The UBC Faculty of Medicine is hosting an evening information session for local high school students. Learn about the admission requirements, application process, and how the program is training the next generation of physicians for our province.

The event will be held on Wednesday, April 18th from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Reichwald Health Sciences Centre, room RHS 260, at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

Presenters include Dr. Shahin Shirzad, Assistant Dean, Admissions, Undergraduate Medical Education, current Southern Medical Program students, and a UBC Student Recruiter and Advisor.

Click here to register. If you don’t already have an account with UBC Okanagan, simply create one prior to registering for the event.

For more information, contact Warren Brock, Communications Manager, Southern Medical Program at warren.brock@ubc.ca or 250.807.8601.

(L-R): Stephanie Maguire, MNP, Wayne McNiven, Scotiabank, SMP students Alex Rudecki, Buzz Mason, Landon MacGillvray, Thomas McFarland, Shari Slattery, CMHA Kelowna, and SMP students Patty Massel and Rosie Mazzola.

The Southern Medical Program (SMP) Class of 2020 and the local medical community traded their stethoscopes for golf clubs for a fun afternoon on the links in support of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Kelowna.

Over 40 medical students, physicians, and guests enjoyed eighteen holes of golf and a delicious dinner at the Harvest Golf Club on a sunny October day. Students raised $4,085 through golf proceeds and a silent auction with an additional $2715 in matching funds provided by Scotiabank. A total of $6,800 was donated to support Foundry Kelowna, a wellness centre for local youth.

“The annual golf tournament provides an opportunity for students and local physicians to meet in a non-school environment, while at the same time raising funds to give back to the community,” says Patty Massel, second-year SMP student. “As present and future medical professionals, mental health is something that is near to our hearts. When we heard that CMHA was opening the Foundry Kelowna, we were excited to continue our sponsorship, and help this important community based intervention flourish.”

“We are so grateful for the support,” says Shari Slattery, Fund Development Coordinator at CMHA Kelowna. “Foundry Kelowna intervenes early so young people can get the help they need when they need it in order to live their best life. We are seeing an average of 200 youth access Foundry Kelowna each month and for the vast majority this is their first time accessing mental health services.”

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

Travel with a multidisciplinary group of healthcare students and graduates from post-secondary institutions across B.C. to showcase career opportunities to rural high school students. Explore rural BC and engage with local community stakeholders and healthcare professionals.

Join us for one of three exciting roadshow trips in Northern and Interior BC:

• Cassiar-Fort Nelson Roadshow (Smithers, Dease Lake, Watson Lake, Fort Nelson) – April 29 to May 5, 2018
• Columbia-Shuswap Roadshow (Sicamous, Revelstoke, Nakusp) – May 6 to 12, 2018
• Coastal Roadshow (New Aiyansh, Gingolx, Lak Kw’alaams, Metlakatla) – May 13 to 19, 2018

The Healthcare Travelling Roadshow was conceived as a grass roots initiative to address rural healthcare workforce shortages. The provincial initiative has grown to include three regional trips each year in Northern and Interior BC. Since its inception in 2010, the roadshow has connected with more than 7,000 teenagers in 32 communities throughout BC.

If you are a healthcare student or recent graduate and interested in participating in one of the 2018 roadshows, please submit your online application by February 28, 2018. Click here to apply.

All travel, accommodation, and meal expenses are covered for participating students. Interprofessional Education Passport credits also available.

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

For more info, visit https://www.unbc.ca/northern-medical-program/healthcare-travelling-roadshow or contact Warren Brock, Columbia-Shuswap Roadshow Lead at warren.brock@ubc.ca or 250-807-8601.

Dr. Scot Mountain with the patient simulator, SimMan 3G at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital.

A perfect storm for patient simulation is generating new education and training opportunities at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) in Trail. As the acute care facility for Interior Health (IH) in the West Kootenay and Boundary region, the hospital supports a rural population of approximately 75,000 people.

KBRH also serves as a primary learning environment for students with the Southern Medical Program (SMP) and resident physicians with UBC’s Kootenay Boundary family practice site.

Dr. Scot Mountain, Director of the Intensive Care Unit, is one of the local physicians working closely with IH to develop a dedicated patient simulation centre for health professionals and learners.

“As a rural hospital with full-time teaching obligations, we need to be at the top of our game to proficiently care for critically-ill patients,” says Mountain, Clinical Associate Professor with the SMP. “Having our own simulation centre is a real step forward in terms of advancing medical education and patient care in the region.”

For the past few years, Trail has been a frequent stop for IH’s Rural Mobile Simulation Program facilitating sessions with healthcare staff to practice emergency or trauma room scenarios in a safe learning environment. With the recent push for ongoing access to patient simulation, the mobile program’s main high-fidelity patient simulation, SimMan 3G, is now stationed at the hospital when not in use at other rural sites.

More than $100,000 has been raised through a joint venture with IH and the region’s hospital foundations and physician groups to purchase additional simulation equipment. Existing space within the hospital will be renovated to create a new dedicated training space and to house all of the new equipment.

“We are working closely with the hospital administration and UBC to meet the training needs of the staff and learners and support interdisciplinary training opportunities across our healthcare teams,” says Roger Parsonage, Director, Strategic Initiatives, IH.

IH has provided funding for a simulation coordinator that will support training requests and promote the resource throughout the region. Dr. Mountain also recently completed the Boston based Comprehensive Instructor Workshop taught by faculty from Harvard Medical School, MIT, and Mater Hospital, Brisbane, with the help of scholarship funding from the Doctors of BC.

The Southern Medical Program Class of 2021 have arrived in the Okanagan to continue their MD undergraduate studies. Meet some of our first-year medical students:

Tami Lin
Hometown: Coquitlam, BC

Why did you choose a career in medicine?
I am fascinated by the inner workings of the human body and have an interest in anatomy and physiology. I’ve also had previous positive experiences being involved in patient care and want to continue doing so in a more hands-on way.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I studied piano performance during my undergrad, so a lot of my time is spent there. I also like knitting, and since I like keeping my hands warm I make a lot of mittens.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
New Zealand – I am the biggest Lord of the Rings fan (my mother bought me a replica of the One Ring which I have worn all day every day for the past five years). The fact that Xena: Warrior Princess was also filmed in New Zealand is a bonus.

What are you most looking forward to about training with the Southern Medical Program?
I’ve only ever lived in Coquitlam and the Vancouver area, so I am most excited about living in Kelowna and experiencing a different part of BC.

Dakota Peacock
Hometown: Abbotsford, BC

Why did you choose a career in medicine?
Medicine represents a fabulous opportunity to integrate research, community service, leadership, and advocacy while also exploring what makes us human. Additionally, the privilege granted to physicians is optimal for serving individuals in my community while also pursuing research to benefit those around the world. I am convinced the extent of this opportunity is unique to medicine.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy snowshoeing in the winter, travelling in the summers, and looking up pictures of cute puppies in between.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
I would like to travel to the moon. Seems like a hoot.

What are you most looking forward to about training with the Southern Medical Program?
The most exciting part will definitely be training alongside this small cohort in the sunny Okanagan.

Taiysa Worsfold
Hometown: Kamloops, BC

Why did you choose a career in medicine?
Growing up I was inspired by the impact my mom (a labour and delivery room nurse) had on people in our community. I wanted a career that I could also impact the community and help people. I am also passionate about healthcare, science and love the life learning aspect of medicine.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Play basketball, ski, go boating/camping, play with my dog and hang out with friends and family.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
Vietnam. There is an amazing rural village that I visited in 2016 and I would love to return there. The food throughout the country is delicious and the people are so friendly. Vietnam also has beautiful quiet beaches!

What are you most looking forward to about training with the Southern Medical Program?
I am looking forward to being exposed to opportunities in smaller communities and also to enjoy some of the natural beauty of the area in my spare time.

The Southern Medical Program invites you to join health professional students, faculty, and staff for the 2018 UBC Okanagan Interdisciplinary Health Conference.

Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2018

4:00 pm: Posters available for viewing
5:45 pm: Presenters at their posters
6:15 pm: Official welcome and poster presentations begin

UBC Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Academic Campus, 2312 Pandosy Street, Kelowna

Featuring poster presentations from students and interns with the Southern Medical Program, BC Cancer Agency, and UBC Okanagan Health Sciences. In addition, a special guest presentation by Dr. Kamran Golmohammadi, Medical Health Officer, Interior Health will be held following the poster presentations.

Join us as students and interns share their research and public health experiences with the local health professional community. Free to attend. For more information, contact Carolyn Roque at carolyn.roque@ubc.ca or 250-807-9827.

Dr. Marjorie Docherty was recently honoured as the inaugural recipient of the BC College of Family (BCCFP) Physicians Coin. The new award created by the BCCFP acknowledges the tremendous work of family physicians across British Columbia.

Dr. Docherty is a family physician in Kelowna, Clinical Professor with the UBC Department of Family Medicine, and Clerkship Site Leader, Rural Family Practice for the Southern Medical Program based at UBC Okanagan. She is recognized by the BCCFP for her energy, passion, and commitment to family medicine in addition to her work supporting learners and colleagues from medical school through to residency training and eventual family practice in communities across the province.

“Dr. Docherty has been an outstanding champion of family medicine for both educators and learners throughout her career,” say Dr. Allan Jones, Regional Associate Dean, Interior. “We are proud of her many accomplishments and applaud her recognition with this new BCCFP award.”

Dr. Robyn Hutchings

The Southern Medical Program is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Robyn Hutchings as interim Director, Faculty Development for the Southern Medical Program (SMP) based at the Clinical Academic Campus at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH).

Dr. Hutchings is a pediatric emergency medicine physician and Clinical Instructor with the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics. While based in Kelowna, Dr. Hutchings splits her time commuting monthly to Edmonton for her work in the emergency department at Stollery Children’s Hospital.

For the past five years, Dr. Hutchings has served as an Assistant Clinical Professor for the University of Alberta’s Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. She actively supports medical education opportunities for students, residents, and fellows as part of her practice as well as the pediatric emergency medicine simulation program at Stollery Children’s Hospital. For SMP students, she serves as a preceptor for clinical skills and portfolio coach for the Flexible Enhanced Learning (FLEX) course.

As Director, Faculty Development, Dr. Hutchings will be responsible for the planning and implementation of faculty development programs at the SMP’s primary education sites in Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon, and Trail in addition to supporting clinical faculty across the Interior Health (IH) region.

Dr. Michael Purdon

The SMP would also like to recognize the tremendous work of Dr. Michael Purdon as outgoing Director, Faculty Development. Over the past three and half years, Dr. Purdon has made great strides in fostering and advancing faculty development opportunities for clinical faculty at the SMP’s primary education sites and rural communities throughout the IH region.

He spearheaded the development of the SMP Master Teacher Certificate Program enabling countless faculty to enhance their teaching and mentoring skills and positively impact the learning environment for our students. We are truly grateful for Dr. Purdon’s efforts as faculty development champion and pleased he will continue to be engaged with our program as a preceptor for SMP students.

Congratulations to Dr. Paul Dagg for receiving the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s 2017 Clinical Faculty Award for Excellence in Community Practice Teaching. Dr. Dagg is a Kamloops psychiatrist and Clinical Associate Professor with the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry. The annual award honours senior clinical faculty members who have demonstrated sustained excellence in teaching over the course of their careers.

Dr. Dagg is recognized as an enthusiastic and effective educator for the Southern Medical Program (SMP). He was a founding participant and organizer of the Neuropsychiatry week academic rounds which are now broadcast throughout BC and to sites in Alberta and Manitoba. He is currently involved with clinical teaching as well as leading academic half-days sessions and seminars on schizophrenia and psychosis for third-year SMP students training at Royal Inland Hospital. Students consistently acknowledge his excellent teaching approach and actively engaging them in the care of patients.

The Southern Medical Program is pleased to announce the appointments of Drs. Graeme McCauley and Gina Polley as Year 4 Preparation for Medical Practice (PMP)/Transition into Professional Practice (TIPP) Co-Leads and Dr. Kirk Lawlor as Year 4 Electives Lead for the Southern Medical Program.

Dr. Graeme McCauley is a respirologist and Clinical Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine. Dr. McCauley completed his medical degree at UBC (MD’74) followed by a rotating internship at Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. He returned to UBC to complete a year of anesthesiology training and spent five years in general practice and anesthesia in Williams Lake, BC. He then returned to complete training in respirology and critical care at the University of Alberta. For the past 33 years, he has worked at KGH where he also serves as Chair of the Department of Medicine. Dr. McCauley is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada and member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia.

Dr. Gina Polley is a general internist at KGH and former chief resident of the University of Alberta’s General Internal Medicine Subspecialty Program. Dr. Polley completed her medical degree at University of Saskatchewan and internal medical residency training at the University of Alberta. Originally from Kelowna, she has recently completed her residency training and returned to the Okanagan. Dr. Polley is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada and member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia.

Dr. Kirk Lawlor is a vascular surgeon, KGH Division Head, and Clinical Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Surgery. Dr. Lawlor completed his medical degree, surgery residency, vascular surgery fellowship at the University of Western Ontario (UWO). Additionally, he holds a Master’s of Education from the University of Toronto. Prior to beginning work at KGH in 2010, Dr. Lawlor worked at the London Health Sciences Centre University Hospital where he served as the Program Director of Vascular Surgery. Dr. Lawlor is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and BC College of Physicians and Surgeons. For the RCPSC, he also serves as Subspecialty Committee Member and Examiner for Vascular Surgery. Dr. Lawlor can be reached at 250-878-6113 or kirk.lawlor@interiorhealth.ca.

At the same time, the SMP would like to acknowledge the outstanding work of Dr. Katharine Smart as the outgoing Year 4 Electives and PMP Course Lead. Dr. Smart joined the SMP in 2013 and made great strides in developing the Year 4 Electives program in the BC Interior in addition to leading the development of the Year 4 PMP course for SMP students. This past month, she relocated to the Yukon with her family and now works at the Klondyke Medical Clinic in Whitehorse.