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…unately, it is increasingly clear that students are exposed during medical school to attitudes that suggest medicine is hierarchical, with some disciplines more valued than others. This causes many students to question and even change their intended career paths. “Since entering this environment I have felt more of a need to compare myself and have felt that choosing a primary care specialty will be looked down upon…. why is that? I did not come h…

I graduated from medical school 25yrs ago and recently left my family and maternity practice because of “burn out.” Since leaving my practice, I have been reflecting on some of the factors that led to my burnout. When I was training, I was taught the importance of maintaining “professional distance.” I donned my white coat and worked very hard to contain the tears as I saw patients who had cancer, who had just lost a baby, who were leaving an abu…

…better attention capacity, behaviour, eyesight, motor skills development, school performance, sleep quality and self-esteem. What’s more, research also tells us that people who are more connected to nature engage in more pro-environmental behaviours, from saving energy and recycling to advocating for action on climate change. With the 2021 heat dome a recent memory and wildfire season a current reality, building support for restoring, expanding a…

…y’s homesteader cabin was built almost a century ago. I applied to medical school after becoming interested in Médecins sans Frontières but I quickly realized that there was great need right here in British Columbia, and that family medicine was where I could make a real impact. Family medicine is the work of the generalist; the breadth of knowledge is wide, and the relationships run deep. One of the best things about my practice is that it can be…

…ut the Longitudinal Family Physician payment model. When I started medical school, I planned to be an obstetrician. But as I completed my training, I realized that what I really enjoyed was family medicine—the opportunity to build a long-term relationship with a patient over 20, 30, maybe even 40 years. I was inspired by colleagues who had attended a birth early in their career and then were later present at the birth of that person’s child. As I…

…indirect patient care activities, like talking to families or teachers and school counselors, people who with key information to help my patient. More than 4,000 family physicians are using the new payment system, marking a big change in our healthcare system.   Thanks to the new payment model, B.C. has over 800 new family physicians, making us one of the only provinces that isn’t losing family doctors. Two hundred thousand more British Columbians…

…unities and thrive in them. While there are encouraging signs that medical schools are prioritizing rural recruitment, this effort must be accompanied by robust training strategies that reflect the unique needs of these communities.  Expanding interdisciplinary healthcare teams is also crucial. Social workers, mental health professionals, office-based nursing and specialized support staff are vital to alleviating the strain on rural physicians and…

…ed home, I threw myself into university, starting the long road to medical school. It wasn’t easy. I struggled. There were setbacks. But I pushed forward, always with the goal of helping people. One thing I learned quickly is that you don’t have to go across the world to find people in need. One patient taught me that lesson all too well. The patient I couldn’t save He came in as a walk-in patient, and something about his symptoms concerned me. I…