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Physician Peer Support
When challenges arise, talking with a peer can make all the difference
The Peer Support Program offers a safe, confidential space for physicians to share difficult experiences and receive understanding from trained peers. These 1:1 conversations promote wellbeing, connection, and resilience within the medical community.
Introduction
Physicians face unique challenges. Physicians experience stress, vulnerability and fear as normal emotional responses to painful experiences such as patient complaints, adverse events, workplace conflict and other difficulties.
Physicians can benefit from sharing their challenging experiences with peers who may have experienced similar situations and can truly understand. Support from colleagues can have a positive impact on wellbeing and workplace experiences.
The Peer Support Initiative offers confidential, non-clinical, support to physician colleagues by physician Peer Supporters in a 1:1 setting.
Our Peer Supporters have undergone training by Dr. Jo Shapiro (Associate Professor with Harvard Medical School and founder of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Centre for Professionalism and Peer Support) and the BC Physician Health Program.
How to access support
Call 1-866-PHY-PEER (1-866-749-7337) to make a request for peer support for yourself or for a colleague.
Once you’ve reached out, a Peer Supporter will connect with you or your colleague within 2-3 days to schedule a conversation.
If you are requesting peer support for a colleague, reach out to them first and seek their consent to pass their name and contact information over to our Peer Support Initiative.
Reasons for seeking peer support may include: dealing with a patient/college complaint, workplace interpersonal conflict or adverse clinical event, managing work-life balance, burnout/moral injury, experiences of discrimination in the workplace, or any other situation where you feel it would be helpful.
Peer Support Team
Aïsha Manji, MD, CCFP
Hello, my name is Aïsha Manji. I’m a family physician, Clinical Instructor with the UBC Department of Family Practice, and part of the Division of Family Medicine at Vernon Jubilee Hospital.
I was born and raised in Terrace, BC, and I’m proud to now call Vernon home. I come from a multicultural background with South Asian and Scottish heritage. I’m also a daughter, the oldest of four sisters, wife to Nicholas (a local OB/GYN), and mother to three amazing young girls.
Over the course of my training and practice, I’ve had the privilege to work in various rural and First Nations communities on their traditional territories. These experiences have deeply shaped my approach to care and continue to inspire my work. I currently maintain a private family practice where I care for multigenerational families, providing comprehensive care across the lifespan—from newborns to elders.
I also work on OKIB territory and continue to assist in surgical procedures. My clinical interests include women’s health, maternal-child health, adolescent care, sexual health, and mental wellness.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy dancing, knitting, and spending time in nature—hiking and camping with my family.
I’m looking forward to connecting with colleagues to build a supportive and resilient community as we navigate both the challenges and the joys of our profession together.
