Rural Education Action Plan

Rural Education Action Plan

The Rural Education Action Plan (REAP) supports the training needs of medical students, residents, and physicians in rural practice. These programs are administered by UBC Department of Family Practice and Doctors of BC.

These programs provide opportunities for physicians serving in Rural Subsidiary Agreement (RSA) communities to enhance their skills.

Advanced Skills & Training Program

This program’s objective is to increase educational opportunities for rural physicians. Physicians who have been practicing in a RSA community for 9 months of the past year are eligible to apply for up to 60 days of funding per fiscal year.

Rural Skills Upgrade

The purpose of this Program is to provide funding for skill enhancement training to new rural physicians or those providing locum coverage through the Rural GP Locum Program (RGPLP), Rural GPA Locum Program (RGPALP) or Rural Specialist Locum Program (RSLP) in order to prepare for rural practice.  Training may be obtained prior to commencing work in an RSA Community or prior to providing service to the RGPLP, RGPALP, or RSLP.

Training opportunities available under this Program must be flexible in timing and may be up 20 days in length per fiscal year.

Rural GP Locum CME Program

This program provides funding to active members of the Rural GP Locum Service in order to re-certify in ACLS or to complete the CARE Course.

Closer to Home CME

Closer to Home CME funding provides groups of rural BC physicians up to $5,000 to encourage and assist financially with accessing rurally-relevant training in their communities.

San’yas Indigenous Cultural Competency Training Program

This program provides bursaries for online training programs for UBC medical students and residents as well as physicians who work both directly and indirectly with Aboriginal people to strengthen their skills and promote positive partnerships.

Specialty Training Bursary

The Specialty Training Bursary Program provides funding to eligible medical specialty residents or rural physicians completing focused postgraduate training in a Faculty of Medicine (FOM) Specialty Training Program. A one-year return of service requirement is attached to each year of funding that the successful applicant receives. Preference will be given to specialties identified as being “in need” in rural communities in BC.

Postgraduate Rural Rotation Support

REAP funds UBC Residents enrolled in Specialty Residency and Family Practice Residency Programs who wish to spend elective time in Rural Subsidiary Agreement Communities.

Sponsored Events and Conferences

REAP sponsors UBC medical students and residents to attend national and provincial rurally focused medical conferences and events. 

BC Rural Interest Award

The REAP British Columbia Rural Interest Award aims to support rural students in UBC Medical School by providing additional financial support during the years of training.  Awards of $5000 are available at several points throughout medical school.

Undergraduate Rural Participation Program

The purpose of this program is to encourage third and fourth year UBC medical students to spend their Rural Family Practice Clerkship and elective time in RSA Communities. Students may apply for a housing allowance (stipend) of $250/week to help offset the cost of accommodation. In addition, REAP provides reimbursement of up to $800 of travel expenses per rotation.

Undergraduate Teacher’s Stipend

This program is designed to recognize and compensate rural physicians for their time spent teaching undergraduate medical students. This program provides a stipend for up to eight weeks to Rural Preceptors providing training to medical students in RSA Communities during their Third Year Rural Family Practice Clerkship and Fourth Year Rural Electives beyond the initial four weeks which is compensated by UBC through its Faculty of Medicine.

To inquire about eligibility, please visit www.rccbc.ca/reap or contact   

For the Undergraduate Rural Practice Participation Program, please contact Sydney Phan, REAP Program Assistant at:

604 822 2675