Family Physician - Northern Nations Wellness Centre

Position Summary

Title: Family Physician - Northern Nations Wellness Centre

Contract: Contract up to a 1.0 FTE-typically 1680 hours a year

Location: Chetwynd, British Columbia

Position Summary

The Northern Nations Wellness Centre (NNWC), located in scenic Chetwynd, BC, is seeking a Family Physician to join our team. We are an Indigenous-led primary care clinic providing culturally safe, comprehensive, wraparound care that brings together Western medicine and Traditional wellness practices.

At NNWC, you won’t be practicing in isolation. You will join an established Physician and a comprehensive interdisciplinary team that includes a Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Dietitian, Holistic Nutritionist, Occupational Therapist, Counsellor, Indigenous Social Navigator, and Traditional Wellness Coordinator. Together, our team works collaboratively to support the physical, mental, social, cultural, and nutritional needs of our patients.

Our team-based model allows physicians to focus on providing high-quality primary care while drawing on the expertise of colleagues who support chronic disease management, nursing care, nutrition, mental health and wellness, occupational therapy, social navigation, cultural supports, and traditional wellness.

We are looking for a physician who values collaborative, relationship-based care, embraces cultural safety and humility, and is interested in working alongside both clinical and wellness practitioners to support the whole person. The successful candidate must meet all requirements to practise medicine in British Columbia and share our commitment to accessible, patient-centred care that respects both Western and Indigenous approaches to health and wellness.

The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) works in partnership with NNWC to support physician contract implementation and administration, with FNHA holding and administering physician contracts while NNWC provides the clinical practice setting and day-to-day operational support.

Principal Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide primary care services to patients of all ages, including diagnosing and treating a wide range of medical conditions.
• Conduct comprehensive health assessments, review medical history, medication management, diagnosing, ordering diagnostic tests, treating acute and chronic illnesses, and promoting preventive care.
• Develop individualized treatment plans in collaboration with patients and other healthcare providers, including the facilitation of holistic interventions, and referrals to specialists and interdisciplinary teams when necessary.
• Perform minor procedures, such as wound care, suturing, and lesion removal, within the scope of your license.
• Educate patients and families about health promotion, disease prevention, and self-management strategies, and empower them to make informed decisions about their healthcare.
• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals within the Wellness Centre to ensure coordinated and wrap around care for patients.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date medical records and documentation and adhere to regulatory standards and best practices in clinical documentation.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and contribute to the ongoing development of clinical protocols and best practices.
• Engage in continuous professional development to stay current with advances in medical knowledge and best practices.
  
  

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Education And Experience

• You have an active practicing license in good standing with the College of Physicians of BC (CPSBC) or are eligible for a full practicing family medicine license with CPSBC.
• Experience working as a General Practitioner in a primary care setting is preferred, but new graduates are also encouraged to apply.
• Strong clinical assessment, diagnostic, and decision-making skills, with a commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build therapeutic relationships with patients and collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team and collaborate with other healthcare professionals.
• Experience working with and delivering health services to First Nations peoples is an asset, including above average knowledge of First Nations culture and Anti-Indigenous Racism Response, and presenting with an attitude of cultural humility.
• Training in Anti-Indigenous Racism Response and Cultural Safety and Humility is an asset.
• Experience with Electronic Medical Records and billing system.
• High degree of comfort using digital technology and online systems.
  
  

Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of cultural safety, humility, and trauma informed approaches to care.
• Knowledge of, and ability to apply, an understanding of First Nations cultural principles and protocols in work situations.
• Ability to apply a two-eyed seeing approach to balance western and Traditional Indigenous worldviews.
• Understanding of own intersectionality, power, privilege, and how these concepts may impact own work and perspectives.
• Understanding rural and remote communities and their inherent challenges and barriers.
• Understanding and ability to practice with Nation based, community driven philosophy.
• Broad knowledge of legislation and government policies and procedures that relate to primary care.
  
  

Schedule & Work-Life Balance

We recognize the importance of flexibility and work-life balance. Physicians may choose a traditional Monday–Friday schedule or an alternate bi-weekly schedule that provides every second Friday off. The alternate schedule consists of Monday–Friday one week and Monday–Thursday the following week, with extended Thursday hours to accommodate the compressed schedule and provide patients with some evening access.

Compensation And Incentives

• This position is compensated in alignment with the GP Full Scope Rural A model under the Physician Master Agreement. Further details regarding service contract payment ranges can be found at: Alternative Payments | Doctors of BC
• Base compensation: up to $377,641 annually (1FTE)
• No overhead contribution required.
• Attachment target: 650 patients by end of year 3
• Rural Retention Premium: An additional 25.06% premium may be applied to eligible earnings
• Flat Fee Premium: Approximately $38,835 annually (1.0 FTE)
• Recruitment Incentive: $20,000 (subject to Ministry approval)
• Relocation Support: Starting at $9,000 for moves within BC (higher amounts may be available for out-of-province candidates)
  
  

Full-Scope Rural A Compensation

Eligibility for 100% of the full-scope Rural A compensation rate generally requires a combination of community-based primary care and participation in facility-based services. This may include Emergency Department coverage at the local Chetwynd hospital, or other eligible facility-based services—such as obstetrics, GP anesthesia, or GP general surgery—provided in neighbouring communities.

Physicians who prefer to focus exclusively on primary care are still encouraged to apply. Where a physician does not participate in the facility-based services required to meet the full-scope criteria, compensation may be established at an appropriate range placement below the 100% rate, as determined through the applicable Ministry of Health range placement process.

Specific scope requirements will be confirmed with the successful candidate in collaboration with NNWC, the Medical Affairs and Wellness Office (MAWO) at FNHA, and applicable health system partners.

Interested in Trying Us Out First?

Not quite ready to make a permanent move? Locum opportunities may be available for physicians who would like to experience working at Northern Nations Wellness Centre and living in the Chetwynd community before considering a longer-term commitment.

A locum placement is a great way to meet our team, experience our interdisciplinary and culturally grounded model of care, and get a feel for rural practice and life in Northeast BC. Furnished physician housing is available for locum physicians during their stay, making it easier to come to Chetwynd and experience the opportunity firsthand.

Physicians interested in exploring a locum opportunity are encouraged to connect with the Talent Acquisition Partner within the Medical Affairs and Wellness Office (MAWO) at the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) to discuss current opportunities, eligibility, scheduling, and arrangements.

Ready to Learn More?

If Northern Nations Wellness Centre sounds like the kind of practice and community you’ve been looking for, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply, or to have an informal conversation about the permanent or locum opportunities available at NNWC, please contact our Director of Operations, Sarah Canning at sarah@nnwc.ca and copy FNHA’s Talent Acquisition Partner, Paul Coppard at Medical.Affairs@fnha.ca