Tuum Est! Spring Graduation 2025

Hometown: Campbell River, BC
Program: Midwifery

What attracted you to your field?

I worked as a dietitian in chronic disease management and wanted to shift my focus toward chronic disease prevention and health promotion. I was determined to continue providing direct clinical care, so when I learned about the midwifery model, it felt like the perfect fit. Midwives care for families during a transformative period, which allows us to promote health literacy, connect families with community resources and identify the evolving needs of the communities we serve. I am excited to enter a field that holds the potential to create long-lasting interventions and improve the health of current and future generations.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

My favorite moments in midwifery school have been learning hands-on skills alongside my peers. We would attend class by day and meet at night to practice suturing, physical exams and IVs. Once, we ended up at a table in the middle of Starbucks to practice suturing using needles and fabric, drawing some curious glances—not your average “community stitching group.” I’ve witnessed my peers transform into skilled primary care providers over the years and I’m so proud to call them my colleagues in this field now.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Capture your exciting moments somehow – record a video monologue, journal or write a poem when you start the program or after you catch your first baby. Keep a box of the letters you receive from families. When self-doubt arises or you have a hard week, revisit your keepsakes to remind yourself why you started. Create a list of people you can call: the listener, the cheerleader, the person who makes you laugh, and then make those calls. Stay connected to the mission you had when you started and the network you create along the way.

Tell us briefly about your research.

Dr. Cecilia Jevitt and I conducted two scoping reviews to identify safe, person-centered strategies that primary care providers can use to support nutrition counseling for optimal gestational weight gain during pregnancy. Our goal was to equip clinicians with practical tools for incorporating nutrition and health education into antenatal visits. I hope this work enhances providers’ confidence in supporting clients’ nutrition and lifestyle changes, ultimately leading to improved pregnancy outcomes and overall community health.

What’s next for you?

I’m thrilled to join a team of midwives in Chilliwack. UBC Midwifery welcomed a new Fraser cohort in the fall of 2023, so I felt drawn to stay nearby with all this excitement. In the coming years, I plan to pursue research in chronic disease prevention for individuals with cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors during the perinatal period. Additionally, I’m eager to stay connected with UBC as a preceptor one day to continue growing the field by contributing to the education of future midwives.

Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Program: Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science

What attracted you to your field?

I was drawn to medical laboratory science because of its dynamic, interdisciplinary approach and the opportunity to engage in hands-on laboratory work. My fascination with pathology and lab medicine stems from a deep curiosity about the underlying mechanisms of disease and a passion for uncovering not only what goes wrong at the cellular and molecular levels, but also why it happens and how we can improve the outcome. The pursuit of decoding medical mysteries, combined with a strong desire to contribute to patient care and public health, solidified my commitment to advancing healthcare through the vital work of laboratory science.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

Some of my favourite moments were seeing the beautiful staining patterns in immunohistochemistry (which reveal where proteins are located within cells and tissues) and watching cells thrive in lab settings without contamination. Even when results didn’t turn out as expected, working alongside my classmates to uncover the reasons behind them was incredibly meaningful and rewarding. These moments reminded me that science is not just about outcomes, but about curiosity, perseverance and collaboration. They made me proud of how far we had come and excited for all that lies ahead.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Embrace every mistake as part of your journey! Mistakes are an inevitable and essential part of learning, especially in a field as complex and hands-on as medical laboratory science. What matters most is how you respond – take the time to reflect, understand where things went wrong and use those experiences to grow. Every setback is an opportunity to build resilience, deepen your understanding and sharpen your skills. Embrace challenges with an open mind, seek feedback and remember that improvement comes with persistence. Trust the process, stay curious and never lose sight of the passion that brought you here.

Tell us briefly about your research.

Last summer, I was honoured to receive the Summer Student Research Fellowship Award. Under the guidance of Dr. Junyan Shi and Dr. Tao Huan, I contributed to developing and validating a test to minimize organ rejection and medication toxicity for post-transplant patients. In another project supervised by Dr. Martial Guillaud, I applied machine learning and computational models to analyze tissue architecture and nuclear features to better predict prostate cancer aggressiveness. The ultimate goal of both projects is to advance personalized medicine and improve patient outcomes.

What’s next for you?

I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Open Education Resource (OER) Pathology: From the Tissue Level to Clinical Manifestations and Inter-professional Care, where I will be assisting with content development and ensuring accessibility standards for the resource to be used on B.C. university campuses. Looking ahead, I hope to continue building on my research experience, further exploring the intersections between laboratory science, technology and patient care. I am also planning to pursue further studies through graduate programs and professional schools. I look forward to embracing new challenges and making a meaningful difference in the communities I serve.

Hometowns: Moa, Cuba; Brandon, MB
Program: Island Medical Program
Residency: Internal Medicine in Victoria

What attracted you to your field?

I have always been drawn to complexity, unanswered questions and the thrill of putting pieces together. Internal medicine offers all of that, but what truly captivates me is the heart of the work — the privilege of building meaningful connections, supporting patients during their most vulnerable moments and relentlessly pursuing the answers they need. I am continually inspired by the depth and diversity of this field and by the opportunity to listen, investigate and advocate all at once. In internal medicine, I found not just an intellectual challenge but a place where I can bring my whole self to the art of care.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

The past four years have been nothing short of amazing. From post-exam sushi at Willows Beach and class trips to Tofino, to late nights at the Royal Jubilee Hospital student lounge, delirious 4 a.m. call laughs and our Island Medical Program (IMP) graduation — I’ll always look back on these memories with a full heart. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have built a supportive community of brilliant colleagues, inspiring mentors and lifelong friends. And of course, none of it would have been possible without the dedicated professors, preceptors and staff who guided us along the way. The IMP truly felt like home.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Stay grounded in who you are. The quirks, interests and passions that brought you here are your strengths. Do the things that keep your spark alive. Be gentle with yourself. Growth sometimes means just showing up. Lean on your classmates, ask for help and never underestimate the power of snacks and naps. Celebrate the small wins. Medicine is hard, but it’s also full of heart. Protect your curiosity, nurture your joy and keep your heart in your work. You’re not just becoming a doctor, you’re becoming someone people turn to and trust in their hardest moments. You belong here, just as you are.

What’s next for you?

After graduation, my best friend and I are heading off on a long-awaited European friend-cation. I plan to crochet to my heart’s content, chase beach days along B.C.’s beautiful coast, and soak in the slower moments of joy before starting my internal medicine residency in Victoria. I feel incredibly lucky to continue serving the community that welcomed me four years ago, and to keep learning alongside the mentors and peers who helped shape my path. It feels like a full-circle moment, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.

What are you looking forward to most about the program you’ve matched to and the community you’ll be joining as a future resident?

I am over the moon to be staying in Victoria for my internal medicine residency, surrounded by the incredible mentors, residents, staff and classmates who supported me every step of the way. I look forward to continuing to grow alongside this community, deepening my connection to the patients I am privileged to serve and continuing to explore the beautiful island I now call home. There is something truly special about staying in the place that taught you to become a doctor. I’m excited to give back to the people and places that helped shape me into who I am today.

Hometown: Corner Brook, NL
Program: PhD in Biomedical Engineering

What attracted you to your field?

Before enrolling in my program, I worked as a researcher on projects in the aviation and defense industries. For me, this path lacked some fulfillment as I wanted my work to directly make a difference. In contrast, I feel there are a handful of fields that both innovate and have direct, positive impact on people’s quality of life. Biomedical engineering is one of those special fields.  

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

While I found my research compelling, my favorite moments tended to occur outside of the lab. Over several years I designed workshops for Science World’s annual Girls in STEAM symposium, representing the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering by showcasing displays on biomedical robotics in addition to 3D printing and modelling. There is one picture from that event that was published in the Vancouver Sun which featured a young person absolutely in awe of a 3D printer in action, printing a tiny elephant they had just seen on the computer. These moments of inspiration stand out to me.    

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Everyone is a novice at some point – try your best to put your ego aside and don’t be afraid to ask questions and contribute to discussions.

Tell us briefly about your research.

My research centred on total knee replacement (TKR), a procedure that treats knee arthritis by replacing damaged cartilage with synthetic components. Although TKRs typically last a long time, some need to be replaced due to issues such as loosening from the bone. My work illustrated that conventional study designs are inefficient for studying component loosening in TKR and I proposed alternative study designs that could be more efficient. With yearly TKR cases rising, my research illustrates a plausible pathway for studying loosening, hopefully spurring new innovations that can extend the lifetime of implanted components.

What’s next for you?

I’ve just begun my career in the medical technology industry, and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve been spending ample time with family and friends while finding additional time to become more involved in my local community.

Program: Indigenous Family Practice Residency Program

What attracted you to your field?

I’ve always been drawn to family medicine for the relationships it fosters and the chance to care for people across their lifespan. As an Indigenous person, I’ve witnessed how trust in the healthcare system can be fragile, and I felt family medicine offered a real opportunity to support culturally safe, respectful care. I love that family medicine gives space to address the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of health in a way that’s deeply connected to people’s lived experiences. If I can make even one person feel seen, safe and respected within the healthcare system, that would feel like a meaningful impact!

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

One of the most meaningful aspects of my training has been working in rural and remote First Nations communities—a privilege I hope every resident gets a chance to experience. I had the opportunity to work with communities such as the Namgis First Nation (Alert Bay), Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis (Gilford Island), Dzawada’enuxw (Kingcome Inlet), ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht), and the Yekooche and Takla Lake First Nations. Immersing myself in the life, culture and resilience of these communities was profoundly impactful. And despite being in the most remote areas of British Columbia, there was something about each community that offered a sense of connection and familiarity that reminded me of my own.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Residency is challenging, but it’s also a valuable time to grow and shape your future practice. As an adult learner, take ownership of your education—while some rotations are mandatory, there’s room to explore your interests and carve your own path. Check in with your preceptors and program coordinators to help guide you through this. Also, don’t lose sight of work-life balance – burnout is real and taking care of yourself is essential. Otherwise, enjoy these last years of being a learner. Ask questions and soak up the experience before stepping into independent practice. This is your time to build both skills and confidence for the road ahead.

What’s next for you?

I’ll be working part-time in a clinic in Chilliwack, providing primary care to Indigenous people and their families. Outside of that, I’ll be exploring the many opportunities family practice has to offer, as I’m still figuring out where I want to land with respect to areas of practice. Maternity care, addictions and sexual health are just a few of the areas I’m interested in. I’m excited to keep learning, try new things and gradually shape what I want my practice to look like.

Hometown: Prince George, BC
Program: Northern Medical Program
Residency: Internal Medicine in Vancouver

What attracted you to your field?

Throughout medical school, I naturally gravitated towards internal medicine for its ideal balance of intellectual challenge, collaborative problem-solving and the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with patients.

I also appreciated the team-based nature of the field, where thoughtful discussions and shared decision-making are essential to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

Some of my most cherished memories come from those late-night calls or busy Clinical Teaching Unit rotations—moments when my team was tired but still found time to share laughs and form lasting friendships. This team spirit helped me push through and enjoy some of the toughest days and nights.

Big shoutout to the Sunny D Squad!!

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Medicine is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s important to take care of yourself, keep up with the hobbies you enjoy, maintain the relationships that ground you and set only one realistic learning goal each day. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in a field as vast and demanding as medicine.

As a wise classmate once told me, “It’s easier to absorb a drop of water each day than to take in the whole ocean at once.”

What’s next for you?

Before starting residency, I am taking the opportunity to go backpacking through Japan and Vietnam.

After that, I will be relocating to Vancouver to begin my residency in the UBC Internal Medicine program.

Hometown: Port Moody, BC
Program: Vancouver Fraser Medical Program
Residency: Family Medicine in Chilliwack

What attracted you to your field?

While medicine wasn’t my childhood dream, I discovered a love for patient interactions while working in clinical research. As a generalist at heart, I readily developed a passion for family medicine. The broad scope, diverse settings and opportunity to build lasting relationships from “cradle to grave” resonated with me. During my Integrated Community Clerkship (ICC) in Chilliwack, I experienced its full spectrum and saw how central family physicians are to the community. At a time when many lack primary care, I’m determined to improve access and serve communities through comprehensive, compassionate practice.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

One highlight was my ICC in Chilliwack, where immersion in full-scope family practice—from clinic visits and hospital rounds to community outreach—fueled my passion for comprehensive care. Learning from passionate preceptors and residents, along with my cohort, was formative. Thanks to the diverse experiences, settings, and patients, every day was an adventure. Ultimately, the relationships I built and the chance to walk alongside patients and their families for a time made this experience unforgettable.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Remember your “why” – the passion that drew you to medicine and the goals you are working towards and find your people. These anchors will sustain you through late nights, long shifts and challenging rotations. Lean on your family and friends outside of medicine for balance, connect with peers who understand this journey and seek mentors for guidance. Time flies: individual days can feel endless, but the years go by so fast!

What’s next for you?

I’m thrilled to return to Chilliwack for my family medicine residency! After a busy year of electives, CaRMS, classes and exams, I welcome the stability of a home in the community where I’ll train and embrace the responsibilities and independence of residency.

Outside of medicine, I plan to rediscover creative hobbies, host games nights and prioritize personal wellness. This next chapter promises personal and professional growth, and I look forward to forging lasting bonds with colleagues, mentors and the community.

What are you looking forward to most about the program you’ve matched to and the community you’ll be joining as a future resident?

I am excited to train in a close-knit, supportive team of co-residents, mentors and preceptors in Chilliwack’s medical community. The longitudinal training across emergency, obstetrics, inpatient and outpatient settings offers continuity of care and hands-on learning. I am so grateful to return to this community and eager to continue my training while giving back.

Hometown: Cranbrook, BC
Program: Southern Medical Program
Residency: Emergency Medicine in Kelowna

What attracted you to your field?

What really drew me to emergency medicine was the intellectually stimulating and fast-paced environment. I’m excited by the challenge of addressing a wide array of undifferentiated cases in a single shift. Being able to perform critical procedures and connect with patients during their most vulnerable moments is incredibly rewarding for me. Furthermore, the supportive and collaborative community of ER physicians was a huge factor for me. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team that is united by a dedication to high quality care and mutual support is something I admire about this specialty.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

My favorite memories from the Southern Medical Program would have to be our annual Big White ski trips. Not only do I love to ski, but having our entire class out on the hill for the weekend will never fail to lift our spirits and remind us just how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful place.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Take it all in and don’t forget to admire your accomplishments. There will always be more topics to learn or another goal to chase, but you only have four years with this cohort. Be kind to yourself and trust the process. I have never regretted skipping a night with my notes for social connection with my peers. Sharing this experience with 30 to 40 incredible like-minded people is exceedingly rare and I know we would give up a lot to keep these classmates with us as we enter the next phase of our lives.

What’s next for you?

I will be staying in Kelowna to complete an Emergency Medicine Residency. I couldn’t be more excited to join this amazing team of clinicians for the next five years! Before I start this program, I will be spending a much-needed vacation visiting with friends, family, and getting some sunshine on the southern coast of France.

What are you looking forward to most about the program you’ve matched to and the community you’ll be joining as a future resident?

Although it will sound cheesy, I am most excited for the people. One of the strongest reasons I chose this program was the sense of community among the current emergency medicine residents and staff at Kelowna General Hospital. As someone who has now lived in Kelowna for seven years, I think I would have a hard time saying goodbye to this amazing city. So now I can continue to spend my winters at Big White, and my summers on the beaches and beautiful trails that surround Kelowna. 

Hometown: Calgary, AB
Program: Family Practice Residency Program, Prince George

What attracted you to your field?

The lead contributing factor for me choosing family medicine was the abundance of options that you can participate in with your work – this is especially true when it comes to practicing in rural locations. In family medicine we support with emergency medicine, dermatology, assisting surgery, geriatrics and more. You can adjust where you are allocating your time to any of these areas as desired going through your career which is also very appealing.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

Some of my favourite moments through residency have been supporting and educating medical students on rotations in the hospitals and clinics. Even though residents are still learning, being able to share information and guidance with students really makes you appreciate how much you’ve accomplished to reach this point in your career. It’s compelling to see where you started from and it really motivates you to help support medical students – who are often quite thankful.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Establish a team and community with residents within your program and others learning beside you.  Proactively start a group chat to coordinate plans and schedules, exchange numbers, plan social outings and send funny facts. You are not expected to know everything so you’ll be asking questions…a lot.  These resources provide tremendous value. Above that, sometimes those random conversations with residents going through the same challenges are everything you both need to reset and refocus.

Tell us briefly about your research.

One research project I completed during residency was on a team with two colleague residents and a chronic pain specialist. As pain management skills are a cornerstone of medical practice, we were interested in reviewing this area and its guidelines further, especially considering the ongoing B.C. opioid crisis. We conducted a provincial survey in B.C. to assess the attitudes and approaches primary care providers have in regard to prescribing opioids for chronic non-cancer pain.  From this, we hope to recognize utilization of these guidelines and identify potential barriers in practice to help optimize pain management approaches by primary care providers.

What’s next for you?

After completing residency, I intend to get some adventure in with my family and locum around different areas and communities in B.C. for the first several months.  We have so many opportunities in family medicine to try new things and experience the unique ventures that our province has. I would ideally provide care and support to smaller communities while learning new skillsets along the way.  Afterwards, I’ll be returning to Prince George and may consider some enhanced skills training.

Hometown: Langley, BC
Program: MSc in Genetic Counselling

What attracted you to your field?

When learning about the field of genetic counselling, I realized that it intriguingly qualified as a career of both arts and science. It was an area defined by medical knowledge and research, and yet there was tremendous scope for self-expression in the form of empathetic communication and counselling. It was a facet of healthcare that combined my interests, and I was enthusiastic about leveraging my experiences to positively impact patients and their families.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

One of my favorite moments from my time in the program was the first time I led a full genetic counselling session independently. It felt like such a milestone to be able to apply the knowledge and skills I had built throughout my training.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

One piece of advice I would offer is to remember that your instructors and clinical supervisors are there to support you. The program can be challenging, and you will receive a great deal of feedback, which can sometimes be hard to hear given the demands of being a student. However, always keep in mind that this feedback is given with your growth in mind. It’s all aimed at helping you become the best genetic counsellor you can be!

Tell us briefly about your research.

My research explored the perspectives and experiences of people who chose to transfer embryos with certain chromosomal differences, identified through pre-implantation genetic testing during in vitro fertilization. By elevating patient voices, I hope this work will help support patient-centred care and provide insight and knowledge that healthcare providers can use to improve clinical practices.

What’s next for you?

I’m excited to begin my career as a genetic counsellor and support patients.

Hometown: Hamilton, ON
Program: Anesthesiology Residency Program, Vancouver

What attracted you to your field?

My interest in anesthesiology began with a fascination for how physiological systems can be manipulated to keep patients safe during surgery. Over time, I’ve come to value the specialty’s depth even more. Anesthesiologists support patients through vulnerable moments, work closely with multidisciplinary teams and draw on both specialist and generalist knowledge. The variety is exciting—within hours, I could provide labour analgesia, pivot to anesthesia for emergency surgery and diagnose and treat a patient with pain. This dynamic, impactful role, combining clinical precision with human connection is what continues to draw me to anesthesiology. 

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

One of my favourite moments in residency was forming lasting friendships with my co-residents. Amid the long hours and intense learning, we supported each other through shared struggles and celebrated small wins together. Whether it was late-night call room chats or decompressing over coffee after a tough shift, those moments built a sense of camaraderie that made the challenges more manageable and the journey more meaningful.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Don’t feel pressured to fit into a mold—there’s space in medicine for every kind of personality and no single personality defines success. Stay true to yourself and focus on becoming the physician you aspire to be. Residency will challenge you, but your co-residents and mentors will be there to support you every step of the way. Embrace the journey and know that in the end you will be an excellent physician. 

What’s next for you?

I’m staying in British Columbia following residency to work at Surrey Memorial Hospital. I’m excited to be joining a group that so greatly supported and enhanced my learning throughout training. Once residency finishes, I look forward to taking more time for myself, traveling and spending time with my dog.  

Hometown: Parksville, BC
Program: Psychiatry Residency Program, Victoria

What attracted you to your field?

Before medicine I worked as an exploration geologist in a remote northern fly-in mining camp. We’d live and work with our small team for 28+ days straight. While the work was fascinating, my favourite part was getting to know my colleagues from all walks of life. I found a similar opportunity in psychiatry. We have the privilege of spending more time with people, getting to know their stories, the dynamics of their lives and what matters to them. I like the biopsychosocial approach – the opportunity to combine the best of psychopharmacology and neurostimulation advancements and psychotherapy skills.  

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

There are many moments that come to mind. Co-facilitating BC Cancer’s Meaning Centered Psychotherapy Group with Dr. Alan Bates and Dr. Stefanie Montgomery was a highlight – the group members were so welcoming, real and unexpectedly humourous. Some of the most meaningful moments also occurred in the psychiatry emergency room –  when you understand someone’s story, are able to make  a diagnosis, and provide hope for next steps and treatment. Finally, I enjoyed the annual psychiatry resident retreat. Our practices are fairly solitary, so it’s great when we can get together and have time to connect.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Everyone has a story. We have the privilege of spending more time with patients due to the nature of our work. If we can get the person’s story right and communicate it succinctly, we can help other members of the healthcare team understand the patient, which I’ve seen radically help with patient-centered care.

Also, if you can, do your own psychotherapy and mindfulness practice. While we learn about our patients, we learn about ourselves. It both helps you and your patients to do the work yourself.

What’s next for you?

A rapid dive into general adult psychiatry! I’m thrilled to be transitioning to work with my current preceptors at an in-patient unit on Vancouver Island. I’m a generalist at heart and love variety and have found inpatient care to have just that. But first, a small break, during which I hope to grow a garden and enjoy playing in the mountains and waters around Vancouver Island. 

Hometown: Coquitlam, BC
Program: Family Practice Residency Program, Abbotsford-Mission

What attracted you to your field?

I was drawn to family medicine for its breadth of practice, flexibility of work and privilege of forming long-term relationships with patients and families. I appreciate the opportunity to care for individuals across all ages and stages of life. Beyond addressing physical health, family medicine allows me to consider the social and emotional contexts that fundamentally shape a person’s wellbeing and daily function. Every day is different just as every patient is unique. The ability to make a tangible impact in people’s lives fuels my passion for primary care.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

My co-residents were the best part of my residency experience. From afternoon coffee runs to late night debriefs – whether about minor inconveniences or challenging cases – they have been an unwavering support system. The shared meals, laughter and camaraderie made the journey all the more memorable. I am grateful for the friendships we’ve built. I look forward to seeing all the amazing things they will accomplish and feel fortunate that our paths have crossed.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Finding balance is key! Try to embrace both the longitudinal relationships in family medicine alongside the rapid decision making in acute care settings. Seek to find balance between your professional and personal life while continuing to nurture your hobbies, interests and relationships outside of medicine. Remember that taking care of yourself is essential for being able to take care of others.

What’s next for you?

I look forward to practicing both longitudinal family medicine and acute care as a hospitalist, integrating my skills across different care settings. I also hope to continue pursuing hobbies such as art, music and reading as well as travelling and experiencing new cultures.

Hometown: Seoul, Korea
Program: PhD in Population and Public Health

What attracted you to your field?

My passion for public health began while working as a youth facilitator at Ottawa Public Health during my undergraduate studies. This experience showed me how public health initiatives can positively impact entire communities, reaching beyond individual care. While I enjoyed on-the-ground interactions through health promotion activities, I found myself increasingly drawn to the data-driven side of population health. My undergrad research sparked an interest in epidemiology and infectious disease research, leading me to pursue a Master’s in Epidemiology, then a doctoral program at UBC. Looking back, I was fortunate to discover this perfect intersection of scientific investigation and meaningful community impact at exactly the right moment in my academic development.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

My favourite moment was building connections with my PhD cohort! We took all our courses together, spent countless hours on Zoom studying for comprehensive exams during the peak of the pandemic, and shared the ups and downs – which was definitely a highlight of my doctoral training. I also deeply value the lifelong friendships formed through my program and within my research supervisor’s team at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). These relationships provided both academic support and personal connection that will continue for years to come.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

My advice to incoming students would be to create a strong support network while also allowing time for self-care. Throughout my doctoral studies, the connections I built with other students, faculty and researchers provided crucial support during challenging times and enhanced my research through diverse perspectives. Equally important was allowing myself time to recharge and maintain balance. Spending time with family and pursuing interests outside academia helped me to stay passionate about my research topic and thesis work.

Tell us briefly about your research.

My doctoral work examined how new treatments for hepatitis C (called direct-acting antivirals or DAAs) affect various health problems beyond the liver. Using comprehensive data from the BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort, I discovered that these treatments significantly reduce risks of kidney disease, stroke, heart conditions and cognitive disorders. I also found that South Asian and East Asian populations with untreated hepatitis C in B.C. face higher risks of these conditions. I hope my research contributes to increasing efforts to find individuals with undiagnosed hepatitis C, link them to treatment, and ultimately support hepatitis C elimination while addressing critical health inequities that affect diverse populations.

What’s next for you?

I’m continuing my research journey as a postdoctoral fellow at the BCCDC, where I’ll build on my doctoral work by investigating ethnic disparities in long COVID. Working with the BC COVID-19 Cohort data, I’ll examine epidemiological patterns, healthcare access disparities, and long-term outcomes of long COVID across different ethnic groups. This postdoctoral training will help me develop new skills in measuring healthcare utilization and disease burden while expanding my research networks through the Long COVID Web. On a personal note, I’m excited to do some traveling around B.C. and enjoy the natural beauty this province offers while balancing the new challenges and opportunities of my postdoctoral research.

Program: Island Medical Program
Residency: Pediatrics in Vancouver

What attracted you to your field?

Growing up in a community shaped by resilience and healing, I saw early how powerful it is when someone truly listens. I was drawn to medicine because it blends science with humanity — it asks you to stay curious and to be present with people in their most vulnerable moments. It also offers a way to advocate for change, to close gaps in care and to walk alongside those who’ve been historically marginalized. For me, medicine isn’t just a profession — it’s a way to give back, to protect stories and to help shape a better future.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

Some of my most memorable moments have been in the delivery room, performing newborn assessments right after birth. There’s something sacred about being there — a room full of tension, joy and quiet awe. Being trusted to step in, check vital signs and offer reassurance in those first few minutes of life feels like good medicine. It reminded me why I chose this path. I’ll never forget the quiet nods from the team or the way we classmates would glance at each other afterward — knowing we’d just shared something we’d carry with us forever.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Stay grounded in who you are. It’s easy to feel like you need to fit a mold or measure yourself against others — but your strength lies in what makes you different. Be curious, ask for help often and don’t let perfectionism get in the way of growth. You’re not just training to be a doctor, you’re learning how to show up for people. That takes heart, not just intellect. Protect your joy, take breaks and keep the things that make you feel whole close at hand. This is a long road — be kind to yourself on it.

What’s next for you?

I’m heading into residency with deep gratitude for the mentors, peers and patients who shaped me. I’m committed to working at the intersection of medicine, community and advocacy — especially for Indigenous children and families. I want to help make health care more trustworthy, more accessible and more compassionate. I’m also excited to keep learning — about systems, about people and about myself. This next chapter is about growing into the kind of physician I needed when I was young: one who listens, who shows up and who uses their role to build something better.

What are you looking forward to most about the program you’ve matched to and the community you’ll be joining as a future resident?

I’m looking forward to joining the Pediatric Residency Program at BC Children’s Hospital, a space that values collaboration, curiosity and community. I’m excited to learn from skilled clinicians, serve a diverse population and continue working toward equitable care. I’m especially grateful to be returning to a place where I have deep roots — to give back to communities that have shaped me, and to grow as both a clinician and advocate. I hope to build strong relationships, support families through meaningful moments and become the kind of pediatrician who earns trust through presence, humility and consistency.

Hometown: Surrey, BC
Program: Family Practice Residency Program, Kamloops

What attracted you to your field?

My path into medicine was guided by a deep appreciation for connection, empathy and supporting patients through life’s many transitions. Family medicine stood out to me because of its breadth, continuity and the opportunity to care for individuals and families over time. I love that every day brings something new, and I find meaning in the relationships we build with our patients. The Kamloops program offered the perfect balance of clinical variety, mentorship and community, which prepared me to care for patients with empathy, skill and confidence.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

Spending time with my co-residents was the highlight of my residency. From regular dinners to unforgettable karaoke nights, those moments brought so much laughter and connection. The people around me—both peers and preceptors—fostered a sense of support, camaraderie and mentorship that made even the toughest days easier and every experience more meaningful.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Stay curious, embrace every learning opportunity and don’t be afraid to ask questions. The growth you experience during residency comes not only from medical knowledge but also from building meaningful connections with patients, colleagues and mentors. Be kind to yourself—you’re learning and evolving every day.

What’s next for you?

I’m excited to begin working in the Kamloops and Logan Lake area, where I’ll be doing a mix of clinic, hospitalist work and addictions care. After graduating in June, I’m also looking forward to taking some time to travel with my friends and family.