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.
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