ANNAPOLIS VALLEY

lives up to its reputation of beauty, artistry, and peacefulness. This fertile landscape hugs the stunning Bay of Fundy, and is dotted with charming and welcoming towns. Prominent communities include Wolfville, Kentville, New Minas, Berwick, Middleton, and Annapolis Royal. In each, you’ll discover friendly people, delightful architecture, and a strong connection to the land. Here, outdoor adventures are always a stone’s throw away.

  • The scenic Annapolis Valley, Atlantic Canada’s richest agricultural region, is a stunning patchwork quilt of fields, dykes, orchards and vineyards

  • The heartland of Nova Scotia’s wine industry and home to many award winning wines and wineries garnering international acclaim

  • Year-round activities include hiking, biking, golfing, canoeing/kayaking, skiing, and snowshoeing

  • Walk on the ocean floor or experience the world’s highest tides along the Bay of Fundy

  • Visit the Grand-Pré National Historic Site, located within the larger Landscape of Grand Pré UNESCO World Heritage Centre

  • Canada’s oldest National Historic Site can be found at Fort Anne National Historic Site in Annapolis Royal

  • Home to Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site

129,000

POPULATION

Heartland of Nova Scotia’s wine industry

Annapolis Valley facilities

The Annapolis Valley site is located throughout the valley in various communities with the regional centre, Valley Regional Hospital, located in Kentville. Residents will be placed in communities such as Annapolis Royal, Middleton, Berwick, Kentville, New Minas, and Wolfville.

  • One of the first true collaborative practices in Nova Scotia, in Annapolis Royal 

  • A true rural family medicine experience 

  • Residents are exposed to unique collaborative practices as well as solo practitioners. 

A true rural family medicine experience

Salary and benefits

During your residency in Annapolis Valley, as with all our residency sites, your salary will be very competitive.

$77,038 – $82,259

PGY1 - PGY2 SALARY AMOUNTS

The curriculum

The Annapolis Valley site is one of the first in Canada to utilize the newly approved Triple C Competency-Based Curriculum. Approved by The College of Family Physicians, this unique curriculum focuses on continuity of care (rather than quantity of time spent in training); continuity of education/training; and continuity of evaluation, all done predominantly by family doctors. In essence, family doctors will be training the next generation of physicians instead of the traditional specialist block-training of the past.

Clinical experiences

  • Family medicine

  • Internal medicine

  • Emergency medicine

  • Obstetrics / gynecology

  • Orthopedic

  • General surgery

  • Pediatrics

  • Psychiatry / mental health

  • Electives

To cross reference and compare the sites in our program, find more information by clicking below.

Dr. Kirsten Murray

PGY2

  • Kentville, NS

  • Asked friends, and a friend of a friend had a room for rent!

  • Annapolis Valley offered a longitudinal curriculum, which provides more flexibility for individualized learning plans to increase exposure to specific areas of interest outside of planned electives. There are excellent facilities for study, relaxation, meetings, and on-call suites which contribute to uniquely luxurious resident experience. There is limited overnight call, and other specialty services are general friendly and enthusiastic colleagues and teachers.

  • I adore that we have our own space as residents in the resident building. I find it helpful to have a space away from home to use for study, and clean, accessible facilities for overnight call.

  • The program is so welcoming, with wonderful administration support and excellent program leadership.

  • We routinely receive timely and constructive feedback from preceptors and program leadership. The program and preceptors are all receptive to residents when we express learning goals and make suggestions to improve program delivery.

  • From day one, I have always had an active role in patient care.

  • I usually have between 2-4 days per week of family medicine and other the other days will be spent working with pediatricians, psychiatrists, general surgeons, emergency medicine physicians, and internists. I have frequent weeks of hospitalist medicine, which is excellent to gain exposure to when I have ample support. I have two weekends of call per month, which may be shifts in the emergency department or time spent on call with another service.

  • My work-life balance is excellent - most weekday evenings are free once clinic is done. I can choose to pick up additional call shifts to increase my exposure.

  • The program is responsive and compassionate to residents experiencing personal challenges. The resident building is an integral factor in supporting resident wellness.

  • I have exposure to diverse economic backgrounds and clinical complexity, particularly through emergency services and hospitalist. My main clinic is heavily slanted toward older adults and high socioeconomic status. There is not as much exposure to racial diversity in Annapolis Valley.

  • Yes, we all work in a rural area as this is a rural program.

  • Check out our resident building; no one beats our accommodations. Our site is an excellent choice to be trained as a full-scope family physician while maintaining a remarkable work-life balance.

Sound like a good fit?

If you want to learn more about a residency in the community of Annapolis Valley, get in touch. Our Annapolis Valley staff would be happy to answer all of your questions.

Site Director 
Dr. Jennifer Gillis
jegillis@dal.ca
(902) 679-2657 #3300 

Associate Resident Leader
Dr. Kirsten Murray
kirsten.murray@dal.ca

Site Administrator
Monica Cumby
monica.cumby@nshealth.ca
(902) 679-2657 #3300