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» Home » Student Profiles » Tarissa Alec

Tuum Est!

Graduation 2021

This spring, students graduate from a wide range of Faculty of Medicine programs.

Meet the Class of 2021

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Tarissa Alec

By darya shokouhi | May 20, 2021

Hometown: Prince George, BC
Program: Northern Medical Program
What attracted you to your field?

I am from a small remote Indigenous reserve, Takla Landing, and my dad is currently chief of our nation. Throughout my life, he has instilled in us a sense of commitment to our people and our community. My husband is also an Indigenous doctor who cares for Indigenous populations across Northern B.C. They are both great role models, and I went into medicine so that I could provide culturally competent care to Indigenous communities.

I originally intended to become a rural family doctor who would serve Indigenous communities, but throughout my clerkship my interest in psychiatry grew. I was deeply touched and inspired by the many patients that I encountered during my psychiatry rotations. I remember meeting a young child who had already experienced significant traumas in their short life. I was so inspired by their resiliency as they had already overcome so much, and the child psychiatrist who was working with them had obviously made a positive impact on their life. I clearly remember walking home from work that day thinking, “this is what I need to do.” I was motivated by the opportunity to improve a person’s life trajectory through early intervention. I became confident in my decision to pursue psychiatry, and ultimately become a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

I can’t say that I have one favourite moment in particular. I do have many fond memories of our class in the lecture theaters at the Northern Medical Program. As a distributed site, we have very small class sizes. It kind of feels like being in elementary school all over again. We are with the same people every day for two years and so we all became really close. These friendships were invaluable to me during clerkship when times became stressful. It is nice to be able to lean on people who are going through similar struggles.

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

Try not to compare yourself to others. You are there to become the best clinician that you can be so that you can provide safe and compassionate care to your patients. In order for that to happen, you need to take care of yourself first and foremost. Make sure to schedule in a nonmedical self-care activity every day, no matter how small.

And never be afraid to ask for help. We have amazing faculty who only want the best for us. I started medical school with a 1.5-year-old and had two more children before I graduated. Student affairs was so supportive, they really went above and beyond to make sure I was cared for not only academically but also socially/emotionally.

What is one small pleasure that brings you joy?

As a mom of three young boys, if I’m not working or studying then I’m usually spending time with my family. We try to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Being a parent during medical school most certainly had its challenges, but it can also be very grounding. It reminds me of what’s important in life and about why I pursued medicine in the first place.

What’s next for you?

I feel so lucky to have matched to UBC’s Psychiatry Program in Prince George. I get to train and live in my home community – close to my traditional territory near Takla Landing. I hope to become a child and adolescent psychiatrist with a special interest in addictions psychiatry. I intend to work with Indigenous communities in Northern B.C., through both outreach and telepsychiatry.

Faculty of Medicine
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