An eight-week learning opportunity for new General Practitioners in Oncology to strengthen their oncology skills and enhance cancer care in their communities.

Mandate:

Completion of the GPO Education Program is a requirement for family physicians newly hired as GPOs in BC and the Yukon (both within community cancer clinics and at BC Cancer Centres). The program provides opportunity to gain the foundational knowledge, skills, and confidence to administer systemic therapy, and to provide supportive care to cancer patients and their families.

The program includes a two-week didactic introductory module, offered in February and September, followed by 30 days of flexibly scheduled clinical rotation at the BC Cancer Centre where the GPO’s patients are referred. During the clinical rotations, systemic therapy orders need to be co-signed by a medical oncologist or qualified GPO.

Background:

BC Cancer developed the GPO Education Program in 2004, with the support of the UBC’s Department of Family Practice Enhanced Skills Program, and with input from many family physicians and oncologists. Special thanks are also extended to BC Cancer physicians and members of the GPO Education Program Working Group who deliver the education and ensure the currency and value of the curriculum.

One hundred and sixteen family physicians from 33 communities have completed the program to date and are actively practising as General Practitioners in Oncology. (See GPO Map.) BC Cancer also trains GPOs and Nurse Practitioners for its various sites through this program.  

Accreditation: 

The Introductory Module is accredited as below. 

The University of British Columbia Division of Continuing Professional Development (UBC CPD) is fully accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Continuing Medical Education (CACME) to provide study credits for continuing medical education for physicians. This Introductory Module of this course has been reviewed and approved by the UBC CPD. This Group Learning course meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by UBC CPD for up to 63.75 Mainpro+ credits. Each physician should claim only those credits he/she actually spent in the activity.

Those who complete the 30 days of Clinical Rotation can claim 50 Self-Learning, Mainpro+ credits under the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s Clinical Traineeship/Preceptorship category. Additional credits can be claimed under the Other Non-certified Learning Activities category.

To Apply:

Click here for GPO Education Program Applicant Eligibility Criteria 

Application submission for the fall intake of the GPO Education Program will open May 1. The two-week Introductory Module is normally offered at BC Cancer’s Vancouver Centre every February and September. The following 30 days of Clinical Rotation – a required part of the full program for GPOs – are organized individually to meet participants’ schedules.

Upcoming sessions in times of COVID-19:

• Fall 2022 will be delivered virtually with morning lectures, September 12 – 23, and afternoon lectures, October 3 – 17. 

To apply please complete and submit the application form according to your program plans:

• 2 Week Introductory Module Only Application Form 
• 8 Week Community GPO Application Form
• 8 Week BC Cancer Centre GPO Application Form 
• 2 Week Nurse Practitioner Application Form 
  
  

Please submit your form with all required documents as one pdf file by email to [email protected] 

Kindly submit your application at your earliest convenience.