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23 students will make history this month when they become the firstgraduates of the Northern Medical Program, a ground-breaking innovationin medical education delivered by the UBC Faculty of Medicine incollaboration with the University of Northern British Columbia.
The Northern Medical Program (NMP) started in 2004 and the opening ofthe Dr. Donald Rix Northern Health Sciences Centre at UNBC coincidedwith the University’s 10th anniversary of full operations. The NMP waspart of an expanded UBC Faculty of Medicine that also included thecreation of the Island Medical Program based at the University ofVictoria and an increased annual intake of students at UBC inVancouver. Prior to 2004, UBC annually admitted 128 students intomedicine; now, the number is 256.
“The expansion of the Faculty of Medicine was necessary for theprovince, and the creation of the NMP was a courageous response to acritical need for physicians in northern and rural communities,” saysDavid Snadden, Associate Vice-Provost for Medicine and Associate Deanof the Northern Medical Program. “The graduation of our first studentsis testimony to the vision and perseverance of northerners, the visionand commitment of government, and the support of all of our partners indelivering a world-class medical education.”
Three events are planned to mark the first graduation:
May 10, 7 - 10am – pancake breakfast in the parking lot at PrinceGeorge Regional Hospital as a ‘thank you’ from the students to thehospital staff, NMP volunteers, and local residents – EVERYONE WELCOME
May 10, 1:30pm – ceremony in the Agora Courtyard at UNBC recognizingeach of the program’s first 23 graduates and their families – EVERYONEWELCOME
May 21, 8:30am – official graduation ceremony hosted by the Faculty of Medicine at the UBC campus in Vancouver.
The Northern Medical Program was the first program of its kind inCanada and is recognized for its use of state-of-the-arttelecommunications to allow delivery of an undergraduate medicalcurriculum in a northern and rural setting. Lectures and labs are heldconcurrently in Prince George, Victoria, and Vancouver using a networkable to accommodate data transfer equivalent to downloading 6000 songsover the internet in one second. Students also learn the corecurriculum in small group sessions and clinical settings in hospitalsand health clinics throughout the North.
“This experience has been valuable for the students and communitiesalike,” says Dr. Snadden. “In fact, 70% of our first grads haveselected residencies in family practice – a rate roughly double that ofother Canadian medical schools. In addition, half have selectedplacements with a strong rural component.”
The Northern Medical Program currently admits 32 students per year.After completing the first semester at UBC in Vancouver, students cancomplete the balance of their medical education in northern BC.
Hometowns of the Class of 2008
- Prince George
- Fort Nelson
- Fraser Lake
- Prince Rupert
- Dawson Creek
- Quesnel
- Kelowna
- Rossland
- Sechelt
- Pemberton
- Vancouver
- Port Moody
- Port Alice
- Mica Creek
- Whistler
- Stouffville, Ontario
Contact:
David Snadden, Northern Medical Program – 250.960.6731
Ali Liversage, UBC Faculty of Medicine – 604.827.3301
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622
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Above: The first graduates of the Northern Medical Program (seven students are missing)
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