Hometown: Dundas, ON
Program: Kelowna Rural Family Medicine
What attracted you to your field?
I’ve been interested in rural family medicine since before I entered medical school. I spent many summers with my grandparents in northern Ontario and really enjoyed the lifestyle and community they had built there. In particular, I really appreciated the relationship they had built with their own family physician who was truly a cornerstone of the small rural community they called home. Throughout medical school, my interest in rural medicine blossomed through mentorship and rural medicine rotations and I developed a greater interest in living and working in a small, underserved community. I love the relationship building, wide scope of practice and outdoors-focused lifestyle. Of course, the five-minute commute is also wonderful!
What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?
My favorite moments have been time spent with my amazing co-residents. I am incredibly lucky to have been surrounded by an amazing group of family docs-to-be. We have spent many moments laughing, debriefing patient cases and of course skiing and spending time together at our yearly retreat. I am so grateful to have made dear friends for life.
What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?
Soak it all in! Family medicine residency goes way too fast and before you know it, it will be over. There is so much learning and experience to be had, and many educators who are happy to help you access it. A little bit of keen interest goes a long way and will only help to make you a better resident and physician for your future patients.
What’s next for you?
Next up is some holiday time! My partner and I will be hiking the West Coast Trail in July and then moving to Prince George where I’ll be completing the three-month Northern Emergency Education Program, which is a supplemental emergency medicine training program. Afterwards, I plan to locum for a couple of years as a family and emergency medicine physician in rural areas across the province before we eventually pick a rural location to settle in. Very excited for this next chapter!