In September of 2004, the first 200 students in our newly distributed MD Undergraduate Program entered the Life Sciences Centre at UBC. Spurred by a health care crisis in the province, that day would mark the beginning of a new era of medical education in British Columbia.
Four years earlier citizens in Northern B.C. gathered at a local hockey arena. Their motivation: a severe lack of doctors to serve their communities was having an enormous effect on the quality of care being provided to patients. UBC, together with partner universities, the University of Northern British Columbia and the University of Victoria, and the B.C. government, heard their cry and set out on a mission to find a way forward.
It would take an enormous amount of strategizing, planning and collaborating along with drive, dedication and faith to develop, what is today, a province-wide enterprise. No one person is responsible for the creation or success of this program. It was truly a team effort.
2014 marks the ten year anniversary of the launch of UBC’s distributed MD Undergraduate Program. To mark this occasion, we have developed a microsite, which will take people through the history, challenges and successes of the program. Through storytelling, audio and video, you will hear from key players, faculty, staff and students who were an integral part of this process.
Please take some time to visit the microsite and to reflect on just how much we have accomplished in such a short period of time.
We will be adding to the site throughout the year. You can join in on the conversation by following @UBCMDUP on Twitter and by sharing your experiences with the distributed program on social media by using the hashtag #BCMD10. Finally, please do contact our Education Communications Coordinator, Melissa Carr if you have a story you feel would add something to the site.