Grad Spotlights - NMP Class of 2023
Congratulations to our NMP Class of 2023 on their MD graduation!
Meet some of our newest grads who are moving on to the next stage of training – two to seven years of residency (depending on specialty).
Christina Cleveland
Hometown: Fraser Lake, BC
What attracted you to your field?
I have wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember. When I was five years old a rural family medicine doctor and the community of doctors in the north saved my life. She diagnosed my acute lymphoblastic leukemia and started me on my journey as a patient. From this experience, I knew I wanted to go into healthcare. I was fortunate to be accepted to the Northern Medical Program in Prince George and was able to learn at the same hospital and with some of the physicians that treated me as a child. Throughout my medical training, I have felt a sense of community and belonging among family physicians
What is your favorite moment from your time at the NMP?
I think my favorite moment was the Northern Grad Ceremony. It was really special to be alongside my friends and peers, who have all worked so hard to get to graduation. Those presenting you with your white coat and shingle have been working with you the entire time and have seen your growth. You feel a part of the community here in the North and get to have a big celebration with friends and family.
What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?
Congratulations, you made it! I look forward to working with you, and welcome to a community of super-friendly people who want to see you do your best. Make sure to take the time to get to know your cohort because these will be your friends for life, and they are the people you will lean on in the toughest times in the program. Also, trust the process, trust yourself, and it is okay to not know everything and be overwhelmed with the information at first. You will get a handle on it all and will learn where to look to find the information you don’t know. And lastly a quote from Astronaut Chris Hadfield “Be prepared, work hard, have fun”.
What’s next for you?
I am lucky to be able to continue my training with the fantastic preceptors here in Prince George as I was accepted into the Rural Family Medicine Program!
Stephen Freschi
Hometown: Calgary, AB
What attracted you to your field?
There was never a specific “eureka” moment for me, but there were a multitude of life experiences and interests that led me to pursue family medicine as a career. A genuine fascination and love for science, general curiousity, wanting to know how to respond to an emergency situation, and working with people through complex detailed areas of their lives are just a few reasons I chose family medicine. I’ve always found the hands-on and relational aspects of the work desirable and motivating. Anyone who knows me well knows that I’ve always felt that, above all else, pursuing and practicing medicine is a significant team-based venture through and through, with countless people working with you and supporting you to succeed.
What is your favourite moment from your time at the NMP?
My favorite moment was the latter half of our final year in the program. This is because the NMP cohort came back together in-person after all of our clinical experiences and electives. We were able see one another, share stories and encourage one another through our CaRMS applications. This ended up being a very memorable and fantastic time in my journey.
What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?
Be intentional with your time (it is after all your most limited resource) and remain steadfast. You’ve signed up for a career where you’ll be learning indefinitely and frequently saying, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” Pace yourself to make the most of your learning experience, but always invest time into your family, social life and other interests as they will support you through the endeavor. Practice now, because most of us are still working on this!
What’s next for you?
Reflecting back, the last four years have certainly been challenging with long hours and the immense volume of learning. With that in mind, I am going to be making the most of the opportunity to enjoy downtime for adventure and leisure activities with my family. After that, residency begins and I’ll see what the next phase of education holds.
Fortunately, I matched to my first choice of family medicine residency programs here at UBC and will be remaining in Prince George, B.C. I’m really looking forward to continuing my education in a familiar setting with the healthcare teams and clinics that I’ve already been learning with and have built professional relationships with over the last several years. My family has a foundation of supports and friendship here that aided us through this journey so far, and I’m looking forward to being able to invest back into the community!
Anne McGladdery
Hometown: Prince George, BC
What attracted you to your field?
Prior to applying to medical school, I worked as a medical office assistant at a walk-in clinic. I found that the variety in a doctor's day alongside the lasting relationships built in the family medicine setting made for a very fulfilling career. I love that family medicine is so versatile, leaving the door open not only for clinic work, but also opportunities in palliative care, MAiD, GP oncology, emergency medicine, and many others areas. I'm familiar with what family medicine looks like and I know I'll never get bored! I look forward to connecting with my future patients.
I opted for family medicine with a focus on Indigenous health as I know many Indigenous people have struggled not only with access to health care, but also longstanding systemic racism. I want, in my small way, to contribute to narrowing those gaps and improving care for marginalized people.
What is your favourite moment from your time at the NMP?
I felt so privileged to pursue my MD in my hometown, surrounded by many longstanding friends who provided me with unflagging support. I moved away from Prince George in 2006 and it was wonderful to be back, exploring the city and surrounding areas as an adult. I am so grateful for the friendships I built in the NMP. It is such a warm and welcoming program. I have so many fantastic memories from the last four years: hikes, board game nights, and endless study sessions. It wouldn't have been the same without my peers.
What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?
Don't let the imposter syndrome get you down! I started medical school at 31 and my educational background included two theatre degrees. I had anxieties that I wouldn't find my people or be "sciencey" enough to pull off medical school. Thankfully, NMP is so inclusive and friendly: you will find your people, you will learn the science, and at the end of it all, you'll be a physician, no matter how non-traditional your path.
What’s next for you?
I'm leaving for Portugal with a friend where I plan on doing lots of sight-seeing and lots of relaxing! At the end of May, I'm moving to Victoria with my partner to complete my two year Indigenous Family Medicine residency. I'm really looking forward to staying in one place for a little while and spending time with my friends (old and new) on beautiful Vancouver Island. I'm not sure what my life will look like post-residency just yet (I'm interested in too many facets of family practice!) but I'm committed to involving rural and remote medicine in my future.
Sukhmeet Singh Sachal
Hometown: Surrey, BC
What attracted you to your field?
I became attracted to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery during my clerkship. While rotating through the surgical block, I saw how the plastic surgeons worked from head to toe to restore anatomy, function, and form. It was a blend of artistry mixed with precision. That is when I knew that this was the perfect field for me. Initially, I was a bit scared to apply as I had heard from seniors that this was the most competitive specialty to get into and that most students start preparing since the first year of medical school. However, through gaining wonderful mentorship, coaching, and research from various plastic and reconstructive surgeons, I decided to apply. As well, I saw how my interest in public and global health could be an asset in this field, whether that is working with patients who have craniofacial and hand trauma to children with cleft palates.
What is your favorite moment from your time at the NMP?
My favorite moment at the NMP was anytime I was in the hospital working with the staff, whether that was the physicians, nurses, staff, or allied health care workers. Everyone was passionate about teaching and ensuring that we got the best training possible. I am so grateful to the NMP for instilling within me the skills of hard work, dedication, and perseverance to provide the best care for our patients as possible. If I had to pick one specific moment, it would have to be working on a 12-hour surgical procedure with my role model and mentor, Dr. Nadine Caron. She was the main reason I had initially applied to come to the Northern Medical Program, and the fact that I got to work with her in the OR and then for her to become one of my mentors was truly a full-circle moment.
What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?
The one piece of advice I have for students entering medical school, residency, or honestly anything else in life is very simple: be your authentic self. It is easier said than done when there may be a feeling of imposter syndrome or not feeling adequate enough. However, trust me when I say that if you can be true to yourself and your values, then nothing can really stop you from getting to your goals. Be kind to yourself, and those around you. And enjoy the process as much as you can while you are going through it.
What’s next for you?
I will be heading back to Western University in London, Ontario to complete my five-year residency training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery where I will be simultaneously working on a Master's degree. I hope to continue my advocacy work in public and global health, as well as continue speaking at various events around the world. I am excited, thankful, and full of gratitude for this next chapter in my life.
Jenna Treissman
Hometown: Kamloops, BC
What attracted you to your field?
I love Pediatrics for so many reasons. The patient population is resilient and unique, ranging from tiny premature infants to mature youth who are nearing adulthood. General Pediatrics offers a huge diversity in practice, including both hospital-based and outpatient care, as well as acute and preventative medicine. Pediatrics is a heavily team-based specialty, particularly in the hospital setting. I thoroughly enjoy working with parents and allied health professionals to promote growth and development, recovery and quality-of-life for the kiddos we care for. I am passionate about improving access to care for Indigenous women and children, those living in northern/rural/remote areas and other marginalized groups. I chose Pediatrics because there is no shortage of rural opportunities, and it offers the flexibility to work almost anywhere in Canada. Most importantly, working with children and their families brings me joy and inspires me to work harder every day.
What is your favourite moment from your time at the NMP?
During my Integrated Community Clerkship, I spent some time working with the rural family doctors at the Gitlaxt’aamiks clinic in the Nass Valley. Gitlaxt’aamiks is a remote Indigenous community with limited health services, located approximately 100 km north of Terrace, BC. One day we had a patient present in status-epilepticus (a prolonged seizure). The two doctors, the single nurse and myself got to work resuscitating the patient. I was initially overwhelmed with the emergency situation and struggled to find ways to help with my limited experience. However, I recalled from a recent simulation that every resuscitation scenario requires a note-taker. So, I grabbed a marker and started documenting vital signs and medications on the whiteboard. I called the patient transport network and helped with communications where I could. Seeing that I was capable and reliable, my preceptor invited me to insert an intraosseous line and intubate the patient. We took turns manually ventilating the patient until EMS arrived. The best part about this experience was that the staff made every decision collaboratively and frequently asked for my ideas and opinions, making me feel like a valued team-member. It felt like true rural medicine! After the patient was transported, we had a thorough debriefing and discussed what we had learned from the experience and how we could improve our clinic’s preparedness for similar situations in the future. The patient survived and I was able to visit him the following day during rounds in the Terrace ICU.
What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?
For students entering UBC’s Northern Medical Program, my best advice would be not to worry about choosing a specialty for your first few years of medical school. Instead, go into every experience with an open mind, curiosity and enthusiasm. Ask questions often, go out of your way to meet different people around the hospital and focus on finding strong mentors. The residents and staff that you meet will be crucial supporters when it comes to applying for residency programs. Remember that choosing your specialty has more to do with picking “your people” than anything else. Be brave and ask for feedback on a regular basis during your rotations. This will not only help you improve your skills, but it will demonstrate to your staff that you are serious about their specialty and committed to your learning. Finally, medical students have extra time in their day. Make sure you take advantage of this. Listen carefully to your patients’ stories, and practice showing genuine empathy and understanding for their struggles. These moments of connection will go a long way to improving your patients’ experience in the health care system, and they will keep your passion for medicine alive when things get challenging. After all, this is what medicine is all about.
What’s next for you?
In July I will be starting my Pediatrics residency at BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) in the Community Impact Stream (CIS). The CIS is a residency position embedded within the UBC Vancouver program with a special focus on northern/rural medicine and providing care to vulnerable and underserved populations. My training will be based primarily at BCCH, but I will spend five months of my R1 year working at the University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC) in Prince George. During my blocks in the North, I will work with the rural Pediatricians in Terrace and Prince Rupert and do outreach to Takla Lake First Nation. The UBC Pediatrics program offers further rural experiences including outreach to Hazelton, Haida Gwaii and the Indigenous communities of Lax Kw’alaams and Hartley Bay, which I will take advantage of later in my training. I look forward to embracing the hands-on learning and the unique opportunities in my program.
