January 6, 2006 for immediate release

The new students in the Northern Medical Program are wrapping up theirorientation activities this weekend in advance of their first classesat UNBC on Monday, January 9. The 24 students have completed theirfirst semester of courses at UBC in Vancouver and now have theopportunity to complete their medical education in northern BC.

Members of the media are welcome to meet the new students on Monday, atnoon, in the Dr. Donald Rix Northern Health Sciences Centre at UNBC.Dr. David Snadden of the Northern Medical Program will provideintroductory remarks.

The Northern Medical Program is a partnership between UBC and theUniversity of Northern British Columbia and is an integral part of theexpansion of UBC's Faculty of Medicine. The goal of the Program is totrain physicians in the north for rural and northern practice.

The program is vital to meeting the critical need of northerncommunities for health care professionals. The curriculum is beingdelivered through a combination of cutting-edge videoconference andinternet technology, face-to-face instruction, and learning from localdoctors in various health care settings throughout northern BC.

The first group of Northern Medical Program students began theircoursework at UNBC last January. They are continuing to take courses atthe University this semester in advance of the third and fourth yearsof the program, which provide enhanced opportunities for on-the-jobeducation at Prince George Regional Hospital and other regional healthcare locations.

Contact:
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC - 250.960.5622