Warren Brock

Communications Manager

Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Southern Medical Program
Office: Reichwald Health Sciences Centre
Phone: 250.807.8601
Email: warren.brock@ubc.ca


 

Southern Medical Program (SMP) student Kayla Korolek will represent the UBC Faculty of Medicine on the national stage at the Canadian Medical Student Research Competition on May 4th, 2024.  Hosted by the Canadian Federation of Medical Students, the event brings together medical students from across Canada for the annual research event.

Korolek is the sole UBC representative and will present her project Exploring cancer survivors’ perspectives of primary care provider involvement in post-cancer treatment in the BC Interior: a mixed methods study. Each student will have seven minutes to present and three minutes to answer questions from the judges.

Tell us about your research project.

As part of the FLEX (Flexible and Enhanced Learning) course, I was looking for a project that would allow me to get more involved in cancer research. I have a bit of qualitative research background, so I thought supporting a mixed-method study would add to my qualitative skills. I met with Dr. Christine Voss, my project supervisor, who is leading a broader cancer research project as part of the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management’s Clinical Research Incubator.

What was your involvement?

The larger research team had already engaged with family physicians and oncologists throughout the Interior region to gain their insights. My work was to help explore patient perspectives. We worked with the BC cancer registry to recruit approximately 500 participants. We collected qualitative and quantitative data through various interviews and online surveys. The survey and interview questions were put together in partnership with cancer survivors.

What did you learn from the experience?

I learned how trusting and thankful patients are for the system that provides them care. I also felt positive about the healthcare system and the power of resiliency in people. Our research will contribute to the overall process of developing new strategies to optimize primary care provider-led survivorship care.

Working with Dr. Voss, really helped me elevate my research presentation skills. She is such an expert at writing, ethics, and paying attention to the small details. She also has a strong group of students working with her. We all see her as a very valuable mentor.

How does it feel to be selected to present?

I was honestly very surprised. I’m excited to be a part of the competition and see research projects from across Canada. It also feels good to have our research recognized amongst my peers. I cannot wait to represent my research team, our participants, and UBC Medicine in May.

The Healthcare Travelling Roadshow is seeking health profession students and recent graduates to help recruit the next generation of rural healthcare professionals.

Join us for one of three week-long trips to rural BC to showcase career options to high school students and connect with community stakeholders and local healthcare professionals.

  • Kootenay Roadshow (Castlegar, South Slocan, Kaslo):  April 28 – May 3, 2024
  • Peace Roadshow (Valemount, McBride, Chetwynd, Fort Nelson): April 28 – May 4, 2024
  • Nechako Roadshow (Vanderhoof, Houston, Fort St. James, Dease Lake, Stewart): May 12 – 18, 2024

Application deadline is February 27, 2024. All travel, accommodation, and meal expenses are covered for participants.

APPLY ONLINE

The Healthcare Travelling Roadshow is delivered in partnership with the University of Northern British Columbia, UBC Faculty of Medicine, Northern Medical Programs Trust, Interior Health, and Rural Education Action Plan.

Developed in 2010 as a grassroots program, the provincial initiative has connected with more than 13,500 high school students during 79 community visits throughout BC.

For more info, contact warren.brock@ubc.ca.

Dr. Femke Hoekstra has been appointed Assistant Professor (tenure-track) with the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Medicine, Division of Social Medicine and an Investigator with the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management (CCDPM) in the area of Implementation Science.

Dr. Hoekstra holds a Doctor of Philosophy, PhD from the University of Groningen in the areas of implementation science, rehabilitation, and physical activity promotion. In addition, she completed an MSc in Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

For the past six years, she has served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the UBC Okanagan Faculty of Health and Social Development’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences and is the 2023 Postdoctoral Fellow Research of the Year. Dr. Hoekstra’s research focuses on improving health services and care for equity-deserving groups in rural, remote and other isolated communities by studying implementation processes of health innovations in real-world settings.

Time to check in with some of our SMP alumni. Hear from some of our past graduates on where they’re currently training or practicing.

Name: Taran Main
Graduation Year: 2019
Current city: Kelowna

Describe your current practice (or training environment):
I have been practicing in the city of Kelowna as an Addiction Medicine Specialist and Family Physician for the past 2 years since graduating. I have reconnected with UBC Med as a preceptor and faculty member.

Best piece of advice you ever received:
As a physician it is easy to over-commit yourself with such a high demand for family doctors but I am reminded to find balance and sustainability in this profession: “When you say yes to work, you are saying no to home (and yourself).”

 


Name: Dianne Valenzuela
Graduation Year: 2015
Current city: Vancouver

Describe your current practice (or training environment) in 1 or 2 sentences:
I am a staff Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgeon at Mount St. Joseph’s and St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, BC. I also have a Facial Plastic Surgery practice in the same city.

Best piece of advice you ever received:
It’s just a phase! (applies to both medical training and kids).

 


Name: Jordan Nostedt
Graduation Year: 2015
Current city: Edmonton

Describe your current practice (or training environment):
I am a general surgeon at the Grey Nuns Hospital.

Best piece of advice you ever received:
“You can always be better.”

 

 

Name: Brendan Lim
Graduation year: SMP 2022
Current city: Saskatoon, SK

Describe your current practice (or training environment):
PGY-2 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Saskatchewan.

Best piece of advice you ever received:
You never know when you might learn something that will be useful one day.


Name: Leah Trippell
Graduation year: 2020
Current city: Campbell River

Describe your current practice (or training environment):
I just wrapped up an R3 in Emergency Medicine after completing my family medicine training in the amazing Strathcona program. Now I’m finally settling into Campbell River working part-time in the ER and part-time doing family medicine in the community!

Best piece of advice you ever received:
Medicine is a marathon, not a sprint. Make sure to take time to take care of yourself now; you can’t pour from an empty cup.


Name: Jason Jeet Randhawa
Graduation Year: 2016
Current city: Kelowna

Describe your current practice (or training environment) in 1 or 2 sentences:
Adult neurologist in Kelowna, BC with clinical neurophysiology subspecialty training. I interpret neurodiagnostic studies at Kelowna General Hospital and remain active in teaching at the Southern Medical Program.

Best piece of advice you ever received:
If you have two equivalent options on how to proceed in a clinical situation, choose whatever option is more difficult for you as the clinician.

Dr. Sarah Purcell sits with food and measuring cups.UBC Okanagan professor Dr. Sarah Purcell is now being recognized as a world-class researcher.

As part of the latest funding announcement from the federal government, Dr. Purcell, an Assistant Professor in the Southern Medical Program and in the Department of Biology, is the new Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Nutrition and Metabolism in Chronic Disease.

Dr. Purcell, who is also an Investigator for the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, focuses her research on understanding human energy balance in people with chronic diseases, both through the food they’re eating and how that energy is burned.

Energy balance for people with chronic diseases—such as obesity, cancer or diabetes—hasn’t been as well studied as for healthy populations. However, chronic diseases can have significant impact on factors like appetite, physical activity levels and even how many calories someone might burn while at rest.

“I’m very honoured to receive this award,” says Dr. Purcell. “It’s going to help us understand these really complex questions of what impacts energy balance in people with chronic disease. Currently, there’s not enough data for these populations to have targeted and evidence-based recommendations for energy intake. In the big picture, perhaps in the next 20 years, I’d love to have more effective nutrition recommendations for these groups.”

Thanks to a partnership between the Canada Research Chair (CRC) program and the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leadership Fund, Dr. Purcell also received funding to build her lab at UBC Okanagan. This infrastructure will include equipment to measure body composition, or the amount of someone’s muscle and fat, as well as different tools for the lab to measure how many calories people burn and how much food they eat.

Dr. Purcell stands in front of open fridge and smiles at research participant.

In the Experimental Behaviour Kitchen, Dr. Purcell’s team prepares and measures the food research participants eat in order to accurately measure calorie consumption.

The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and of the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced support for over 4,700 researchers and research projects across Canada. These investments of over $960 million through grants, scholarships and programs are part of the government’s ongoing support for Canada’s research ecosystem.

In total, UBC Okanagan researchers were awarded more than $6 million from the combined announcements. Across both campuses, UBC received $68.4 million in funding.

UBC Okanagan is now home to eight Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs.

The federal government established the Canada Research Chairs program in 2000 to promote excellence and innovation in Canadian research centres. Chairholders are some of the world’s most accomplished and promising minds, improving our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthening Canada’s international competitiveness and helping train the next generation of researchers.

The Southern Medical Program welcomes back new and returning students for the new school year. Learn more about some of our students and their path to studying medicine at UBC in the Interior Health region.

Aneesha Thouli, Year 4
Hometown: Kelowna

What inspired you to pursue your medicine?
Medicine was always interesting to me. The human body is incredible, and I wanted my career to help people in a meaningful way. I feel extremely grateful to play such an important part in a person’s life.

Why did you choose UBC?
You can’t go wrong with BC, Kelowna especially. Plus, it’s super cool to train in the same hospital I was born in!

If you could travel anywhere in B.C. where would you go and why?
I would love to go to Haida Gwaii and explore the nature there. Otherwise, Tofino to go surfing for sure!


Nicholas Reitsma, Year 3
Hometown: Kelowna

What inspired you to pursue your medicine?
Like many high school students, I grappled with choosing a suitable career path and exploring feasible options. Growing up, my parents emphasized the importance of giving back, making service-oriented work appealing. I also sought intellectual stimulation in my profession. While I didn’t have immediate family members in medicine, speaking to family friends in the field interested me. The balance of learning, service, and meaningful interactions with others drew me towards pursuing a career in medicine and I am so grateful I did.

Why did you choose UBC?
After only living in Kelowna for three years and graduating high school, I could not come to terms with leaving the beautiful mountains and lake. Fortunately, I also received an offer to play soccer for UBC Okanagan, making my decision to stay in Kelowna very easy. The opportunity to play the sport that I love while getting a world class education in one of the most beautiful places in the world was something I couldn’t pass up.

If you could travel anywhere in B.C. where would you go and why? 
If I could travel anywhere, it would definitely be somewhere on the island like Nanaimo. I haven’t spent any time exploring or relaxing on the island and I think that would be an awesome get away. Ideally, I would find a nice Airbnb on the water, with my fiancé and adorable puppy, and some good books. I would take full advantage of some time away from my everyday hustle and bustle and simply leave my phone on airplane mode as I spend a few days on my own schedule.


Kara Ruff, Year 2
Hometown: Campbell River

What inspired you to pursue your program?
I wanted a career where I could see the impact that I was having on others every day, and I find medicine fascinating. I also see healthcare changing in a positive manner in the way that it is delivered, and I want to be a part of and work toward that change.

Why did you choose UBC?
I chose the Southern Medical Program at UBC because it is a smaller site that allows me to connect better with my preceptors and peers, and I really enjoy the outdoorsy living that Kelowna has to offer!

If you could travel anywhere in B.C. where would you go and why?
I want to spend more time hiking, skiing, and exploring the Kootenay Mountain Region. This area has such quaint small towns and beautiful scenery, and I haven’t explored it yet as I grew up on the Island so mostly stayed on the Island.

Dr. Mike Bergunder has been appointed Interim Years 1 & 2 Site Director for the Southern Medical Program (SMP), effective August 1st, 2023. Dr. Bergunder is a staff physician and Head of the Emergency Department at Penticton Regional Hospital. In addition, he is a Clinical Assistant Professor with the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine and the current Portfolio Site Lead for the SMP.

Dr. Bergunder completed his medical degree at UBC, family medicine residency at the University of Alberta, and a fellowship in emergency medicine at UBC. Dr. Bergunder has supported learning opportunities for UBC medical students as a Case-Based Learning Instructor, Indigenous Cultural Safety Facilitator, and Portfolio Coach. Since January 2022, he has led the ongoing delivery of the SMP Portfolio program. Dr. Bergunder previously served as the Medical Director for Interior Health’s Rural & Remote Framework. Most recently, he completed a clinical fellowship with Health Quality BC, focusing on cultural safety and quality improvement.

As the Interim Years 1 & 2 Site Director, Dr. Bergunder will oversee Case-based Learning, lectures, workshops, and small group learning within the MEDD 411/412/421/422 courses except for those covered by the leadership of clinical skills and family practice.

The Southern Medical Program Excellence Awards recognize outstanding contributions to medical education from faculty and staff across the Interior Health region. The nomination and selection process is completely undertaken by current SMP students.

Congratulations to the 2023 honourees and thank you for your ongoing efforts.

Year 1 Southern Medical Program Excellence Award
Ms. Carri Folk, Admissions & Student Affairs Coordinator
Year 2 Southern Medical Program Excellence Award
Ms. Carling Matthews, Clinical Skills Coordinator—Years 1 & 2
Year 3 Southern Medical Program Excellence Award – Kamloops
Dr. Kayla Parker, Clinical Instructor, Department of Pediatrics
Year 3 Southern Medical Program Excellence Award – Kelowna
Dr. Bradley Merriman, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics
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Year 3 Southern Medical Program Excellence Award – Trail (co-recipient)
Dr. Melissa Herr, Clinical Instructor, Department of Family Practice
Year 3 Southern Medical Program Excellence Award – Trail (co-recipient)
Dr. Matthew Halstead, Clinical Instructor, Department of Family Practice
Year 3 Southern Medical Program Excellence Award – Vernon Dr. Michael Horkoff, Clinical Instructor, Department of Surgery
Southern Medical Program Graduating Class Award (co-recipient)
Dr. Marjorie Docherty, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Practice
Southern Medical Program Graduating Class Award (co-recipient)
Ms. Doreen Welsh, 4th Year Electives & TIPP Program Coordinator (now retired)
Southern Medical Program Graduating Class Award (co-recipient)
Dr. Anise Barton, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery

 

The Southern Medical Program recently led a group of multi-disciplinary healthcare students on a week-long trek to rural communities in the Thompson region as part of the Healthcare Travelling Roadshow initiative.

The goal of the project is to inspire future healthcare professionals and gain exposure to the unique aspects of rural healthcare delivery. This year’s presentation included students from nursing, kinesiology, respiratory therapy, medical laboratory science, pharmacy, and medicine.

After a successful first stop in the community of Lillooet, they arrived in Cache Creek to a barrage of water running down the middle of the Trans-Canada highway. The water spilled into the Bonaparte River on both sides of Sandman Inn, threatening to flood the hotel where the group was booked for two nights.

“The situation was a bit chaotic as many locals worked frantically to protect businesses and homes from the rising water,” says Warren Brock, communications manager for the Southern Medical Program. “Our entire Roadshow team jump in without hesitation and helped bag sand for members of the Cache Creek community.”

Unfortunately, the presentation at Desert Sands School in Ashcroft was cancelled as a result of the flooding. The group re-routed to Kamloops for the day and then off to Chase for the final day of presentations at Chase Secondary School.

During the week, the healthcare students took advantage of opportunities to tour the Lillooet Hospital and the Chase Health Centre and to connect with local professionals to learn about the benefits and challenges of rural practice.

“Overall, it was an awesome experience despite the natural disaster,” adds Brock. “We would like to especially thank all of the students who checked out the presentations and learned more about the diversity of healthcare career options.”

The Healthcare Travelling Roadshow was originally developed at the University of Northern BC to help address rural healthcare workforce shortages. The Interior version of the roadshow is funded by Interior Health, the Rural Education Action Plan, and the Sothern Medical Program. Two roadshow presentations also visited communities in Northern BC this past month.