Arielle Roberts
After doing a routine check of the patient’s vitals, first-year UBC medical student Arielle Roberts sat down with a Canadian Armed Forces member to learn more about his medical history.
It’s a conversation she’ll never forget.
“We talked for an hour-and-a-half, discussing his experiences and health challenges,” she recalls. “It was unlike any patient interview I’d ever done.”
Since 2011, students in UBC’s Island Medical Program (IMP) – delivered in partnership with the University of Victoria – have been visiting the Canadian Forces base in Esquimalt to develop their clinical skills and learn more about the different family practice models in Canada.
This past academic year, 17 students were assigned to the base where they were mentored by one of several family physicians – including Dr. Andrew Karwowski, a civilian doctor who’s worked for the Forces since 2007.
“Most of our patients are between 18 and 60-years-old and we’re often taking full medical histories and performing full physical exams,” he says. “It’s an excellent opportunity for students to hone those fundamental skills.”
Through supervised guidance, students also gain a deeper understanding of the health complexities that can affect the men and women who serve our country.
Dr. Andrew Karwowski is a civilian doctor who has been working for the Canadian Forces since 2007.
“Every population has slightly different needs; the military is no exception,” says Dr. Karwowski. “The more exposure students have to these needs and different treatment models, the better-rounded and effective they’ll be as doctors regardless of where they practice or what type of medicine they specialize in.”
For Roberts, the experience will have a lasting impact.
“One of the best parts was putting the clinical theory into practice,” she says. “Engaging in-depth with the members of the Canadian Forces, refining exactly how I engage with them, learning about their unique needs – all of that will definitely help me in my future practice.”