Warren Brock speaking at the videoconferenced information session.
The Faculty of Medicine is using its advanced videoconferencing technology to connect with students long before they enter — or even apply to — medical school.
The remote, two-way information sessions have been launched by the Faculty’s Southern Medical Program in B.C.’s Interior region. The first was held Dec. 3 with about 25 students from Penticton Secondary School, Princess Margaret Secondary School and Summerland Secondary School.
The event was led by Warren Brock, the Southern Medical Program’s Communications Manager, based at UBC’s campus in Kelowna. He focused on what medical school is all about and the diverse scope of medical practice, and tried to dispel common admissions myths — such as that only straight-A science students need apply.
“It’s great to be able to connect multiple high schools simultaneously to speak with the students, share ideas, and answer questions,” Brock says. “The format also allows us to give the students a taste of how academic sessions are delivered to students across the province.”
Videoconferencing has become second nature for the Faculty of Medicine, ever since it began distributing the education of medical students throughout the province in 2004. The Faculty of Medicine now admits 288 students a year to one of four sites: the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program, the Northern Medical Program, the Island Medical Program and its newest one, the Southern Medical Program. Videoconferencing enables instructors and students to interact across the province, in both large lectures and small group sessions, across four academic campuses and more than 100 clinical teaching sites.
“We know that there are young British Columbians from rural areas that have all of the attributes that will make them well suited to a successful career in medicine,” says Bruce Fleming, the Faculty’s Associate Dean for Admissions. “Reaching out in this way, we hope to encourage applicants with the ability and energy to succeed. They are the very people who are most likely to return to serve the communities where they are most needed.”
Christina Mitchell, a Grade 12 Penticton student, admits that applying to medical school is daunting at first with so many unknowns.
“This conference was able to provide us with a plethora of information, as well as many answers to our queries delivered in a simple and accessible format,” Mitchell says. “I feel it will make the upcoming years, while I will complete my undergrad, a little less stressful, just understanding the road I’m taking.”
The Faculty of Medicine intends to hold more such sessions, not only in the Interior, but in the North and the Island as well. University and secondary school officials who are interested in participating should contact the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s MD admissions office at admission.md@ubc.ca.