Thank you to Khalil for answering our questions!

1. What do you like best about your site? Vancouver. Is. Incredible. The huge benefit of having your program in a city centre is that you’re a hop skip and a jump away from all Vancouver has to offer. Whether that be a morning bike ride on the seawall before histology, a night ski on a local mountain after class or even a wander through Gastown with friends, the diversity in Vancouver is unparalleled. Being in Vancouver offers an enormous amount of freedom. Vancouver’s extensive bus and Skytrain system makes easy to get around even if you don’t have a car. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an outdoorsman, foodie or coffee connoisseur, we’ve got you covered. And since VFMP has the largest class size of all the sites, there’ll always be someone to come with you on the many adventures you’re sure to have.
2. What makes your site unique or special? If the nine beaches, three local mountain resorts, 230 parks and incredible downtown core weren’t enough to sell you, then yes there is more:
   – At the VFMP we’re fortunate to have access to the amazing Medical Student Alumni Centre, just a 5-minute walk away from the Diamond Centre at VGH. The MSAC is open 24/7 and boasts a free gym and numerous multipurpose rooms that are all equipped with videoconference technology. Unsurprisingly, this makes MSAC the heart and hub of over 50 clubs, organizations and interest groups within the Faculty of Medicine. From Bhangra and Hip-Hop to Political Advocacy and Meditation, there is literally something for everyone.
   – Another advantage of being at the VFMP is being able to access all of the AMS facilities at UBC and participate in AMS clubs and events. Events like Storm the Wall and Day of the Longboat are always crowd-pleasers and participation in Intramurals is a must (Go Herniated Discs!).
3. What are some challenges associated with life at your site? Since VFMP is a larger program, it can be a bit more difficult trying to meet everyone in your program. The distributed sites definitely have more of a cozier feel to them. On the bright side, there is always someone new to get to know! Since we have a larger site, there are more places available for students to go for family practice or clinical skills. This is a bit of a double-edged sword, because although it allows for a diversity of clinical experiences, there have certainly been times where I’ve been making the mad dash from a morning Family Practice session in Surrey to catch the anatomy lab at UBC in the afternoon (Dr. Doroudi makes it worth it).
4. What kind of person would really like living and studying at your site? Someone who is adaptable and likes a fast-paced life style. You’ll likely never be in the same small group session with the same people more than once and your placements could be anywhere across Metro-Vancouver. In a nutshell, if you love the hustle and bustle of living in a big city, Vancouver is the place for you.
5. Is there anything else you would like to add? No matter what site you pick, you’re going to have an amazing time! There are no wrong choices (except for not picking VFMP)! Every site is unique and filled with wonderful people

Thank you to Riley for sharing his thoughts about life at IMP!

1. What do you like best about your site? The medical student community here on the island has always encouraged me to maintain a balance of work with self-care. This balance will be tremendously important during our careers, and something that I feel is necessary to establish. I have felt very supported by the faculty, fellow students, and the natural and peaceful environment conducive to learning, here in Victoria. On top of that, a smaller class size is more conducive for my learning style, and it really proves valuable during small group clinical skills sessions with tutors. Finally, you will find that the medical community is well-established here. Physicians are very willing to connect with students and offer mentorship, which has been fantastic for my professional and personal development.
2. What makes your site unique or special? The Island Program is uniquely able to offer a small-group style of learning, with a tight-knit, friendly community, while still providing sufficient opportunities in many areas of medicine. I have not felt restricted in regards to participation in extracurricular activities and clubs, shadowing opportunities, and exposure to specialties in which I am interested. When deciding on a site, one should really take a trip out to Victoria – the surrounding nature, beaches, and mountains speak for themselves!
3. What are some challenges associated with life at your site? It’s hard to me to think of any at this point, near the end of my second year – I hope that is saying something! The transit system in Victoria can often be unpredictable and infrequent. However, most students live within a 15-minute drive to the school, and a large proportion of the students bike to class or sessions at the school or the hospitals. The transit system may be something to consider during clerkship, or family practice shadowing sessions in areas further outside of Victoria.
4. What kind of person would really like living and studying at your site? A person who can thrive in a smaller learning group setting (often 2-4 students per preceptor) should consider the distributed sites. Some may find that the smaller group size can be intimidating in some sessions, but has forced me to demonstrate my knowledge more often and develop my learning. The majority of students in this site frequently enjoy an active lifestyle. Lunchtime runs to Mt. Tolmie and Cadboro Bay (in between lectures), weekend camping and hiking trips, yoga sessions, multiple intramurals, and many more activities have been pastimes of students in the Island Medical Program. Some students have even gone surfing in Jordan River during the week!
5. Is there anything else you would like to add? We are excited to welcome future students to the Island! You won’t regret it!

Thank you to Mike, Hannah and Drew for responding to our questions!

Mike says:

1. What do you like best about your site? Kelowna itself is a beautiful city with all you need for living, shopping, and things to do. Downtown is right on Okanagan Lake, but in an hour’s drive you can be up at Big White for a day of skiing or snowboarding. Having said that, my favourite part about the Southern Medical Program has to be the small class size of 32. It makes for a really supportive environment when you know each one of your classmates by name and they all know you. With this smaller group, it’s possible to have social events where the whole class of 32 is invited, but you also build relationships with your classmates through small group work because 32 people can only be split so many different ways. This is great for finding people you work well with and can study with as you move forward.
2. What makes your site unique or special? We’re the newest site which means we have beautiful new facilities to work out of, both on campus at UBCO and by the hospital at the Clinical Academic Campus. We also have a really positive team of faculty and staff that support us along the way and go out of their way to get to know us personally. The building that we have classes in at UBCO contains almost exclusively SMP faculty, staff, and students. This makes for a really positive environment that’s conducive to everyone knowing each other and feeling at home.
3. What are some challenges associated with life at your site? The first year is a whirlwind as we do our first semester in Vancouver and then move up to Kelowna in the winter. It’s a challenge to find a place to live for only 4 months in Vancouver and it’s a challenge to organize finding a new place to live in Kelowna as you adjust to your first semester of medical school. However, the second year students can be really helpful in providing some direction as you navigate these moves. Further to that, we go back and forth between UBCO and the Clinical Academic Campus by the hospital and may also travel as far as Vernon for clinical experience at family practice offices. These are some of the most interesting learning experiences we have, but it is quite difficult to get yourself where you need to be if you don’t have a car accessible to you.
4. What kind of person would really like living and studying at your site? I’ve emphasized some of what Kelowna has to offer with respect to outdoor activities, but it’s a big enough city that there is something for everyone. We’ve had large groups go out to do activities ranging from painting nights and wine tasting to salsa dancing and axe throwing (not at the same time)! I think the kind of person that would really enjoying being a Southern Medical Program student would be someone who really values knowing the people who are studying alongside them as well as the faculty and staff that are supporting them along the way. Many students have expressed that they feel less stressed learning in this environment, despite a curriculum that is identical between sites.
5. Is there anything else you would like to add? I am not originally from the Interior, but I haven’t second-guessed my choice to move to Kelowna once. I could have chosen to stay closer to my family and friends, but I’ve found that medical school takes up the majority of my time regardless. It’s been exciting to explore a new city and it wasn’t hard to make a great group of friends within my class who are all going through what I’m going through.

Hannah says:

1. What do you like best about your site? I like the small student to preceptor ratio and the ample opportunities for hands on learning. I enjoy that I know each physician and staff member personally.
2. What makes your site unique or special? Often it is just you on a rotation which means for many patient encounters and procedures you are the first assist. Additionally, many of the physicians moved here to achieve a balanced lifestyle and thus encourage students to pursue hobbies and activities outside of medicine that will allow you to be healthier and happier mentally and physically.
3. What are some challenges associated with life at your site? The lack of residents can make it challenging to “figure out” each rotation. Residents and senior students are valuable for helping navigate clerkship and for teaching. Also, we do not have exposure to all specialties which can make it difficult for those interested in pursuing certain career paths.
4. What kind of person would really like living and studying at your site? A mature, enthusiastic, ambitious student who appreciates and enjoys new experiences and learns from stepping outside their comfort zone at times.
5. Is there anything else you would like to add? I believe at SMP we are extremely fortunate as students for our staff and physicians really go above and beyond to provide us with the best education and training in the country. With the addition that you are not a number, you are known and valued as an individual, which becomes invaluable when inevitably “life happens” and you have the support you need.

Drew says:

1. What do you like best about your site? The best thing about the Southern Medical Program is the passionate faculty and staff that we have here. The preceptors that we have give the students a lot of autonomy on the wards which makes for a fantastic learning experience during our clerkship year.
2. What makes your site unique or special?
   – Kelowna’s hospital is a 5 minute walk from Lake Okanagan, 45 minute drive to Big White Mountain.
   – The SMP is a site where you get to know your colleagues as well as the faculty and staff very well.
   – Few learners (residents and fellow clerks) in the hospital meaning you get involved in lots of interesting cases, and get to take on a lot more responsibility during clerkship.
3. What are some challenges associated with life at your site? First 2 years are spent at UBCO, which is 20 minutes away from downtown. The drive can get tedious but it is a good chance to get to know your classmates through carpooling, listening to medical podcasts, or you can ditch the car and commute by bike which a lot of students do as a group!
4. What kind of person would really like living and studying at your site? If you are outgoing and adventurous, the Okanagan is going to be a perfect place for you. There is so much outdoors to explore that there will be something for everybody to get involved in. If outdoors isn’t for you, we have a lot of arts and culture as well. Tons of music, art, comedy and festivals of all kinds throughout the year. There is certainly something for everybody in Kelowna to take your mind off of medicine for a while.
5. Is there anything else you would like to add? We a close knit group here at the SMP, and we look forward to welcoming you into the family!

Site Preference forms are due soon and some applicants may still be struggling with their site preference rankings. Other applicants have a pretty good idea of where they would like to go, but may be curious about what it would be like to live and study at a site other than their first preference. Luckily, our lovely medical students have stepped in to answer a few questions about life at each of the sites. Keep reading for a med student perspective on student life at VFMP, IMP, NMP and SMP.

We’ll start with NMP. Thank you to Adrienne and Jarad for giving us a peek into NMP life!

Adrienne says:

1. What do you like best about your site? The medical community here is small and you get lots of great opportunities such as research (I had a great experience with radiation oncology at our cancer centre), rural weekend shadowing in small rural communities, as well as simply getting to know many physicians, making clerkship less intimidating as there are many familiar faces. We have some great physicians up here who love to teach and it’s easy to find mentorship if you want it. Community members are also very welcoming to us!
2. What makes your site unique or special? Lifestyle. Being a med student is not easy and being able to afford comfortable accommodations and gain extra time in the day (by eliminating a commute) makes life a lot less stressful. I have a 5 minute commute to the University, 5 minute commute to the hospital, and am 8 minutes to the mountain bike and ski trails! Not to mention the university backs onto a beautiful forest – and lunch hour snowshoeing is an NMP activity. I don’t think any other site offers this. This is all especially key during your clerkship when you are incredibly busy and sleep deprived.
3. What are some challenges associated with life at your site? There really aren’t many challenges… but one day I had to wait a while before I could go home because there was a moose in the parking lot near my car.
4. What kind of person would really like living and studying at your site? People who like the outdoors and nature. People who dislike long commutes.
5. Is there anything else you would like to add? After my interview I changed my site preference to Prince George and don’t regret it. It’s a great community to live and study in.

Jarad says:

1. What do you like best about your site? I enjoy the maturity of the class, I enjoy the wilderness around Prince George. When you go out to the woods, there is just so much space that you are going to be the only one there.
2. What makes your site unique or special? Each site has their unique opportunities. More than anything is the involvement and by in from the medical community and the community at large. I have been thanked for being a medical student up at the NMP more times than I can count, at the grocery store, helping someone out on the highway, at city hall…
3. What are some challenges associated with life at your site? Shadowing opportunities are at times limited because all the physicians are already SO involved we try not to burn them out.
4. What kind of person would really like living and studying at your site? PG is a city and has all the amenities you could ever ask for, but it’s not the big apple. Someone who enjoys community, likes being in some true wilderness and may be looking for a place to set down some roots will thrive here.
5. Is there anything else you would like to add? No, that’s all.

The following is a message from the organizers of the 2017 Pre-Medical Diversity Symposium (click poster to enlarge):

Are you interested in a career in medicine, but don’t fit the traditional premed mold? Are you curious or confused about the road to applying to medical school? Do you want to hear from medical students who also come from diverse backgrounds?

Then this symposium is for you!

The UBC Faculty of Medicine invites people of all walks of life to apply to medical school. The Premedical Diversity Symposium is designed to support applicants who identify as “non-traditional” for reasons such as a difficult financial or family background, a non-science degree, indigenous ancestry, rural origin, parenthood, or applying later in life.

Schedule 

March 4th, 2017, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm

Registration and breakfast opens at 9:00 am
Symposium programming from 10 am-3:30 pm

This full day event will feature sessions on:
– The importance of diversity in medicine
– Student stories from current non-traditional medical students
– Q&A breakout sessions in small groups with a medical student
– A brief overview of the UBC medical school admissions process
– How to finance your way through medical school

Light breakfast and lunch will be provided!

Please RSVP at http://bit.ly/2kTtH92

More information can be found on our Facebook event page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/244966189279635/

Where does this event take place?

This event takes place in Vancouver and will be video-conferenced to to Kelowna, Victoria, and Prince George. You may attend this event at any of the following sites:

Vancouver:
Medical Student Alumni Centre (MSAC)
2750 Heather St, Vancouver, BC

Kelowna:
Room 148, Reichwald Health Sciences Centre
1088 Discovery Ave, Kelowna, BC

Victoria:
Room 246, Royal Jubilee Hospital Coronation Annex
2221-2357 Richmond Rd, Victoria, BC

Prince George:
Room 9-370, Dr. Donald Rix Northern Health Sciences Centre
3333 University Way, Prince George, BC

Questions?

Contact us at premed.diversity@gmail.com

Thank you and we hope to see you there!

Fourth-year medical student Katherine Lam celebrates after learning that she will be headed to Victoria this summer to join UBC’s Family Medicine residency program.

Among a room full of fourth-year UBC medical students, Katherine Lam smiles as she pulls a white T-shirt from the pile and reaches for a marker on the table.

In block letters, she writes “FAM,” and underneath “Victoria.”

“I matched to UBC’s Family Medicine program in Victoria,” she says. “I’m really excited because it’s a fantastic program with a lot of residents and I am looking forward to being a part of the community, as well as making a positive and direct impact on peoples’ lives.”

On March 1, Lam joined hundreds of other UBC medical students to celebrate the results of the first round of the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS), which matches MD students with postgraduate training programs across the country.

This year, nearly half (47 per cent) of UBC MD students will be joining Family Medicine residency programs here in B.C. and across Canada. Overall, a large number (95 per cent) of students matched to postgraduate training programs in the first round.

Roger Wong, Executive Associate Dean, Education, says this year’s results are a reflection of all the hard work by students, faculty and staff.

UBC medical students celebrate the results of CaRMS 2017 at the Medical Student Alumni Centre in Vancouver.

“I am very encouraged by today’s results — they are a strong demonstration of just how hard our students have worked over the course of medical school, as well as the deep commitment amongst our faculty and staff who have helped to prepare our learners for the next stage of their journey as residents,” says Dr. Wong.

This year, UBC’s postgraduate medical education programs accepted a record number of entry-level residents, with 98 per cent of the 346 positions filled in the first round — a testament to the strength of residency training at UBC.

Family Medicine accounted for the largest number (nearly half) of entry-level residency positions, with all 170 positions fully matched in the first round.

Over the past decade, the growth of UBC’s Family Medicine Residency Program — which is now the largest in Canada — has greatly increased the number of training opportunities across B.C., including in rural and remote communities. Last summer, a new Family Medicine residency site launched in the South Okanagan, becoming the 19th Family Medicine training site in B.C.

“I’m looking forward to welcoming all the doctors who have matched to UBC’s residency training programs, which are centered in communities based across the province and offer an opportunity for residents to build strong ties and connections on their path to independent practice,” says Dr. Ravi Sidhu, Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education.

The next chapter

Here, a selection of fourth-year UBC medical students share more on what attracted them to medicine, their CaRMS match result and what they look forward to most in the next chapter of their professional journey.

A second round of the CaRMS match for the remaining unfilled residency positions will be held in April.

The Faculty of Medicine’s Office of Student Affairs offers a number of resources and services for students entering the second match, including one-on-one meetings, as well as mentorship opportunities with residents and connections to counselling support services.

Are you a prospective or future applicant who lives in the Prince George area? If so, please check out the poster on the left for details about an upcoming info session at UNBC (click to enlarge). The Associate Dean of Admissions and MD Admissions staff will be available to answer questions and provide information about the program. We hope to see you there!

In addition to Prince George, information sessions are held in Kelowna, Victoria, and Vancouver. Please visit our Information Sessions page for upcoming Vancouver dates and links to dates in other cities.

BeLeaf prototype

It may not look like much, just yet.

“It’s a prototype,” says Ben Guidolin, examining the light, perched slightly askew on top of a cardboard box, secured around the edges with duct tape.

But give it time, and this rudimentary model has the potential to become a new support tool for millions of Canadians who will face depression over the course of their lifetime.

“Depression affects so many people — some directly, and many more indirectly,” says Guidolin, a second-year UBC medical student and one of nearly 100 participants at Hatching Health, a weekend-long competition that brings together students and professionals from a wide range of disciplines to find real-world solutions to some of today’s most pressing healthcare challenges.

Over the course of the two-day event, Guidolin and his team — which included UBC students from the School of Social Work and the Mechanical Engineering Program, as well as Emily Carr students, and professionals in the field of design and chemical engineering — worked around the clock to create a new tool that would encourage those living with depression to regularly assess their emotional health, while fostering deeper connections with family or friends.

Their proposed product, known as BeLeaf, would come complete with two devices designed to resemble houseplants. Each synthetic plant — one for the individual living with depression, the other for their supporter — would be connected to a series of lights and a mobile app, which would serve as a self-assessment and support tool for users. As new data is entered into the app, the colour of the light emitted from each synthetic plant would automatically change, signaling the individual’s current state of mental health.

Team BeLeaf.
From left to right: Matthew Miller (MA Applied Communication), Ben Guidolin (B.Sc, Medical Student), Lily Wong (B. Social Work), Celine Hong (B.Des Industrial Design), Cindy Nachareun (B.Des Industrial Design), Jodie Hon (B.Eng Chemical/Biological) and Jack Dundas (B.Eng Mechatronics).

“We recognized pretty early on that it was important for us to not only create a mobile app, but to have a physical product that would enable people living with depression to express themselves and communicate with those who are special in their lives. Sometimes the hardest thing is starting the conversation,” says Guidolin.

The team’s proposed solution and prototype not only caught the attention of the panel of judges, but ultimately secured them one of the top prizes at the second annual event.

“It’s still early days, but I’m hopeful that we’ll see this product make a difference for people living with depression,” says Guidolin.

Ultimately, the team landed on the concept of a plant for the design, helping to draw the connection that mental health, like a plant, requires constant nurturing.

“It’s something you always have to be working on,” says Guidolin.

As one of two teams awarded this year’s top honour (the Pacific Health Innovation eXchange Grand Prize), the BeLeaf crew will now be looking to take their idea one step further — starting with a series of consultations with mentors through UBC’s Lean LaunchPad Accelerator Program.

Crossing disciplines brings new perspectives

While Guidolin can’t deny that being recognized as one of the top teams at this year’s competition is exciting, he says the true value of the weekend-long event is the opportunity to gain a new perspective by working across disciplines

“The challenges we face in healthcare can’t be solved just within the healthcare field — you have to look beyond, and take a collaborative approach,” says Guidolin. “For me, the event was about having an opportunity to connect and work as a team with people from different disciplines, from engineering, design, social work, and nursing.”

Hatching Health co-directors and distinguished guests.
From left to right: Rohit Singla (UBC Biomedical Engineering MASc Cand.), Mr. Paul Geyer (CEO, LightIntegra), Ms. Louise Turner (COO, PHIX), Arun Dhir (UBC MD Undergrad), Dr. Bruce Forster (MD, Head of the Department of Radiology), Mohammed Hasham (Research Program Manager, Genome BC) and Dr. Robert Rohling (Professor, UBC Mechanical and Electrical Engineering).

Creating more opportunities to connect across disciplines was precisely the inspiration for launching the student-led competition, say two of Hatching Health’s co-founders and UBC medical students Ameen Amanian and Daniel Raff.

“The idea of Hatching Health is simply that people from different backgrounds will be able to collaborate on tackling healthcare challenges in novel and exciting ways,” says Raff. “It is quite surprising how frequently these problems go unsolved due to a lack of technical and creative connections and resources. Our organization aims to correct just that.”

This event is proof that communication and collaboration can serve as a catalyst for innovation and positive change in healthcare.Bruce Forster

Now in its second year, the student-led competition only continues to gain momentum.

“To see the event grow and attract so many brilliant people from the health-tech community is really exciting; everyone wants to make a difference,” says UBC Biomedical Engineering student Cameron Stuart, who teamed up with Amanian and Raff to co-found the organization in 2016.

For the Faculty of Medicine’s Bruce Forster, who was recently appointed Academic Director of the Office of Education Innovation, Hatching Health is a perfect illustration of what can happen when ideas are given room to grow.

“It’s so exciting to see students and professionals coming together, crossing traditional silos,” says Dr. Forster, who was one of several speakers to give opening remarks at this year’s event. “This event is proof that communication and collaboration can serve as a catalyst for innovation and positive change in healthcare.”

This year’s event was co-directed by UBC’s Arun Dhir, a second-year medical student, and Rohit Singla, a Master of Biomedical Engineering candidate

For more information about Hatching Health, and a full list of team winners, visit http://www.hatchinghealth.ca/

Sponsors of the 2017 Hatching Health event included the Pacific Health Innovation eXchange (PHIX), the UBC Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Applied Science, Genome BC, and many more.

The early application deadline is back! It’s earlier this year – August 1. However, the incentive is the same as before. Applicants who submit all required documents and fees by August 1, 2017 at noon Pacific Time and who are invited to interview will receive their interview invitations a day early. We inform applicants whether or not they have met the early deadline, so it can be a good way to receive confirmation that your application is complete in terms of the items that are required by the regular September 15 application deadline. If you find out that something is missing from your application (like a transcript that never arrived, or your proof of BC residency), you would hopefully have enough time to submit the missing item in time for the regular application deadline. Meeting the early deadline does not give you extra points or any other advantages in how your application is evaluated, though.

Please note that MCAT scores and WES/ICES evaluations are due later and do not have to be submitted by August 1 to meet the early application deadline.

Hometown: Vancouver
Program: MD Undergraduate Program (Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program)

Saima Ali

What attracted you to your field?
I have always been drawn to medicine, as it provides the opportunity to connect with individuals and form meaningful, long-term relationships with them. Medicine allows for the unique ability to not only understand patient’s symptoms but also their illness experience and psychosocial context. By understanding all aspects of an individual’s life and the associated long-term impact on their health, physicians have the ability to empower and advocate for their patients.

Additionally, medicine gives me the opportunity to work in a collaborative manner, not only with other physicians, but with all healthcare professionals. I have seen firsthand the impact of this interdisciplinary approach in improving patient experience in healthcare and I hope to work in a team-based environment in my future practice.

In 10 years, what UBC moment will you still be talking about?
The last four years have been some of the most enjoyable and rewarding years of my life. There are so many memories that I will cherish forever, but one in particular – that I know all my colleagues will be talking about in 10 years – was our graduation skit that we performed at our UBC Medical and Dental Spring Gala this past year. It was such a fun experience to share with so many of my classmates – we created lasting memories at rehearsals while reminiscing on the memorable moments from the last four years.

What’s next for you?
I was fortunate enough to match to my top choice residency program – UBC Family Medicine at the Surrey South Fraser site. I am so excited to continue to develop my clinical judgement, connect with patients and pass on what I’ve learned to the next generation of UBC medical students.

As you look ahead, who inspires you?
My parents have always been my greatest inspiration. They are dedicated to and passionate about their work, and have admirably balanced that with caring for their family and staying involved in their community. I hope to be able to do the same in the years ahead.

Name one thing on your bucket list.
Skydiving!

Hometown: Courtenay, BC
Program: MD Undergraduate Program (Island Medical Program)

Melissa Dekker

What attracted you to your field?
I was drawn to medicine because it marries my passion for human sciences and pathophysiology with my love of problem solving, and it offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in peoples’ lives.

In 10 years, what UBC moment will you still be talking about?
I will never forget the day I received my letter of acceptance into the UBC Faculty of Medicine. It was such an incredibly exciting moment and it was the beginning of some of the most challenging and rewarding years of my life.

What’s next for you?
I am beyond thrilled to be returning home to the Comox Valley to complete my residency in family medicine.

As you look ahead, what (or who) inspires you?
My biggest inspiration and source of strength is my best friend and sister-in-law Jenn. She was the most remarkable human being I have ever known and although she is not here to celebrate this milestone in my life, her lessons of love and courage are with me always.

Name one thing on your bucket list.
Cycle the Tour De France race course.

Hometown: Prince George, BC
Program: MD Undergraduate Program (Island Medical Program)

Shirley Rudecki

What attracted you to your field?
A career in family medicine has always been on my radar. As with most medical students, however, I entered my clinical years eager to fully experience and consider each of the medical and surgical disciplines. I quickly realized how much I enjoyed each of these different areas and how difficult it would be to select just one. This confirmed my previous thoughts on pursuing a career in family medicine. It will satisfy my broad range of medical interests, while also giving me the flexibility to develop a practice focus. More importantly, I am excited about taking on a role that emphasizes preventative health. There is nothing more rewarding then helping my future patients live longer, healthier, and happier lives.

In 10 years, what UBC moment will you still be talking about?
That’s a hard question to answer when I feel that I’ve walked away with many memorable UBC moments! However, one that stands out would be the time that my IMP cohort flocked to Victoria for an orientation weekend. We were welcomed with open arms by the amazing second year students. They had planned an exciting weekend for us that featured a Victoria-wide scavenger hunt, BBQ, and animal themed party – just to name a few. That weekend got us all a little bit more excited about what was to come and was also the start of many amazing friendships.

What’s next for you?
Next comes a family medicine residency in Chilliwack, BC! I could not be more excited for this next part of the journey. I look forward to continue learning from my patients as I begin to shape what my future practice will look like as a family doctor. At this time, I see myself working in a small- to medium-sized community, providing comprehensive primary care with an interest in obstetrics and women’s health.

As you look ahead, who inspires you?
My wonderful parents have always been and continue to be my greatest inspiration. Their approach to work-life balance has always been admirable. While exceling in their own careers, they also prioritized family commitments and wellbeing. I will continue to use their success and happiness as a model for my future professional and personal life.

Name one thing on your bucket list.
After dedicating many years to school, I look forward to spending some of my time traveling and exploring the world. A hot ticket item on my bucket list includes pursuing an authentic safari experience in Africa!

Hometown: Campbell River, BC
Program: MD Undergraduate Program (Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program)

Ellie Parton (Photo by Sarb Glaze Photography)

What attracted you to your field?
I look forward to serving the public, while being a lifelong learner in this challenging but rewarding profession.

In 10 years, what UBC moment will you still be talking about?
Spending my third year in the Chilliwack Integrated Community Clerkship was the highlight of my training. I gained a lot of experience and learned more about myself in the process.

What’s next for you?
I matched to the UBC Abbotsford Family Medicine Residency Program, so I look forward to my further training. After that, I hope to be a full service general practitioner with a variety of clinical responsibilities. As a mother and wife, I look forward to my family’s future adventures.

As you look ahead, what (or who) inspires you?
Dr. Tracy Pressey has been my most valuable mentor and she continues to inspire me. She is incredibly supportive and has always been there for me to turn to for advice and guidance. She is not only the best overall physician I’ve seen, but she also does it while being an involved and balanced mother and wife.

Name one thing on your bucket list.
Complete every recipe in the cook book “Isa Does It” by none other than Isa Chandra Moskowitz.

Hometown: Fort Langley, BC
Program: MD Undergraduate Program (Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program)

Lindsay Wainwright

What attracted you to your field?
I am Cree from the Matachewan First Nations in Northern Ontario and I have had a longstanding interest in Aboriginal advocacy and education. When I began my journey in medicine my attention naturally concentrated on Aboriginal health and improving health outcomes for Aboriginal populations.

In 10 years, what UBC moment will you still be talking about?
Match Day! After putting in all the hard work to reach your goals this is definitely the most memorable day of all!

What’s next for you?
I am very fortunate to have received my first choice residency program with the University of Manitoba Plastic Surgery team. I plan to focus my research on improving health outcomes for Aboriginal plastic surgery patients.

As you look ahead, who inspires you?
If I were to choose one physician who inspires me the most it would be Dr. Nadine Caron, Canada’s first female Aboriginal surgeon. She is not only a leader in her specialty as a general and endocrine surgeon but she is also active in Aboriginal health and Canadian health policy.

Name one thing on your bucket list.
My partner and I are planning to start a family within my first couple years of residency. I’m excited about finding that balance between work and family life!

Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Program: MD Undergraduate Program (Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program)

Sophia Dhalla

What attracted you to your field?
I chose the rewarding field of family medicine for a variety of reasons. Throughout my clerkship year, whether I was assessing a patient with chest pain in the emergency room or doing a prenatal visit in obstetrics, I found myself excited by each of the various fields of medicine. In all of my experiences, I loved learning about a new topic and connecting with patients of all ages and backgrounds. Upon reflection, I realized that a career dedicated to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care in family medicine was the natural choice for me.

In 10 years, what UBC moment will you still be talking about?
One of my most memorable moments was taking part in the fourth-year skit at the UBC Spring Gala. After many practices and dance rehearsals, it was such a surreal moment to perform our final skit together as a class, and convey the highlights of our shared medical school experience through singing, acting and dancing. I will never cease to be amazed at how talented my classmates are!

What’s next for you?
This July, I will be starting my residency in family medicine in the UBC Coastal Program based out of Lions Gate hospital. I am excited to meet my future co-residents and explore all of the outdoor activities the North Shore has to offer! I have a strong interest in global health, and I would like to pursue a Masters of Public Health at some point after my residency.

As you look ahead, what (or who) inspires you?
I am inspired by many people, including my family, my classmates, and the patients I have helped care for on clinical rotations. My greatest source of inspiration is my late grandfather, who came to Canada from Uganda as a refugee in the 1970s. Despite facing such adversity, he found a way to provide for his family and always emphasized the importance of hard work and education. He motivated me to do my best, and I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without him.

Name one thing on your bucket list.
I would love to go on a field mission with Doctors without Borders one day. I think it would be a challenging but life-changing experience.

Hometown: Qualicum Beach, BC
Program: MD Undergraduate Program (Island Medical Program)

Brett Baumann

What attracted you to your field?
During my undergrad and later during my MBA I found myself interested in public health and governmental policy but wanted to find more of a tangible connection with the people I was working to help. Medicine provides that and allows me to spend my day learning from and helping patients in my community.

In 10 years, what UBC moment will you still be talking about?
I’ll remember my time at the UBC Island Medical Program for being filled with amazing medical experiences and for giving me the opportunity to make lifelong professional and personal connections. The people here in Victoria made it a truly unique learning environment.

What’s next for you?
I’m excited to be staying in Victoria to start my residency in Internal Medicine!

As you look ahead, who inspires you?
Being in medicine allows for a lot of opportunity to draw inspiration from people in our daily lives. We get to meet interesting and perseverant patients and work alongside passionate people who share a common goal. It’s easy to go to work when that’s the environment waiting for you everyday.

Name one thing on your bucket list.
Visiting the Galapagos Islands is something I’ve wanted to do since my years in undergrad. I’ll be hoping to cross it off during residency.

Hometown: Nanaimo, B.C.
Program: MD Undergraduate Program (Island Medical Program)

Nathan Stefani

What attracted you to your field?
Emergency departments represent the one place in our society where any person can come at any time of day or night and find the help they need – all ages, cultural backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, personal expectations, and pathologies come through those doors. I am attracted to the inherent unpredictability, the patient diversity, and the diagnostic challenges that arise on every shift in emergency medicine.

What UBC moment will you still be talking about?
A defining moment for me was when I started a young man on suboxone therapy during my addictions elective at St. Paul’s Hospital. He was addicted to heroin, and had watched many of his friends die from opioid overdose. He was terrified of the same thing happening to him, but couldn’t stop using heroin. Suboxone is a drug that binds to the brain’s opioid receptors in such a way that cravings are reduced, protecting the person from overdosing. This patient did very well on suboxone and cried with gratitude when he left the hospital because he didn’t feel chained to his addiction anymore. It felt like we had saved a life and that interaction sparked a passion in me for addictions medicine that I hope to further pursue during my career in emergency medicine.

What’s next for you?
I am starting an emergency medicine residency in Victoria, BC, on July 1st. Before then, you’ll find me on a beach in southern California.

As you look ahead, who inspires you?
I am inspired by the doctors I know who are many years into their practice but still find meaning and pleasure in what they do. They are excellent clinicians and dedicated patient advocates but not at the expense of their families or their sanity. I want to be like them someday.

Name one thing on your bucket list
To surf inside a barreling wave.

UBC’s waitlist is a bit complicated, so we hope these FAQs will help to answer some of your questions about how the waitlist works. These questions are mostly reprinted from an earlier post – we have not made changes to how we handle the waitlist this year.

Waitlist questions: applicants who have an application status of Waitlisted

     1. Can you tell me where I am on the waitlist? How long is the waitlist?

No, sorry. Our waitlist is more complicated than most due to the four sites, and we don’t reveal where applicants are on it, how long it is, how quickly it’s moving, etc.

     2. When will you send the next round of offers?

It will be after the deadline for this round (Friday, May 26). We will try to send them on Monday the 29^th or Tuesday the 30^th and will update the blog when the next round has gone out.

     3. I am on the waitlist but received an offer from another Canadian medical school. Can I accept the offer at the other institution but still remain on the waitlist for UBC?

Yes, that’s fine. If you get an offer from UBC and want to accept it you will need to withdraw your acceptance from the other school.

     4. How long will I be on the waitlist?

That really depends on how many people decline their offers. We don’t give estimates or chances or anything like that to applicants because we don’t know how many people will decline, either. We usually try to shorten the waitlist at some point during the summer, but unfortunately it’s possible to stay on the waitlist until late August.

Waitlist questions: applicants who have received an offer

     1. I received an offer, but it wasn’t to my first choice site. What are my options?

a. You can accept the offer and most likely stay on the waitlist for your first choice site (and second choice and third choice sites, if applicable). There are a couple of rare exceptions, which is why we say you will “most likely” stay on the waitlist – applicants who selected the NMP but did not complete the Rural Training section of the application will not be waitlisted for the NMP, for example. However, the majority of applicants will be on the waitlist for their preferred site(s). This happens automatically so you don’t need to contact us about it. Please note that if you accept the offer, you are agreeing to go to the site listed on your Response to Offer form. You will not be able to change sites unless you get another offer.

b. You can decline the offer to that site and most likely stay on the waitlist for your more preferred site(s). Same as above – the vast majority of applicants will be waitlisted for their preferred site(s), and this will happen automatically. The difference is that you are declining the offer and the site. This is taking a risk since you may not get an offer to a more preferred site, but sometimes you know a particular site just won’t work for you, and in this case it’s better to free up the spot for someone else. Please note that accepting or declining the offer won’t make a difference in terms of your position on the waitlist for your preferred site(s) – your waitlist position will be the same either way.

c. You could decline UBC completely. This would remove you from the waitlist and you would not get any further offers from us.

d. You could not submit the Response to Offer form at all (although we would prefer you did!). Not submitting the form removes you from the waitlist for your preferred site(s) and prevents you from receiving any other offers from UBC

     2. Is my position on the waitlist of my preferred site(s) affected by accepting or declining an offer to a less-preferred site?

No, your position is the same whether you accept or decline the offer.

     3. What if I have accepted an offer to my second (or third or fourth) choice and have decided I want to stay there? Do I have accept an offer to my first choice site if I get one?

You can stay at a less-preferred site if you want. We will take you off the waitlist for your preferred site(s). Please email us to let us know, and be aware that this decision is final. You will not be able to be put back on the waitlist for your first (or second, etc) choice site.

     4. What if I have received an offer to my first choice site but I want to go to my second (or third or fourth) choice? 

If you receive an offer to your first choice site you will have to stick with that site. You won’t be given any other offers. This assumes you have not already accepted an offer to the second (or third or fourth) choice site – if you have please see #3 above.

At this time of year, we always wish there were more spots available in the class so we could invite more of our outstanding applicants to join the program. By now all applicants have been notified of the admissions decision on their file. Happy news or sad, we thank you for applying to UBC and participating in the admissions process. If you did not receive an acceptance this year and plan to reapply, the application for 2017/2018 will open in mid-June.