"Who works in northern B.C.?" Identifying personal characteristics and experiences shared by long-term health professionals in northern British Columbia.

With new health sciences programs designed to serve northern British Columbia (B.C.), student recruitment will focus on applicants who are likely to remain in northern B.C. long-term. The primary objective of this project was to identify personal characteristics and experiences shared by health care professionals who have worked in northern B.C. long-term to potentially create a northern suitability component for health education program selection criteria. Six speech-language pathologists, 4 psychologists, 4 occupational therapists, 8 social workers, and 4 physiotherapists were interviewed in northern B.C. A qualitative descriptive design was used to identify influences in choosing rural or northern training, initiating practice in northern B.C., and remaining in the region. The findings suggest personal characteristics and experiences, along with age and stage of life, rural background, and location of family influence values about family, career, personal preferences, and community. Personal values determine the decision to come and/or stay in northern B.C.--P.ii.