programs like PRA-BC ensure clinics can address community needs while providing patients with confident, experienced physicians. Richmond Division’s recruitment support streamlines the process, making international physician integration seamless and effective.
Explore recruitment options for your Richmond clinic through the Practice Ready Assessment BC (PRA-BC) program or UBC return of service programs. Email recruitment@rdfp.ca to learn how your clinic can access highly skilled, internationally trained physicians.
A version of this article was originally published in Richmond Division of Family Practice Annual Impact Report 2025-25
