November 15, 2001 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia Senate has approved the proposed Northern Medical Program, in principle. The Northern Medical Program was initiated by UNBC in collaboration with The University of British Columbia in order to increase the number of doctors practicing in the North, by training them in the North. The Senate is the university governing body responsible for academic issues and degree programs.

A detailed plan for the program was submitted to the Government of British Columbia at the end of September. The proposed model provides for most of the coursework and clinical placement opportunities to be available in northern BC for Northern Medical Program students:

Years One & Two About three-quarters of the medical school curriculum would be offered at UNBC in Prince George.

Years Three & Four Clinical placements would be available at various sites in northern BC. Advanced clinical placements for Northern Medical Program students would also be available in Vancouver. Students would complete the remainder of the program at UNBC.

"This working model provides an opportunity for future medical students to gain much of their education in northern BC," says UNBC President Charles Jago. "UBC has been an enthusiastic partner, eager to help develop a program that will provide physicians with the skills and experience necessary to practice in northern and rural areas."

The Northern Medical Program is part of UBC's vision to double the number of medical students trained in British Columbia. This vision has been endorsed by the BC Government as part of its New Era agenda. The proposed model of distributed medical education will also involve the University of Victoria. It's expected the Northern Medical Program will accept its first 24 students in 2004, pending government approval and funding.