Dr. Randip Gill, BSc'14, BEd (Sec)'15, MA'18, PhD'24

Dr. Randip Gill, BSc’14, BEd (Sec)’15, MA’18, PhD’24

Dr. Randip Gill (he/his) is a PhD graduate from the School of Population and Public Health at UBC. Randip was born and raised in Surrey, BC. His PhD work focused on how different types of childhood poverty experience affect children’s development, health, and school success from kindergarten to high school graduation in British Columbia, and how these relationships differ by the child’s immigration background. The goal of this work was to further our understanding in this area, and to inform intervention and policy to reduce harms related to poverty.

Outside of work, Dr. Gill tries to have fun and relax by spending time with family and friends, going to the gym, tech and video games, and dabbling in just about any recreational activity, from fencing, fitness classes, or dance.

What drew you to the PhD in Population and Public Health program at UBC?
I was drawn to this program by the alignment of the faculty and coursework to my research interest and goals, specifically the presence of the interdisciplinary research team including my research supervisor, Dr. Anne Gadermann, at the Human Early Learning Partnership. The research team and opportunity to utilize data linkages spanning developmental surveys completed by children, their parents, and their teachers, to administrative data including health, immigration, and education records was incredibly appealing to potentially utilize in my dissertation research.

What led you to your research focus?
I was led to my research focus both in the coursework and experiences that I had prior to my PhD, as well as my personal experience in the ties between my doctoral research and my family’s experience in BC. Learning how intertwined poverty, immigration background, and children’s developmental outcomes are, I was inspired to explore this research further in my doctoral work.

How has your time at UBC made an impact on you?
There likely isn’t an area of my life where my time at UBC hasn’t made an impact. From the knowledge and skills that I’ve gained, exposure to experiences and perspectives that I’ve had the opportunity to interact with and learn from, and the friendships I’ve obtained, it’s been an absolute privilege to have spent the time that I’ve had here.

What is your favorite memory from your time at UBC?
There is definitely a recency bias, but I would say that my PhD graduation is my favorite memory of my time at UBC. Experiencing the culmination of years of work in a topic that I’m passionate about, alongside those who care about me and have enabled me to pursue this work is a moment I will cherish.

Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration on two fronts. I have an innate curiosity to learn about just about any science, and I find enjoyment in the process of scientific pursuit and contributing in my own small way to knowledge and knowledge translation. I also find inspiration from my family. My parents are immigrants from India who started with very little in Canada to ultimately build a prosperous life for themselves and their children. I’m inspired to build upon the work and efforts that they’ve made. I aim to contribute, in whatever small way, to improving the health and developmental outcomes for children in BC and elsewhere, particularly those who experience socioeconomic hardship.

What does a healthy society mean to you?
A healthy society to me means a society in which every individual has an opportunity to thrive, and that supports are provided to empower individuals to create these conditions for positive health, development, and educational outcomes.

What are your plans after graduation?
I am currently working as a postdoctoral research fellow at UBC with the Human Early Learning Partnership. I am continuing my work towards understanding how early risk factors affect children’s development and health outcomes. This work includes a project examining how early childhood experiences may biologically embed through mechanisms such as epigenetic modification to affect children’s health outcomes.

Phoebe Tuyishime, MPH’24

Phoebe Tuyishime recently completed their Master in Public Health at UBC. She was awarded the prestigious MasterCard Foundation Scholarship, which enabled her to pursue her undergraduate degree in Public Health Nutrition and a minor in Global Public Health and Epidemiology from Michigan State University. Subsequently, Phoebe received a similar scholarship for her Master’s studies at UBC.

She has a strong passion for tackling public health issues, particularly nutrition and food insecurity. Phoebe’s experiences, including working with the Clinton Health Access Initiative in Rwanda, have shown her the positive impact of effective public health efforts, especially in addressing critical issues like nutrition, sanitation, and infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Phoebe’s ultimate goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in a few years and establish a Public Health Nutrition Research and Policy Institute in Rwanda.

What drew you to the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at UBC?
In pursuit of my career aspirations, I sought to strengthen my fundamental public health skills, including epidemiology and knowledge translation, while enhancing my understanding of global health issues. The Master of Public Health (MPH) program at UBC emerged as the ideal fit, as it encompasses learnings in epidemiology, biostatistics, and global health. I was especially drawn to the global health initiative targeting cervical cancer spearheaded by Dr. Gina Ogilvie at the School of Population and Public Health. Her holistic approach to addressing global public health challenges, which integrates community insights to tackle critical issues in low-income countries, deeply resonated with me and left a lasting impression.

How has studying in the MPH program made an impact on you?
My studies increased my understanding of the inequities faced by minority populations and their roots in systemic discrimination and colonization. The program has also provided me with valuable knowledge in program planning, implementation, and evaluation, using epidemiological methods.

What was something you learned in the MPH program that surprised you?
One of the most eye-opening experiences was learning about Indigenous approaches to health, which emphasize a holistic balance of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. This contrasts with the Western biomedical focus and underscores the importance of incorporating culturally safe practices, even in research.

What is your favorite memory from your time at UBC?
My favorite memories include sharing meals with colleagues after exams and engaging in open dialogues with professors about colonization, racism, and discrimination, which broadened my perspective on these issues.

Where do you find inspiration?
When I was in my undergraduate program, the program advisor of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars at Michigan State University used to say, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected.’ I grew up in a very small country, where only 3% of people have college degrees. My country still has lots of public health nutrition problems like chronic undernutrition among children (stunting), and high rates of infectious diseases. I feel indebted to these children and this gives me the inspiration to move forward.

What does a healthy society mean to you?
A healthy society is one that ensures equity by providing equal access to healthcare and other determinants of health, thereby eliminating injustices and inequalities. Tackling income disparities is essential for achieving such a society.

What are your plans after graduation?
I am currently working in Student Health and Wellbeing at UBC, where I focus on food insecurity. I am excited to leverage my public health expertise to assist implementation and evaluation of interventions aimed at reducing poor health and academic outcomes among university students, particularly among minority groups.

Brian Martin, BMLSc’24

Brian (he/him) is a graduate of the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science program. During his fourth year, he acted as a Student Liaison in addition to his studies. Upon graduation, he received the William J. Godolphin Prize for Excellence in Critical Thinking and a Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research Award. Living in a rural community, his experience of healthcare has motivated him to pursue a career in medicine. Outside of school, Brian can be found completing a variety of outdoor activities in the West Kootenay region including being a member of his local search and rescue team.

What drew you to the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLSc) degree at UBC?
Multiple factors motivated me to pursue my BMLSc degree. The unique curriculum fulfilled my desire to better understand the complex processes that occur with disease. Additionally, I preferred the small class size as well as the combination of both didactic and experiential learning. The incredibly knowledgeable professors and supportive faculty ensured that I remained engaged throughout my studies.

How has studying in the BMLSc program made an impact on you?
Studying in the BMLSc program has impacted me in countless ways beyond expanding my knowledge of pathology and lab medicine. Specific examples include coursework devoted to preparing students for future research or career activities as well as teaching students the fundamentals of teaching and learning. I believe that my acquired knowledge and skillset have expanded my opportunities and adequately prepared me for my future endeavors.

What was something you learned in the BMLSc program that surprised you?
I learned many compelling facts related to hematology, pathology, toxicology, genetics, etc. throughout my studies. Yet, the most surprising learning experience occurred over the entirety of my fourth year. Prior to graduation, students in the BMLSc program complete the PATH 405 course that involves presentation, discussion, feedback, critical appraisal, and writing. During the course, I applied the concepts learned in the introductory lectures and embarked on a journey of self-reflection and peer facilitated learning to develop the invaluable skill of teaching.

What is your favorite memory from your time at UBC?
In my third year, I was fortunate to live on the seventeenth floor of the Ponderosa Commons Cedar House residence. Each day, I would receive amazing sunset views looking over the sea towards Vancouver Island.

Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration and motivation in many places. A leading cause of my own inspiration is from experiencing the beneficial impact caused by those who have devoted time and effort to contribute in the past and present.

What does a healthy society mean to you?
A healthy society is one that views and cares for wellbeing in a multidimensional manner. Key characteristics include equity, justice, and compassion. Moreover, individuals collaborate to continually improve and advance society through collective action.

What are your plans after graduation?
I was fortunate to be awarded funding from the Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research Program. In the short term, I will be completing work in the Implementation Science & Isolated Communities Lab led by Dr. Femke Hoekstra. My project is investigating virtual health innovations that have been implemented in rural and remote communities of BC. Following completion of the project, I will live, recreate, and work in my own rural community. Ultimately, I hope to continue my education and pursue a career in medicine.

Kristen Danielle Go, BMLSc’24

Kristen Danielle (she/her), who goes by Dana, is a graduate of the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLSc) program. Pursuing a career related to medicine to be able to help others has been her dream for as long as she can remember. Dana grew up in the Philippines, where she was homeschooled. During her 4th year in the BMLSc program, she did research on single molecule assays (SiMoA) for neurological biomarkers in blood as a directed studies student at Wellington Laboratories at Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. Dana is an awardee of the B.J. Twaites Prize for Excellence in Laboratory Administration. In addition to working in research, she works as a secretary at UBC hospital. In her free time, some of her favourite things to do are puzzles, going on scenic hikes, and discovering amazing food spots with her friends (especially for desserts!).

What drew you to the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLSc) degree at UBC?
Online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic made me really miss hands-on learning and close interactions with my peers. I stumbled across the BMLSc program website by chance while I was doing research for one of my courses, and was really excited by its small class size and emphasis on medical laboratory techniques.

How has studying in the BMLSc program made an impact on you?
The BMLSc program has opened the door to research for me, and built a foundation for me as a researcher. Prior to the program, I had zero research experience and no idea how to find a research position. However, the BMLSc program provided me with so many experiences that I never would have imagined myself having as an undergraduate student. Some of these highlights included site visits to local laboratories, a summer trip to Northern BC with the Travelling Healthcare Roadshow, and running my own research project as a directed studies student.

What was something you learned in the BMLSc program that surprised you?
The BMLSc program gave me many opportunities to get involved with research in the pathology department, which led me to learn a lot about the research community. Something that surprised me was the interdisciplinary collaboration that goes into research and how many different focuses there are for research topics. People with all different backgrounds and skill sets work together in a research laboratory. There is such a wide range of research interests that there is something for everyone.

What is your favourite memory from your time at UBC?
My favourite memory has to be getting to know my BMLSc family. I formed close friendships with several students in my cohort, who are some of the most hard-working and compassionate people I know. I have learned so much from them through long study sessions and exam periods, trips to Rain or Shine ice cream, and traveling together during the summer.

Where do you find inspiration?
I am inspired by my dad, who has always encouraged me to be curious and seek out truths. Our many conversations exploring philosophical topics built me the habit to think critically about the world around me. My dad’s constant support gave me the courage to try new things and pursue many opportunities in my time at UBC, which eventually led me to discover my passion for research.

What does a healthy society mean to you?
A healthy society works hard and sacrifices to build better lives and opportunities for future generations. Its people aim to leave the world better than they found it.

“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” – Greek Proverb

What are your plans after graduation?
My friends and I are planning to travel to Japan to celebrate our graduation. For the summer, I have accepted a research position to continue to work on furthering my investigation of blood-based neurological biomarkers at Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, at the laboratory where I completed my directed studies project. Afterwards, I would like to pursue grad school to continue building my research experience and eventually apply for medical school somewhere down the line.

Davy Lau

Davy Lau is a 2023 recipient of the UBC Medical Alumni Association Student Leadership Award.

Davy is a 3rd year medical student at the Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program. Having witnessed the impact of the pandemic on his classmates and healthcare professionals, he wanted to spark a cultural change, where students develop the habit of seeking out support for their mental health now, that will carry with them in their roles as future physicians. As such, he-cofounded Medline, a 1-on-1 peer support service that allows UBC medical students to chat anonymously with other students – “peer supporters” that have been trained in active listening. In its 1st year, Medline has been well-received by the medical student community, with supporters having conducted several sessions for students seeking support on a variety of topics.

Davy is also passionate about his work with the Political Advocacy Committee (PAC). He’s had the privilege of speaking to federal MPs and CBC Radio on the importance of Universal Access to Contraception. This year, he’s leading a team to advocate on addressing surgical waitlist times, with a policy paper underway and meetings with provincial MLAs in the Spring.

Prior to medicine, he spent 3 years at UBC studying Cellular & Physiological Sciences, and over a decade playing classical piano. Outside of school, you can find him on the piano, in ballet class, or on the couch with his mum. He’s also been a part of UBC Med’s contemporary dance group Terpsichore and the theatre group MedPlay.

 

Karen Rofaeel

Karen Rofaeel is a 2023 recipient of the UBC Medical Alumni Association Student Leadership Award.

Karen is a second-year medical student at the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program. She has served as Class President for the past two years and has prioritized advocating for the needs of her class through this role. She was instrumental in improving student scheduling of clinical sessions, lecture timing, maintaining in-person learning whenever possible during the pandemic, and reinstating The Cadaveric Body Donor Memorial Service. Karen is also very passionate about mentorship, which is evident in her involvement with UBC’s Pathways to Medicine, the Student Affairs Mentorship Program, FLEX Activity Day, and Year 1 Orientation. Outside of medicine, Karen is also involved in an outreach service for houseless individuals in the Downtown Eastside and co-founded an Alumni Network for her undergraduate program prior to medical school. Karen also enjoys being outdoors, travelling, reading, and is always on the hunt for a good cup of coffee. Karen would like to thank the UBC Medical Alumni Association for recognizing her with this award, as well as her mentors, colleagues, and peers for their continuous support.

Transition to Practice & Beyond

You’re invited to join MNP’s May Ashraf and Daniel Love for a hybrid taxation and finance event on Tuesday, April 16th from 5:30 – 7:00 pm.

This live presentation will help you get answers to the most common questions that residents and alumni have asked MNP’s business advisors over the years, including current tax filing obligations, incorporation, tax tips, income splitting, and much more. 

Please feel to register even if you’ve attended a similar presentation before, as we will be presenting on many new topics.

Questions that you’ll learn answers to include:

  1. What are my tax filing obligations as a resident?
  2. What are my tax filing obligations as I transition to practice?
  3. When should I incorporate?
  4. What are the pros and cons of incorporation?
  5. How fast should I repay debt?
  6. What to consider when setting up a practice
  7. Who do I need on my advisory team?

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Time: 5:30 – 7:00 pm PT
In-person Location: UBC Medical Student and Alumni Centre | 2750 Heather St., Vancouver, BC V5Z 4M2
Online Location: Zoom (Details will be provided upon registration)

Don’t miss out! Registration closes on Monday, April 15th.

Presenters

May Ashraf
Partner

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel Love
Senior Manager

 

 

 

 

 

About MNP

MNP is one of Canada’s leading professional services firms, proudly serving individuals, businesses, and organizations since 1958. Through the development of strong relationships, they provide client-focused accounting, consulting, tax, and digital services. Their clients benefit from personalized strategies with a local perspective to fuel success wherever business takes them.

Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell

Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell is a 2024 recipient of the UBC Medical Alumni Association Honorary Medical Alumni Award.

Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell (she/her) is a movement disorder neurologist trained in Germany, London, UK and Vancouver, Canada. She is an Associate Professor for Medicine/Neurology at the University of British Columbia where she holds the Marg Meikle Professorship for Research in Parkinson’s disease and directs the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre. Her research focuses on the role of the microbiome and nutrition in Parkinson’s disease and related brain disorders, lifestyle interventions as well as non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. In addition to Parkinson’s disease, dystonia is a particular interest of her work, especially ultrasound guidance for injection treatment with botulinum toxin. When not working, she enjoys the outdoors in BC, skis, hikes, bikes, gardens and cooks.

She is the founding director of the BC Brain Wellness Program and has previously served as the president of the Canadian Movement Disorder Society and the Director of the Canadian Residents Course for Movement Disorders. She is the recipient of a 2022/2023 UBC Killam Teaching Award.

What drew you to UBC and the UBC Faculty of Medicine?
Coming to UBC was a combination of the attraction of an internationally leading Parkinson’s research program at UBC led by Dr Jon Stoessl at the time and his kindness of taking me on as a fellow, the pull of family and the natural beauty of BC. When moving from London, UK, to Vancouver, I instantly fell in love with the city and that feeling has endured every since.

What has been your career journey?
My career journey has been somewhat unusual – I grew up in Germany, mostly dedicated to athletics and thanks to a full scholarship I was able to attend an American independent boarding school, The Hotchkiss School, in Connecticut for grade 11. This is where I learned English (my first foreign language was Latin in grade 5 which did not take me that far). Immersion into the English language as well as the experience of being abroad laid the foundation for my future choices. My initial university studies in macroeconomics and international relations were geared towards joining the diplomatic service or an international NGO with the hope to contribute to international connections and to better understand what makes societies work and how to change them for the better. Soon I found myself too far removed from the needs of individuals, though and I changed to study medicine.

In medical school I was very fortunate to have been supported by a full scholarship from the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (the German Academic Scholarship Foundation) which allowed me to travel internationally for electives and extended internships. I spent time in hospitals in New Orleans (neurology and pediatric neurology), London, UK (neurology) and Durban, South Africa (surgery). At the end of Medical School, I was considering neurology (plus psychiatry) or pediatrics as my career choices, neurology won as I found it challenging to emotionally deal with severe illnesses in children and Oliver Sacks’ books had sparked my curiosity about the brain and how it shapes how we experience the world and make decisions. I did my neurology residency at a teaching hospital of the University of Heidelberg but eventually the travelling bug caught up with me again and in 2001, I took my CV with me to London, went to Dr Andrew Lees’ office at Queen Square and asked if they had a fellowship position in movement disorders. Fortunately, they did and in 2002 I started my first fellowship in movement disorders with Dr Lees where I was part of the team that worked on the then newly discovered impulse control disorders that can arise from dopaminergic medications in Parkinson and profoundly influence decision making in affected individuals. In order to qualify as a neurologist in Germany, I also had to do at least one year of psychiatry so I embarked on four years of psychiatry training during which I had two children and took time off for parental leave. This was followed by locum time as a neurology consultant in London.

In 2006/2007 the opportunity came up to move to Canada, my German qualification as a neurologist was not recognized in Canada but I could fortunately do another movement disorder fellowship at UBC. With the help of a lot of fundraising by the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Institute (PPRI) through the Porridge for Parkinson’s event by Marg Meikle and her family, the “Porridge Professorship”, later renamed the “Marg Meikle Professorship for Parkinson’s Research” was established which I have held since 2010. The position has allowed me to focus on movement disorders clinically and with the support from many colleagues and crucially PPRI to build my research program. My path has been anything but straight forward but it all makes sense now. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity provided by UBC and the many colleagues and mentors who have helped to overcome the many hurdles along the way.

What UBC Faculty of Medicine initiatives or projects have you been involved in that you are particularly proud of?
The BC Brain Wellness Program is very close to my heart – Dr. Jack Taunton and I founded it in 2017, it launched with a fabulous team in 2019 to bring lifestyle interventions such as exercise, arts-based practices and more recently nutrition to people living with chronic brain conditions, their care partners and healthy agers. The program is now in its 5th year and has reached several thousand British Columbians with free mostly online and some in-person programs while also supporting the education on brain conditions in several allied health specialties, and providing volunteering and research opportunities for many students from across campus. We are grateful to all our donors, the VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation and to the Faculty of Medicine Development Office for all their crucial support including for featuring the BC Brain Wellness Program at UBC Giving Day.

The biggest part of my research program now is the focus on the role of diet and of the gut microbiome in Parkinson’s. This has been a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary endeavor. Visionary funding from PPRI again made the first several projects possible and allowed us to contribute significantly to the field internationally, we are now running several clinical trials and cohort studies, bringing together a large team of researchers and clinicians, supported by and in close collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine.

I am grateful to be a member of both the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health as well as the Edwin S. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging – both have been most supportive and I truly enjoy the many opportunities to collaborate and create new initiatives. Both are creative spaces where good ideas are supported and I feel there is freedom to explore them.

Could you share a specific moment or experience that reaffirmed your commitment to your role as a clinician, teacher, mentor, or administrator within the UBC Faculty of Medicine?
Recently, one of my children has had significant medical challenges and my colleagues stepped up to help immediately. I have been enormously grateful to all of them for their kindness and wisdom. Moreover, it strengthened my feelings of empathy for my patients and deeply reaffirmed for me the importance of kindness in medicine, the importance of accessibility to medical care, the importance of research to move the needle in the conditions that we don’t have causative treatments for and the importance to teach and mentor the next generation. It affirmed for me that I am in the place I need to be in, even if it is not always easy to strike balance.

What does receiving the Honorary Medical Alumni Award mean to you?
I feel very honored and admittedly very surprised, I certainly did not see this coming! The award is very reassuring that my work and that of my team has meaningful impact which in turn is highly motivating. It makes me feel included in a very special community which is particularly meaningful for someone like me who is coming from the outside on so many levels but has made Vancouver and UBC their home.

How has your identity affected your perspective on the field of medicine and future pursuits? 
My identity as a woman and mother has highlighted the challenges of having a family while also pursuing a career as a clinician scientist, it is an ongoing search for balance but also a most rewarding one and one where my female mentors have been very helpful. While I have several  suggestions for change at the systems level, I also particularly enjoy mentoring young women embarking on the same career path.

Having worked in medicine in several different places around the world, I particularly appreciate the opportunities we have in British Columbia to create new projects, our universal health care insurance and the well-organized, high-quality medical training in BC.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in the next 10 years?
In the next ten years, I am hoping to establish personalized prevention (primary and secondary) and fostering of resilience as an important pillar in the management of neurodegenerative disorders and other brain diseases. Research will focus on lifestyle interventions such as nutrition, exercise, stress-reduction, social connectedness and microbiome-related mechanisms to develop and implement effective therapies to improve quality of life, function, and delay/slow down progression of those diseases.

What does a healthy society mean to you?
A healthy society actively fosters emotional, social, physical, cognitive and spiritual health across all ages; it is designed to create community, is inclusive of all and recognizes each individual as a precious member with their own unique talents and ways to contribute; access to prevention and health care is universal regardless of socio-economic considerations.

Dr. Appel-Cresswell will be recognized at the UBC Medical Alumni Celebration & Awards 2024 on May 2nd.

Alvin Qiu

Alvin Qiu is a 2024 recipient of the UBC Medical Alumni Association Student Leadership Award.

Degree: MD/PhD Program
Campus: Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program
Year: 8th year as of March 2024

Alvin completed his PhD thesis work studying the epigenetic mechanisms driving a soft tissue cancer called synovial sarcoma. Throughout medical school, Alvin has been actively involved in student government. He has served as President of the UBC Medical Undergraduate Society and on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Federation of Medical Students. In his elected roles, he strived to address students’ learning needs and supported student wellness initiatives both locally at UBC and across the country. In addition, he has also fostered opportunities to promote student scholarship and knowledge translation skills through his role as Editor-in-Chief of the UBC Medical Journal. 

What drew you to the MD Program at UBC?
I chose to study at UBC because I was attracted by the strong academic environment. In addition, having grown up in Toronto and having previously studied in Montreal, this was a great way to experience life in another beautiful Canadian city – one surrounded by mountains and the ocean.

What are some highlights of your studies so far?
One of the highlights of my studies has been completing clerkship (the Year 3 MD curriculum). It was an amazing opportunity to gain exposure to so many diverse fields of both general and specialized medicine. Every day of clerkship felt like a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience!

What does receiving the Student Leadership Award mean to you?
Receiving the Student Leadership Award is an incredible honour and a representation of some of the energy and effort I have dedicated to my elected roles in student council/student government. Of course, it is definitely a shared award since I would not have been able to achieve my goals without the amazing teams I have worked on and the people I have worked with.

How has your identity affected your perspective on the field of medicine and future pursuits?
My identity and my lived experiences as a member of minority groups have improved my ability to provide compassionate care. However, we all have diverse lived experiences and I am continuously learning with the goal of better supporting patients, in particular, those who come from disadvantaged or marginalized backgrounds.

What are you most excited for about a career in medicine?
My PhD research was in the field of cancer and in my future career, I am really excited to help cancer patients with their treatments in a clinical setting as well. The strength of cancer patients is a constant inspiration for my work.

What does a healthy society mean to you?
A healthy society means addressing all domains of health including physical, mental and spiritual health.

Alvin will be recognized at the UBC Medical Alumni Celebration & Awards 2024 on May 2nd.

Valerie Mok

Valerie Mok is a 2024 recipient of the UBC Medical Alumni Association Student Leadership Award.

Degree: MD Undergraduate Program
Campus: Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program
Year: 2nd year as of March 2024

Valerie is deeply committed to ensuring equitable access to healthcare, particularly for marginalized populations. As president of the UBC Pathways to Medicine Club, Valerie spearheads efforts to provide equitable access and guidance for those interested in pursuing a career in medicine, especially for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. She founded a longitudinal mentorship program connecting medical students with high school students, which has evolved a collaboration with the UBC Faculty of Medicine through the Youth Outreach Mentorship Program. Valerie is also the co-lead of a peer-assisted learning initiative and has previously conducted research in near-peer medical education. As a Faculty of Medicine student representative, she brought significant reform to the clinical decision making curriculum.

Outside of UBC, Valerie is a youth advisor for the Canadian Mental Health Association BC and helps develop program materials used to support individuals experiencing common mental health challenges. She currently works with clinician-scientists at Providence Health Care investigating non-prescription drug-associated cardiac arrests that occur outside of hospital, and her advocacy efforts have involved speaking to politicians about unsafe conditions in emergency rooms.

What drew you to the MD Program at UBC?
I was born and raised in BC, but I studied abroad in the UK for my undergraduate degree. I am very grateful for that experience but it also solidified my decision to return to Vancouver, and I missed being surrounded by mountains, trees, and water. I believe the UBC MD program not only provides a high quality of medical education, but also demonstrates a commitment to serving our population such as by taking steps to create a more diverse and representative healthcare workforce – these were important factors for me.

What are some highlights of your studies so far?
Despite the Vancouver site having a cohort of nearly 200 students, the medical school works hard to provide a supportive environment that fosters long-lasting relationships. Getting to know my classmates and the faculty members has been very rewarding. The feeling of working towards a common goal alongside equally passionate people is pretty special.

What does receiving the Student Leadership Award mean to you?
I am grateful to receive this award from the UBC Medical Alumni Association. I firmly believe in transforming passion into concrete action, and this recognition serves as encouragement that my efforts are positively impacting the causes I care deeply about.

How has your identity affected your perspective on the field of medicine and future pursuits?
I am the first person in my family to be born in Canada and speak English as my first language, and my upbringing and cultural background have shaped my strong work ethic. Following high school, my time away from home allowed me to gain clarity regarding my life goals. This solidified my desire to pursue medicine despite not having grown up around anyone who worked in healthcare. As a future physician, I aspire to help patients not solely to postpone death but to work towards a good life, whatever that may mean to them. I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue this career path which allows me to direct my insatiable intellectual drive towards helping others, and I cannot imagine another career that would be more fulfilling.

What are you most excited for about a career in medicine?
Being able to witness the tangible impact I can have in other people’s lives through medical expertise and human connection.

What does a healthy society mean to you?
As a society, our concept of health has evolved dramatically over recent decades. I think health encompasses all the factors in our lives that contribute to our wellbeing (or lack thereof). Medicine contributes to a portion of that – a “healthy society” is also dependent upon many other systems.

Valerie will be recognized at the UBC Medical Alumni Celebration & Awards 2024 on May 2nd.