Hometown: Nakusp, BC
Program: Indigenous Family Practice Residency Program
What attracted you to your field?
I knew I wanted to be a family doctor from day one of medical school. Being able to combine my love of science, advocacy and human connection is what makes family medicine the perfect specialty for me. I love the diversity of work I can do and the various places I am able to work. I especially love working with local Indigenous communities on their stolen lands and advocating for equity when it comes to Indigenous folks’ access to health.
What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?
I truly enjoy rural medicine and I was able to do many rural electives during my two-year residency training thanks to the financial support of the Rural Education Action Plan. I spent two months in Inuvik, Northwest Territories and it was an incredible experience.
Inuvik is 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle and located on the traditional territories of the Inuvialuit, Gwich’in and Métis people. Everyone in the community was welcoming, kind and generous in their knowledge sharing and I was able to work with staff who were culturally safe, compassionate and caring. I was also able to visit some smaller communities for clinic visits including Aklavik, Tuktoyaktuk and Tsiigehtchic. If you have the opportunity to visit or work in the North, I highly recommend it!
What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?
Residency is challenging so try to remember to give yourself grace as you move through this part of your training. Reach out to friends, co-residents, family and mentors when you need to — they are more than happy to support you and remind you that you are deserving of where you are today.
The Indigenous Family Practice Residency Program has an incredible program coordinator, Carlea Remodo. Carlea was always supportive of my learning and reminded me that it is equally important to take care of myself during residency training. Thank you for being my rock over the last two years! I also had the incredible privilege of having Dr. Cassandra Felske-Durksen as my program director for my first year of residency. I went through some challenging situations and she was always available to talk and supported me through those tough times.
What’s next for you?
I’m planning to locum for other physicians in the same communities where I completed my residency training, as well as take some much-needed time off to rest and travel.