Program: Island Medical Program
Emergency medicine has changed from physicians standing ready for acute emergencies to practicing as “availablists”—physicians who can help people anytime with any need. On my road to medicine, I learned that the most meaningful way to spend my life is to be available to people when they need it most, and an availablist is the kind of physician that I want to become. Not only do I want to lead resuscitations, but I want to be available to the unhoused, fearful gentleman with opioid use disorder and a skin infection. I want to put my hand on his shoulder and say, “We got you.”
I do not think there is a single favourite moment. “Offer of Admission – Island Medical Program” was a dream come true, but I could never have imagined the community waiting to be built on the other side of August 20, 2018. Whether laughing together about feeling awkward in clerkship or finding friends in the student lounge to debrief after clinical experiences, our community meant the world to me; it was such a privilege to be a part of it.
The premed journey is exhausting. However, the grind does not stop once you start medical school. Prioritize your wellness and learn sustainable practices to foster resiliency. I suffered from a lack of balance on my path to medicine, and prioritizing work-life balance during medical school has improved my mental health and helped me overcome the challenges of medical training.
I feel very fortunate to have matched to the UBC Emergency Medicine Residency Program in Kelowna. I am ecstatic to join my new family with a point-of-care ultrasound in one hand and my bike helmet in the other. I hope to become a leader in clinical and academic emergency medicine fighting the overdose crisis and improving emergency care for people who use substances.