Our aim is to have at least one (preferably two) family physician in every BC community with 15,000 people who has completed this program and can support all aspects of cancer care for local patients and their families.

If you are interested in enhancing your oncology knowledge and skills, are willing to take on these responsibilities in your community, and have the support of your colleagues and other local health care providers, then please consider our program. Learning Outcomes (PDF).

The program is offered in a flexible format that can be taken over six months. The full-time, two-week Introductory Module is offered every February and September at the BC Cancer Vancouver Centre focusing on medical, radiation, and pediatric oncology protocols and supportive care requirements necessary to provide enhance care for cancer patients.

Thirty days of clinical rotation are then completed at the BC Cancer Centre where participants' patients are referred and participants are encouraged to tailor their learning specific to their community’s needs.

‎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 CPO Education 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.

BC Cancer developed the GPO Education Program in 2004, with the support of 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 fifty-three 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.

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 67.75 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.

Those who are from RSA (Rural Subsidiary Agreement communities) can apply through the Rural Education Action Plan's (REAP) Advance Skills and Training Program to receive a stipend and to have their travel and accommodation expenses covered.

Contact:

Hillary Kovach, reap@familymed.ubc.ca, UBC Department of Family Medicine, Tel: 604-827-1504

• REAP Application
• REAP Details

Physicians from other communities can apply to UBC’s Department of Family Practice Enhanced Skills Program to receive remuneration at a third year residency level while they are in the program.

Contact:

Lindsay Gowland, lindsay.gowland@familymed.ubc.ca, Program Coordinator, Enhanced Skills Program

Tel: 604-822-0869

• Enhanced Skills Program Application
• There is also a scholarship opportunity available from the Canadian Association of General Practitioners in Oncology.

See CPO Education Program Applicant Eligibility Criteria (PDF)

Application submission for the Fall 2025 intake of the CPO Education Program. Application is now open. The four-week Introductory Module is offered virtually 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:

• Fall 2025 will be delivered virtually with morning lectures only, September 8– 19 (~8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) PST, and September 29 – October 10 (~8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) PST.
  

Updated applications are available below. To apply, please complete and submit the application form according to your program plans:

• 4 Week Introductory Module Only Application Form (Word)
  
• 10 Week Community GPO Application Form (Word)
  
• 10 Week BC Cancer GPO Application Form (Word)
  
• 4 Week Nurse Practitioner Application Form (Word)
  

Please submit your form with all required documents as one PDF file by email to fpon@bccancer.bc.ca