The North is about to send some doctors of its own out into the medical world, graduates of the University of Northern British Columbia’s Northern Medical program.
The twenty three grads will be the pioneers of the program which combined the resources of the UBC Faculty of Medicine with Prince George’s UNBC campus in the first medical program offered at the ten year old university.
The goal of the program is to train and retain doctors for the North, part of the plan to help alleviate the doctor’s shortage in Northern BC that has been on the mind of Northern health for a number of years now.
The Daily News reviewed the program and its success in Monday’s paper.
Program is the right prescription to ensure doctors in the North
The Daily News
Monday, May 12, 2008
Pages one and three
Twenty-three students will make history this month when they become the first graduates of the Northern Medical Program, a ground-breaking innovation in medical education delivered by the UBC Faculty of Medicine in collaboration with the University of Northern British Columbia.
The Northern Medical Program (NMP) started in 2004, and the opening of the Dr. Donald Rix Northern Health Sciences Centre at UNBC coincided with the university’s 10th anniversary of full operations.
The NMP was part of an expanded UBC Faculty of Medicine that also included the creation of the Island Medical Program based at the University of Victoria and an increased annual intake of students at UBC in Vancouver. Prior to 2004, UBC annually admitted 128 students into medicine; now, the number is 256.
“The expansion of the Faculty of Medicine was necessary for the province, and the creation of the NMP was a courageous response to a critical need for physicians in the northern and rural communities,” said David Snadden, associate vice-provost for medicine and associate dean of the Northern Medical Program.
“The graduation of our first students is testimony to the vision and perseverance of northerners, the vision and commitment of government, and the support of all our partners in delivering a world-class medical education.”
The Northern Medical Program was the first program of its kind in Canada is recognized for its use of state-of-the-art telecommunications to allow delivery of an undergraduate medical curriculum in northern and rural settings.
Lectures and labs are held concurrently in Prince George, Victoria and Vancouver using a network able to accommodate data transfer equivalent to downloading 6,000 songs over the internet in one second.
Students also learn the core curriculum in small group sessions and through clinical settings in hospitals and health clinics throughout the North.
“This experience has been valuable for the students and communities alike,” said Dr. Snadden.
“In fact, 70 per cent of our first grads have selected placements 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 can complete the balance of their medical education in northern BC.
The graduating class started celebrating with a pancake breakfast on the weekend in the parking lot of the Prince George Regional Hospital as a thank you to the staff, volunteers and local residents. A ceremony at the UNBC campus to follow.
Their big graduation ceremony will take place on May 21 at the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver.
The twenty three grads will be the pioneers of the program which combined the resources of the UBC Faculty of Medicine with Prince George’s UNBC campus in the first medical program offered at the ten year old university.
The goal of the program is to train and retain doctors for the North, part of the plan to help alleviate the doctor’s shortage in Northern BC that has been on the mind of Northern health for a number of years now.
The Daily News reviewed the program and its success in Monday’s paper.
Program is the right prescription to ensure doctors in the North
The Daily News
Monday, May 12, 2008
Pages one and three
Twenty-three students will make history this month when they become the first graduates of the Northern Medical Program, a ground-breaking innovation in medical education delivered by the UBC Faculty of Medicine in collaboration with the University of Northern British Columbia.
The Northern Medical Program (NMP) started in 2004, and the opening of the Dr. Donald Rix Northern Health Sciences Centre at UNBC coincided with the university’s 10th anniversary of full operations.
The NMP was part of an expanded UBC Faculty of Medicine that also included the creation of the Island Medical Program based at the University of Victoria and an increased annual intake of students at UBC in Vancouver. Prior to 2004, UBC annually admitted 128 students into medicine; now, the number is 256.
“The expansion of the Faculty of Medicine was necessary for the province, and the creation of the NMP was a courageous response to a critical need for physicians in the northern and rural communities,” said David Snadden, associate vice-provost for medicine and associate dean of the Northern Medical Program.
“The graduation of our first students is testimony to the vision and perseverance of northerners, the vision and commitment of government, and the support of all our partners in delivering a world-class medical education.”
The Northern Medical Program was the first program of its kind in Canada is recognized for its use of state-of-the-art telecommunications to allow delivery of an undergraduate medical curriculum in northern and rural settings.
Lectures and labs are held concurrently in Prince George, Victoria and Vancouver using a network able to accommodate data transfer equivalent to downloading 6,000 songs over the internet in one second.
Students also learn the core curriculum in small group sessions and through clinical settings in hospitals and health clinics throughout the North.
“This experience has been valuable for the students and communities alike,” said Dr. Snadden.
“In fact, 70 per cent of our first grads have selected placements 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 can complete the balance of their medical education in northern BC.
The graduating class started celebrating with a pancake breakfast on the weekend in the parking lot of the Prince George Regional Hospital as a thank you to the staff, volunteers and local residents. A ceremony at the UNBC campus to follow.
Their big graduation ceremony will take place on May 21 at the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver.
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