Johnny Chang
Johnny Chang, Creston, British Columbia, is proposed as a contested nominee with the following attributes:
- Rural generalist providing comprehensive in-clinic care. Chief of Staff at Creston Valley Hospital and the medical director of medical staff safety for the Interior Health Authority.
- International medical graduate (IMG).
- Certificate of Added Competence (EM) holder.
- Active with the CFPC British Columbia Chapter: Board Treasurer; member of the bylaws and the cultural safety committees; contributor to current strategic plan.
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia (UBC).
- In the sixth year of practice as of the 2025 Board election.
Connection – This word best resonates with me and how I see myself as a parent of two toddlers, a husband, a family physician, an educator, and a medical leader. Parenthood has taught me to create time and space for meaningful engagement with my family such as playtime and mealtimes.
I am a full scope family physician practising in the rural town of Creston in the Kootenays, British Columbia. I am also the Chief of Staff of my hospital and the medical director for medical staff safety for my health authority. My other work—as an organizing member of the St. Paul’s CME Conference , the UBC provincial family medicine faculty development lead, and postgraduate family medicine site curriculum lead—is involved with improving the experiences of our preceptors and learners and creating a passion for ongoing learning. Most importantly, this works helps bring communities together.
I am an international medical graduate (IMG) who studied at the University of Sydney in Australia, and returned home to Vancouver to do residency at St. Paul’s Hospital. I had a return of service contract in Creston, British Columbia, and even after that was completed I wanted to stay and make it my new home. Helping support integration, in the community and with their medical practice, is an area of high importance for successful retention. In my role as Chief of Staff I have embraced an inclusive environment where we can allow each other’s strengths to complement one another and find creative ways to adapt our system on a local level. It requires attentive listening and building trust and connections.
Being in a rural community and like everywhere in British Columbia—urban or rural—recruiting and retention is challenging. At the British Columbia College of Family Physicians (BCCFP) we have been focusing on bold advocacy and member engagement. We have worked tirelessly in bringing increased respect for the practice of family medicine through government and member engagement. We have seen increased membership and even more excitingly, more students want to be family doctors in British Columbia!
It is an exciting and changing time at the CFPC. I am passionate about member engagement—I hope to bring increased transparency and grassroots advocacy to the Board. I want to continue to strengthen Chapter relations and help steward the CFPC to better reflect member needs and values.
I am the current treasurer for the BCCFP and I hope the skills and experiences gained in this role can be used to help review the governance and financial health of the CFPC. Ultimately, a strong and sustainable national organization will help create value in the work for all of us, as family physicians do for Canada. I will focus on bringing connection between provincial Chapters and the national organization.
Watch the video introduction
Please see Dr. Chang’s CV.
Conflict of Interest declaration and mitigation strategy:
My conflict of interests are the following:Of my many roles, I have good role clarity and understand that when I act as a Board of Directors, I will be representing the interest of the College and its members.
- Treasurer, Board of Directors, BC College of Family Physicians (BCCFP)
- UBC Clinical Assistant Professor, (2020 to present)
- UBC PGME Family Medicine Site Faculty of Curriculum (St. Paul's) (2021 to present)
- Chief of Staff, Creston Valley Hospital (2023)
- Organizing committee member for St. Paul’s Family Medicine Conference
- UBC UGME Faculty Development Family Practice lead
- Medical Director for Medical Staff Safety at Interior Health
- East Kootenay Shared Care Project, Mental Health and Substance Use physician co-lead
- Family Physician Lead at St. Paul’s Hospital Integrative Practice Unit, Carpal Tunnel + clinic (project now completed)
- Rural Coordination Centre of British Columbia (RCCbc) Parenting in Practice committee member (committee now inactive)
- Former Regional Planetary Health Table Committee member
My wife is a homemaker.
My brother is a family physician who works as the Medical Director for Long Term Care in Richmond, British Columbia. No financial interests that will be affecting my decisions.
