UBC Northern Medical Program held its Class of 2026 celebration at UNBC this afternoon (Friday).
The program is a partnership between the two schools, with this class’s 27 grads pursuing a career in becoming an independent practicing physician.
Last year’s class had 29 students graduate.
Regional Associate Dean for Northern BC, Dr. Paul Winwood said they’re celebration will have speeches from various people, with students taking part in a white coat ceremony.
“When the medical students start, they have to wear a short white coat like a jacket.”
“So we have this sort of little right of passage where they dawn on stage a long white coat, such as what you’d expect a physician to wear, and then they get presented with a shingle.”
Dr. Winwood added that a couple students will then give speeches, with a number of awards presented to cap off their celebration.
He said with this particular class, they’re proud of is giving the students an opportunity to learn in Indigenous communities, developing a residency program that is a northern Indigenous program.
One of their grads will be taking part in that, building on years of students going into Indigenous health.
When asked how many students tend to stay in the north, Dr. Winwood said about 30 per cent typically stick around, with recent data showing those that do stay, stay for a long time.
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