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


 

Dr. Steve Pinney kicks of the Master Teacher Certificate Program at the Clinical Academic Campus

The SMP’s new Master Teacher Certificate Program (MTCP) was officially launched this past September. The focus of the program is to provide clinical faculty and other health professionals with tools and resources to help them excel in their roles as medical educators. The MTCP offers a monthly lecture series covering current and emerging topics in medical education – broadcast from the Clinical Academic Campus at Kelowna General Hospital to education sites in Trail, Vernon, and Kamloops. A second component provides small-group sessions for the first cohort of 15 program participants represented by SMP faculty from each of our distributed sites.

Dr. Steve Pinney, a San Francisco-based orthopedic surgeon kicked off the series on September 19th. Next up, Dr. Kevin Eva, Associate Professor and Director of Educational Research and Scholarship with the Department of Medicine presents The Student’s World: Learning and Evaluation from the Learner’s Perspective on October 24th. To learn more, visit www.smp.med.ubc.ca/faculty.

Dr. Olusegun Oyedele, Basic Science Instructor

Two years ago, a passion for teaching and an opportunity for a fresh start brought Dr. Olusegun Oyedele and his family 16,000 kilometres from Johannesburg to Kelowna. Fast forward to today, Dr. Oyedele is immersed in his teaching with the Southern Medical Program and looking towards building new research opportunities at UBC Okanagan.

“My first love is medicine,” says Dr. Oyedele who described falling into his teaching career almost by accident. After earning his medical degree from the Olabisi Onabanjo University in Nigeria, he completed a MSc. in Anatomy from the University of Ibadan. It was during his graduate studies that he developed a real affinity for teaching later joining the faculty in 1995. “I started as a teacher’s assistant and found that I really enjoyed teaching, so much so that I forgot about my previous career paths.”

Prior to moving to the Okanagan, Dr. Oyedele served the University of the Witwatersrand as Senior Lecturer for nine years during which time he also completed a PhD in Neurodevelopmental Biology. “I had reached a point in my career where I felt I had given everything I could and I wanted a new challenge, says Dr. Oyedele. “I was looking for some higher level of experience and coming to Canada could give my family a better start and provide more opportunities for my kids.”

Dr. Oyedele arrived in Kelowna in early August of 2011 just prior to the start of the new school year for the SMP’s inaugural class. As the Basic Science Instructor for the program, he leads the Gross Anatomy, Neuroanatomy, and Histology labs for first and second year students. Dr. Oyedele also delivers province-wide lectures with the help of videoconference technology to students across the distributed MD Undergraduate Program in Vancouver, Victoria, and Prince George. In addition to his teaching, he has taken an active role in problem-based learning (PBL) for SMP students both as a tutor and as a trainer for other tutors with the program.

While he sees distinct differences in medical education delivery between the two countries, his approach to teaching remains the same. “I try to inspire the students and link what they are studying to what is happening in practice,” says Dr. Oyedele. “Anatomy is very detail oriented and you can get lost in the details. I get the students to see the big picture and explain the knowledge in a very contextual way to help them remember the facts.”

A new country and new culture has brought big changes and some challenges for Dr. Oyedele, his wife, daughter (16), and two sons (18 and 20) but ones that have been met in stride. Not to mention distinct cultural differences, Kelowna’s population pales in comparison to Johannesburg which is home to over five million people. “It’s been quite a change, but overall it’s been great,” says Dr. Oyedele. “I cannot say enough how grateful we are for UBC and the SMP in welcoming us to the community. We had a whole entourage greet us at the airport and they made the transition very easy for me and my family.”

Dr. Oyedele is now exploring new research opportunities and potential collaborations with other UBC Okanagan faculty and students. “My research focus is shifting from laboratory-based basic science to exploring opportunities in the educational field,” say Dr. Oyedele. “The field is huge and there are lots of research avenues to pursue.”

Dr. Katharine Smart, a Kelowna-based pediatrician has joined the SMP as our new Year 4 Lead. Dr. Smart completed her medical degree at UBC followed by her pediatrics residency with the University of Calgary at Alberta Children’s Hospital. She completed fellowships in both Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Pediatric Trauma and also holds a Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the Cayetano Heredia University in Lima, Peru. Over the past nine years, she has worked in the Pediatric Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine Units at Alberta Children’s Hospital, Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, and most recently at BC Women’s Hospital.

Dr. Smart has a strong passion for medical education and health initiatives that support underserved populations both locally and internationally. As a medical undergraduate, she implemented a student-service learning project providing primary health care to residents of the Vancouver Downtown Eastside. For the past five years, she served the University of Calgary as Clinical Assistant Professor in Pediatrics training both medical undergraduates and residents. During her time with the university, Dr. Smart developed and implemented a new longitudinal course for their undergraduate medical curriculum focused on global health and underserved populations. Dr. Smart has served as a project physician for international projects in Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Uganda in addition to the One World Child Development Centre Outreach Program supporting high risk, underserved children in Calgary.

Dr. Smart will be focused on building the number and breadth of fourth-year clinical electives offered at hospitals, health centres, and clinics across the Interior. She will also oversee the development and implementation of the Preparation to Medical Practice (PMP) course for SMP students entering their fourth year. Dr. Smart is actively involved in teaching with the pediatrics rotation at KGH as a Clinical Assistant Professor with UBC Department of Pediatrics.

Jack Shadbolt, Tree of Life, 1987

A treasure of Canadian art was recently acquired by UBC Okanagan’s campus for inclusion in their Public Art Collection. The Tree of Life by renowned Canadian artist Jack Shadbolt (1909-1998) was donated as a gift to the campus from UBC alumnus Dr. Luigi Rossi of Smithers, BC and his family.

Originally born in England, Shadbolt immigrated to Canada in 1912 and grew up in Victoria, BC. From 1938 to 1966, he first studied then taught at the Vancouver School of Art. Shadbolt’s teaching career was briefly put on hold while he served as an official War artist in the Canadian Army during World War II. His work is widely represented in North American private and public collections, including major murals for the Vancouver International Airport, the Edmonton International Airport, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, the former CBC building, and the MacMillan Bloedel building in Vancouver. Shadbolt received the Order of Canada (1972) and the Order of British Columbia (1990) in recognition of his contribution to Canadian art.
The Tree of Life, originally commissioned by the Cineplex Odeon’s Granville Cinemas in 1987, is a massive abstract wooden relief construction inspired by the theme of nature, growth, and reproduction. Shadbolt once described the piece as “art paraphrasing nature.” The campus’ newest addition now graces the atrium wall of the Reichwald Health Sciences Centre, home of the Southern Medical Program.

“We are truly honoured to display this beautiful work of art on our campus—it is a lasting legacy of Mr. Shadbolt and his many contributions to Canadian art, education and history during his lifetime,” says Professor Deborah Buszard, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Principal.

“We are highly appreciative of Dr. Rossi and his family’s contribution to our campus,” says Dr. Allan Jones, Regional Associate Dean, Interior. “The Tree of Life has become a showpiece for us all to enjoy and feel inspired.”

The Tree of Life was installed in the Reichwald Health Sciences Centre over three days in June 2013.  A special thanks is owed to Stewart Turcotte, owner of Hambleton Galleries and Susan Belton, curator of the Public Art Collection for their work on the project.

Alexandra Bond, SMP 2015

Growing up in large urban centres for most of my life, the idea of practicing medicine and living in a rural city seemed implausible and was pushed to the fringe of opportunity for me.  However, the month I spent in Port McNeill, BC for my rural family practice clerkship has shifted my whole paradigm.  I immediately felt at home in this delightful town of 2,700 people.  Situated right on the ocean shores and enriched with unique cultural influences, Port McNeill’s charm and personality captured me from day one.

Not only did the allure of the small-town feel intrigue me, but the medicine was also incredibly exciting and unique.  As a doctor (or medical student) in a small town and often the only one on call, you carry the responsibility of being frontline in any medical emergency, which requires building proficiency in many different facets of medicine.  Although this responsibility carries with it a certain level of apprehension, it is also an exceedingly exhilarating and rewarding experience.  In the words of a Port McNeill physician, Dr. Granger Avery, rural medicine attracts the “rational risk-takers”, a concept that continues to enthrall my appetite for adventure.

The five doctors working in the Port McNeill Hospital and Medical Clinic were exceptionally supportive and eager to teach.   I had ample time to learn one-on-one from each of the five physicians, who established an outstandingly positive learning environment, making the learning curve much easier to climb.  My colleagues and I were encouraged to be as hands-on as possible and we subsequently gained valuable clinical skills that are not so easily acquired in a classroom setting.  The push to take on more responsibility also allowed us to gain more confidence in our medical knowledge and aptitude.  Furthermore, the small town feel enhanced the cohesiveness I felt while working closely alongside nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, medical office assistants, and care aids as part of the medical team in Port McNeill.

From the wellness perspective, I was at first concerned that my experience in rural medicine would be quite isolating.  However, the physicians encouraged us to get out and explore the community as much as time permitted.  My colleagues and I accompanied some of the doctors on crabbing adventures and fishing expeditions.  Dragon boating with one of the nurses and her crew was an unexpected highlight, as was camping and hiking on Sointula, a small island next to Port McNeill.  I also had the opportunity to meet some of the incredibly talented First Nations carvers on Alert Bay Island.  For those with a love of adventure, the recreational opportunities in Port McNeill were endless and readily available, which made for an easily achievable work-life balance.

My most memorable experience in Port McNeill was the helicopter ride to Rivers Inlet, a small First Nations community of 100 people on the western coast of the mainland.  The unique medical issues within this community opened my eyes to the diversity of rural medicine and the importance of rural physicians to be flexible and open-minded.

Between the exciting medical experience and opportunity for unlimited recreational activities, Port McNeill has given me the perfect taste of rural medicine, which is inspiring me to pursue a career as a rural physician.  I was overcome with a feeling of homesickness the minute I left Port McNeill and would love to return to this charming, oceanside community as a physician.  Although my clerkship years will be spent in a big city, the “rational risk-taker” in me is eager to return to the rural community one day.

Jordan Nostedt, SMP 2015

I really enjoyed my rural rotation in Creston. Not only was the medical community great, there was plenty to do outside the hospital and clinic as well.

Early on in the rotation there was a BBQ at one of the local doctor’s home that made me feel very welcomed right from the beginning. This provided an opportunity to meet most of the local physicians in a setting outside of medicine.  The warm welcome I experienced there extended to the office and hospital as well.  Everyone was very supportive and excited to have learners in the community.

Having preceptors who were excited to teach, combined with a broad scope of very interesting medicine provided for a great month. Things were fast paced and my preceptor continually challenged me. As a result I learned a lot and the four weeks seemed to be over before I was ready to leave. I was fortunate to be exposed to a wide variety of things both in the small local hospital as well as in the clinic. Being in a smaller center also provided some insight into the challenges of stabilizing patients for transport to larger centers, something I had not had to think about in previous clinical experiences.  All in all Creston provided a great example of what it is like to be a full scope rural GP in BC and I thoroughly enjoyed this experience.

As great as the medical experience was, a recap of a month in the Kootenays would not be complete without a brief mention of some of the things to do outside of the clinic and hospital. The Creston Valley has some great cycling, beautiful trail runs, stunning lakes, incredible alpine hiking and some top-notch wineries. For someone like myself who loves the outdoors, the surrounding area provided a spectacular playground during time off from clinical work.

My month in Creston, although it went by very fast, was a great introduction to clinical work and I am grateful to the community doctors whose passion to teach made it a great learning experience for me.

Third-year student Laura MacKinnon developed a good grasp of First Nations health growing up in the Northwest Territories. As part of her studies with the SMP, she saw a chance to create a partnership with a local First Nations organization and raise awareness amongst her fellow classmates.

Partnering with representatives from the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society and Interior Health Authority (IHA), MacKinnon initiated a self-directed learning project as part of the MD Undergraduate Program’s Doctor, Patient, and Society (DPAS) course, which exposes medical students to critical health care issues. MacKinnon developed and hosted a series of interactive workshops for first and second year students in collaboration with her project partners Dewayne Robinson, Addictions Counselor and Wayne Jack, Aboriginal Community Navigator from the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society and Jayne Taylor, IHA Aboriginal Patient Navigator.

The workshops focused on cultural sensitivity, traditional healing practices, and the spiritual beliefs surrounding death for First Nations people. “It was an opportunity to share some teaching and culture with the students,” says Jack. “Being able to help them understand what First Nations patients face in the hospitals and doctors’ offices is very helpful.”

“The students were very intuitive,” says Robinson. “It’s good to see the changes wanting to be made by the younger generations to address First Nations health.”

Feedback from both the students and partners was very positive. The model will be further evaluated for potential rollout to the other regional programs of UBC’s distributed MD Undergraduate Program.  “This project identified an earnest desire from current medical students to learn more about aboriginal health and traditional approaches to medicine,” says MacKinnon.  “I’m really excited about where this journey will go, and the future implication it may have on our aboriginal health education.”

SMP second-year students and staff joined the UBCO Partners for Life Team for the Canadian Blood Services’ 16th annual Interior Drive For Life: Kelowna vs. Prince George Challenge. The challenge runs from Sept 5 to Oct 31, 2013. The Kelowna Blood Donor Clinic is seeking out first-time donors and calling on area residents to make 1,856 blood donations to help it recapture the title from Prince George.

Almost half of the second-year class donated blood as part of the challenge with many donating for the first time. “So much of what we do in the first two years of medical school is classroom learning,” says Trish Caddy, Year 2 Class President. “When I approached my classmates with a chance to take part in the Interior Drive For Life, I think that many of them leapt at the chance to do something outside the lecture hall to raise awareness and actively contribute something to health in our community.”

Students and staff joined others from across UBC’s Okanagan campus for several group bookings held at the Kelowna clinic during the month of October. “It’s great to see so many new donors come out and support this worthy cause,” says Warren Brock, SMP Communications Coordinator and UBCO Partners for Life Champion. “Hopefully, Kelowna can win back the title and claim bragging rights for the next year.”

Update: Kelowna has captured the Interior Drive For Life title for 2013!

More than 700 physicians across the BC Interior are involved with teaching medical students and residents with the UBC Faculty of Medicine Southern Medical Program. To learn more about how to get involved, visit the Faculty Recruitment section.

Dr. Tara Gill, Emergency Physician – Trail

Dr. Gill is an emergency physician and rotation lead for the ICC program in Trail. Looking back at her own education and training, she recognizes the excellent training opportunity the ICC program provides for medical students to gain handson experience. “The emergency room provides good opportunities for a student to get their hands dirty,” says Dr. Gill. “We focus on the ABCs on how to deal with an unstable patient including resuscitations, airway and trauma management – the ER encompasses all aspects of medicine.”

 

 

 

 

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Dr. Stacey Butters, Family Physician – Vernon

Dr. Butters is a family physician in Vernon and preceptor for the SMP’s Family Practice Continuum course. Since the first wave of SMP students arrived in January of 2012, Dr. Butters has taught four first year students. She enjoys the role of preceptor and plans to continue opening her clinic’s doors for more students. “I work with each student to identify which areas they are most interested in and as much as possible tie together the learning material covered in their lectures,” says Dr. Butters. “The more complex cases are better for teaching.”

 

 

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Dr. Libby McCoid, Family Physician – Trail

Dr. McCoid is family physician and primary family practice preceptor for the ICC program in Trail. While there was an initial learning curve in understanding the process of teaching learners, Dr. McCoid has really enjoyed teaching and watching the progression of the students over the course of the year. “My patients have really taken to the students and have always been very accepting,” says Dr. McCoid. “Having the students has really added to my week and you are able to build new relationships with great people.”

 

 

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Dr. Ian Mitchell, Emergency Physician – Kamloops

Dr. Mitchell is an emergency physician and preceptor for the SMP’s clerkship program in Kamloops. He has taken an active role in teaching and scheduling medical students and residents over the course of his career. Dr. Mitchell sees having the students at RIH for the entire year as a big benefit for both the learners and the teachers. “It’s great having them here for the year, says Dr. Mitchell. “You recognize them and can call them over to see interesting cases.”

 

 

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Dr. Nicholas Half, Gynecologist – Vernon

Dr. Half is a gynecologist and the obstetrics/gynecology rotation leader for the ICC program in Vernon. Being involved with teaching medical students throughout his residency, he didn’t skip a beat when he arrived at Vernon Jubilee Hospital to set up his practice. “The students are excited about learning and I don’t want them to be nervous about women’s health,” says Dr. Half. “It’s fun to see them learn and we want to give them a good experience.”

 

 

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Dr. Dick Lewis, Dermatologist – Kamloops

Dr. Lewis is a dermatologist and rotation leader for the SMP’s clerkship program in Kamloops. He provides focused dermatology sessions for the students both at the hospital and in his office. Utilizing a mix of clinical patients and previous cases, he has really enjoyed being involved with teaching. “The students come up with most interesting questions and it makes you learn new stuff about old things,” says Dr. Lewis. “I love the experience and watching their enthusiasm.”

Faculty of Medicine videographer Zac Rothman lines up the shot while second-year student Rob Trasolini hangs over the sky line.

 

SMP Lab Assistant Kelly Pederson leads an anatomy presentation as part of the Indigenous Summer Scholars Camp at UBC Okanagan.

 

Third-year students Robyn Buna and Alexandra Bond in studio with CBC Radio West host Rebecca Zandbergen.

 

Our inaugural class of students attending their third-year orientation this past July.

 

Second-year students Sara Treloar, Rob Trasolini, and Jordan Hynd hit the links for the 2nd annual SMP Student Golf Tournament at Sunset Ranch Golf Club.