January 5, 2005

The high-tech companies that have helped to place the NorthernMedical Program (NMP) at the forefront of technological innovation havebeen recognized for their contributions to the program.

MTS Allstream Inc.received the project to install multimedia equipment in the NorthernHealth Sciences Centre. Two lecture theatres and various labs have beenoutfitted with state-of-the-art videoconferencing technology andelectronic control systems that will enable medical students in PrinceGeorge to be connected with their peers and professors at theUniversity of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Victoria. Intotal, MTS Allstream Inc. installed about $1.4 million worth ofequipment, and supplied some services in kind. In recognition of theirsupport, the audiovisual control room in the medical building will benamed after MTS Allstream Inc.

Meanwhile, IBM and Cisco have contributed $197,000 worth ofcomputing infrastructure and support services. The equipment includesexpanding the medical program's data storage capacity and adding apowerful network switch that will effectively serve data to NMP andUNBC servers. IBM and Cisco have had a strategic alliance with UNBC toprovide network equipment and services throughout the Prince Georgecampus.

"The technology is integral to our vision for the NMP," says DavidSnadden, Associate Vice-President for Medicine at UNBC. "The way we aredistributing all four years of a medical curriculum between Vancouver,Victoria and Prince George has never been done in Canada before."

There are 25 students in the Northern Medical Program. Classes starton January 10, 2005. The NMP is part of the UBC Faculty of Medicineoffered in partnership with UNBC. Its primary objective is to educatephysicians with the expertise and attitude necessary for practice inrural and northern communities.