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» Home » Student Profiles » Eshawn Johal

Eshawn Johal

By Alex Hsuan Tsui | August 1, 2025

Hometown: Prince George, B.C.
Program: Northern Medical Program
Year in Program: 4

What inspired you to pursue your program?

Growing up in Prince George, I saw how physicians in rural and northern B.C. were advocates, mentors and sometimes the only health-care provider for miles. Volunteering at our local hospital and witnessing dedicated family physicians travelling hours to staff outreach clinics sparked my passion. I was inspired by their ability to provide full-scope care while developing relationships with patients and the community. Medicine offered the perfect blend of science, service and social justice, and I knew I wanted to return home to help improve health equity for rural and Indigenous communities.

Why did you choose UBC?

UBC’s distributed MD program allowed me to train in my home region while accessing a world-class curriculum. The Northern Medical Program in Prince George offers small cohort learning, close mentorship and rural and remote training opportunities. I was drawn to UBC’s commitment to distributed learning and rural exposure, its partnerships with Indigenous communities and its strong support for student well-being. Studying here meant I could stay close to my family and community, take part in research that matters to northern B.C., and prepare to practice in underserved areas without leaving the province.

What are you most looking forward to this year?

I’m really excited to transition from our core curriculum to electives this year! It will be refreshing to choose rotations that match my interests. Preparing for CaRMS is both thrilling and a little daunting, but I’m looking forward to interviewing with programs that share my commitment to northern communities. I’m eager to build meaningful relationships with patients and mentors and to forge connections within each community I find myself within.

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