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, dental hygiene, 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.

Dr. Olusegun (Segun) Oyedele has been appointed the new Assistant Dean for the Southern Medical Program, effective July 15, 2023. Dr. Oyedele is an Associate Professor of Teaching with the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, and current Site Lead for the Foundations of Medical Practice (MEDD) and Course Co-Lead for MEDD 412. Dr. Oyedele has been the lead Anatomy Instructor for the SMP since the program first launched.

Dr. Oyedele completed his medical education in Nigeria in 1993 and worked in General Practice, before earning his PhD in Developmental Biology at South Africa’s Witwatersrand University. He also served as a Senior Lecturer in anatomy and health sciences education at Witwatersrand University. Dr. Oyedele relocated with his family to Canada in 2011 and led foundational sciences education at SMP. Over the past 12 years, Dr. Oyedele helped to implement the renewed MD Undergraduate curriculum and has made tremendous contributions to the Faculty of Medicine at both regional and provincial levels. His research interests focus on medical education, particularly small-group learning pedagogies and how case-based learning equips medical students for clinical decision-making during clinical training and beyond. In 2017, Dr. Oyedele was honoured with the Canadian Association for Medical Education (CAME) Certificate of Merit award and was a recipient of the UBC Killam Teaching award in 2021.

As Assistant Dean, Dr. Oyedele will work collaboratively with the Regional Associate Dean, Interior, Assistant Deans from the Faculty of Medicine’s distributed education sites, and SMP clinical faculty leadership and staff to ensure the sustainable delivery of undergraduate medical education in the Interior Health region.

Congratulations to the Southern Medical Program Class of 2023. The SMP has educated and trained 270 new doctors for the province of British Columbia since it first open its doors. We are truly fortunate to have the continued support from our program partners and the great number of communities that our program aims to serve.

Hear from some of our newest graduates on their UBC experience and what’s up next.

Marisa Levesque

What attracted you to your field?
I wanted to go into medicine from a young age. I was always drawn to caretaker roles, and throughout the years developed a strong passion for science and biology in particular, and medicine seemed like a great way to combine these passions and pursue a career where I can truly make a difference in people’s lives.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?
It’s difficult to narrow down one favourite moment during my time at UBC, but all of my favourite moments are thanks to my classmates and peers – SMP is a tight knit and supportive group that loves to have fun together. From Big White retreats, beach days, and trivia nights to the everyday support and joking around (maybe a bit too much) on the wards, I’ll remember time spent with my classmates above all else.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?
Don’t take yourself too seriously, and you can’t learn if you don’t ask. We often feel we need to know everything, ace the exams, and never stumble over a question asked by a preceptor – but no one expects that from you, and expecting this from yourself can only lead to imposter syndrome. The best students admit what they don’t know, ask questions, and are open to learning from the experiences of others.

What’s next for you?
I’ll be sticking around Kelowna and starting residency with the UBC Kelowna Rural Family Practice program in July! Looking forward to seeing some SMP students on the wards.

What are you looking forward to most about the program you’ve matched to and the community you’ll be joining as a future resident?
I am excited for my program because Kelowna General Hospital is an excellent size for learning, with a wide variety of specialists and smaller number of learners meaning lots of one-on-one time with preceptors who have a passion for teaching. And of course, the Okanagan is a beautiful place to learn medicine! In my second year of residency I am looking forward to exploring some rural BC communities and gaining the wide breadth of knowledge and experience that comes with rural Family Practice.

Mitch Figura

What attracted you to your field?
One of the main things that drew me to medicine was a strong desire to work directly with people as much as possible. Meeting new people and listening to their stories has always helped to shape my own perspective on life. Medicine provides the opportunity to spend a lifetime learning from others along with the privilege of getting to use that knowledge to help people. I think that there is a beautiful harmony in this.

What is your favorite moment from your time at UBC?
This sentiment spans the entirety of my clerkship year in Kamloops. I started that journey alongside friends and ended it with lifelong connections. We leaned on each other for support when the times got tough, and definitely celebrated our successes in style. Late nights at the hospital, endless outdoor adventure, and “family dinners” crystalized for me what I want the rest of my life to look like.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?
Stay true to yourself. From application to graduation, the pursuit of medicine can include a lot of extra-curricular involvement, and it can be tempting to strategically seek out opportunities based purely on your career goals. Whether it is through research, volunteering, or personal endeavor, always strive to spend your time doing things which you genuinely find passion in. You will learn more about yourself, make life-long connections, and enrich your life rather than feeling like you are making compromises for your professional aspirations. There are many paths to success, always take the one on which you will be the happiest.

What’s next for you?
I have matched to UBC family medicine residency in Kamloops! Following residency, I am hoping to practice medicine rurally and am keen to acquire as many skills as possible to prepare me for this. Before the next chapter of my life starts in July, I am taking a month off to fly to Iceland with my bike for a bit of an adventure with some close friends.

What are you looking forward to most about the program you’ve matched to and the community you’ll be joining as a future resident?
There is a very strong and supportive medical community in Kamloops that I feel very grateful to be able to reconnect with. I was introduced to clinical medicine at RIH, and I feel a sense of congruency being able to complete my training there. I also feel fortunate to have matched to this program alongside two of my close friends. I am excited for the challenges and adventure that lie ahead of us.

Aashka Jani

What attracted you to your field?
I think it all started when my parents gifted me a doctor kit when I was younger. I’ve been interested in biology and physiology for as long as I can remember. Volunteer experiences and interactions in the health care system fostered my desire to pursue a career in medicine.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?
It’s really hard to narrow it down to one moment! I’ll always look back on the times I was able to spend with my friends from studying at Bright Jenny to boat days and patio season.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?
My main piece of advice would be to find balance! Medicine is really great but can be all consuming, so it’s important to continue doing things you like to do and really take time for yourself.

What’s next for you?
I’m headed off to Regina for obstetrics and gynecology!

Peter Singh

What attracted you to your field?
Having majored in psychology, people often assumed I would pursue psychiatry so I held an active intention to keep an open mind during medical school. While I immensely enjoyed much of clerkship, I really did find my calling in psychiatry in which we have the privilege of viewing the patient as whole—an amalgamation of their thoughts, emotions and behaviours. And while this can present a unique set of challenges or complexity of care, we have an incredible team with diverse assets and I often found myself looking forward to working with these deeply unselfish interdisciplinary teams.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?
It’s so difficult to choose just one moment! The common denominator was that these moments were shared with friends I made during medical school, both inside the hospital and out. Although dyeing my hair green with my classmate Caroline just might be one of my favorites!

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?
My one piece of advice would be to just cherish these moments. We are so privileged to study medicine, however, it is a lifelong learning process that requires balance. Don’t be afraid to meet that friend for dinner, or go for that hike, or attend that concert.

What’s next for you?
While I am so grateful to have had the privilege to live, work, and play on the lands of the Syilx people these last few years, I am so grateful to return to my hometown of Surrey (Kwantlen, Katzie, and Semiahmoo lands) and attend the Fraser Psychiatry Residency Program at UBC!

What are you looking forward to most about the program you’ve matched to and the community you’ll be joining as a future resident?
I’m excited to a join a group of like-minded colleagues, enthusiastic teaching-oriented staff, and enjoy the awesome restaurants in the Fraser Valley!

Remi Kandal

What attracted you to your field?
I was drawn to medicine for so many reasons, from my mother being a nurse, to interacting with the healthcare system at various stages throughout my life. I wanted to help patients and their families find answers and be a source of strength for others.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?
The program-wide retreat at the beginning of first year, Camp Make Friends, will always be one of my favourite memories from med school!  It was great to connect with everyone in the program.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?
Embrace as much of the program as possible: get involved in clubs, interest groups, sports teams, or student leadership. You’ll get as much out of the program as you put into it, and find some amazing friends along the way.

What’s next for you?
I’m going back home to Vancouver to start my dream residency in Emergency Medicine!

What are you looking forward to most about the program you’ve matched to and the community you’ll be joining as a future resident?
I’m looking forward to all of the amazing opportunities and individuals within the program, as well as going back to serve the community that I grew up in.

Dr. Lizanne Venter is the new Year 4 Electives Lead for the Southern Medical Program (SMP). Dr. Venter is a Kelowna-based family physician and a Clinical Instructor with the UBC Department of Family Practice.

Dr. Venter completed her medical degree and internship training with the University of Stellenbosch. For the past 15 years, Dr. Venter has practiced in South Africa, Alberta, and then Kelowna starting in 2020. She currently practices at the Urgent and Primary Care Centre in Kelowna. Dr. Venter has a considerable background in medical education serving as a Clinical Instructor for the SMP and the University of Alberta for over ten years. She has also served as a Site Lead for the University of Alberta’s Integrated Community Clerkship Program.

As the new Year 4 Electives Lead, Dr. Venter will facilitate the delivery of the elective experience for Year 4 medical students throughout the Interior Health region. She will work closely with Year 4 Course Directors and Site Leads in the Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program (VFMP), the Island Medical Program (IMP), and the Northern Medical Program (NMP) to ensure the goals and objectives of Year 4 are met.

The SMP would also like to share its sincere appreciation for Dr. Arthur Skotnicki for his contributions to the Year 4 Electives program at the SMP for the past three years

The Engineering, Management and Education building was bustling with presentations and engaging dialogue last month for the 2023 Interdisciplinary Student Health Conference (ISHC) at UBC Okanagan. After two years of virtual delivery, conference organizers were thrilled to host the event in person once again.

Over 60 student presenters took part from the Faculty of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Applied Science, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Management, and the Faculty of Medicine.

“It’s great to see this event return to the campus and the students did a phenomenal job with their presentations,” says Diane Oorebeek, Research and Operations Manager for the Southern Medical Program. “We continue to see strong engagement from the UBCO community and we’re excited to see what the future holds for this conference.”

Congratulations to the top presenters in the following categories:

Category: Biomedicine and Technologies
Top Poster Presentation: Samantha Barg, Arts and Social Sciences
Body dissatisfaction and self-focused attention on Zoom: An eye-tracker analysis

Category: Community and Social Health
Top Poster Presentation: Marie-Claire Lantin, Science; Kyra Molen, Health and Social Development
I’M T’CARE: Co-creating A Culturally Safe Implementation Toolkit

Category: Child and Public Health
Top Poster Presentation: Kylie Johnston, Science
Modes of Travel to School in Children Within the BC Interior – A UBC Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) Study

Category: Clinical and Emergency Care
Top Poster Presentation: Lauren Walgren, Medicine
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy for Improving symptoms in women with Dyspareunia and Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause

Category: Rural and Remote Health
Top Poster Presentation: Kayla Korolek, Medicine
Exploring the experiences of cancer detection and post-cancer treatment in cancer survivors in the BC Interior: A mixed-methods study

Category: Community and Social Health
Top Oral Presentation: Fernanda Novoa, Health and Social Development
Mexican Migrant Agricultural Workers’ Experiences of the Public Health Measures During COVID-19 in the Okanagan Region

Category: Biomedicine and Pharmaceuticals
Top Oral Presentation: Spencer Ursel, Science
Developing stem cell-based mucus-secreting factories to fight intestinal diseases

Category: Child and Public Health
Top Oral Presentation: Jill Shillito, Science
Appetite fluctuations across ovulatory menstrual cycles in healthy women

Category 10: Clinical and Emergency Care
Top Oral Presentation: Camille Galloway, Health and Social Development
Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Exploring the Experiences of Endurance Athletes with Atrial Fibrillation

Category: Health Policy
Top Oral Presentation: Cassandra Adjetey, Management
An economic evaluation of lifestyle interventions to promote cognition in older adults with chronic stroke.

Category: Digital Health and Technologies
Top Oral Presentation: Mikayla Tchir, Science; Sol Thiessen, Applied Science
Design and Optimization of a Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging System using Permanent Magnets

People’s Choice Award for the 10-minute Presentations
Shiva Natarajan, Arts and Social Sciences; Alison Siddon, Applied Science
Personal Belongings Carrier: An interdisciplinary collaborative intervention project to address homelessness and the precariousness of personal belongings.

Conference organizers would like to acknowledge the support of event sponsors including the Southern Medical Program, Reichwald Family UBC Southern Medical Program Chair in Preventive Medicine, Office of the Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation (VPRI), Centre for Scholarly Communication, Medical Undergraduate Society, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, and UBC Okanagan Library.

Dr. Neil Long has been appointed the new Transition into Postgraduate Education and Practice (TIPP) Lead for the Southern Medical Program (SMP). Dr. Long is an emergency physician based at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) and a Clinical Instructor with the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine. 

Dr. Long completed his medical degree at the University of Nottingham in the UK followed by residency training split between Christchurch trauma hospital, New Zealand and many Australian sites, including pediatrics and toxicology in Perth, and trauma and simulation in Melbourne. Prior to joining the staff at KGH, he worked as an emergency physician in Vernon, Burnaby, and Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Long is an Airway Interventions and Management in Emergencies Instructor, Flow Research Collective Peak Performance Coach, and Medical Editor for the Life in the Fast Lane website. As a Clinical Instructor, Dr. Long teaches medical students and residents including lectures, ultrasound bedside teaching, and simulation training.

As the TIPP Lead, Dr. Long will facilitate the MEDD 448 course for SMP students and faculty. He will work closely with Year 4 Course Directors and Site Leads in the Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program (VFMP), the Island Medical Program (IMP), and the Northern Medical Program (NMP) and support faculty recruitment for small group teaching.

The SMP would like to extend its sincere appreciation to Dr. Graeme McCauley for his contributions to the TIPP program. Dr. McCauley is a tremendous advocate for the SMP and highly regarded as an exceptional educator and mentor for students and residents training at KGH.

West Kelowna’s Anand Kannan works out with UBC Okanagan staff during a research project.

Ever since Anand Kannan’s 2008 ATV accident left him a paraplegic, the West Kelowna man has learned to appreciate any and all victories in his mission to stay healthy. 

For instance, by participating in research studies at UBC Okanagan he was exposed to exercise equipment and regimens specifically tailored to the spinal-cord injury (SCI) community—something not readily available otherwise. 

“I was at UBCO using a press machine, pulling down on the weight,” Kannan says. “But then I realized the machine also worked in reverse—I could press straight above my head. For someone in a wheelchair, just being able to use that simple motion without worrying about falling backward was such a gift.” 

That’s one reason why Kannan is advocating for others in the SCI community to embrace the opportunities at UBCO in Kelowna by signing up for a research project. UBCO’s Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis is hoping to recruit as many as 60 participants for a project called “Exercise guidelines and Promotion and Implementation in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury” – or EPIC SCI. 

“This is an opportunity for adults with an SCI to help those in their same situation,” Dr. Martin Ginis says. “This isn’t about doing research so the results can sit on a library shelf. We are genuinely driven to do research that can improve people’s lives. But we need study participants. Even if you are unsure, please contact our offices and we will answer any and all questions.”  

Participants are compensated for visits to the UBCO lab and receive a gift card upon completion of the study. 

Study participants are also asked to complete an online or phone questionnaire and attend three in-person visits to UBC Okanagan—at entry into the study and again at three and six months. 

During the visits, participants are asked to undergo a fitness test, a brief pain sensation test and provide a blood sample. 

Participants are randomly divided into two groups. One group begins a personalized exercise program and participates in weekly Zoom or phone coaching sessions for six months. The other group waits for six months and then receives a personalized exercise program and weekly Zoom/phone coaching sessions for six months. 

“We are doing our best to remove any barriers to participation,” says Dr. Martin Ginis, director of the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management. “We see everyone benefitting. Participants get personalized health prescriptions, access to adapted workout equipment, and the knowledge they are providing vital information for our research.” 

Anyone who wants to participate must be 18 or older, experience chronic pain and have been diagnosed with a spinal cord injury more than a year ago at C3 or below. Further, you must be doing less than 40 minutes of moderate aerobic exercises per week and fewer than two days per week of strengthening exercises. 

West Kelowna’s Kannan has already completed the program, and wants everyone in the SCI community in the Central Okanagan to know how much of a benefit it can be. 

“I’d say, if you’re presented with the opportunity, you need to take it,” he says. “Having people around makes it so much more worthwhile. You keep each other motivated, and it makes you feel connected to those who understand you. It’s just so much better working out with friends.” 

If you, or someone you know, wants to volunteer, email kenedy.olsen@ubc.ca or call 236-970-6226 with any questions. 

The Southern Medical Program is excited to welcome our new and current students back to class for the fall term. Meet some of our students and hear about what they are most looking forward to for the new school year.

Name: Lisa Renaud
Hometown: Born in Maple Ridge, spent some time in Lillooet and then Kelowna
Year in Program: 3

What inspired you to pursue medicine?
In short, it provides an opportunity to help people. Additionally, I enjoyed science growing up and medicine certainly meets my interests.

Why did you choose UBC?
By studying at UBC I was able to stay close to my family. Plus, the skiing is fantastic in Kelowna.

What are you most looking forward to for the coming school year?
We started clerkship this past June and it has been fantastic so far. I am looking forward to rotating through many more specialties that I have not been exposed to before.

What’s top on your bucket list?
Multi-day kayak trip through Gwaii Haanas.

Name: Raja Choudhary
Hometown: Grand Forks
Year in Program: 1

What inspired you to pursue medicine?
Growing up in a rural town, I saw the health care disparities that our communities faced. My friends and family had a hard time traveling long distances to see doctors. I want to take my love for science and health and apply that to my future career as a doctor while helping rural communities gain the proper health care facilities they deserve.

Why did you choose UBC?
UBC’s distributed sites help students stay close with their friends and family while they make their way through the challenging experience that is medical school. This opportunity gives me the chance to become a doctor while staying true to my roots. Having the support of my loved ones while serving in and close to where I grew up made UBC’s medical program the best choice for me.

What are you most looking forward to for the coming school year?
I’m looking forward to meeting everyone in the program and getting started with my journey through medical school! Along with school, I’m hoping to get involved with the community and join some of the different clubs that UBC Medicine has to offer. I’m excited to be moving back to the interior after spending the last few years in Vancouver pursing my undergraduate degree.

What’s top on your bucket list?
Trying out the best restaurants in the Kelowna area!

Name: Stephanie McCann
Hometown: Kelowna
Year in Program: 2

What inspired you to pursue medicine?
As I went through life and discovered what I was interested in, I came to realize fairly early on that medicine was a combination of all the things I wanted most in a career. I enjoy continuously learning, having the ability to educate and support people, and challenging myself, so I feel like medicine is the perfect blend of all of the above. On top of this, my father is a physician and being able to hear about all his interesting stories and the satisfaction he gets from helping people always made being a physician stay at the top of my list. I’m happy I decided to stick with my gut as my first year of medicine was absolutely incredible and I truly feel like I’m in the right place.

Why did you choose UBC?
I’ve lived in Kelowna my entire life and have never found a good enough reason to want to go anywhere else. The Okanagan is beautiful, and I love the hot summers by the lake just as much as I love skiing in the winter. Being around my family and friends is a huge bonus, and I knew I would enjoy pursuing medicine here as much as I enjoyed my undergrad at UBCO. I also really liked the idea of attending a smaller distributed site where you really get to know everyone, and the friends I’ve made over the past year have definitely made me feel like I made the right choice.

What are you most looking forward to for the coming school year?
I was thankful that we were able to experience a lot of hands-on learning last year, so I think spending more time getting clinical experience will be great. There is so much variety available in terms of physician careers, so I’m looking forward to hopefully getting more exposure to all medicine has to offer (and, of course, getting to see all my classmates again)!

What’s top on your bucket list?
For this year, I definitely want to hit more ski resorts when I have the time. I have a water bottle that I’ve decided to cover in stickers from different mountains (and I currently only have two), so I’m getting out on the slopes whenever I can! I’d also eventually like to become fluent in another language, so keeping up on my Duolingo streak will be very important to me.

Name: Brandon Hayashi
Hometown: Kamloops
Year in Program: 2

What inspired you to pursue medicine?
I’ve always been interested in science and medicine, and growing up, I always wanted a career where I could help others. My most formative and inspirational experience that swayed me towards medicine was my time in social work! Throughout my science degree, I was a social worker. I did a variety of jobs: I found housing for street-entrenched individuals, provided harm reduction supplies, conducted street outreach, reversed overdoses, and when possible, provided counselling services. As a member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team working with nurses, doctors, and other social workers, I witnessed the importance of collaboration and the impact this has on a single patient. Having seen several sides to this dynamic, I want to be the type of physician that can champion teamwork and provide an adaptive and holistic approach to healthcare.

Why did you choose UBC?
I chose UBC as much as they chose me! I was planning on picking UBC no matter what! I grew up in the Okanagan so having the privilege of pursuing my dream in Kelowna close to my friends, family, and mentors really means a lot. I also have the opportunity to return to my hometown for my clinical rotations, which is incredible!

What are you most looking forward to for the coming school year?
I am incredibly excited about everything! New friends, going into school with a better handle on the curriculum, the opportunity to do more hands-on skills, all of it! I am especially interested in learning how to make healthcare more accessible to marginalized populations through advocacy and incorporating that into my own approach.

What’s top on your bucket list?
I’m a pretty simple guy! I don’t have a lot of activity-centric things on my bucket list. Ideally, I want to give everything back to my community. I want to be a community psychiatrist that, through his practice, prevented a lot of adverse health outcomes. I want to liaise between various social nonprofits to provide care to those who need it most. I want to have a scholarship in my name so I can perpetuate youth potential. At the end of the day, I don’t want to just kick the bucket; I want to do a kickflip over it.

Name: Brett Rouault
Hometown: St. Albert and Vernon
Year in Program: 4

What inspired you to pursue medicine?
Growing up I loved all my science classes, especially the courses about the human body. Going through university this strange affliction continued, and I also began to learn the many benefits that you get from a career in which you serve others. Medicine was therefore a natural choice.

Why did you choose UBC?
UBC was kind enough to accept my application after my 5th attempt at applying! Despite the initial challenges I was very honored to accept a position at the University of British Columbia in my new adopted province. Being accepted to the Southern Medical Program in Kelowna has allowed be to still be around for my family, which I something I value greatly.

What are you most looking forward to for the coming school year?
During our 4th year of study, we do a variety of electives throughout the province, compared to our 3rd year where our learning is localized at one site (mine was in Kamloops). I am looking forward to learning with the large variety of people and preceptors that the many different locales in British Columbia have to offer. Each location I visit and each patient I see is another learning opportunity to help me become a better physician in the future.

What’s top on your bucket list?
I hope to build a remote cabin near a lake somewhere in BC at some point in my life.

Dr. Daryl Wile

Name:  Dr. Daryl Wile
Clinical Faculty Rank: Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Medicine
Community: Okanagan
Teaches: Foundations of Medical Practice, Clinical Skills, FLEX, Clerkship, Postgraduate Training

What’s your best approach to providing an engaging and positive teaching session?
I love to teach with analogy as a way to build relationships with other knowledge. Clinical cases also provide a great structure if time is taken to get to know the patients, as their stories will reinforce the memory of important concepts and findings.

How have learners benefited your practice?
When I am working with learners I refresh my knowledge of what is new in the field. The biggest benefit though is the boost of enthusiasm it brings to practice. For me, it’s energizing and refreshing to get people interested in neurology.

How has teaching impacted your well-being or approach to the work day?
Being a well-rounded person with balance in life is a fundamental part of becoming a good doctor. Meeting students and residents who are amazing people in their lives outside of medicine is a great reminder of this. For me, teaching provides balance for the pressure of clinical work and helps create a refreshing and sustainable practice. I have found connecting with other faculty, staff and students has countered the remoteness and isolation that has waxed and waned through the course of the pandemic.

Click here to learn more about teaching opportunities with the SMP.

Southern Medical Program (SMP) students Connor De Melo and Eden Dubchak are this year’s recipients of the Reichwald Family Foundation Awards. Both students, who recently entered their third year of studies, are recognized for their excellence in academics, leadership, and community service.

Connor De Melo

De Melo grew up in Kelowna and completed a BSc in Microbiology at UBC Okanagan. De Melo has served as part of the MD Student Outreach Ambassador Program and as Year 1 Social Vice-President. He has also volunteered and supported numerous community organization including CRIS Adaptive Adventures. As part of the Flexible and Enhance Learning course, De Melo is working on a Parkinson’s Disease research project looking to improve treatment and fall prevention for patients.

“I am incredibly grateful to have received this award and would like to express my appreciation to the faculty and the Reichwald family for all of their support,” says De Melo. “It makes a significant impact financially for me and my family at this time and we are very thankful.”

Eden Dubchak

Originally from Vancouver, Dubchak completed a BSc in Behavioural Neuroscience at UBC. He has served in several leadership roles including the Vice-President Academic and helped advocate for academic needs of his classmates. Dubchak has also greatly supported student research with the Interdisciplinary Student Health Conference and Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Conference and prospective medical students through the MD Student Outreach Ambassador Program

“I feel very fortunate and honoured to have been chosen for this award,” says Dubchak. “I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Reichwald family for their generosity and their continued support of medical students like myself, and I look forward to serving the community in the future.”