"Your Island, Your Health: Caring for Our Rural Community"

At Denman Island medical clinic our physicians are specialists in primary care and family medicine. Their knowledge spans the width of all medical specialities. They form the backbone of the medical system and journey with you from pregnancy to end of life. They work as a team with nurses, specialists and other health care professionals to ensure comprehensive care.

We are a dedicated primary healthcare team serving Denman Island, firmly rooted in the belief that well-being starts with strong partnerships between patients and their healthcare providers. Our mission is to offer readily available, timely, and empathetic healthcare. Our goal is to empower patients to actively participate in their health journey and leverage cutting-edge technology to meet the ever-evolving needs of our community. Furthermore, we are committed to actively engaging with our wider community through group medical sessions, workshops, and various other events.

Appointments are currently scheduled by phone or in person.  Our plan is that we will soon have an online booking platform as well.

Calls are answered Monday to Friday 0900-1700. Phone lines are extremely busy. Feel free to leave a message, we will return your call as soon as possible.

Dr. Jody Taylor MD

Jody has been a full scope GP for the past 9 years specializing in woman’s health and dermatology. Prior to medicine Jody worked as a nurse for many years.  Jody’s diverse background has given her great insights into patient care.  Jody is a casual person and often office sessions are conversations about health and wellness led by her patients as well as clinical exams and treatment. 

Outside of work Jody enjoys hiking with her dogs, swimming and vacationing with her family.

Scot Taylor, Office Manager

Scot is our behind the scenes office volunteer making sure bills and staff are paid as well as the office IT & EMR support. Scot acts as a liaison between the clinic, Island Health and our local Division of Family Practice.

Outside of helping out the clinic Scot has a full time career in the fields of design and programming and enjoys Snowboarding, Surfing & Mountain biking.

Nicola Simmons, MOA

Nicola moved to Denman Island in 2017. She has had a long and interesting career in healthcare both here and in the UK and joined the team at Denman Medical Clinic in March 2020. In her spare time she enjoys all kinds of fibre arts and trying to grow food. 

Heather Halvorson , MOA

Heather is a Denman Island local. Heather has been with the clinic since 2020. When Heather is not working at the clinic she enjoys travelling and scuba diving.

Eric Girard

Eric has been part of the Primary Care Network team since 2021, when he relocated to the Comox Valley from the Okanagan. He brings experience working at Vernon Jubilee Hospital in the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, and Medical/Surgical floors, as well as in the community at the Vernon Urgent and Primary Care Clinic. As one of the medical Social Workers with the PCN, Eric helps people navigate the healthcare and social systems, financial issues, housing, food security, planning for end of life, dealing with grief and loss, connecting people with community services, and supporting people through big life changes – among other things.

When not in clinic, Eric enjoys being out on The Strait of Georgia in his fishing boat with his wife and two children, and is grateful to live on the unceded territory of the Komoks First Nation.

Melanie Sharma

Mel just recently joined the Primary Care Network team in February 2024.  She has been a Registered Nurse for just over 15 years with a variety of roles in Island Health including nursing in perinatal, public health, forensic nursing, and communicable disease outreach as well as working in a nurse clinician/educator role.  Mel is from a small island off of northern Vancouver Island and has always really enjoyed building connections and providing nursing care in smaller communities.  When not at work, Mel is often found in her garage pottery studio losing track of time at the pottery wheel, wandering the garden in bare feet to see if anything new is growing, or finding an excuse to go for an ocean swim. 

Sadie Quintal, BSc (Pharm), RPh, CDE

Sadie graduated from UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2010 and spent the next four years of her career as a Pharmacy Officer for the Canadian Forces. Working in Island Health since 2015, her varied roles have included ward-based clinical assignments, academic detailing, and temporary Pharmacy Site Coordinator. She has participated in precepting pharmacy students and residents, and enjoys the process of knowledge translation. When she’s not working you might spot Sadie at a nearby climbing crag, enjoying the backcountry on foot or ski, or at the lake on a sunny day channeling her inner mermaid.

Carmen Bedard-Gautrais - Spectra Health

Carmen followed an interdisciplinary path to her medical studies 20 years ago. She combined coursework in the biomedical field during her pre-med undergrad in the US with the study of herbal medicine practices in Mexico, Europe and East Africa. 

The exposure to a variety of perspectives on health encouraged her to combine conventional medicine with ancient forms of healing. She a Doctorate of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Victoria, BC. Her final residency was in northern China at the Liaoning Teaching Hospital.

Carmen then completed a Masters of Physical Therapy at UBC as part of the Northern and Rural Cohort which included placements throughout the province in a wide variety of settings including neurological rehabilitation, Mary Pack arthritis centre, acute care, post-surgical units and private practice.

As a physiotherapist, Carmen has focused her practice on chronic pain, arthritis care as well as vestibular and concussion rehabilitation.

After a decade of working for Parksville Physiotherapy, Carmen has opened her private practice:Spectra Health,and has dedicated her time to establishing a multi-disciplinary rehab and wellness practice on Denman and Hornby Islands