Dr Susan Amundsen
I grew up in a small town in southern Alberta as the oldest of three children. In 1994 I moved to Edmonton and started my studies at the University of Alberta. In 2004 my husband and I left the cold winters of Edmonton and moved to Victoria to complete my Family Medicine Residency. Obstetrics and women’s medicine have always been an interest and passion of mine. It is an absolute pleasure to have it as part of my practice since graduating. When I’m not working I keep busy cycling, running, playing violin, paper crafting and running after two young boys.
Dr Christabelle Hirschfield
I grew up around the orchards of the Okanagan and completed most of my medical training through UBC in our province’s interior, including Kelowna, Kamloops, and Prince George. After exploring the province with my husband, we ended up back in his hometown of Victoria. We spend a lot of time at my in-law’s hobby farm in rural Saanich and exploring the trails in our neighbourhood. I am excited for our growing family to call this beautiful part of the world home.
I believe that pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum are a special time in a person’s life and family journey, and they deserve to be treated with appropriate care and respect. I feel very honored to practice maternity care and comprehensive family medicine, especially alongside this group of physicians. You truly are in good hands with our whole team at Victoria General Hospital.
Dr Leah Hutchinson
I was born and raised in BC’s interior before initially moving to Victoria for university. After living in San Francisco for a few years then completing medical school and residency in Toronto, I couldn’t wait to move back to Victoria to settle down with my family.
I am passionate about women’s health and completed extra training after residency in obstetrics. Every family I work with is unique and every birth special. My practice partner, Dr. Christabelle Hirschfield, and I feel privileged to get to know our prenatal and general family practice patients and I am so fortunate to work alongside this group of dedicated physicians.
When I’m not at work, my two young kids, husband and extended family keep me busy exploring the outdoors, enjoying yummy food, and laughing.
Dr Jennifer Kondra
After growing up on the mountains of North Vancouver, I moved east to complete my Bachelor of Science in Cell Biology at McGill University. Subsequently, I completed my Masters in Kinesiology at SFU and worked in research until starting medical school at UBC. I graduated in 2012 and moved my family to Victoria for my Family Practice Residency. We love this city and now consider it home.
I had the pleasure of learning from the experienced doctors at our clinic which is now Birch Family Medicine. I joined the clinic in 2018 and do general family practice with obstetrics. I love the diverse population of patients that the general practice mixed with maternity provides. Helping care for couples as they expand their family is a special privilege. We get to see a more intimate side of our patients as their lives change with the addition of a new baby. And, who can resist those fresh babies with their bright inquisitive eyes and tiny toes!
Apparently not me! My husband and I have 4 wonderful children to share our lives with. We have so much fun introducing them to the things we enjoy like running, hiking, rock climbing, other outdoor pursuits, and music.
Dr Stephanie Mancini
I was born in Michigan and moved to Vancouver as a young child with my family. I completed my BSc in Cell Biology & Genetics in 2005 and my MSc in Cell & Developmental Biology with a focus on Metastatic Breast Cancer in 2008. I then moved to Ireland to complete my medical school at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland in Dublin in 2013. I completed my 2 years of Family Practice Residency with the University of Saskatchewan in Regina and started my first practice in Rural SK in 2015. I have always included full spectrum general practice with maternity & women’s health care as a passion of mine. In 2018, my husband was offered an amazing job that had us moving to Victoria and we are thrilled to make our life here. I am blessed to have two beautiful daughters born in November 2018 and April 2022.
I am grateful to Dr Nancy McLeod who invited me to take over her practice when she retired in January 2022. I am now working at the Birch Family Medicine Clinic after working as a locum with many of my wonderful maternity colleagues for the last few years, and nearly 2 years working at the James Bay UPCC.
Dr Amanda Wang
I grew up in Vancouver, and studied biochemistry and medicine at UBC. I moved to Victoria in 2017 for my family medicine training, and stayed for the Island lifestyle. After residency, I continued practice in both urban and rural clinical, obstetrical, hospital, and emergency medicine settings. I took over the practice of a retiring physician mentor in 2023. I enjoy forming a relationship with all my patients, and strive to deliver empathetic and evidence-based care. Sharing the pregnancy, labour, delivery, and post-partum journey with families is a cherished part of my practice.
Outside of work, I can usually be found rock-climbing, hiking, skiing or playing ultimate frisbee.