2020 Southern Medical Program Excellence Awards
Each year, Southern Medical Program (SMP) students from across the Interior Health region highlight individual faculty and staff who have made significant contributions to their education. The 2020 SMP Excellence Award recipients are recognized for their dedication and outstanding support for students across all four years and the SMP’s distributed education sites.
Southern Medical Program Class of 2020
Congratulations to the Southern Medical Program (SMP) Class of 2020 on graduating from medical school and earning their medical degrees. Our new graduates now head off across BC and Canada to pursue their passions and future career paths as family physicians and specialists.
Reichwald Awards Recognize Student Excellence
The Reichwald Family Foundation Southern Medical Program (SMP) award recognizes two second-year SMP students for excellence in academics, leadership, and community service. This year’s recipients Katie Harding and Richard Xiang exemplify a commitment to both medical education and community support.
Making a difference: UBC medical students support patients in self-isolation
In the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, testing in the emergency department at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) was primarily reserved for those patients needing hospitalization to treat their disease.
Student volunteers support Kelowna Women’s Shelter
While many Canadians stay at home and follow physical distancing measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, home is not always the safest place. The World Health Organization reports a worldwide increase in rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) since the beginning of the outbreak.
To help support this at-risk population locally, a group of Southern Medical Program (SMP) students recently launched an online awareness and fundraising campaign to support the Kelowna Women’s Shelter.
Portfolio Site Lead, Student Assessment
Dr. Diana Fort has been appointed Portfolio Site Lead, Student Assessment for the Southern Medical Program (SMP). Dr. Fort is an Emergency Medicine physician based in Kelowna, Clinical Assistant Professor with the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine, and former Site Leader, Undergraduate Education, Kelowna General Hospital (KGH).
New Regional Associate Dean, Interior
The UBC Faculty of Medicine has appointed Dr. Sarah Brears as the new Regional Associate Dean, Interior. Dr. Brears was appointed Interim, Regional Associate Dean, Interior in May 2019. With her new appointment, effective June 1st, 2020, she will continue to provide strategic leadership of the Faculty’s undergraduate and postgraduate medical education programs for the Interior.
Researchers team up to support people with disabilities
For many people, staying active during COVID-19 isolation can be a struggle. More so for people living with disabilities, says UBC Okanagan’s Kathleen Martin Ginis.
UBC medical students volunteer to support front-line physicians
Southern Medical Program (SMP) students based at UBC Okanagan are assisting front-line physicians in the battle against COVID-19 in the BC Interior.
Director, Faculty Development
Dr. Cara Wall has been appointed the new Director, Faculty Development for the Southern Medical Program (SMP). Dr. Wall is a hospitalist based at Kelowna General Hospital and Clinical Instructor with the UBC Department of Family Practice.