Locum General Surgeon

Locum General Surgeon

qathet General Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health

Position Actual Start Time: Monday, September 1, 2025
Duration of Position: Negotiable
Preferred Skills Mandatory: CMPA, FRCPC, FRCSC, Surgical Skills. Current College of Physicians of BC (CPSBC) – Full. Desired: ACLS, ATLS.
Remuneration: Fee-for-Service
Existing Staff: 2 surgeons, 3 MOAs.
Application Contact: Alice Morales
Application Address: 5000 Joyce Ave., Powell River, British Columbia V8A 5R3  Canada
Application Email: medstaffcareers@vch.ca
Phone Number (236) 688-6778
Hospital/Company Website https://www.vch.ca/en
Original Ad:  https://careers-vch.icims.com/jobs/143971/locum-general-surgeon/job?utm_source=oags.org&utm_medium=jobboard&utm_campaign=143971

Details: We are seeking a locum general surgeon to cover maternity leave in Powell River, with the potential to join as a full-time surgeon. qathet General Hospital is a 33-bed facility offering comprehensive general surgery, including endoscopy. The locum will work with 2 other surgeons and 3 experienced MOAs. Ideal candidates should be passionate about general surgery and enjoy a broad surgical practice in a supportive environment. The schedule is flexible, consisting of 4 weeks on call and 2 weeks off, with a balance of office, endoscopy, ambulatory, and operating room duties. Start date: September 2025 (negotiable). Interested in applying? Please reach out to Alice Morales, Executive and Medical Staff Talent Acquisition Advisor: medstaffcareers@vch.ca.

Come work as a General Surgeon with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

We are looking for a locum general surgeon to provide maternity leave on our team in Powell River, with opportunity to join the group as a full-time surgeon. Situated in the North Sunshine Coast, with a surrounding population of approximately 25,000, the town is a popular summer tourist destination known for its natural beauty, vibrant festivals (such as PRISMA and Kathaumix), and a growing food scene. With 32 lakes and innumerable rivers in the immediate surrounds, life in the community is maximized by spending time in the outdoors. Residents and visitors alike enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, climbing, fishing, and foraging in the varied natural landscapes that surround us.

qathet General Hospital is a 33-bed hospital with a wonderful group of primary care physicians and specialists including obstetrics, ophthalmology, internal medicine, GP anesthesia and GPIM, and oncology. We provide full service general surgery including endoscopy surgical services. This locum opportunity is to join a team of 2 other surgeons with a well-established office and 3 lovely and experienced MOAs. The ideal candidate is someone who is passionate about general surgery, looking for a broad surgical practice in a supportive surgical group and welcoming community setting.

The work balance comprises office, endoscopy, ambulatory, and operating room procedures. Our schedule is currently arranged in 6-week cycles with 4 weeks on and 2 weeks without call or scheduled hospital based work. During on-call weeks, there is an average of 2 days of endoscopy, 1 half day of ambulatory, and 1 full OR day alongside clinic each week. Calls are divided in 1-week increments from Monday to the following Sunday. The schedule is collaboratively developed annually among the three surgeons and offers flexibility to accommodate vacations and other important dates. Additionally, we have good locum support over key holidays and other periods that will continue. Our general surgery practice also hosts 1-2 general surgery residents each year, providing opportunities for teaching and mentorship.

Job posting is for a position covered by the Provincial Health Officer’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination order and selected applicant(s) must comply with the requirements of the order.

Click here to get a feel for life in Powell River: https://tourism-powellriver.ca/visit/

Start date: September 2025 or negotiable
Qualifications Education, Licensing, & Experience:

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) – Desired
Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) – Desired
Current College of Physicians of BC (CPSBC) – Full
Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) – Mandatory
Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC) – Mandatory
Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC) – Mandatory
Surgical Skills – Mandatory

Closing Statement
Interested in applying? Feel free to reach out to Alice Morales, Executive and Medical Staff Talent Acquisition Advisor: medstaffcareers@vch.ca

Please note that a resume and cover letter are required to apply for this position.

As per Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH?

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and “going first” when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities
Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families
Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers
Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff
At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers in 2024.