Dr. Brandon Tang, a recent graduate of UBC faculty of medicine’s internal medicine residency program, has been awarded the 2021 Canadian Medical Association (CMA) Award for Young Leaders in the resident category.
The award is in recognition of his exemplary creativity, initiative and commitment to making a difference at the local, provincial and national level.
Dr. Brandon Tang
“When I first heard the news, I was over the moon! It is a tremendous honour to be recognized amongst these incredible healthcare leaders,” Dr. Tang says. “However, in receiving this award, I acknowledge that I’m standing on the shoulders of giants – I owe so much to the guidance of my mentors who have been so generous with their expertise and time. This appreciation motivates me to become a clinician educator so I can also shape the education of future generations of physicians.”
As a member of the board of directors of Resident Doctors of BC and former co-chair of the Resident Doctors of Canada practice committee, Dr. Tang has worked to improve resident wellness and education for more than 1,300 residents in B.C. and more than 10,000 residents across Canada.
In 2020, Dr. Tang helped organize the International Conference on Residency Education (ICRE). In his role as ICRE Chief Resident — one of four chosen internationally — more than 1,500 participants gathered virtually to advance residency education. The annual event marks the world’s largest conference on postgraduate medical education, covering topics such as learning analytics, and equity, diversity and inclusivity in medical education.
“Brandon helped champion the decision to proceed with a virtual conference. He recognized the importance of demonstrating medical education’s resilience and adaptability,” says Dr. Daphne Lu, president of Resident Doctors of BC.
Inspired by his experiences as a medical resident, Dr. Tang recently delivered a TEDx talk entitled Healing Assembly Line Medicine. In it, he aimed to spark meaningful dialogue on health care systems to improve both the patient and provider experience.
Dr. Tang has also co-founded a novel medical textbook, Vancouver Notes: Internal Medicine, aimed at providing medical trainees with consultation guides for common internal medicine diagnoses. More than 90 residents and staff physicians have contributed their expertise, and Dr. Tang plans to donate proceeds from the book to support resident initiatives.
A version of this story originally appeared on the CMA website.