David Hardwick, MD’57
A short documentary about Dr. David Hardwick that has been two years in the making has now hit YouTube. The idea for the documentary came about one day at VGH, when Zac Rothman (Lead Producer – Ed Tech) and Stephen Gillis (Associate Producer, Ed Tech) noticed a common theme amongst the photos on the wall – Dr. Hardwick was in all of them! Intrigued by his bowties, Stephen asked about him and learnt the legend. From there a labour of love began, with the hope it would inspire the next generation of learners to become the leaders we need in our communities.
Haneen Abu-Remaileh, MD’10
Name: Haneen Abu-Remaileh
Degree and Grad Year: MD 2010
Current City: South Surrey
Current Job Title: Locum Tenens in General Practice and Maternity Care, affiliated with Peace Arch Hospital | Founder, Locumunity
1. Tell us about Locumunity and what you’re hoping to achieve.
Locumunity is an online platform we have created to help actively match locums to available jobs. Our aim is to use technology to create a tool where locums and clinics can find the best possible fit for their specialties and schedules. I am excited to say that we officially launched the site April 29, 2017, and have had a great response so far. Users can sign up and view a brief explanatory video on our site at www.locumunity.com and follow us on Twitter @Locumunity.
2. What problem are you trying to solve and how can Locumunity help physicians?
Currently, the process of finding locum coverage is often a time consuming endeavour for many physicians and clinics. The current tools that are available are essentially passive job boards. With Locumunity, our matching platform hopes to remove the manual filtering that both locums and physicians must currently do. Basically, our mission is to leverage technology to create a community that better connects physicians and locums to serve Canada’s doctor and patient population.
3. What motivated you to pursue Locumunity?
The lack of one centralized resource to explore all my opportunities as a locum. I found that my pattern as a locum was to cluster at clinics I was comfortable at. I really think if I was able to easily access detailed work opportunities across the province, I would be much more likely to explore somewhere new.
4. What do you consider your greatest achievement to date?
Becoming a mom and surviving so far.
5. Name the last book you couldn’t put down.
Since motherhood, my book choices have certainly changed. Currently reading “The Happiest Toddler on the Block”.
6. What is the best professional advice you’ve received?
As a physician and a mom, the best advice I received is to recognize that the only place where I am irreplaceable is at home. It helps keep my priorities in line when I am torn between family and work.
7. What is your favourite UBC Faculty of Medicine memory?
Forming a martial arts performance group in my 1st year, composed of medical students from various years with martial arts backgrounds, named “Karotid Chop”. We performed at the UBC Medicine Spring Gala every year, and I hear the group is still going strong!
8. Who was your favourite UBC Faculty of Medicine professor?
Dr. Doroudi who taught us Anatomy, and Dr. Pudek for Endocrinology. They thoroughly enjoy what they do and it shines through their teaching.
9. Biggest risk you’ve taken to date?
Moving from Jordan to Canada with my family at the age of 14. Obviously it was a risk we took as a family, and my parents sacrificed the most. The experience motivated me to work hard and succeed in my new home.
10. Please name a few of your favourite hobbies and activities
I used to be a high level Taekwondo competitor, now I exercise to stay active. I also really enjoy traveling and have been to many countries through vacation/volunteer travel experiences.
11. What’s one thing on your bucket list?
I would love to experience working/living in another country for 6 months-1 year with my family.
12. What are the best aspects of your career?
Connecting with people, helping people through their most vulnerable times, delivering babies into the world.
13. What are the most challenging aspects of your career?
It can be emotionally draining, especially in the family practice setting. You’re problem solving all day, and people usually come only when they are feeling unwell. That’s why variety is key for me; general practice combined with maternity care offers me a great balance.
14. What is one question you’re often asked about your career?
“Is it really like Greys anatomy?”
Haneen is an active community member and currently volunteers to help a Syrian refugee family resettle in Canada and navigate day to day life. In March 2016, Haneen delivered a presentation on preventative and primary care medicine to a group of Syrian refugees in Arabic. She previously held locum positions at BC Women’s Hospital, St. Paul’s Maternity Unit and City View Medical Clinic. In 2011, Haneen volunteered as a CaRMS Interviewer University of Calgary Family Medicine Program, Calgary, AB.
Jennifer Tam MD’12
Degree and Grad Year: BSc’07 (Pharmacy), MD’12
Current city: Toronto
Current Profession: Resident, Pediatrics SickKids Hospital
Jennifer is completing her medical residency at SickKids Hospital in Toronto where she focuses her research primarily on infectious diseases in pediatric patients. Jennifer’s team spearheaded a study examining the usefulness of measuring blood levels of HIV medications routinely compared to on an as-needed basis. They found that measuring blood levels on an as-needed basis was more useful in clinical practice. In 2015, Jennifer’s team was recognized for this discovery at the SickKids Pediatrics Research Day.
1. Why did you choose to go into pediatrics and what do you enjoy about it?
Aside from not having to wear a lab coat when working in Pediatrics, I really enjoy the environment of pediatric hospitals. For example, SickKids has a very unique vibe – it doesn’t actually feel like you are in a hospital because it has a very open design and in a way looks more like a mall. The best thing about working with kids though is that I always leave the work smiling.
2. What are some of the most rewarding aspects of pediatrics?
It’s amazing how resilient children are. Despite how sick they might be, so many children can bounce back from just about anything – it is truly inspiring and reminds you to never give up in life.
3. And what about the challenges?
There is a general consensus that one of the most challenging aspects of Pediatrics is working with an entire family rather than just the patient. However, if you mentally put yourself in anxious parents’ shoes and try to understand what they’re going through, you realize that they are just trying to make the best decisions they can for their children. Then, it isn’t a bad thing at all.
4. What are some of your goals in your research and in pediatrics?
My goals primarily are to be a clinician and provide service to patients. In terms of my research in infectious diseases, my goal is to focus on studies that will affect clinical practice in a positive way. This also includes a focus on medical education, as one of the most impactful things in medicine is influencing clinical practice where it starts – during training!
5. Today in healthcare it’s important to….
Remember to take care of your own health too! Physicians can often get caught up in their daily work and forget to take care of their own basic human needs, such as eating, sleeping, and going to the washroom. In order to provide the best care possible to your patients, you have to take care of yourself, too.
6. What do you consider your greatest achievement to date?
Staying alive through the completion of my residency in a new city despite not being able to cook (luckily my husband is more talented in the kitchen)!
7. Was there anything specific about your medical education at UBC that prepared you well for this area of medicine?
I may be biased, but my impression is that UBC medicine graduates have a reputation for being clinically strong. One particularly memorable rotation for me was Pediatric Cardiology at BC Children’s Hospital. With early mornings and late evenings, as well as the expectation of keeping on top of readings, the rotation had rigorous demands. The experience was a real eye opener into the dedication that the career entails. My co-medical student during the rotation also emphasized to me that medicine is a team sport because together, we learned a lot more and got more out of the rotation than we would have alone!
8. Favourite professor?
Pediatric Infectious Diseases physician, Dr. Tobias Kollmann, comes to mind as an influential and inspiring professor. He was able to explain complex concepts and aspects of medicine that we take for granted in clear and concise ways. It made Pediatric Infectious Diseases seem like an incredibly fascinating field (and I can confidently attest that it is, as I am doing my subspecialty training in that now!). Dr. Kollmann is an exemplary clinician and scientist.
9. Favourite memories of UBC Faculty of Medicine?
Of my most meaningful experiences as a medical student was my involvement in the development of the UBC Medical Journal (UBCMJ). As part of the group that started UBCMJ, I learned a ton about how research publications work and developed lifelong friendships during the process.
10. What advice do you have for current UBC MD students about the match process?
It is easy to get stressed out about the process, but remember – most of it is out of your control, so there is no point in stressing out about it because that won’t change anything! (I know, easier said than done, but give it a try.) No matter where you match to, keep an open mind and make the most of whatever you are doing and whatever city you’re in, because that is in your control.
11. What profession might have you pursued if not for medicine?
I completed my pharmacy degree at UBC in 2007 and know that pharmacy is an amazing career. I eventually realized that my passion was in medicine, but loved being a clinical pharmacist as well.
12. Please name a few of your favourite hobbies and interests
Since moving to Toronto to complete my medical residency, I’ve started practicing Taiko drums, which are traditional Japanese drums performed in a group ensemble. I meet with a women’s Taiko drum class twice a week. Way back in the day, Taiko drums were only to be played by men, so our all-female group is a form of female empowerment. Really though, I mainly go because I love hitting giant drums with giant sticks to make resonating rhythms in a group.
13. Bucket list item?
I want to travel to every continent in the world. After travelling to Antarctica and South America this winter, I will only have Australia left to go!