With graduation drawing near, we thought it would be interesting to meet some of this year’s Vancouver Fraser Medical Program (VFMP) graduates. We asked them about themselves, their medical school experiences and what the future holds for them.
Elizabeth Hendren
What have you enjoyed the most about your MD Undergraduate experience?
The mentorship and teaching from residents and staff physicians has been unparalleled. From pathology small groups in first year to 4th year electives and career advice there has always been a doctor there to support us and show us the practical applications of what we were doing.
What has surprised or challenged you in medical school?
I was surprised by how talented my classmates are. I went to the spring gala in first year and was blown away at the skills of my peers who were also great athletes, volunteers, and wonderful people. It can be challenging in such a high achieving group of people to figure out where you fit in, and what you have that makes you special. For me, this made medical school a very meaningful personal experience where I was able to learn this about myself.
What advice would you offer to upcoming students in the UBC MD program?
Get involved! There are so many opportunities available that add depth to your MD experience. The great part is that they can involve a commitment anywhere from a few hours (attending a talk or suturing workshop at the MSAC) to all four years (Med Undergraduate Society, Global Health Initiative).
What’s next for you?
After 28 years of living in beautiful Vancouver, I’ve decided to make the move to Toronto where I will be studying Internal Medicine. Before I go, I’ll be getting married at the MSAC!
Georgina Martin
What have you enjoyed the most about your MD Undergraduate experience?
Having the privilege of caring for patients at some of the most critical times of their lives.
What has surprised or challenged you in medical school?
How much my clinical competency grew by the end of clerkship and beginning of fourth year.
What advice would you offer to upcoming students in the UBC MD program?
At first, the amount of material you have to learn seems daunting, but everything that will be ultimately important for you to know will be repeated enough throughout the training and will eventually become second nature.
What’s next for you?
I will be completing my residency in Pediatrics at the University of Saskatchewan.
Ben Millar
What have you enjoyed the most about your MD Undergraduate experience?
The opportunities that are available during Medical School are exceptional and humbling. The simple fact that even from day one you are able to interact with patients and have the privilege to play a role in their care is remarkable. Each year presented it’s own challenges and rewards so life was always dynamic and interesting. Some opportunities exist that I would have never considered previously. For example, I don’t have a single artistic skill and was always amazed by the talent in the Spring Gala, however this year I was able to perform on stage at the Chan Centre as an actor in the 4th year skit. It was the first (and likely last) time that I will perform in front of such a large audience as an actor, but a moment I will always cherish. Overall the MD undergraduate experience provided the opportunity to push the envelope both with clinically and personally.
What has surprised or challenged you in medical school?
I remember my first day of orientation week in first year and not knowing what to expect. I did not know many people entering Medical School but I was pleasantly surprised to meet so many interesting and diverse individuals. Prior to Medical School every single student had done something extraordinarily impressive and yet was exceptionally humble about it. The friendships that developed during the four years are ones that will last a lifetime.
The challenge aspect is an interesting one. I always felt supported at UBC but also felt pushed to excel as much as possible. I was challenged in a safe environment to push the boundaries of my knowledge, be resourceful, and learn to provide the best care for patients as possible. It was challenging but exceptionally rewarding.
What advice would you offer to upcoming students in the UBC MD program?
The four years that I spent at UBC Medical School were four of the most rewarding years of my life thus far. The combination of opportunities, privileges, and challenges that occur are like no other experience. The best advice I can provide is to enjoy it as much as possible. It is easy to get caught up in the madness and stress that can be felt, especially around exams and CaRMS, however stepping back and realizing that the only one applying pressure is yourself and enjoying the moment rather than stressing over it can make a huge difference. Be sure to take advantage of the opportunities to travel, to explore, to fail and learn from your mistakes, and remember how privileged you are to provide care for patients. Enjoying what you are learning about, trying to be the best you can for your patients, and enjoying the social aspects of school can make it feel l ike hardly any work at all and it will fly by.
What’s next for you?
I was fortunate enough to match to Emergency Medicine at Royal Columbian Hospital. I am looking forward to training in Emergency Medicine and will continue to pursue my interests in Wilderness Medicine and Sports Medicine with leaders in the field that practice at RCH.
Steven Pi
What have you enjoyed the most about your MD Undergraduate experience?
Medical school can be a daunting time. You will stay up longer than most people ever will in their lifetime, you will write exams with 10+ multiple-choice options, and you will have to juggle all of this with your personal lives. The good news is that you will never feel alone going through all of this. The collegiality and support from faculty, staff, and my colleagues have been nothing short of amazing. Believe it or not, medical school can actually become really fun when you feel like you’re going through this with a group of like-minded individuals. In addition, the faculty really does have your well being in mind. They’re always making themselves available and are checking in to see how things are going. The importance of feeling supported by your program is something that is often underemphasized and is something that I have definitely come to appreci ate looking back on my MD Undergraduate experience.
What has surprised or challenged you in medical school?
Quite honestly, there wasn’t a day where I didn’t feel challenged. You’re always finding yourself in different environments interacting with unique patients on a variety of different services. In the span of your clerkship, you’ll find yourself delivering babies, assisting in surgeries, and managing complex medical patients. You’ll find out how amazing it feels to hand a newborn baby to his or her mother, but you’ll also find out how it disheartening it feels to tell someone they have a terminal illness. You will, without a doubt, go through many challenges in medical school, but it is these challenges that will shape and prepare you for a career as a physician.
What advice would you offer to upcoming students in the UBC MD program?
I remember during my undergraduate years I use to think that getting into medical school was the end goal. As someone now graduating from the program, I’ve come to recognize that this couldn’t be further from the truth. Getting into medical school is the beginning of a commitment to become a lifelong learner. My advice to upcoming medical students would be to carefully consider whether spending the rest of your life as a learner is something that interests you. For me, the prospect of being able to spend my entire career pursuing knowledge that fascinates me is something that I am absolutely ecstatic for.
What’s next for you?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have been accepted into my first choice of residency – UBC Vancouver’s Internal Medicine Program.
Looking forward to seeing you on the wards one day!
Connor Forbes
What have you enjoyed the most about your MD Undergraduate experience?
My peers! Every member of the class has an incredible story and a multitude of hidden talents. From world-class sailors, to concert violinists, to mountain climbers, to Bhangra dancers, everyone has passions that fuel their journey through medicine. UBC’s faculty of medicine offers the right infrastructure for us as students to connect with either other through these passions. There are clubs and informal groups that celebrate our every medical and outside interests, and the Medical Student & Alumni Centre provides a readily available space for them. I’m grateful personally for the great friends I’ve made through the UBC Medical Journal, in the Creative Writing in Medicine group, and the Medical Student Government.
What has surprised or challenged you in medical school?
It’s no secret that the biggest challenge of medical school is the sheer number of hours that it takes to develop into an MD. There are always patients to see and reading to do, and the hospital never sleeps. But as long as we remember that we do it all for the patients, we can be pleasantly surprised by our own capacity.
What advice would you offer to upcoming students in the UBC MD program?
Keep following your passions! All things are applicable to medicine, and vice versa. As you go through medical school, keep up your sport, your art, and your friendships and you’ll be surprised at just how much they lend themselves to your budding practice of medicine.
What’s next for you?
I’m beyond excited to be taking my next steps at UBC’s Urology program in July. I’m looking forward to developing good clinical and surgical judgement, getting the chance to continue my research, and passing on what I’ve learned so far to the next generation of UBC medical students.