Victoria Divisions of Family Practice

Urban Locum Program - Mentor bios

 

Locums practicing under the ULP are connected to a pool of five experienced family physicians in Greater Victoria who are available to provide mentorship support through one-on-one conversations and monthly engagement and education sessions.

 

Read about the program's mentors below:

Dr. Sarah Chritchley

I have been in practice 25 years. As a woman in medicine, I understand the challenges that women and parents face and want to reduce barriers. I have worked as a locum, WIC doc, surgical assistant, specialized clinic and in my office practice for 13 years. I do not do obstetrics/maternity care. I do minor office procedures but can link a locum to someone with expertise if I don't have it. I run my own practice with a group of three other docs. I work full time and have a complex elderly panel.

EMRs: Med Access, Wolf


Dr. Kathy Dabrus

I applied to be a mentor in order to share some of my 33 years of experience on the mechanics of how things work in this community. I spent two years doing locums and then did family practice with maternity care for six years, and for the last 25 years have been in a couple of group practices. I have a deep knowledge of division supports that are available as well as capacity to demonstrate the usefulness of the Pathways resource for everyday practice.

I want any locums who are new to our community to feel welcome and supported so they continue to do this valuable work in Victoria. I do recall in my early years of doing locums, sometimes working in a single practitioner office and finding it was quite isolating with no one to answer clinical or administrative questions. It would've been great to have someone to text or call for support.

EMRs: Med Access


Dr. Michele Fretz

35 years in full-service family practice- previous hospital care/ OB; working in dynamic fun work environment- efficiency, passion, excellence in practice with like-minded colleagues.  Unapologetic about time off, development of interests (sports, travel, fitness, social).

EMRs: CHR Input Health


Dr. Tara McCallan

I finished my residency in 2003 and began a 13-year long practice in rural Ontario, including family medicine, hospitalist, ER and admin work (health authority, hospital admin, clinic admin etc.) Along with four practice partners, I built a professional building and staffed and ran a 14-physician (both family docs and specialists) clinic. And then I burned out (although I don't love that term). I moved to BC to start from scratch and to try and get it right! I now work as a longitudinal FP two days a week and as a palliative care consultant 2-3 days a week. I do a lot of teaching because I love it (both medical students and residents). No more ER, no more admin, much better work-life balance. I figured out what brings me joy in my work and how to say "No". I'm a big believer in "do-overs".

EMRs: Intrahealth, Med Access

 


Dr. Silvia Schriever

I have been doing locums my entire career - 42 years. I have a lot to share with locums about strategies, negotiation, how to get re-hired etc.

EMRs: Intrahealth, Oscar, Med Access