Our final look at the Southern Medical Program Class of 2020. Check out our new student Q&As with Rebecca, Chase, James, and Leah:
Rebecca Comeau
Hometown: Burns Lake, BC
What attracted you to the field of medicine?
Have you ever heard of a Rube Goldberg machine? If you haven’t, look them up – you’re in for a treat! What motivated me to enter the medical field is a bit like that: complex, complementary, and interconnected with a common goal. Together, a passion for empowerment through communication, understanding, and knowledge, wonder at the human capacity to heal, a love of applied science, and growing up in remote areas struggling to meet healthcare challenges inspired the humble hope that I might be able to help.
What are you most excited about beginning your studies with the Southern Medical Program?
The Southern Medical Program realizes everything I could have hoped for in my medical education and more. Our smaller cohort allows for amazing one-to-one time with passionate, dedicated staff, tutors, laboratory and clinical instructors, and researchers as well as great opportunities for hands-on clinical practice. On top of being a stimulating learning environment, I feel that in the SMP I’m surrounded by a community of people truly invested in my success. We’re like a kind of family, and I think that might be my favourite part!
What do you like to do in your spare time to relax and have fun?
Mostly, I like to spend time with my friends, my family, my dog — and enjoy the fresh air with some low-key distance running. I also like to play around with artistic things, like tinkering in music composition, creative writing, and drawing. Lately, I’ve been enjoying lunchtime yoga and fitness with my friends and classmates.
What’s one thing we might be surprised to learn about you?
When I was growing up, my parents put their belief in renewable energy and environmental stewardship into action. Our family home was powered by solar panels and a wind turbine (and a propane generator — just in case). We lived off-grid until I was seventeen!
Chase Crisfield
Hometown: Rossland, BC
What attracted you to the field of medicine?
I have always been a curious person, and I think that one of the most puzzling and interesting things to study is the human body. I think I was drawn to the idea of learning about the complexities of how we work and what can go wrong. It’s just so interesting! I’m also drawn to the fact that medicine offers so many different and unique career choices and the lifelong learning experience that it entails.
What are you most excited about beginning your studies with the Southern Medical Program?
I am really excited to have a smaller class size and to be able to get to know all of my classmates on a more personal level. I really haven’t spent much time in the Okanagan, so I’m also looking forward to doing some exploring and checking out all of the surrounding lakes rivers and mountains!
What do you like to do in your spare time to relax and have fun?
I like doing pretty much anything outdoors, but I’m particularly interested in whitewater kayaking, mountain biking, climbing and skiing. I also enjoy woodworking, cooking new foods and making beer.
What’s one thing we might be surprised to learn about you?
My life dream is to travel across Mongolia via hot air balloon. I really haven’t looked into the practicalities of it, nor do I know how to fly a hot air balloon, but I believe that where there’s a will there’s a way!
James Matthews
Hometown: Kamloops, BC
What attracted you to the field of medicine?
Medicine is something my educational and professional interests have been building towards for some time now. In school, I always found that I was interested in biology and health sciences. I completed a B.Sc. in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology and then entered into the Respiratory Therapy Program at Thompson Rivers University. After graduating, I was fortunate enough to work at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital in the Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Units. I loved working with children and their families, but I quickly felt that I wanted to learn and do more. I was inspired by the amazing physicians I worked with. I saw the extraordinary relationships they had with patients and their families, as well as the care, compassion, and skill they brought to every encounter. I knew that medicine was where I wanted to be and I feel incredibly lucky to be here!
What are you most excited about beginning your studies with the Southern Medical Program?
I am really excited to be a part of a smaller, more cohesive community of students. I think that is really what the SMP represents to me. I see the entire program as being more connected, and the interactions I have with faculty, tutors, preceptors, and my fellow students will always feel more authentic and personal. In the first few weeks of being at the SMP, I have already built better, closer relationships than in all of my time in Vancouver.
What do you like to do in your spare time to relax and have fun?
I have two beautiful dogs that love to walk and I find I spend most of my spare time helping them pursue their interests. Seriously though, it’s an excellent way to get out there, explore, and clear your head. I also love skiing, cooking, hiking, and occasionally a game or two of paintball.
What’s one thing we might be surprised to learn about you?
I think it might come as a surprise that I’ve been to Peru twice in the past 4 years. More surprising, though, is the fact that I’ve still never been anywhere near Machu Picchu. I’m thinking I need to go for a third time at some point so I can finally cross that off my list!
Leah Trippell
Hometown: Parksville, BC
What attracted you to the field of medicine?
For as long as I can remember, my favourite question has always been “why?” A career in medicine allows me to combine my love for question asking and problem solving with my love for people. I have always felt a deep connection to other people and I love the idea that medicine puts me in position where I get to creatively use my brain while enjoying the privilege of being allowed into an individual’s personal and private journey and helping them to create the path forward. I’m also thrilled about the variety of opportunities to explore medicine at home and all over the globe!
What are you most excited about beginning your studies with the Southern Medical Program?
Definitely the amazing people in our little class! Because we’re small, we benefit by having more face time with the wonderful faculty, tutors, and preceptors, and most importantly-with each other! SMP is full of brilliant, accomplished, incredible people and we really have the opportunity to get to know each other, learn from each other, and support each other through this most challenging yet fantastic time in our lives. Also, I’m thrilled to be in beautiful Kelowna – I can’t wait to see what the summer has to offer!
What do you like to do in your spare time to relax and have fun?
I really love reading and getting outdoors! I’m also excited to check out the wine and food scene in town this summer. But probably my favourite thing to do is enjoy some quality time with my friends and my fiancé just laughing and enjoying the precious moments we have together! The fast pace of medicine sure makes you appreciate the chances to live in the moment!
What’s one thing we might be surprised to learn about you?
In my life before medicine, I studied some anthropology and completed an archaeological field school on the beautiful Sunshine Coast! We spent our days digging for artifacts and bones in seaside shell middens and then I spent my evenings camping and enjoying rides along the incredible coastline on the back of my partner’s motorcycle. It was a great summer!