September 7, 2004 for immediate release

Students have now begun classes in UBC's expanded medical school, whichincludes new education opportunities at UNBC (Northern Medical Program)and the University of Victoria (Island Medical Program).

After spending their first semester at UBC, the first 24 NMP studentswill arrive at UNBC in Prince George in January 2005 and begin classesin the recently opened Northern Health Sciences Centre. In preparationfor the start of the program, a number of new faculty will be based atUNBC in Prince George:

Kuo Hsing Kuo has been appointed UBC assistant professor in the NMP,and is responsible for teaching Human Anatomy. Dr Kuo obtained his MDdegree, with a specialization in Pathology (the study of diseases andtheir causes), from National Taiwan University. He obtained a PhDdegree from UBC and completed Post-Doctoral training in St. Paul'sHospital in Vancouver. Dr Kuo's research interests and scientificpublications have centered on exploring the mechanisms involved indiseases such as hypertension and asthma in hopes of developing newtherapeutic strategies.

Geoffrey Payne, also an Assistant Professor in UBC's Faculty ofMedicine, has come to UNBC from Yale University where he was conductingresearch on the cellular and molecular physiology of themicrocirculation. In particular, Dr Payne studies how blood flowregulation is affected by diseases such as diabetes and hypertension aswell as aging. Understanding the mechanisms that control blood flowwill lead to preventative measures and therapeutic strategies for allthose afflicted. He has been an author of 7 research publications. AtUNBC, Dr Payne will teach physiology, with specific classes on, forexample, the cardiac cycle, the physiology of blood pressure, and howthe kidney regulates fluid balance within the body. Prior to completinghis post-doctoral studies at Yale, he earned his PhD at MemorialUniversity of Newfoundland.

"We have been impressed both by the quantity and quality of applicantsfor positions that are crucial to delivering the Northern MedicalProgram," says Dr David Snadden, head of the NMP. "Telecommunicationlinks with UBC and UVic are obviously big components of thisdistributed program, but having top-quality faculty here to leadcourses, work with students, and conduct research will help ensure thesuccess of the program and help make UNBC a nationally recognizedcentre for rural health teaching and research."