Mandate
“We contribute to the health of individuals and communities locally, nationally and internationally by fostering excellence, innovation and scholarship in education, research and care.”
Dean and Vice-Provost, Health: Dr. Gavin Stuart
Programs/ Degrees Offered
The UBC Faculty of Medicine offers the following academic programs in the health and life sciences through a province-wide delivery model:
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- 64 Postgraduate Medicine Training Programs (Residency)
- Medical Laboratory Science (BMLSc)
- Midwifery (BMW)
- Basic and Clinical Sciences (MSc & PhD Programs)
- Occupational Therapy (MOT)
- Physical Therapy (MPT)
- Audiology and Speech Sciences (MSc & PhD)
- Combined MD/PhD
- Health Administration (MHA)
- Health Science (MHSc)
- Public Health (MPH)
- Rehabilitation Sciences (MRSc)
- Continuing Professional Development
Research
The UBC Faculty of Medicine and its partners are home to hundreds of investigators working on health and life sciences research, generating more than $295 million in research funding annually. 44 of 149 UBC spin-off companies were created by Faculty of Medicine researchers.
Additional Information:
- UBC Faculty of Medicine Departments/Schools/Centres
- UBC Faculty of Medicine Facts & Figures
- UBC Faculty of Medicine Facilities/Campuses
- UBC Fact Sheet
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
The four-year MD undergraduate program prepares graduates for residency training. The UBC curriculum is problem-based and student-centred, and is focused on the interrelationship between doctors, patients and society. The first two years of the program are mostly classroom based. Third and fourth year provide hands-on clinical training to students and the opportunity to interact directly with patients. During these years, learning takes place in hospitals (known as UBC Clinical Academic Campuses), doctors’ offices, community-centred settings and other health-care venues across the province where physicians combine patient care with teaching.
The UBC MD undergraduate program includes the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program at UBC, the Island Medical Program delivered in collaboration with the University of Victoria, the Northern Medical Program delivered in collaboration with the University of Northern British Columbia, and the Southern Medical Program at UBC Okanagan.
64 Postgraduate Medicine Training Programs (Residency)
The UBC Faculty of Medicine administers 64 specialty and subspecialty postgraduate training programs recognized by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. After completing MD undergraduate education, residents complete two years of postgraduate training for doctors entering family medicine and up to seven years of postgraduate training for doctors entering other specialties. Residents complete their training at UBC affiliated hospitals (known as UBC Clinical Academic Campuses and UBC Affiliated Regional Centres) across the province. Doctors who graduate from medical school must complete a postgraduate training program before they can qualify to be licensed for independent practice.
Medical Laboratory Science (BMLSc)
After completing two years of science prerequisites, students can join this two-year program offered by the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. The program provides theory and hands-on training in disciplines such as pathology, histology, medical microbiology, clinical chemistry, hematology, toxicology and immunopathology. It is designed for graduates who intend on pursuing careers or further education in medicine, administration, research, industry, research and development, education or graduate studies.
Midwifery (BMW)
The four-year undergraduate midwifery program prepares graduates to work as primary caregivers for childbearing women, newborns, and their families. Students learn in classroom settings and spend at least three terms gaining clinical experience in midwifery practices at sites across the province.
Basic and Clinical Sciences (MSc & PhD Programs)
Master and Doctoral graduate programs are offered in a wide range of health-related fields, preparing graduates for careers in research. These research-based programs provide opportunities for training in subjects ranging from basic biomedical sciences to clinical and health services research. Graduate programs are offered in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Experimental Medicine, Genetic Counselling, Medical Genetics, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Population and Public Health, Rehabilitation Sciences, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, and Surgery.
The UBC Faculty of Medicine also provides instruction to undergraduate and graduate arts and science students in the areas of Biochemistry, Physiology, Anatomy, Medical Genetics, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and other disciplines.
Occupational Therapy (MOT)
The Master of Occupational Therapy program provides the professional education necessary to obtain a license to practise occupational therapy. The program prepares graduates to provide specialized rehabilitation services to maintain, restore or improve the ability of children and adults to perform in the areas of self care (eating, dressing, personal hygiene), productivity (household work, employment, school), and leisure activities.
Physical Therapy (MPT)
The Master of Physical Therapy program provides the professional education necessary to become registered to practise physiotherapy. Physical therapists specialize in the assessment of and treatments related to movement, directed primarily towards the prevention or alleviation of movement dysfunction in people.
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (MSc and PhD)
The Master of Science program provides the scientific and clinical education necessary for clinical practice in either Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology. Audiologists assess the extent of hearing loss, balance and related disorders and recommend appropriate treatment. The role of the speech-language pathologist is to identify, assess, treat, educate and help to prevent language, speech, voice, fluency, cognitive, and other related communication disorders, as well as swallowing problems.
The Doctoral program offers specialization in the following areas: neurolinguistics/linguistic aphasiology, developmental phonetics and phonology, language acquisition, developmental language disorders, discourse analysis, phonological and phonetic disorders, audiology, amplification, electrophysiologic and otoacoustic emissions diagnosis and hearing science.
Combined MD/ PhD
The combined MD/PhD program is designed for students who want to pursue a career as clinician-scientist. It provides students with the opportunity to combine medical school with intensive scientific training. Graduates are trained as physicians and scientists. It prepares graduates to pursue a research-intensive track of postgraduate medical residency training and postdoctoral training in a specialty or discipline of their choice. It is an integrated program jointly administered by the Faculties of Medicine and Graduate Studies.
Health Administration (MHA)
The Master of Health Administration program provides the educational and professional foundations for leadership in the health care field. It emphasizes analytical thinking and prepares students for a career in health care management.
Health Science (MHSc)
The Master of Health Sciences degree is a professional degree designed to give the graduate strong research methodology skills that can be applied to their academic and clinical interests. The program is restricted to applicants who have an MD or equivalent (e.g., dentistry or veterinary medicine).
Public Health (MPH)
The Master of Public Health degree program will produce public health professionals with integrated knowledge and skills in epidemiology, biostatistics, social, biological and environmental determinants of heath, population health, disease prevention, and health systems management. Our graduates will be capable of appying this knowledge to a diverse range of health issues in interdisciplinary environments. Globally, the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is the most widely recognized professional credential for leadership in population and public health.
Rehabilitation Sciences (MRSc)
The Master of Rehabilitation Science program is a professional graduate program that can be completed part-time while students continue to work, or full-time. It is for learners with an undergraduate degree in any health discipline but who have a minimum of three years of rehabilitation experience.The aim of the MRSc program is to provide working health professionals with advanced skills and knowledge in areas that are required to advance their careers and deliver quality health services.
Continuing Professional Development
The Division of CPD has responsibility for continuing professional education for the practicing physicians in British Columbia. The educational unit works with hospitals and UBC academic departments to develop and deliver courses, conferences and meetings. The research unit is involved in provincial, national, and international research programs relating to continuing health education, technology, and knowledge translation.
