We shortened the waitlist today. To those of you who received disappointing news, we are sorry there was not a position for you in our program this year.  We hope you are proud of the hard work and accomplishments that brought you so far. To waitlisted applicants who did not hear from us today, you are still on the waitlist, but our recommendation to start thinking about your next application or other plans still stands.

The Southern Medical Program (SMP) is expanding the number of positions available for students interested in rural, remote, or northern rural medicine. Beginning with the 2015/16 admissions cycle, up to 10 of the 32 annual positions within the SMP will be designated for students with rural, remote, or northern backgrounds.

These changes are being implemented in an effort to help address the need for more doctors practicing in rural, remote, or northern communities, in particular within the BC Interior.

The Remote and Rural Suitability Score (RRSS) currently used in selection of students for the Northern Medical Program (NMP) will now also be used to help identify suitable students for these 10 SMP positions.

All students with rural, remote, or northern backgrounds are encouraged to complete the RRSS section as part of the online application.

Applicants who do not complete the RRSS section will still be able to rank the SMP as one of their potential site options (site preference completed post multiple-mini interview) as in previous admission cycles. However, they will be considered for the non-rural positions only.

Written by: Eryn Rizzoli, Communications Coordinator, UBC Island Medical Program

Created to help address regional shortages of physicians, the Island Medical Program (IMP) welcomed its first students to the University of Victoria in January 2005, after they spent their first term at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Ten years later, the Island Medical Program has graduated a total of 191 new doctors, many of whom have stayed in B.C. and also returned to Vancouver Island.

Dr. Michelle Tousignant

For Dr. Michelle Tousignant, the decision to practice medicine on the Island was easy. Her father’s military career meant she moved around throughout her childhood and, for once in her life, she felt like she was putting down roots while pursuing her Doctor of Medicine in Victoria.

One of 24 students in the IMP’s first class 10 years ago, Tousignant remembers the overwhelming feeling of being part of something special. “I don’t know of another situation like it. We were working hand in hand with faculty to help shape a program that would affect learning for not only ourselves, but future cohorts as well,” she says. “The connections we made with fellow students and faculty were deep, to say the least.”

Tousignant believes that she would have graduated at least a year later had she not been at the IMP. In her second year, Tousignant sustained a serious concussion that affected her concentration during her recovery. It took tremendous effort on her part to complete her studies and graduate with her class, but it also took a dedicated faculty to support her.

“I have enormous gratitude for the professors and staff who had a hand in adapting the curriculum for me during such a challenging time. They really bent over backwards,” explains Tousignant.

Now an Emergency Physician, Tousignant divides her time between the Victoria General Hospital and the Royal Jubilee Hospital. “It’s really neat to be back home teaching medical students and residents, both on shift as well as in small groups and simulation-based learning sessions — it’s a full-circle moment.”

A doctor who practices the healthy lifestyle she preaches, Tousignant says that she finds the patient population in Victoria most rewarding. “I love all of the things that many people love about Victoria, like the weather and the natural surroundings, but my patients here might be the most inspiring thing,” she says. “These are people who truly value health and wellness and are really receptive to the preventive measures I recommend. In fact, there have been times I’ve been lapped by a 70-year-old patient while out on my 20-kilometre run!”

The UBC MD Undergraduate Program is proudly celebrating 10 years of province-wide medical education. One of the first distributed sites, the Island Medical Program was established in collaboration with the University of Victoria and Island Health. Without the support of these institutions and that of hundreds of physicians, preceptors, nurses and other medical professionals, the clinical training aspect of the curriculum could not be met.

We’re looking for MD students to profile in our “Back to School” web series. To participate, please fill out the form below and provide a high-resolution photo of yourself!

We are excited to see that a number of people have started (and even submitted) their applications! With people working on their applications, some questions have come up, especially around the non-academic sections of the application. We hope these answers will help.

1. For the Research Publications and Presentations section, the Help Guide says I should only include publications on which I was a first or second author. What should I do about publications on which I was third, fourth, fifth, etc. author?

We suggest integrating a note about your involvement in these publications into the description of your research work or research volunteer experiences. That way we will be aware of your work and you will not have to put something in the Research Publications and Presentations section that doesn’t meet the guidelines.

2. I’ve never presented my research work at a conference, but I have done a presentation or two about it more informally (like in a lab group or as a guest presenter in a class). Should I include this kind of presentation in the Research Publications and Presentations section?

The Research Publications and Presentations section is intended for more formal presentations at conferences. If you have room in the description of the related research activity, you could mention the presentations there.

3. Should I include abstracts in the Research Publications and Presentations section?

Abstracts should not be included in the Research Publications and Presentations section. If there was an oral presentation or poster presentation associated with the abstract you can put the presentation in the Research Publications and Presentations section, but we do not have a separate category for abstracts anymore. If you think the abstract is important to mention, we recommend including it in the description of the relevant research activity.

4. I received an award that allowed me to receive a salary while doing research. Should I list it both in Awards and Employment History?

This one is a bit tricky – we consider this type of award to be more of a stipend than a traditional award, so we would say it’s not really necessary to put it in the Awards section (although you won’t be penalized if you do).  The research experience should be included in the Employment History section for sure and you can mention the award in the title or description.

5. I can’t find a website for my award.

Please put the website of the awarding organization, department or office instead.

6. I’ve completed the MCAT page of the application but don’t see my MCAT scores.

All applicants must release their scores to UBC using the THx system. After you release your scores, we manually upload them into the application system. We are currently uploading scores twice per week.

7. Is the AGPA based on the credits with grades I have now or will have at the end of April?

It’s based on the credits with grades you have now (excluding summer 2015 courses). There are definitely exceptions, but in general people are eligible for the AGPA after they have completed 120 credits. For most people this means you would be eligible when you apply after finishing your fourth year of university.

8. If I have attended, am attending or will be starting medical school at a different institution can I still apply?

You can apply as long as you did not withdraw from the medical school due to academic reasons. Please write a short paragraph about the details of your attendance in the appropriate box on the application. Note that applying to our program means you will start over in Year 1 if accepted.

If you are wondering about your transcript or other document status, please read the following notes:

1. UBC Transcripts– As long as you have marked the box on the Other Information page to authorize us to access your UBC transcript electronically, you can consider your UBC transcript received by the deadline even if your UBC transcript status says “Not Received.” We may not finish updating these transcript statues until after the application deadline.

2. Transcripts carried forward from your 2014/2015 file– As long as you have marked the box on the Additional Information page asking us to transfer your transcripts to your new file, you can consider your carried-forward transcripts received by the deadline even if the status for these transcripts says “Not Received.” We may not finish updating these transcript statuses until after the application deadline. You must submit a new copy of any transcript that has changed since you last submitted it.

3. Other Transcripts– We normally update transcript statuses within 24 hours of the transcript arriving at our physical location. There is an approximate one-day delay between our mailing address and our physical location, but transcripts are on time if they arrive at the mailing address by the deadline. At least one entry for each institution must be started on the Transcripts page of the application in order for us to update the status of your transcript.

4. BC Residency– As long as you have uploaded a scan/photo of your BC Care Card or BC Services Card by the August 17 or September 15 deadline, you can consider your proof of residency to be received on time, even if your BC residency status says “Not Received.” We may not change your proof of BC residency status until we evaluate your file in the fall. As a reminder, proof of BC residency will not be carried forward to your new file.

5. MCAT – Please complete the MCAT page of your application and release your scores to us using the THx system. UBC is not part of the AMCAS system. We are currently updating MCAT scores twice per week.

With the 2015-16 academic year about to begin, we thought it would be interesting to meet some of this year’s Vancouver Fraser MedicalProgram (VFMP) graduates.  We asked them about themselves and what they are looking forward to this year.

 

Name: Juan Valle-Rivera
Hometown: Vancouver
Program Year: 1

What excites you the most about the 2015/16 school year?

To be able to call myself a “med student.” I didn’t grow up in the most financially privileged circumstances and definitely not the greatest neighborhood here in Vancouver, so the idea of becoming a doctor always seemed like an unlikely achievement. Now it feels like my dream is coming true. I feel so honored to have been selected for this amazing opportunity. Plus, “med student” is a pretty good ice-breaker when meeting new people.

What do you expect will be the most challenging part of this year?

Balancing being a good father, good husband and good student. If I can throw in some exercise, time with family/friends and self-care into the mix, the next year should be golden.
What do you hope to achieve academically this year?

A realistic expectation is to gain a solid understanding of the major body systems and common diseases that affect those systems. Memorizing fine details and rare diseases may have to wait for future years. Life-long learning, right?

How will you spend your down time? What is your favourite thing to do in your site region?

Baby and wife will definitely take priority when I have free time. The little one loves swimming. And food. And being around lots of friends. I like to think she inherited that from me. When I’m not being a complete extrovert, I really enjoy cycling. Fortunately, Vancouver’s weather allows for this outdoor activity year-round. My goal is to cycle to and from school this coming year.

 

Name: Breanne Rees-Thomas
Hometown: Richmond, BC
Program Year: 4

What excites you the most about the 2015/16 school year?

Academically – my upcoming rotations! I get to do a month of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Victoria and 2 weeks of orthopedic surgery in Port Moody, both of which will be huge assets to my education and future practice. I aim to be a family physician with an interest in sports medicine and MSK.

Non-Academically – my upcoming wedding! I’ve been doing long-distance for most of 6 years and am looking forward to finally living in the same city as my husband (to-be). I’m also looking forward to socializing with my classmates who have all been on electives near and far!

What do you expect will be the most challenging part of this year?

CARMS.

What do you hope to achieve academically this year?

I hope to feel confident about diagnosing and managing a majority of the basic medical diseases/conditions! I also hope to match to Family Practice!

How will you spend your down time? What is your favourite thing to do in your site region?

I look forward to spending time with family and friends. I have 2 adorable nephews who are growing up so fast and are a lot of fun to be around!

 

Name: Eric Zhao
Hometown: Vancouver
Program Year: 2

What excites you the most about the 2015/16 school year?

I am excited to serve as President of the Medical Undergraduate Society this year. Particular interests and challenges this year will include helping incoming students to navigate the renewed curriculum, and coordinating student advocacy to ensure that the voices of students in both the current and renewed curricula are well represented.

I am also incredibly excited to join the class of 2018 for the fall term as an MD/PhD student. I can’t wait to get to know individuals from both the 2018 class and incoming 2019 class, while keeping in touch with my fellow 2017’s.

What do you expect will be the most challenging part of this year?

Exam season, as with every year. But aside from the obvious, I feel that it will be a challenge to keep on top of various demands, while ensuring that I place sufficient focus on my preclinical education. With the constant buzz of activity in this exciting and unique student community, it can be difficult to ensure that I maintain excellence in my training while seeking salient moments for personal learning and reflection.

What do you hope to achieve academically this year?

With only one term of preclinical training to go, I hope to go beyond ensuring passing grades and aim to cement a lasting interest in medicine and building strong connections with my fellow colleagues. I want to ensure that I appreciate as much as possible the rich network of opportunities for personal growth and learning available through academic and co-curricular activities.

How will you spend your down time? What is your favourite thing to do in your site region?

When I encounter down time, I make sure to spend time with my supportive partner and family. Additionally, I look forward to opportunities to enjoy the fine company of fellow students. Lastly, I hope to ensure I reserve time for exercise, and (of course) sleep.

 

Name: Kelly Zerr
Hometown: Calgary
Program Year: 1

What excites you the most about the 2015/16 school year?

I am very excited for the overall medical school experience, particularly the new curriculum for class of 2019 and meeting new people. I look forward to the ‘hands-on’ learning in anatomy labs and clinical applications. I think visiting clinics will be a wonderful opportunity to connect what we learn to the ‘real world’ and build experience interacting with patients!

What do you expect will be the most challenging part of this year?

I think the most challenging part will be trying to maintain a balance between school, extracurriculars and down time. I anticipate a large volume of schoolwork and that there will be a lot of ‘trial and error’ when determining how to efficiently study for each class. I also expect that making 8am classes will be a challenge, especially for those that aren’t morning people (which includes myself)!

What do you hope to achieve academically this year?

My goal is to adapt my learning to mirror the skills needed to excel in medical school and as a doctor. By the years end I hope that I will have an enhanced capacity to transfer knowledge learned in the classroom to experiences in the labs and clinics. Additionally, I hope to learn the material at a level, such that, I can draw numerous connections among key concepts.

How will you spend your down time? What is your favourite thing to do in your site region?

I have never lived in Vancouver; therefore, I look forward to exploring the city sites and trying new restaurants. I also love being active and because Vancouver has relatively mild weather, I intend to spend as much time as possible outside! I hope to go for jogs around campus and along the ocean, as well as, take advantage of the outdoor tennis courts!

Today the MD Undergraduate Program welcomed the new MED 2019 class to the first day of orientation. It was fun to meet the new students and share in their excitement as they began their medical education. Unfortunately, for applicants on the waitlist, the start of orientation also means the class is finalized, so there will be no more positions available this year. We would like to wish these applicants special congratulations for making it so far in the application process and of course welcome their applications for the 2015/2016 cycle.

Shayla Duley is a second year VFMP student. In this short piece, she reflects on this year’s annual Buddy Lunch – where first and second year students get together to talk all about life as a medical student…and, of course, eat!

I remember really enjoying my experience as a first year in my inaugural Buddy Lunch last fall and was truly looking forward to passing the torch to first year students in the role of a second year this time around.

Second year VFMP student, Shayla Duley.

The Buddy Lunch took place on the second day of school, Tuesday, August 25, 2015 in the Life Sciences Centre atriums. Holly Sherman and myself, in our roles as the Orientation Week student team, helped Katya Leonardia of Student Affairs organize the event by ordering and setting up the food and rallying our class to encourage participation.

Carved out in both classes schedules was an hour where we met up with our buddies, grabbed some food and sat down to chat about our experiences in first year and pass on any pearls of wisdom we may have. Both inside and outside the LSC, the groups were buzzing and everyone seemed to be laid back and enjoying themselves. The Buddy Lunch is meant to build an early connection between the cohorts, so we can recognize familiar faces through the years and have someone to reach out to with any burning questions about the program as we move forward.

I remember last year feeling calmed by my second year buddy’s stories. In the first few days of med school it is easy to feel overwhelmed with information. The Buddy Lunch is a great opportunity for the “veteran” second years to assure the incoming class that they’ll get the hang of it and for the fresh first years to have all of their burning questions answered by someone who has just been through what they’re beginning.

My buddies and I exchanged contact information and I hope we’ll bump into each other every now and then to catch up and see how things are going. What I love most about my med school cohort is how diverse the student population is and I always enjoy hearing people’s personal stories about the journeys that brought them to UBC Medicine. For me it’s all about the people and it was really neat to see the connections forming between the buddies as we sat on the grass and ate our lunches.

As you may or may not be aware, over the past year the Faculty of Medicine has been reviewing the science prerequisites for the MD program. The proposal is to remove all science prerequisites as strict requirements for the program.** To date, this proposal has been approved by a series of committees. However, final consideration by UBC Senate has been delayed and will not occur before mid-December. We hope to have a final update for you around that time. In the interim, what does this mean for those of you planning to apply in 2016 or beyond? You should continue to plan your degree with the assumption that we will maintain the current science prerequisites for the indefinite future. Why? Because if this proposal is not approved the current science prerequisites will still be required next year and the years following. Additionally, if the proposal is approved, the science prerequisites will still be strongly recommended and having knowledge in these subjects will help you in medical school.

Although we are hoping to remove our strict requirements around the prerequisites, the Faculty of Medicine is still deeply committed to science as a foundation for medicine. However, we know that many of you come to medicine from a variety of backgrounds— you attend schools where not all of the requirements are offered, or your program does not leave adequate room for you to fit all of the necessary courses in. Our goal is to provide you with the ability to take courses that are of interest, that challenge you, and that allow you to gain foundational knowledge in biology, chemistry, biochemistry and organic chemistry without compelling you to take a specific sequence of courses. If the proposal is approved, we hope to provide more information about what we are looking for in terms of a scientific foundation in December or January.  In the meantime, we are eager to hear from you – please leave us your thoughts, opinions, questions or concerns by posting a comment below.

**Please note that the proposal does not discuss changes to the English prerequisite requirements. English, as currently listed on our website, will still be a requirement even if this proposal is passed.

Contributed by Christine Wang

The Reading Bear Society (RBS) was co-founded in 2011 by medical student Isabel Chen (Class of 2015), a nurse, and an inner-city school principal. It was founded on the belief that intergenerational mentoring across communities provides invaluable means for building compassion, strengthening empathy, and improving lifelong health outcomes. To date, over 1,300 youth from four high schools and six elementary schools across Vancouver have participated in RBS peer reading visits. This year, the RBS will launch its third year of the program with plans to expand the program to the Kelowna site and Victoria site.

A key reason for the initiative’s early successes is the ambassador program, which has been developing closely with a growing number of medical students. Showing phenomenal initiative, ambassadors have launched a semi-annual newsletter, conducted kindergarten and high school orientations, held public speaking engagements, and launched RBS school clubs. Medical students have developed materials for the program via the Self-Directed Project Option. Students have created materials such as a symptom checker for parents outlining symptoms requiring medical attention, educational modules for kindergarten visits, an early literacy activity book entitled My Bear Book, and an online reflective journaling program for peer reading visits. An article describing their work will be published in the Spring 2016 issue of the UBC Medical Journal (UBCMJ). Medical students will be given the opportunity to participate within the new curriculum, flexible and enhanced learning (FLEX) curriculum.

This year, the RBS program will pilot these new materials with the goal of conducting a study to understand the benefits and effectiveness of the peer reading program. This program not only fosters early literacy, but also builds on students’ interpersonal skills in understanding and caring for one another. New this past year was the integration of Grade 12 students from Vancouver College, who contributed by donating books and visiting Queen Alexandra’s StrongStart program to read with the pre-school children. These visits are done under the guidance of a medical student who used the symptom checker as a backbone to share health-related information with parents.
RBS is ready to embrace another year of educating the “heart-mind” and cultivating compassion and meaningful relationships. If our passion is your passion, we are always open for more like-minded individuals to join us!

More information about RBS is available on our website: http://thereadingbear.org/

Dexter James (Metis) and Kelly Lynn Soros (Metis) always dreamed of attending medical school. Motivated by both family members and practitioners in their communities, these two young Aboriginal students realized their dream and were admitted as part of the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s MD class of 2019.

On Saturday, August 29th, James and Soros, along with 12 other Aboriginal medical students, one midwifery student and one physiotherapy student, attended the Aboriginal Admissions Orientation at the First Nations Longhouse This annual event is part of the larger MD program orientation. The morning started with an ice breaking game followed by words of wisdom about the drum and a drum making workshop led by Shoshone Elder Oldhands of California. They day ended with a traditional feast shared with a few faculty members and senior medical students.

Students participate in a traditional drum making session led by Elder Old Hands.

“Making the drums was by far the highlight for me,” says James. “I have had several hides in the freezer for quite some time that I intended to make drum from but had never been shown how to do so. Now, because Oldhands shared his knowledge, I will be able to utilize those hides. It really excites me to finally have learned a technique that is so engrained in our culture.”

Soros agrees. “I love my drum so much (although) I am sure my neighbours don’t,” she jokes. “I really appreciate being able to learn from Elder Oldhands. That was amazing. The entire day was a great experience.”

James and Soros are part of UBC’s largest group of first year Aboriginal medical students. This year, 15 first year students were admitted. The previous record was 12.

“Part of our mandate is to admit a student body who is representative of British Columbia and the diverse communities our future doctors will serve,” says Dr. Bruce Fleming, Associate Dean of Admissions. “However, our admissions process is competitive and entrance standards are closely comparable for all students.”

37 Aboriginal students applied to the UBC MD program this year. Of those applicants, 33 qualified for interviews and 17 were sent offer letters.

James can’t wait to begin his studies and, in particular, is looking forward to getting out into the community and working with patients. “I am really looking forward to getting some hands on experience,” he explains. “The preceptorship, clinical experiences and FLEX portions of the curriculum should provide a good foundation of clinical procedures and applications.”

Soros is equally excited. “I am really looking forward to learning the science behind medicine and then being able to start applying it in clinical settings. I also can’t wait to begin interacting with patients and getting to know them.”

Both students say they hope to live and work in British Columbia, once their studies are complete.

VFMP students and faculty mentors sit down and chat about life at medical school.

On the evening of September 24, 2015, the UBC Faculty of Medicine Alumni Centre was buzzing with excitement as over 180 students and faculty gathered for the annual opening event of the VFMP Medical Undergraduate Mentor Program. Over a lovely spread of food and drinks, the VFMP Mentorship Program “Meet and Greet” was taking place. The program has been running for over 20 years and provides students with the opportunity to focus on their own personal and professional development in an informal, supportive environment with an impartial person – a mentor – outside of their day to day relationships.

For John Lee (VFMP 2018), the evening was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with his mentor, Dr. Rod Rassekh. “He is an invaluable resource,” says Lee. “There are so many questions and difficult decisions to be made and having a person to advise you along the way is very helpful.”

Dr. Rassekh knows the value of mentorship first hand. He decided he wanted to be a mentor after having come through UBC Medicine with the help of what he claims was an amazing mentor group led by Dr. Bill Webber and his wife Marilyn.

Dr. Janette McMillan, Associate Dean Student Affairs

“I very much enjoyed the evenings at the Webber’s house where we would gather for a night of great food, laughs and words of wisdom,” Dr. Rassekh recalls. “I felt that the best way to honour the support Bill and Marilyn gave me was to follow in their footsteps and host my own mentor group.”

Dr. Janette McMillan, Associate Dean Student Affairs, feels mentorship is an integral part of student success in the UBC MD program. “Life as a medical student can get pretty overwhelming,” she emphasizes. “Having someone to talk to, someone who has been though the same experiences and challenges can make the world of difference in a student’s life.”

Dr. Rassekh says his mentoring style will be very much influenced by the experience he had with Dr. Webber. “I hope to bring my mentees together so that they can learn from each other, and have the senior students teach the junior students,” he explains. “That’s how Bill Webber ran his group and it worked so well. I want to be a mentor who everyone in my group feels comfortable with…so that they can be successful in achieving their dreams in the long run.”

John Lee is looking forward to developing his relationship with Dr. Rassekh. “As I start to consider important decisions such as CaRMS, I hope to gain valuable insight and advice from Dr. Rassekh,” he says. “During and after residency, I am sure there will be several personal and career opportunities he can help me through.”

After a blissfully long and warm summer, the cooler weather (and some rain!) is welcome. Fall colours are emerging and layers of cozy clothing are being brought out of storage to keep us warm. Routines take shape and we settle in to another academic year.

As many of you are aware, August, 2015 marked the launch of our renewed MD undergraduate curriculum. Students beginning their studies this year will be the first to move through the program in a more integrated, holistic manner. We intend to teach in a way that will reflect the future practice of physicians, anticipate the advances in patient-centred care and adapt to evolutions in the health care system. It is an exciting time for our program, faculty, staff and students.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have helped us get here. Tireless amounts of effort and long days have contributed to making the curriculum renewal process possible. In particular, I would like to thank those who have worked as part of the Curriculum Renewal team. Thank you for your incredible dedication and the tremendous amount of work you have invested in this process. As we continue to implement and refine our renewed curriculum, I am looking forward to continuing to work with all of you.

I sincerely hope you enjoy reading and learning about the activities, events and individuals in the VFMP. As we enter into the academic rigour of the winter months, I wish you the very best in your work and studies.

Very best regards,

Dr. Amil Shah
MDCM, FRCPC, FACP
Regional Associate Dean, Vancouver Fraser
Clinical Professor, Medicine

Interview notifications are approaching! We plan to send application status updates to all applicants starting the week of December 7. Unfortunately we can’t say exactly when we will notify everyone, so please monitor your email starting on the 7th. We will update the blog when all of the notifications have been sent.

The notifications will come in the form of an email from the application system and will include one of the following application statuses:

• Interview Invitation
• Regrets, No Interview
• Regrets, Partial File Review
• Ineligible

After reading the email, you can log into the application system to learn more about your status. A new tab called Interview will appear for applicants invited to interview. This is where applicants can book their interview, read about the interview and supplemental application requirements, and access the Site Preference form, the References tab, and the Graduate Student Report form (if applicable). Applicants invited to interview will be able to book their interview time as soon as they receive the notification email. Remember, applicants who met the early deadline and who are invited to interview will receive their interview invitations a day before other interview-granted applicants.

Applicants not invited to interview will find additional information about their application on their Application Status page. Different information will be available for each application status. Applicants with a status of “Regrets, No Interview” and “Regrets, Partial File Review” will be able to see their OGPA and AGPA (if applicable), and “Regrets, No Interview” applicants will be able to see the pre-interview scores for their application as well. No grade averages or scores are available for applicants with Ineligible applications. However, these applicants can check the application system for the status of their transcripts, WES/ICES evaluations, and MCAT scores. They can also review any communication history with the Admissions Office.

We will publish another blog post with scoring information and answers to common questions later, so please check back starting December 7.

Dr. Cheryl Hume, Site Director for the UBC Kootenay Boundary Family Practice Residency and Dr. Willa Henry, Program Director, UBC Department of Family Practice, seated, celebrate the opening of new UBC space with Kootenay Boundary Family Practice residents Drs. Gabe Krahn, Mark Szynkaruk, Alana Benes, and Gretchen Snyman.

UBC medical students and resident physicians now have their own dedicated study and training space at Kootenay Lake Hospital (KLH).

The new learning areas will be used primarily by third-year students with the Trail Integrated Community Clerkship program and resident physicians from the Kootenay Boundary Family Practice Residency program who complete training at the hospital, located in Nelson, B.C. The new space on the fourth floor of the existing hospital provides a clinical skills room, study stations, and lounge area that was purpose-built for their specific needs.

Dr. Cheryl Hume, site director for the UBC Kootenay Boundary Family Practice Residency and Integrated Community Clerkship Programs, says these new facilities help make Nelson and KLH a vital part of distributed rural medical education in the Kootenay Boundary region.

“These facilities are key to supporting physicians-in-training with the necessary resources for effective learning,” says Hume. “They also provide a place for Nelson medical staff to teach and engage with residents and students, who in turn benefit immensely from working with these highly-accomplished health professionals.”

Construction of the 645-square-foot space was undertaken “in-house” by Interior Health (IH), helping to significantly limit the cost. The project also included upgrades to the videoconference capabilities of two meeting rooms to support educational needs of learners and professional development opportunities for Nelson health professionals.

“We are very supportive of the Integrated Community Clerkship and Family Practice Residency programs, and see our partnership with UBC as a tremendous opportunity to attract future physicians to Nelson and the region,” says Brigitte McDonough, Interior Health’s acute health service administrator for Kootenay Boundary. “We are grateful to our plant services team, who did an excellent job redeveloping space on the fourth floor of the hospital to help suit the needs of students and resident physicians.”

“We are fortunate to be able to create this space for our learners and faculty in Nelson,” says Dr. Allan Jones, Regional Associate Dean, Interior, for the UBC Faculty of Medicine. “The project is another prime example of our collaborative partnership with IH to best support the delivery of medical education across the region.”

Background:

Based in Trail, the Integrated Community Clerkship program provides training for third-year UBC medical students in hospitals and family practice clinics. Students complete internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics/gynecology training rotations at KLH.

The Kootenay Boundary Family Practice Residency Program is a two-year training program based in Trail and Nelson. The program launched in July 2015 and admits four family practice residents each year.

Media Contact:

Warren Brock, Communications Manager
Southern Medical Program | UBC Faculty of Medicine
Phone: 250-807-8601 | Cell: 250-718-1573
Email: warren.brock@ubc.ca