Our students commonly engage in research projects. Programs like the Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research Program allow MD candidates to undertake directed projects and work alongside Faculty mentors.

Recently, we connected with Kirandeep Kaur Kandola, a student in our Vancouver Fraser Medical Program, to find our more about her project, which examined diabetes in Vancouver’s South Asian community.

FOM: Please briefly describe the SSR Project you were involved in.

KK: I had the opportunity to be a member of the Prevention Matters research team under Dr. Tricia Tang this past summer. The overarching goals of this project were to identify facilitators and barriers to lifestyle change for diabetes prevention in Vancouver’s South Asian community and to increase community and research capacity for conducting current and future diabetes prevention initiative in this community. The aim of the projects that I participated in was to gain an accurate assessment of current lifestyle behaviours (particularly physical activity and dietary practices) across the diabetes risk continuum in the South Asian community. I had the opportunity to participate in diabetes risk screening sessions across various temples in the Lower Mainland, and my duties consisted of assisting with risk assessments and completing subject interviews.

In order to gain a more in-depth understanding of physical activity and dietary patterns within the South Asian community, I also conducted one-on-one interviews with randomly selected participants from our screening sessions. This task involved participant recruitment, gaining informed consent, administration of South Asian specific food frequency questionnaire, fitting participants with an accelerometer device to measure physical activity levels, and then a follow-up visit 7 days later to collect the device and discuss rough estimates of exercise levels with participants.

VFMP student, Kirandeep Kaur Kandola

In addition, I had an interest in examining the dietary practices of the this population and the relationship with time since immigration to Canada, so with the help of my supervisor, we utilized a software program to analyze the data collected over the screening sessions.

FOM: What, specficially, about the research topic interested you?

KK: I am interested in pursuing a career as a family physician in my home community, where there is substantially large South Asian population that is continuing to grow each month. Individuals of this background are at an increased risk of developing diabetes and related macrovascular complications than their Canadian counterparts. Knowing that diet and physical activity are modifiable risk factors for this condition, I wanted to learn firsthand about the lifestyle patterns within in this community so that I could develop a baseline understanding from where I could begin to perceive which necessary changes could be implemented and how. A family physician has many roles to fulfill in service to their patients, with one important task being working with individuals with the goal of prevention of development and/or further progression of disease. I saw this as an opportunity to begin working with members that may be representative of my future patients and to learn how I could play a role in maintaining their health.

FOM: What did you learn both (a) academically and (b) clinically?

KK: My previous experience in research was limited to conducting studies and data entry, which meant I learned very little about the final outcomes of those studies. This project allowed me the opportunity to work from the point of conducting a literature review to generate an idea about what I wished to investigate through to collection and, finally, analysis of data in the context of my hypothesis. I was able to learn about research related to the dietary patterns of South Asian immigrants in other parts of the world, and then compare this to patterns observed in our sampled population. In addition, I was able to learn about how time since immigration can play a role in dietary choices.

Education is a significant aspect of a therapeutic alliance between physicians and patients that cannot be overlooked. This project reinforced the importance of having discussions regarding modifiable lifestyle factors (such as diet and physical activity) with patients, keeping in mind cultural preferences. I feel that this experience will contribute to my future conversations with patients of South Asian origin, particularly those that have immigrated more recently, as I’ve developed a bit of an understanding of which types of food groups they may be more likely to choose, and, thus, can provide them with information regarding healthier options within their preferred food items

FOM: What did you learn to appreciate while participating in this project? Has this influenced your perspective on medicine and patient care?

KK: Participating in this project made me more appreciative of the role that research plays in supporting healthcare providers in their clinical decision. This opportunity allowed me to have lengthy discussions regarding diet with individuals at risk of diabetes and to learn in-depth about patterns specifically within the South Asian community. As a result, I feel more strongly about the need to have detailed discussions regarding changes to diet, especially in relation to culturally-specific items, in pre-diabetic patients and feel that my experiences over the summer will be helpful in this regard.

FOM: What do you feel participating in this project will have contributed to your medical education?

KK: Having the opportunity to work directly with participants and to hear about their viewpoint on how they perceive their lifestyle decisions provided an important lesson on the importance of understanding culturally specific lifestyle decisions. I hope to play a key role in maintaining good health and preventing disease & complications in a similar patient population in a few years, so I appreciated the opportunity to be exposed to this scenario at an early point in my training. In addition, I was previously quite inexperienced with conducting data analysis and this project allowed me to better understand the process required to generate evidence that is utilized to create recommendations and guidelines for healthcare workers.

Dr. Allan Jones, Regional Associate Dean, (left), medical student Alex Bond, and Interior Health Board Chair Erwin Malzer, congratulate the first class of SMP grad students while thanking the staff at Kelowna General Hospital for their guidance and leadership as the program has evolved.

The first medical students to be fully educated and trained in the B.C. Interior are set to graduate from the University of British Columbia this spring.

UBC Okanagan welcomed the inaugural class of the Southern Medical Program in September 2011. Now, as part of the largest medical class in UBC history, these new doctors are preparing to enter residency training in family medicine or various specialties for the next two to five years.

“The past four years have been a great journey for both our students and our program,” says Dr. Allan Jones, Regional Associate Dean, Interior. “We are incredibly proud of these students who pioneered this program, and proud of the many players — instructors, staff, nurses and many others — who, by enabling their success, are supporting the health care needs of Interior communities.”

Students in the Southern Medical Program did most of their academic work — lectures, labs and small-group workshops — at UBC Okanagan, and received their clinical training at various hospitals and clinics throughout the Interior.

More than half of the SMP’s graduates will pursue training in primary care — family medicine, internal medicine or pediatrics. One of them, Alexandra Bond, who grew up in Surrey, will head to Vancouver to begin a five-year residency in internal medicine at UBC.

Interior Health Board Chair Erwin Malzer, left, met with Dr. Allan Jones and the first class of graduating students from UBC’s Southern Medical Program, at a special event at Kelowna General Hospital Monday.

“I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to complete my medical education with the Southern Medical Program’s inaugural class,” says Bond. “The SMP has a supportive learning environment that is cultivated by a team of dedicated administrative staff, talented physicians, an enthusiastic medical community, and incredible classmates. This has made for a truly exceptional experience.”

“On behalf of the Interior Health board as well as our physicians and staff, congratulations to the Southern Medical Program’s first graduating class,” says Interior Health Board Chair Erwin Malzer. “We are proud to play an important role in the future of tomorrow’s doctors, and we look forward to building upon our successful partnership with UBC.”

Bolstered by the Southern Medical Program, UBC will be graduating 292 MD students — its largest class ever — on May 20 at UBC’s Vancouver campus. UBC’s medical education program is now the fifth-largest in North America.

In light of several medical schools sending their offers well before May 15, we have decided to move up the offer notifications to May 8. Hopefully this extra week will make it easier for some applicants to make decisions and start planning for the future. Please note that applicants who receive an offer in the first round will have until May 22 to accept the offer and submit the $1,000 deposit. Future rounds of offers will have shorter deadlines, ranging from a week in the earlier rounds to just a day or two in the later rounds.

NEWS RELEASE

May 5, 2015

Release partners: Northern Medical Program, Activity Centre for Empowerment (ACE), YMCA of Northern BC, Chinook Yoga studio

A research study led by Northern Medical Program researcher Dr. Candida Graham, together with community partners, is helping to empower local mental health clients to actively pursue and maintain healthier lifestyles. With one in five Canadians experiencing a mental illness in their lifetime, health risks can be high for affected individuals if they have to face persistent illness.

“Those dealing with an enduring mental illness such as schizophrenia face the prospect of having a 20 per cent shorter lifespan due to added difficulty in dealing with illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease,” says Dr. Graham, a clinical associate professor in psychiatry with the Northern Medical Program and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. “Through this study, we have been working to understand how community partnerships can help positively impact client health behaviours, and overcome barriers such as stigma and the challenges associated with daily living activities when an individual is living with a mental illness.”

Partners in the study, which began in 2013 and will continue through to 2016, include the Activity Centre for Empowerment (ACE), which is operated through the BC Schizophrenia Society for the Northern Interior; YMCA of Northern BC; the Northern Sport Centre at UNBC; Chinook Yoga; Youth Around Prince George (YAP); and local health professionals.

The study has involved several community initiatives that have enabled ACE clients to participate in various health-related activities, including a walking program, yoga and fitness classes

(L-R) Jaylene Pfeifer, Chinook Yoga; Nansi Long, Activity Centre for Empowerment (ACE); Chris Kinch, YMCA of Northern BC; and Dr. Candida Graham, Northern Medical Program.

onsite at the Activity Centre, a community kitchen program, nutritional advice, a peer lead tobacco reduction program, and the sharing and dissemination of health and resource information.

“It has been really exciting to see the direct impacts of the study on the people that I am working with every day,” said Nansi Long, a coordinator at ACE. “For example, when the delivery of our initial walking program ended in the fall of 2014, one of our clients stepped up to become a peer leader in order to enable a walking group to continue on.”

Other clients have shared their feelings of embracing and continuing their pursuit of healthy activities more regularly.

“Being accountable for my own wellness and seeing the improvements in stamina, mood, and day-to-day coping skills among my fellow participants has had a huge impact on me,” said Margaret T. “There is nothing more satisfying than knowing a shared experience has helped the whole group, each in their own ways.”

“We recognize the barriers that everyone can face in maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle, and when mental illness is involved, those barriers can become even larger,” said Chris Kinch, YMCA director of membership and programs. ”This project and ongoing partnership with ACE has made exercise more
accessible to ACE clients, and provided our fitness leaders with additional tools and understanding for working with individuals at ACE and in the broader community dealing with mental health challenges.”

“We are grateful to be part of this ongoing project that allows us to bring the practice of yoga and all of its benefits to a space outside of our studio,” said Jaylene Pfeifer, owner and yoga teacher at Chinook Yoga studio. “This was and still is an opportunity that allows ACE participants access to a yoga space they are familiar and comfortable with. This is a key piece to what the participants voiced was important to them. We look forward to continuing our classes at ACE and being actively involved in this community.”

The study’s goals have included providing behaviorial lifestyle interventions that both meet client needs in overcoming barriers and empowering individuals to maintain healthy activities; and working to develop community partnerships that will continue to provide initiatives to better support client health and well-being.

The research study was funded by the Vancouver Foundation, and also received support from Northern Health and the Northern Medical Program.

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Contact:

Sonya Kruger
Communications Officer, Northern Medical Program
Phone: 250-960-5122

Although the Admissions Office does not endorse any third-party MCAT study guides or prep courses, we would like to pass along a series of videos that has been developed by Khan Academy for the MCAT 2015 exam. All of the content in the videos has been reviewed by the AAMC and there are some practice questions on the site as well. The best part about these videos is that they are free! However, it’s important to note that the video series is not intended to be a study program for the MCAT. All of the videos can be found at this website: https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat. There are tons of videos and they are organized according to foundational concept, so if you’re stuck on a topic consider checking one out!

As a reminder, MCAT exams must be taken by the end of August in order to be accepted in the upcoming application cycle. Based on MCAT exam dates this year, the latest exam date we will accept for the 2015/2016 application cycle is August 22, 2015. If you have not yet taken the MCAT and want to apply for this upcoming cycle, you must take the MCAT on August 22 at the latest. If you have already taken the MCAT and have valid scores, it’s your choice whether or not to retake the exam – just keep in mind that if you take the MCAT in August or earlier we will use the MCAT 2015 scores in your evaluation, even if they are worse (and even if they are ineligible). If you take the exam in September or later your scores will not be reviewed in this application cycle. This might be an option to consider if you are happy with your scores but are required to take MCAT 2015 for application to a different medical school (as long as they accept September test dates, of course).

Speaking of other medical schools, we know some schools have expanded their accepted dates to include September exams, but we do not plan to do this. We are not requiring all applicants to take MCAT 2015 and many of our applicants will have already taken the MCAT, so we do not think it is necessary to accept September test dates. In addition, AAMC has said they have increased the number of seats available per sitting to mitigate the impact of reducing test dates. Seats fill quickly so we hope everyone who wants or needs to take the MCAT can register for a sitting as soon as possible.

We have sent our admissions decisions, so all applicants should know their status by now. Congratulations to applicants who received an offer! We commend you for your hard work and accomplishments and are excited to see you join the MED 2019 class. Offer notifications are always a mix of happy and sad, and we would also like to commend applicants who did not receive an offer on their hard work and accomplishments, because although we were not able to offer you a spot in the class this year, we recognize your excellent academic and non-academic achievements. For those of you who plan to reapply, the 2015/2016 application will open in mid-June.

Here are some common questions about the waitlist:

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?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. You could decline UBC completely. This would remove you from the waitlist and you would not get any further offers from us.
4. 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?

No, 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, but be aware that this decision is final and 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 forth) choice site – if you have please see #3 above.

Waitlist questions: applicants who are on the waitlist

1. Can you tell me where I am on 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 22 at 12:00 PDT). We will try to send them on Monday, May 25 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.

UBC MD student Lee-Anna Huisman.
Photo credit: Eryn Rizzoli

Long before the training wheels on her first bicycle were removed, Lee-Anna Huisman had her sights set on the road ahead.

“I wanted to be a doctor from a really young age,” recalls Huisman, who grew up in Terrace, B.C. “My parents tell me that as early as kindergarten, I used to say, ‘When I grow up, I’m going to be Dr. Huisman.’”

This May, Huisman will reach the end of her childhood journey, when she crosses the stage to accept her medical degree from UBC.

As one of 292 graduates, she is among the largest graduating class in the history of UBC’s MD undergraduate program.

This year’s ceremony not only marks a record-setting MD student graduation, but an important milestone for the Faculty’s Aboriginal MD admissions program.

In 2002, the program set an unofficial goal of graduating 50 more Aboriginal MDs by 2020. Now, the ambitious goal has been reached five years early.

Since its inception, UBC’s Aboriginal MD admissions program has become a model for other Canadian faculties of medicine. Today, UBC’s MD undergraduate program is training more Aboriginal physicians than ever before, with 35 Aboriginal students currently enrolled in the program, and 15 more offers on their way to new applicants set to start this fall.

“I feel really proud about what we’ve been able to achieve in a little over a decade,” says Aboriginal Student Initiatives Coordinator James Andrew, who has helped to grow the Aboriginal admissions program from its infancy.

For Andrew, reaching the target five years ahead of schedule is a clear testament to the Faculty’s commitment to increasing indigenous representation in the MD program and to helping create more Aboriginal physicians in B.C.

This year alone, five more Aboriginal students, including Huisman, will wrap up their medical training, and embark on the next stage of their journey as medical residents.

“It’s an upward and encouraging trend,” says Andrew, reflecting back to the start of the new millennium: a time when the number of Aboriginal students who had earned MDs from UBC could still be counted on two hands.

UBC MD student Kelsey Louie
Photo credit: Eryn Rizzoli

A change of course

In 2001, recognizing that there was a need to increase indigenous representation in the MD program, the Faculty created the Aboriginal MD admissions program.

For more than a decade, the program has been helping to boost enrollment by offering pre-admissions and admissions workshops, counseling support and peer mentoring opportunities to prospective Aboriginal students considering a career in medicine.

The support stretches far beyond the pre-admission years. In fact, many stay connected with the program throughout their four-year medical degree.

“UBC has really created an environment that supports Aboriginal students in pursuing medicine,” says Kelsey Louie, who will join Huisman on stage during graduation this May. “[James] Andrew has been such a support in my life. He said to me early on, ‘We’ll find a way to get there together,’ which really meant a lot. He has repeated this on several occasions, as it truly does feel like a shared journey, with shared success.”

Cultivating interest through community outreach

But Andrew and his colleagues don’t restrict their work to students already on the path to medicine. Through community outreach, they also foster interest among Aboriginal youth across the province.

“For some students, it’s the first time they’ve heard about UBC’s medical program,” says Andrew, who travels to communities on Vancouver Island, the Interior, and the north, where he meets face-to-face with local high school, college and university students.

UBC alumnus Dr. Toma Timothy, a member of the Silammon First Nation, remembers his first encounter with Andrew well.

“I grew up on a reserve in Powell River and in Grade 10, I ended up coming to Vancouver to take part in UBC’s Summer Science Program — James Andrew was overseeing the program at the time. We toured the campus, walked through the old anatomy lab and listened to a few lectures. It was my first exposure to university. No one in my family had gone to university before — it was all new to me.”

Less than a decade after first setting foot on campus, Timothy was reintroduced to Andrew during a pre-admissions MD workshop and, by 2005, had joined UBC’s Island Medical Program in Victoria, one of four distinct training sites in the distributed MD undergraduate program.

Today, Timothy is working as a family physician in White Rock and as a clinical instructor with the Faculty of Medicine, where he remains an advocate for Aboriginal health care while helping to train the next generation of physicians.

“There is a real need for more Aboriginal physicians,” says Dr. Timothy, pointing to how a shared cultural understanding — and shared history — can go a long way when delivering care in Aboriginal communities.

Dr. Toma Timothy
Photo credit: Kerry Blackadar

“Working in a First Nations community, all of your morning patients might not show up. In my experience, some patients can’t even worry about their medical issues because they have other, more pressing concerns. They may be dealing with addiction issues, familial issues, financial issues, or mental health issues,” says Dr. Timothy.

“As an Aboriginal physician, you have a unique perspective and often inherent understanding of some of the complex issues faced by Aboriginal people. It’s this understanding that leads to the delivery of culturally sensitive care, which is why it’s so important that we encourage more Aboriginal youth to become physicians.”

Making an impact

Inspiring future generations of Aboriginal youth to pursue a career in medicine is a desire shared by many who have graduated from UBC’s MD undergraduate program, including Nolan Hop Wo, who is now completing his third year of psychiatry residency at the University of Western Ontario.

“The Aboriginal admissions program provided support while I was going through medical school, but it also fostered a passion for me to remember where I come from and to help other Aboriginal students,” says Dr. Hop Wo, who now serves a mentor to Aboriginal students based in the London, Ontario area.

For Huisman, seeing the work of the Faculty’s outreach program continue and witnessing the expansion of a more culturally diverse medical community is important — on both a professional and personal level.

“When I started looking into the prerequisites to get into medicine, I began thinking back on my own experiences as a patient in Terrace and realizing that I had never met an Aboriginal physician,” says Huisman. “I never had someone who was a mentor, or leader with the same background. I’ve thought about that more and more as I have gone through medical school, and it has made me want to give back to my community, and to encourage other young Aboriginal people to pursue medicine.”

This summer, Huisman will have the opportunity to start giving back, as she embarks on the next stage of her journey as a medical resident with UBC’s Aboriginal Family Medicine program – and leaves her training wheels behind once and for all.

The First Nations House of Learning hosts an annual ceremony at the First Nations Longhouse for graduating Aboriginal students, with this year’s event being held on May 23. Families and friends fill the Sty-Wet-Tan Great Hall to witness students being called into the Longhouse through the ceremonial graduation door to have their achievements and new status as graduates honoured and celebrated.

We sent the second round of offers today; congratulations to everyone who received an offer! The deadline for this round is Monday, June 1 at 12:00 p.m. and we will send the next round sometime after this deadline.

The online application for 2015/2016 (entry in late August 2016) will open on June 15, 2015.  The application deadline is September 15, 2015. Applicants who submit all required items and fees by the early deadline of August 17, 2015 and who are invited for an interview will receive their interview invitation a day early and will be allowed to book their interview date and time a day before the general applicant pool.

Our students commonly engage in research projects. Programs like the Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research Program allow MD candidates to undertake directed projects and work alongside Faculty mentors.

Recently, we connected with Sarah Baldwin, a student in our Vancouver Fraser Medical Program, to find our more about her project, which examined skin cancer prevention in organ transplant recipients.

MD student, Sarah Baldwin (L), and her preceptor, Dr. Sheila Au (R)

FOM: Describe FoM SSRP you were involved in? SB: While skin cancers comprise nearly 40% of malignancies in organ transplant recipients – with nearly 70% of fair-skinned recipients affected within 20 years of transplant – there is currently no formal system for dermatologic screening of transplant patients in Canada. This results in patients who are uneducated about skin cancer prevention, who are diagnosed later in the disease progression, who have poorer prognoses, and who generate higher health costs from extra doctor visits and medications. In this study data was collected from a new skin cancer screening clinic (SCREEN Clinic) for post-transplant patients at St. Paul’s Hospital. The SCREEN Clinic is the one of the first of its kind in BCCanada and its mandate is to address the unmet dermatologic screening needs of the post-transplant

“It gives me great pride to see medical students such as Sarah grow as clinicians and collaborators; to watch them present on the local, national, and then international stage, and to watch them become experts in their area of research. These early experiences often shape their future practice decisions. It is truly an honour to be involved in this process.” – Dr. Sheila Au

population. A 12-month retrospective chart review was conducted and comprised of SCREEN Clinic patients from both the kidney and heart transplant programs. The primary objective was to compile and analyze data from post-transplant patients with regard to demographics, overall skin cancer risk, risk factors as well as types of cancers and their incidence. The data was also analyzed to develop specific patient profiles and identify potential targets for intervention. FOM: What, specifically, about the research topic interests you? My goal is a career in academic dermatology; this research topic was a wonderful opportunity to learn not only about clinical dermatology and transplant medicine but also about numerous aspects of clinical research including study design, implementation, data analysis and manuscript editing and production. The prospect of improving skin cancer risk through preventive education of patients and healthcare professionals is both exciting and compelling to me. Being part of the SCREEN Clinic research team presented an opportunity to make a real difference to patients with serious health conditions that are often under-diagnosed and under-treated. FOM: What did you learn to appreciate while participating in this project? Has this influenced your perspective on medicine and patient care? SB: I found working at the clinic to be both an immensely rewarding and interesting experience. Not only was I fortunate enough to have an inspiring mentor who taught me a lot about dermatology and the workings of the hospital, but I also saw the impact committed and passionate professionals can have in the lives of their patients. Since starting this project, I am even more committed to the concept of preventative medicine and hope to be involved in similar projects in future. Additionally, as part of the project I participated in an interdisciplinary conference that was funded by a grant awarded from a nation-wide competition for altruistic, patient-centered research. Participating in this conference aimed at educating health care professionals (doctors, pharmacists, nurses) about skin cancer in the post-transplant population taught me the value of interdisciplinary care – a vital aspect of modern health care. FOM: What is the plan for your research, going forward? SB: Since working on this project, my mentor (Dr. Sheila Au) and I have started ongoing quality assurance projects in an effort to “fine-tune” and improve the SCREEN Clinic program. These efforts include a review of biopsy accuracy to determine diagnostic accuracy, and a patient satisfaction and knowledge survey to help guide decision-making and quality of care.

We have sent out the offers for Rounds 3 and 4. Sorry for the late update! The deadline for Round 4 is Tuesday, June 9 at noon.

Offers for the fifth round went out yesterday – the deadline for this round is Friday, June 12 at noon.

Just a quick update to say we have sent out Round 6 of the offers. The deadline is Tuesday, June 16 at noon.

Please feel free to post your general questions for 2015/2016 here. In late summer we will start disabling comments for the previous application cycle’s posts, so it’s best to post your 2015/2016 comments here instead.

The 2015/2016 application is now open! Over the past year we have tried to be especially attentive to applicant feedback regarding the application and Help Guide, and have made several revisions to the Help Guide that we think will make completing the application a more straightforward process. For example, the Research Publication section always generates a lot of questions, so we took a careful look at that section and made some changes to the application and Help Guide that will hopefully clarify where to enter certain things. The non-academic activities section is another part we particularly focused on. We hope you will find the revisions and new additions helpful!

The Help Guide is long, we know, but since it contains so much important information it should be your constant companion as you complete the application. On the off-chance you run into something the Help Guide doesn’t cover, we are always here to help by phone or by email through the application system. For general questions or comments not specific to your particular situation, commenting on the 2015/2016 General Questions post is another option.

All of the position in the MED 2019 class have been filled, at least for now. Historically speaking, there is a chance that one or two positions might open up due to students who withdraw their acceptances, but it is impossible to say how many spots will become available, if any. We therefore recommend starting to think about your application for 2015/2016 if you plan to re-apply to the program.