Hometown: Drayton Valley, Alta., Metis Nation of Alberta
Program: Vancouver Fraser Medical Program
Year in Program: 1
What inspired you to pursue your program?
The mysteries of the human body have long been one of my passions. Providing mentorship and performing women’s health research in my undergrad showed how I can find purpose by using my aptitudes to make a difference in the lives of others. As an Indigenous woman, we are sadly underrepresented in medicine which leaves gaps in patient care and understanding. I hope to use my lived experiences and community connections to improve the health of current and future generations.
Why did you choose UBC?
Having lived in rural Alberta most of my life, I am excited to experience big city life! Studying medicine in one of Canada’s large population centres means I will be exposed to a huge variety of medical specialties and cases, allowing me to grasp the art and science of medicine in all of its intricacies.
As well, UBC’s strong Indigenous health program drove me to choose this program. Knowing that I will receive an education that values the unique needs of Indigenous patients means I will be able to provide medical care of the highest quality to my community.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I am so excited to expand my knowledge of human physiology to start learning how to treat different conditions. The topic I am most looking forward to is learning about women’ s health, as I hope to focus my career in this field. Performing research in the field of urogynecology sparked my interest in these topics, and I am eager to expand my understanding of them. I am also excited to explore the city of Vancouver and its surrounding areas. I believe that nature is medicine, so I look forward to experiencing the beautiful natural environment.