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» Home » Student Profiles » Joel Stimson

Meet the Grads

Joel Stimson

By dcc2012 | May 17, 2016

Program: Family Medicine Residency
Training Site: Chilliwack
Hometown: Calgary, AB

Joel Stimson_300X400What attracted you to a career in Family Medicine?

When I was in Grade 9, I lost my mother to a battle with cancer. Seeing the care and support she received, I knew that I wanted to be a doctor. It wasn’t until medical school that I saw the relationships, the continuity of care, and the countless number of opportunities that a family doctor can be involved in, which is what drew me to family medicine. Throughout medical school I enjoyed every rotation, and realized that the only field of medicine where you can provide preventative care, deliver babies, work in the emergency department or help as a surgical assist in the operating room is family medicine.

What have you enjoyed most about your experience as a resident at UBC?

Residency has been an opportunity for me to define who I am as a person and a physician. I was given an opportunity to move to Chilliwack, BC, away from Calgary, AB, where I was raised and went to medical school. Chilliwack is a busy program that challenges you, but it has been an exceptional training site preparing me for life beyond residency. The staff and other residents have been extremely supportive and have helped guide my medical career. It has taken me from a naïve medical student to a functional family physician.

What has surprised or challenged you?

Every step along the journey to being a physician seems to get busier and busier. When you start medical school, you think that life is busy. Then with each year that goes by you find that responsibility seems to increase, but so does your autonomy. It is amazing what you are able to do when you put your mind to it.

What advice would you offer to incoming residents?

Residency goes by extremely fast! While you are in it, I would recommend working as hard as you can, because there is so much to learn in medicine and not a lot of time to learn it all. Despite this, it is critical that you are able to find supportive friends inside and outside of medicine, and use this time to figure out how to optimize your work life balance. Work hard and play hard! Also, make sure to find hobbies to keep your sanity. Burnout is common, but family, friends, and hobbies will get you through it.

What’s one thing that we might be surprised to learn about you?

I am one of four brothers who grew up playing and loving hockey! I continue to play hockey in the free time that I find. I was also the first one in my family to pursue a career in medicine. My younger brother is now following in my footsteps finishing his second year of medical school at the University of Alberta.

What’s next for you?

After I graduate from residency, I plan on doing locums in family practices in Chilliwack and around the province. I also plan to work in the emergency department to increase my skills.

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