(L-R) Vernon Integrated Community Clerkship Director Dr. Carmen Larsen, Vernon Family Physician Dr. George Borchert, MLA Eric Foster, and UBC medical students Julia Hassler and Erin Charman help official open new UBC space at Vernon Jubilee Hospital
Students in the University of British Columbia’s (UBC)Southern Medical Program officially have a new place to call home at Vernon Jubilee Hospital(VJH).
Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster joined UBC’s Regional Associate Dean for the Interior Dr. Allan Jones and Vernon Jubilee Hospital physician Dr. George Borchert, along with medical school students, physicians and administrators from the Southern Medical Program and Interior Health to celebrate the opening of the recently renovated medical school space, located on the fifth floor of the Polson Tower.
“We’re very pleased to see this project complete and to have this space available to medical students and other health professionals in our community,” said Foster. “This space will provide an enhanced and more comfortable learning environment for our future care providers and is an investment that supports the community in which we hope they will stay and practice and one day call home.”
The new academic space features centralized education areas, a clinical skills room and two video conferencing rooms providing an enhanced learning and training environment. It also offers a great venue for specialists, family physicians and allied health professionals to participate in continuing professional development programs and events.
“The new facilities will better support our program’s ability to deliver medical education and training both at Vernon Jubilee Hospital and within the Vernon community,”said Dr. Jones. “We are most appreciative of our partnerships with government and Interior Health in developing these exceptional learning spaces for our students, faculty and staff.”
The space also has an on-call sleep area, lounge and lockers for medical students completing their clinical training at Vernon Jubilee Hospital,as well as those training in community clinics.
“This new medical school space is another great example of the strong partnership that exists between the province, the Southern Medical Program and Interior Health,” said Interior Health Board Chair Erwin Malzer. “We’re proud to be a part of the program and we look forward to continuing our work to ensure the program continues to be successful.”
Students are expected to begin occupying the new space immediately with medical education programs ongoing. Construction and equipment for the UBC space on the fifth floor totaled approximately $983,000 and was funded by the Ministry of Health.