Advancing rural health care through connection and community: 2025-26 highlights

In 2025-26, UBC Rural Continuing Professional Development (CPD) continued to support the learning needs of health professionals who practice across rural, remote and Indigenous communities in British Columbia.

Guided by rural physician leadership, this year’s programs focused on strengthening clinical capacity, reducing professional isolation and supporting sustainable practice across the province.

“How we do our work is just as important as what we do. Our focus remains on supporting the people who sustain rural medicine by delivering practical, relevant continuing professional development that reflects the breadth and complexity of rural practice,” says Rural CPD’s Medical Director, Dr. Dana Hubler.

Rural CPD by the numbers

This past year, the team delivered:

Meaningful partnerships and reduced barriers  

The Hands-On Ultrasound Education Emergency Medicine course in Dease Lake was one of the most complex Rural CPD initiatives undertaken.

The team partnered with Hazelton’s Wrinch Memorial Hospital to deliver tailored education through our Real-Time Virtual Support (RTVS) Simulation program. Focusing on Torsades de Pointes and Long QT Syndrome, a condition with higher prevalence in the Hazelton community, this collaboration reduced significant barriers that often limit access to high-quality education in rural communities.  

Supporting communities through technology  

A virtual Rural Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Rounds session, New Year, New View – Live Scanning Demo, led by Dr. Virginia Robinson, allowed attendees to engage in real time and get informed on how to tackle pressing challenges in their practice.

Our Rural Rounds series expanded its impact this year, with the launch of the Critical Rural Intensive Support and Interventions Series (CRISIS) project. This four-part series focused on cardiac arrest, mechanical ventilation, withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatments, and organ donation — exemplifying Rural Rounds’ strength as a responsive and learner-centered program.

“These programs are crucial to my continuing to work in remote settings.”

— 2025-26 Rural Rounds participant

Our Virtual Health Grand Rounds (VHGR) series delivered Bridging the Gap between AI Development and Implementation in Healthcare with Dr. Hashim Kareemi, attracting 130 attendees, and Virtual Anatomy to Support Rural and First Nations Communities with Dr. Claudia Krebs and Dr. Sean Maurice.  

Fostering professional relationships between peers

Through the Coaching and Mentoring Program (CAMP), participants received over 910 hours of tailored coaching and mentoring this year.  

“This has been a highly impactful initiative, and kudos to UBC for organizing and supporting such a valuable program. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to be part of CAMP.”

— 2025-26 Coaching and Mentoring Program (CAMP) participant

The Personal Learning Plans (PLP) program supports physicians who are new to rural practice (less than five years) and physicians new to practice in Canada – with 123 learners with completed plans since 2018. 

The six-week Family Practice Anesthesiology (FPA) Online Journal Club connected 25 FPAs from rural and remote communities through a flexible, asynchronous learning format.

From our learners

“It was an excellent resource that was informal enough to not be intimidating, but engaging enough to be so impactful. I will be reflecting on my experience from this program for many weeks and months to come.”  

— Nawh Whu’nus’en We See in Two Worlds Level 1 workshop participant

“This education gave me understanding of the importance of connecting with First Nation communities on supporting the research and implementation of AI in health-care settings.” 

— 2025-26 Virtual Health Grand Rounds (VHGR) participant

Looking ahead

UBC Rural CPD remains dedicated to supporting lifelong learning for rural health professionals. Guided by a passionate team of physicians and CPD professionals, we deliver education based on lived experience of those practicing in rural, remote and Indigenous communities in British Columbia.

“As we plan for the year ahead, we are excited to continue this important work. We are deeply grateful to our physician collaborators and the ongoing support of our partners, who make this work possible,” says Rural CPD’s Senior Manager, Laura Beamish.

Read the full 2025-26 Rural CPD Annual Report.

Partners

UBC Rural CPD was established in 2008 and operates in partnership with the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc). Funding for the program is provided by the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues, a joint committee of the Doctors of BC and BC Ministry of Health.