Vancouver - Orthopedic Surgery

University of British ColumbiaVancouver, British ColumbiaCMG stream

Program websiteWebsite CANPREPPCANPREPP

Open on carms.ca

CaRMS program description, 2026 match, last approved 14 Nov 2025

From the 2026 match (R-1 2026). See the 2027 version

Positions (approx. quota): 5 positions
Length: 5 years
Stream: CMG
Discipline: Orthopedic Surgery
Applications per year: 51–200
Applicants offered interviews: 51–75%
Accreditation: Accredited
CaRMS program ID: 29632

Bands are 5-year averages the program reports to CaRMS. They describe past cycles, not your odds.

Summary

The UBC Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program is a comprehensive 5-year training program fully accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The program offers a diverse and rigorous curriculum across multiple hospital sites, focusing on developing exceptional orthopedic surgeons with strong clinical, academic, and interpersonal skills.

Training

Research

Residents are supported in research through a dedicated research director, research coordinators, and opportunities to dedicate research time during clinical rotations.

Training setting

Training occurs across 9 university-affiliated hospitals in the Vancouver area and Prince George, providing diverse clinical experiences in urban and community settings.

Teaching approach

Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) with progressive responsibility, focusing on achieving Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) and developing well-rounded physicians across all CanMEDS roles.

Setting types

Academic medical center
Community hospital
Pediatric hospital
Tertiary care center

Focus areas

Orthopedic Trauma Surgery
Pediatric Orthopedics
Spine Surgery
Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
Musculoskeletal Oncology
Sports Medicine
Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery
Foot and Ankle Surgery
Community Orthopedic Surgery

Patient populations

Pediatric patients
Trauma patients
Orthopedic surgical patients
Sports injury patients
Community hospital patients
Complex surgical cases

Highlights

Weekly academic half-day
Surgical foundations 'CRASH' course
Orthopaedic surgery 'Bootcamp'
Cadaver dissection lab
Fracture fixation advanced skills lab
Arthroscopic surgery skills labs
Visiting professor teaching sessions
Faculty mentorship program
Near-peer mentorship
Research opportunities
Clinical Investigator Program

Strengths

Strong gender parity representation
Comprehensive subspecialty training
High fellowship placement success
Diverse clinical rotation experiences
Robust research infrastructure
Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Enhanced skills

Fellowship preparation
Clinical Investigator Program
Advanced research training

By year

PGY-1

Orthopedic Trauma SurgeryVGH4 blocks
Plastic SurgerySPH2 blocks
General Surgery Trauma ServiceVGH1 block
Vascular SurgeryVGH1 block
Perioperative MedicineVGH1 block
Surgical Foundations 'CRASH' Course1 block
Orthopedic Surgery 'Bootcamp'1 block
Foot and Ankle SurgerySPH1 block
Upper Extremity SurgerySPH1 block

PGY-2

Pediatric Orthopedic SurgeryBCCH3 blocks
Orthopedic Trauma SurgeryVGH and RCH2 blocks
Spine SurgeryVGH2 blocks
Arthroscopic Surgery and Sports MedicineMultiple sites2 blocks
Hip and Knee ArthroplastyVGH2 blocks
ICUVGH1 block
Subspecialty ElectiveGreater Vancouver region1 block

PGY-3

Hip and Knee ArthroplastyVGH3 blocks
Arthroscopic Surgery and Sports MedicineMultiple sites3 blocks
Foot and Ankle SurgerySPH3 blocks
Spine SurgeryVGH2 blocks
Hand SurgeryEagle Ridge and Royal Columbian Hospital1 block
Community ElectiveBritish Columbia outside Vancouver1 block

PGY-4

Pediatric Orthopedic SurgeryBCCH3 blocks
Adult MSK OncologyVGH2 blocks
Orthopedic TraumaRCH2 blocks
General and Community Orthopedic SurgeryUHNBC2 blocks
Hand and Upper Extremity SurgerySPH2 blocks
ElectiveFlexible2 blocks

PGY-5

Orthopedic TraumaVGH3 blocks
ElectiveFlexible3 blocks
Knowledge Consolidation and Review1 block

From the program's rotation list.

Selection

What the program looks at

Academic background
CanMEDS roles assessment
Reference letters
Interview performance
Research involvement
Leadership skills
Interpersonal skills

Applications per year

51–200

Applicants offered interviews

51–75%

Interviews

Dates (2026 match): 26 Jan 2026

Programs can change interview dates. Confirm on carms.ca.

Pay

Provincial scale, last updated 2 Sep 2026 · check the current agreement(opens in a new tab)

Salaries from April 2027.

Annual salary by PGY level, British Columbia
Level	Annual salary
PGY-1	$71,390 / year
PGY-2	$79,571 / year
PGY-3	$86,655 / year
PGY-4	$93,230 / year
PGY-5	$100,215 / year

One provincial scale for British Columbia, set by the resident agreement, so every program there pays the same. Showing the 5 levels this program covers.

Benefits

Benefits as listed by CaRMS in 2022–2024; check the current agreement(opens in a new tab)

Annual vacation: 4 weeks
CMPA dues paid: Yes. Mandatory
Dental plan: 100% Premiums Paid
Educational leave: Yes
Extended health insurance: 100% Premiums Paid
Frequency of calls: 1 in 4 onsite/1 in 3 offsite
Life insurance: 100% Premium Paid
Long-term disability insurance: Yes 100% Premiums Paid
Maternity leave: 17 weeks, plus up to 78 weeks Parental Leave
Meal allowance: No
Provincial dues (% of salary): 1.5%
Provincial health insurance: 100% Premiums Paid
Sick leave: Yes
Statutory holidays: 2 x pay plus extra day with pay

Call

Call (provincial max): 1 in 4 in-house

The union agreement’s cap for all residents in the province; your program’s actual call schedule may be lighter. Check with the program.

RDBC agreement, 1 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2029.

Hospital facts

Public figures for hospitals named above, each with its source and reference period. They describe the hospital, not the program, and are not a ranking. We match names to the province’s lists by name, so check each source before you rely on it.

Vancouver General Hospital

Matched to Vancouver General Hospital in the province’s hospital list.

Elective surgeries completed, 2025/26: 13,790 All procedure groups, for the fiscal year (1 April to 31 March). Scheduled surgery only: emergency surgery is not in the file.
Elective surgeries completed, 2026/27 Q1: 3,855 One quarter (April to June), interim figures, all procedure groups. Scheduled surgery only.

UBC Hospital

Matched to UBC Health Sciences Centre Hospital in the province’s hospital list.

Elective surgeries completed, 2025/26: 7,983 All procedure groups, for the fiscal year (1 April to 31 March). Scheduled surgery only: emergency surgery is not in the file.
Elective surgeries completed, 2026/27 Q1: 2,043 One quarter (April to June), interim figures, all procedure groups. Scheduled surgery only.

BC Children's Hospital

Matched to BC Children's Hospital (Vancouver) in the province’s hospital list.

Elective surgeries completed, 2025/26: 7,396 All procedure groups, for the fiscal year (1 April to 31 March). Scheduled surgery only: emergency surgery is not in the file.
Elective surgeries completed, 2026/27 Q1: 1,910 One quarter (April to June), interim figures, all procedure groups. Scheduled surgery only.

Show facts for 6 more sites

St. Paul's Hospital

Matched to St. Paul's Hospital (Vancouver) in the province’s hospital list.

Elective surgeries completed, 2025/26: 8,691 All procedure groups, for the fiscal year (1 April to 31 March). Scheduled surgery only: emergency surgery is not in the file.
Elective surgeries completed, 2026/27 Q1: 2,240 One quarter (April to June), interim figures, all procedure groups. Scheduled surgery only.

Royal Columbian Hospital

Matched to Royal Columbian Hospital (New Westminster) in the province’s hospital list.

Elective surgeries completed, 2025/26: 4,798 All procedure groups, for the fiscal year (1 April to 31 March). Scheduled surgery only: emergency surgery is not in the file.
Elective surgeries completed, 2026/27 Q1: 1,447 One quarter (April to June), interim figures, all procedure groups. Scheduled surgery only.

Eagle Ridge Hospital

Matched to Eagle Ridge Hospital (Port Moody) in the province’s hospital list.

Elective surgeries completed, 2025/26: 6,014 All procedure groups, for the fiscal year (1 April to 31 March). Scheduled surgery only: emergency surgery is not in the file.
Elective surgeries completed, 2026/27 Q1: 1,496 One quarter (April to June), interim figures, all procedure groups. Scheduled surgery only.

University Hospital of Northern BC

Matched to University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (Prince George) in the province’s hospital list.

Elective surgeries completed, 2025/26: 4,520 All procedure groups, for the fiscal year (1 April to 31 March). Scheduled surgery only: emergency surgery is not in the file.
Elective surgeries completed, 2026/27 Q1: 1,127 One quarter (April to June), interim figures, all procedure groups. Scheduled surgery only.

Richmond General Hospital

Matched to Richmond Hospital (Richmond) in the province’s hospital list.

Elective surgeries completed, 2025/26: 6,446 All procedure groups, for the fiscal year (1 April to 31 March). Scheduled surgery only: emergency surgery is not in the file.
Elective surgeries completed, 2026/27 Q1: 1,680 One quarter (April to June), interim figures, all procedure groups. Scheduled surgery only.

Burnaby General Hospital

Matched to Burnaby Hospital (Burnaby) in the province’s hospital list.

Elective surgeries completed, 2025/26: 8,388 All procedure groups, for the fiscal year (1 April to 31 March). Scheduled surgery only: emergency surgery is not in the file.
Elective surgeries completed, 2026/27 Q1: 2,058 One quarter (April to June), interim figures, all procedure groups. Scheduled surgery only.

Sources and licences

Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – British Columbia.

Unfilled positions in past years

No repeated vacancies in CaRMS’s lists of open positions, 2019–2026.

Positions at this site, all streams.

A position can go unfilled because of where the site is, because it is open to IMGs only or to another restricted stream, or because the quota changed late. It says nothing about the quality of the training. Verify with the CaRMS lists. Source: CaRMS’s lists of positions open after round 1 and after round 2, as read in October 2026 (latest: 2026 round 1 (CaRMS PDF, opens in a new tab), 2026 round 2 (CaRMS PDF, opens in a new tab)). A site’s numbers are shown when it had positions open after round 1 in at least 2 of 8 years or at least 3 in one year.

Contacts

Contacts weren't collected for the 2026 match.

The current program director and contacts are on the 2027 version of this program and on the CaRMS program page(opens in a new tab).

Location

Vancouver, British Columbia

About the city

Public statistics for the place named by this program’s location label, each with its source and reference period. They describe the place, not the program, and are not a ranking. Check each source before you rely on it.

Climate

Canadian Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Each value comes from the nearest weather station that reports it, not from the city itself.

January average: 5.3 °C Vancouver (Harbour), 5.7 km away
July average: 19.0 °C Vancouver (Harbour), 5.7 km away
Snowfall: 36.6 cm a year Vancouver International (Airport), 7.6 km away
Days below −20 °C: 0.0 days a year Vancouver (Harbour), 5.7 km away

People

2021 Census. Figures are for the municipality of Vancouver, not the metropolitan area. Statistics Canada rounds counts, so small places are approximate.

Population: 662,248 people up 4.9% from 2016
Official languages: English only 84.8% · French only 0.1% · English and French 9.3% · neither 5.8% Share of residents who can conduct a conversation in each. This is not the language spoken at home.
Immigrants: 42.2% of residents arrived 2016–2021: 6.4% · non-permanent residents: 6.6%
Indigenous identity: 2.3% of residents
How people commute: car, truck or van 56.2% · public transit 22.9% · walking or cycling 18.4% · other 2.6% Average commute: 25.3 minutes. Shares are of people who commute.The way Canadians commute was altered in 2021 by the pandemic, with lockdowns to slow the spread of COVID-19 and changes in how and where Canadians worked leading to 2.8 million fewer commuters, compared with five years earlier. Statistics Canada, The Daily, 30 Nov 2022(opens in a new tab)
Median household income: $82,000 before tax $72,000 after tax · income year 2020, in 2020 dollars

Rural and remote

This describes the place named by the program’s location label. Programs can train in several towns, so it is not every site.

Population centre: Vancouver, a large urban population centre (100,000 or more people) 2,426,160 people in 2021
Remoteness index: 0.062 0 is least remote, 1 is most remote. Statistics Canada calls this index experimental.

Housing, cost and work

Each figure names the area it covers. A missing line means the source publishes nothing for this area.

Rental vacancy rate: 3.7% October 2025 survey, Vancouver, British Columbia (census metropolitan area). The share of purpose-built rentals (three units and over) vacant, not a rent.
Basic cost of living: $64,351 a year Market Basket Measure 2025, Vancouver, British Columbia, for two adults with two children. A modest, basic basket (the poverty line), not a resident’s budget. A size-class region is not the town itself.
Unemployment rate: 6.5% September 2026, three-month average, seasonally adjusted, Vancouver, British Columbia (census metropolitan area); standard error 0.4 points. A survey estimate.

Job outlook

Employment and Social Development Canada’s rating for the occupation in the economic region. It is not a count of jobs, and says nothing about CaRMS positions or your match.

Outlook, 2025–2027: Good The employment outlook will be Good for specialists in surgery (NOC 31101) in the Lower Mainland - Southwest region for the 2025-2027 period.
Canada-wide, to 2033: Strong risk of Shortage ESDC’s projection for specialists in surgery, 2024–2033. Recent conditions, 2021–2023: Strong signs of Shortage.