OUR PHYSICIANS
DR TOM RIMMER
Dr. Rimmer has practiced full service family medicine since arriving in the Cowichan Valley in 1998. After obtaining his Bachelor of Science at the University of Victoria, he completed medical studies at the University of British Columbia. His practice includes office-based family medicine, hospital care, nursing home visits, home visits where appropriate and more recently, virtual visits. He is a preceptor in the UBC Faculty of Medicine and enjoys teaching students and residents. He is a leader in the local medical community and a founding board member of the Cowichan Valley Division of Family Practice. He is currently involved in planning for the new hospital. He lives in Duncan with his wife and two children and enjoys gardening, sailing and motorcycling..
DR KATE MACDONALD
Dr. MacDonald is a full spectrum family physician that joined the Somenos Medical Clinic in 2018. She grew up in rural Alberta and moved to Vancouver Island to complete her Bachelor of Science degree at University of Victoria. She obtained her medical school degree through UBC Northern Medical Program. After completing her residency training in Chilliwack she moved to the Cowichan Valley in 2015. Her practice includes office-based family medicine, hospital care, nursing home visits and home visits. While not in the clinic she can be found chasing her two young kids. She enjoys painting and spending time in the outdoors with her family.
DR GEOFF FRIDERICHS
Dr. Friderichs is a full service family doctor who has an interest for shared informed decision making as well as care for the homeless and vulnerable populations. He completed medical school at UBC in 2016 and family medicine residency training in 2018 at the UBC Abbotsford site. He is the newest member to the Somenos team and started in 2020. He enjoys tea, fishing and above all being at home with his wife and two daughters.
OUR STAFF
LĪGA
Office Manager
Līga joined the Somenos team in April 2021. The previous 5 years she spent managing the day-to-day running of a health centre in Oxford, UK. She has more than 10 years of experience working in primary care. In her free time, Līga loves exploring the beautiful Vancouver Island.
MARCIE
MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT
Marcie has been working at the Somenos Medical Clinic since March 2005. She loves to share her humour with the team. Marcie was born and raised in the Cowichan Valley. She is an animal lover and outdoor enthusiast. She has one cat named Piper. Her favorite football team is the Seattle Seahawks. When she is not watching football, she is out hiking, golfing, curling, playing softball, or kayaking.
ANNE
MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT
Anne has been working at the Somenos Medical Clinic since January 2014. She was born and raised in Duncan. She is a cat lover and has two indoor cats, JoJo and Casia, and one outdoor cat, Edo. Anne spends her free time gardening, painting, and doing photography.
LORI
MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT
Lori joined the Somenos team in February 2022. She was born in Victoria and has spent most of her life on the Island. Lori currently lives in Lake Cowichan, together with her family and beloved rescue dog. She likes to spend her free time gardening and taking long walks.
OUR LEARNERS
We are proud to be part of the University of British Columbia teaching program.
Medical students are attached to our clinic for a year at a time, spending one day per week at the office and also working at the hospital.
Family practice residents, physicians who have completed medical school, spend two years with us in the final phase of their training. They are able to see patients and prescribe more independently than medical students and work with us for months at a time during their residency.