Committees

Internal & External Committees

The following committees require resident representation (view the Committee and Resident Representation Chart for an overview). Most resident representatives on these internal committees are assumed by current Lead Residents or R1 Representatives.

Postgraduate Education Committee (PGEC)

  • One-to-two reps from each region (Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Northern Rural, and Vancouver Island)
  • PGEC is the major committee that assists the Program Director in assuring the entire UBC postgraduate residency experience quality.  Program curriculum, assessment, and scholar expectations are defined at this level. Program-wide policies are approved through this committee. All of the sub-committees, site directors, and portfolio directors report regularly to this committee.
  • One face-to-face and two virtual ( full day) meetings in a year.

Site Director Committee

  • Program Lead Resident
  • Represent resident issues for site director discussion/input. Resident attends a portion of the meeting before discussion of confidential issues
  • Monthly videoconference meetings except for months when PGEC meets

 Program Competency  Subcommittee

  • One R3 rep
  • Address issues surrounding residents who are in difficulty.  Provides an opportunity for Peer Support for Site Directors dealing with complex resident challenges. Committee meets in confidence though trends are reported to PGEC
  • Monthly videoconference meetings

Assessment/Evaluation Committee

  • Three-to-four reps
  • Work includes development and quality improvement/assurance of assessment processes and expectations in the Postgraduate Program. Exam prep, FieldNotes and portfolio development, faculty, and educational environment evaluation processes are discussed. Resident’s role includes acting as the first point of communication from the committee to the resident body and vice-versa, possible involvement in working groups
  • Monthly videoconferences and face-to-face full-day retreats twice/year. Travel and accommodation paid for by the program for one-to-two rep(s) to attend

Curriculum Committee

  • Three-to-four reps
  • Working on delivery and implementation of the Triple C Curriculum, as well as revision of curriculum objectives. The Resident’s role includes being the representative from the committee to the resident body and vice versa
  • Regular videoconferences (every month or so) and face-to-face full-day retreat twice/year. Travel and accommodation paid for by the program for one-to-two rep(s) to attend (consideration for urban and rural representation)

Scholarship Committee

  • Three-to-four reps
  • Discuss issues relating to the program scholar expectations, activities, and deliverables, including research, EBM, and information management teaching at the site level. The resident rep will participate in working groups/subcommittees to address emerging issues as needed
  • Two face-to-face retreats/year and videoconferences (up to two)

Resident Resilience Subcommittee

  • A minimum of two reps from each year
  • Provide and develop tools and resources that promote resilience and wellness for residents
  • Meeting three to four times per year via face-to-face or videoconference

Behavioural Medicine/Resident Wellness Committee

  • Two-to-three reps
  • Work on issues related to strategic planning, development, and delivery of Behavioral Medicine
  • Quarterly videoconferences and face-to-face meetings twice/year (as required)

 Faculty Development Committee

  • Two-to-three reps, Faculty Development will recruit their own resident representatives
  • Plans and implements best practices in Medical Education to engage and support preceptors, teachers, and educational leaders. Works to create a community of practice for those interested in the enhancement of teaching and learning. Oversees the planning of Teacher's Toolbox, an all-day professional development event (held in September each year)
  • Monthly videoconferences and face-to-face meetings twice/year

Resident Selection Committee

  • One rep from each year
  • Review, evaluate and make a recommendation to the Postgraduate Director regarding CaRMS selection process and transfer requests
  • Meetings are called by the chair as the need arises (less than four/year)

Finance Committee

  • One-to-two reps
  • Discuss issues relating to budgeting and financial issues of the entire program
  • Videoconference meetings three to four times per year

 Program Evaluation Committee

  • Two reps
  • Develop and monitor a framework for evaluation of all components of the Postgraduate Program
  • Monthly videoconference meetings

IMG Interest Group

  • One-to-two IMG residents
  • Represent IMG resident issues and communicate with IMG residents about initiatives to support them
  • Regular videoconference meetings (every month or so)

CFPC

PARBC

CAIR

BCMA

Roles & Responsibilities of Resident Representatives

The purpose of resident representatives is to ensure an open line of communication between the administration and residents. The administration views this as a vital link in program development and improvement, and in turn, it is invaluable for residents to be involved in this process.

As a resident representative, you would be called upon to speak on behalf of fellow residents during meetings. The committees typically request input from and discussion by all members (especially residents) and operate by consensus. Therefore, it is important to be informed and communicate with the residents, other site chiefs, and the R1 representatives.

Resident Representatives List

When you are accepted as part of a committee, follow the below steps:

  1. Contact the chair of your committee to introduce yourself and request any pertinent information (meeting dates/times, minutes, members, updated terms of reference).
  2. Familiarize yourself with the terms of reference for your committee.
  3. Review the Committee and Resident Representation Chart to understand how representation on your committee fits into the broader picture of resident representation.

Important tasks to complete throughout your term:

  • Respond to all emails directed at you and use email to begin discussions. As the program is distributed across the province, email is the primary means of communication between you, the residents, the other resident representatives, and the committee members.
  • Be accountable and ensure that your comments/votes reflect the majority opinion of the residents across all sites. This may be accomplished by any of the following means:
    • Solicit the opinion of the Lead/R1 reps via email or by adding agenda items to the monthly chief/R1 videoconference and attending it when you have an important issue that needs to be discussed with all Lead Residents.
    • Solicit the opinion of the residents utilizing an online survey or by email, using the listserv (which allows you to send one email to the list, and have your message transparently sent through to all subscribers of the list). The listserv information is on the Site-Specific Resident Resources area of the website.

*Always be cognizant of issues surrounding confidentiality and anonymity.

What you can expect from the Resident Reps:

  • Resident Reps are required to sign up to receive information corresponding to all resident rep website updates.
  • They will contact you by email if any issue needs to be brought forward to your committee.
  • They are available to provide support and assistance in any way that you might need.

If you have any issues or need help throughout your term as a resident representative, the Lead Residents, the R1 representatives, and all the other resident representatives are here to help so don’t hesitate to ask for their support!