Family Physician
Dr. Mark Sanders is a fifth-generation white settler living and working on the traditional and unceded territories of the Cowichan Nations in The Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, BC.
Mark did his medical school and family medicine residency training at the University of Saskatchewan and has practiced as a longitudinal Family Physician in Manitoba, Nunavut and British Columbia for the last 29 years. Mark has worked with numerous collaborative health care teams involving patient advocates, nurse practitioners in the remote north, registered nurses, pharmacists, social workers, administrative staff and other physicians.
He appreciates the value of working to top of scope in a team to achieve the best possible patient outcomes and provider satisfaction. Mark has a passion for primary care and sees great opportunity for growth and innovative solutions in the middle of what is being called a health care crisis across Canada. Mark wants to offer to the next generation of care providers the option of a more team-based care model which provides an affordable expanded service for patients alongside a strong focus on self-care and workforce sustainability with joy in work.
Mark has experience as a GP Division and Hospice board member. He sat on a community task force that was instrumental in bringing a state-of-the-art hospice house to the Cowichan Valley. He has studied Physician Quality Improvement and looked at ways to improve Joy in Work for Family Physicians.
He is a founding board member of the Cowichan Valley Primary Care Society which has looked at ways to partner with community to improve health care in our region.
Finally, Mark is currently the Behaviour Medicine faculty for the UBC Quw’utsun Family Practice residency program. Outside of medicine Mark enjoys cycling, boating, fishing, gardening, hiking, adventuring, connecting with others and just being.
Family Physician
Dr. Kirsten Yip is a fourth-generation settler of Vancouver (Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations’ territory) where she was born at Grace Hospital (now BC Women’s Hospital) and raised in North Delta. After completing her residency at the UBC St. Paul’s site, she moved to the Cowichan Valley (Quw’utsun territory) in 2019 and worked in Mill Bay for 3 years before moving to practice in Duncan.
She has been a UBC Clinical Preceptor since 2020, teaching med students as part of the ICC clerkship as well as Family Medicine electives. Since 2023, she has also been the co-site director for the UBC Quw’utsun Family Practice Residency Site. Learners are a regular part of her practice.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Yip enjoys staying fit through hiking, cycling, skipping, and weight-based training. She is an avid Canucks fan (sink or swim – and there’s been a lot of sinking). Bruins fans are encouraged to keep their allegiances to themselves. A big fan of music (playing and listening), if Dr. Yip is off on a random Tuesday, it’s likely because she’s gone to Vancouver to see an Indie rock artist in concert.
She is happily single, childless, sleeping remarkably well (purely coincidental I’m sure), and doting aunt and godmother to the best kiddos in the world.
Pediatrician
Dr. Zinkiew hails from Saskatchewan and moved to Vancouver Island after completion of her medical and specialty training in order to be near family, mountains, and the ocean.
She has developed a specialized interest in ADHD, serving on the CADDRA Board and Advisory Board, in addition to her love of general Pediatric medicine. An avid skier and lover of racquet sports, she also enjoys reading and making music. She remains a die-hard Saskatchewan Roughrider fan.
MD, FRCPC (Internal Medicine, Respirology and Critical Care), DipABLM
Consultant physician in Sleep Disorders
Facilitator, Mindfulness Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia Groups https://mbtigroups.com/
I am a settler of Dutch, Scottish, Irish, and German ancestry. I am both privileged and humbled to live and work as an uninvited guest and caretaker on land stolen from the Quw’utsun people. I am deeply grateful for the teachings I receive from this land and its people.
I work as a consultant in sleep disorders, with a background as a specialist in internal medicine, respirology, and critical care. I am a Diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and have completed training in psychedelic-assisted therapy through Vancouver Island University and Therapsil. I am currently training to become a certified meditation and mindfulness teacher.
I am engaged in compassionate leadership as taught by Heather and Shawn Atleo.
Outside of work, I also find joy in being in nature, hiking, biking, running, reading, cooking and serving vegan food, and spending time with beloved friends and family.
Licenced Practical Nurse
Kirsten, originally from the Northwest Territories, embarked on a journey that led her to settle in the picturesque landscapes of British Columbia. Her story began in Sooke in 1991, where she was raised by her parents until she was 12 and further relocated to the tranquil community of Youbou in 2001. Today, Kirsten calls the serene Cowichan Valley home, where she finds solace amidst the beauty of nature.
Kirsten embarked on her professional journey initially working as a care aide and entered this field immediately after completing her high school education. Eager to expand her skill set and deepen her knowledge of healthcare, she pursued further education and obtained her Licensed Practical Nursing credential.
Since then, Kirsten has navigated a diverse range of healthcare settings, enriching her career with invaluable experiences in pediatrics, sleep medicine, and long-term care. Her journey reflects her unwavering commitment to providing compassionate and high-quality patient care across various healthcare domains.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Kirsten finds joy and fulfillment in the simple pleasures of life, particularly when spent outdoors with her husband, daughter and 4 little dogs. Together, they embark on thrilling adventures in motorsports and find tranquility in camping excursions.
Kirsten’s commitment to balancing her professional pursuits with her passion for outdoor exploration reflects her holistic approach to life. With her keen sense of adventure and dedication to creating cherished memories with her daughter, Kirsten brings a refreshing perspective and unwavering enthusiasm to all aspects of her life.
Clinical Counsellor
Sarah gratefully lives on the Traditional and Unceded territory of the Quw’utsun’ Peoples. She has been working in the field of somatic and trauma therapy for the past twenty years. “Connection is Medicine” – and that is what the heart of this community is about – authentic, heartfelt, spiritual connection.
Sarah brings an interest in embodiment, a practice of paying mindful attention to the wisdom of the body, and an attunement to the energetic and emotional patterns in our bodies as a way to tap into the inner healing intelligence within each of us. Her approach as a therapist is deeply grounded in Somatic Transformation and has more recently been influenced by the emerging field of psychedelics for working with trauma and end-of-life care, and the energy medicines of Therapeutic Touch, QiGong and Conscious Connected Breathwork.
Cowichan Primary Care Network Social Worker
Samy is a highly dedicated and experienced social worker, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the United Kingdom and a Master of Science in Mobile and Distributed Computer Networking. Her unique academic background combines a deep understanding of human services with technical expertise, allowing her to address clients’ needs with a well-rounded, innovative approach. Driven by a strong commitment to making a meaningful difference, Samy consistently advocates for the well-being and rights of her clients. She has developed extensive experience in supporting individuals through the complexities of social systems, ensuring they access the resources and services they need. Samy’s client-centered approach is rooted in compassion, empathy, and respect for each individual’s circumstances. She tailors her support to meet the unique needs of each person, offering informed guidance and practical solutions that empower clients to overcome barriers and achieve greater well-being. Whether assisting with navigating social services, advocating for access to benefits, or providing counselling and care planning, Samy strives to make a lasting and positive impact in the lives of those she serves.
Lead Medical Office Assistant
Jessica has worked as a Medical Office Assistant since 2008 both in specialist and primary care settings. She has found through her years working in the medical field, incredible fulfillment in assisting and supporting patient care. She believes that through mindfulness, kindness, compassion, and community we can help ease patient’s worries, and help them be comfortable, and happy during some of their worst times or their last days.
Jessica is committed to aiding her patients through their unique struggles and doing her best to make everyone feel cared for, safe, and respected.
In her personal life she enjoys experiencing the incredible beauty of Vancouver Island with her loving husband, and 3 beautiful children. She has weaved herself into the community of the Cowichan Valley, volunteering for sports events, keeping involved in her children’s extracurriculars, and spending time learning about the unique culture of this beautiful land we are lucky enough to call home.
Jessica believes in learning and respecting the local First Nations culture and traditions, believing strongly that understanding and respecting this culture and their traditions is incredibly important to aid in forming an even stronger Cowichan Valley.
Medical Office Assistant
Danielle is a medical office assistant with Cowichan Collaborative Health who has been working in the healthcare field for over 15 years. Her passion is being able to help others and contribute to her community. She was born and raised in the beautiful Cowichan Valley.
She moved to Vancouver where she pursued her health care career working in long-term care as well as pursuing her passion in professional hair styling.
Danielle is overjoyed to be back living in the Cowichan valley while raising her 2 children and being a part the Cowichan Collaborative Health Care team!
Medical Office Assistant
Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Kate truly is an island woman! When she’s not applying her background in nursing, yoga instructing, community services, counselling, social programs, and training as an end-of-life doula to support patients in the office, you’ll find her outside, connecting with nature.
Whether it’s in the garden, on trails, splashing in the river, or dipping in the ocean, she’s often got her dog, Murphy, by her side. Kate strives to be in reciprocity with the land when harvesting plants and fungi for use in herbal remedies and delicious food, something she loves to share with her family, especially when they head out on backpacking adventures.
Patient Partner
A contented, retired resident of Maple Bay in the beautiful Cowichan Valley.
Ed retired from a career as an independent consultant in the field of international development. His work took him to Southern and Eastern Africa, Southeast Asia and throughout the Eastern Caribbean. He worked on contracts with the Canadian International Development Agency, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the International Labour Organization, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Development Program.
During his career he worked on the development of regional or national organizations to: address issues in Foreign Reserve and Debit Management; link national and regional human resource requirements with offering in local and international vocational and post-secondary institutions; link universities and forest research institutions in twenty-three countries to foster research into the preservation of indigenous forests; and build the capacity of sector associations to support the increase of exports by the sector’s small and medium sized businesses.
His last two major project were to develop and test a model, in China, Bangladesh and India, designed to enhance the creation of green jobs within the value-chains of selected national industries and to assist the Government of the Philippines to adopt and implement an e-governance model, including the introduction of electronic voting in National Elections.
Since retiring Ed has been able to happily increase the time spent working on and sailing his boat. When not sailing, he often travels, as a tourist, to many of the countries he formerly worked in. His most recent passion has been to become involved, as a patient partner, in Cowichan Collaborative Health.
Patient Partner
Norm has an MSW dating back to 1971. He worked with federal prison inmates for a few years before joining the mental health team at an Ontario general hospital, where he counselled many individuals with a host of different problems until he retired in 1999. Since moving to Maple Bay in 2001, he has engaged in several building projects and has called his small business “Norm’s Reno’s”.
He has ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, with a fourth on the way!
He enjoys working with his hands, hiking, skiing and exercise classes. He and his wife, Cheryl, continue to live in Maple Bay.
Copyright 2025 © All Right Reserved
