Dr. Ricky Tsang is a Vancouverite who attended UBC for undergraduate studies and medical school, the latter after a brief foray into the corporate world. He is also an aspiring amateur cook who enjoys “mucking about in the kitchen and not following recipes.” In January 2024, Dr. Tsang received the Medal of Good Citizenship from the Province of BC for his contributions to community live in British Columbia.
What drew you to the MD Program at UBC?
Having grown up in Vancouver, the MD Program at UBC was the logical choice. Beyond geographical proximity and familiarity both with the university and region, I was drawn to the distributed nature of the medical program which I believe provides students with a richness of diversity, perspectives, and experiences unmatched by other programs. Moreover, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is fortunate to have a unique group of dedicated and talented educators that I believe are among the very best and contribute to a robust medical education experience.
What is your favorite memory from your time at UBC?
Tough question! Having attended UBC for undergraduate studies and medical school, I have a catalogue of memorable moments at UBC. That said, two moments stand out to me.
The first is Imagine Day 2012. I was involved in the team tasked with putting together Imagine Day 2012 and standing on Main Mall the day of the event and seeing the carefully orchestrated chaos unfold before our eyes after months of hard work is something I’ll never forget.
The second is the first day of medical school when we had the opportunity to meet other members of our class. The excitement and anticipation, which had culminated from many years of hard work and dedication, was a joy to be part of.
What has been your journey since graduating from UBC?
Since graduating, I’ve moved to Toronto to pursue a residency in General Surgery at the University of Toronto.
How did you start volunteering?
I started volunteering regularly in 2007. I used to live near a long-term care facility I walked by daily. Out of an abundance of curiosity and a desire to do some volunteering, I walked in and filled out a volunteer application form. Thankfully, they decided to accept me as a volunteer, and it felt like a natural fit from the start. For years, I thoroughly enjoyed working with dedicated rehab staff and volunteers to deliver various recreational and social programs for residents. They did an excellent job creating a family-like environment.
From there, I became involved with the Canucks Autism Network, Children’s Organ Transplant Society, and Starlight Canada.
Why are you inspired to give back to your communities through community service?
I believe we all have the capacity to give back to the community in some way, shape, or form. All efforts, big and small, and everything in between, can have a profound impact on another individual or community.
I grew up near a long-term care facility and was fortunate to land a role there while in high school. Seeing firsthand the compassion, hard work, and dedication of the staff and other volunteers on a weekly basis, as well as the joy they brought to elders, inspired me to follow in their footsteps and contribute through volunteerism.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish?
From a professional perspective, I hope to become physician that patients consider as caring and competent, someone that they can approach and feel comfortable working with to address their medical concerns. From a personal point of view, I aspire to travel extensively and bake the perfect molten chocolate cake.
What does a healthy society mean to you?
For me, a healthy society is characterized by compassion and care, where those who are less fortunate are looked after. A healthy society is one where all its members have access to housing and shelter, education and healthcare, and resources to pursue a healthy lifestyle in order to care for themselves and those around them.
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