Welcome to the new academic year

Dear Faculty of Medicine Community,

Here at the Faculty of Medicine, the first few weeks of September pass by in a breathless rush of orientations, classes, meetings and get-togethers. It’s astonishing to think that, right now, across the province, over 5,000 new and returning learners are settling into their programs and courses — supported by an academic community of more than 13,000 faculty and clinical faculty and more than 2,500 staff. Just imagine our collective impact in transforming health for people, families and communities across British Columbia, Canada and the world.

Learners bring a renewed energy to the new academic year and the work that we do. In our annual Back to School feature on the Faculty of Medicine website, Meredith Clark, a PhD student in Interdisciplinary Oncology, describes the excitement of returning to the lab and the tight-knit group of collaborators “who have quickly become like family.” Tanisha Wilson, a second-year Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) student, talks about the privilege of being accepted to the inaugural MPT class in Victoria. Eshawn Johal, a fourth-year medical student in the Northern Medical Program, credits the advocacy and mentorship of physicians in his home region for his decision to pursue medicine.

These experiences reflect the importance of community to the learning environment, and the Faculty of Medicine is a leader in distributed medical education, providing more learners with the opportunity to learn close to home, including in rural, remote and Indigenous communities at one of our 145 training sites across the province.

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending the official announcement of the expansion of the Physical Therapy and the Speech-Language Pathology programs to Victoria. Together with our partners, the Government of B.C., the University of Victoria and Island Health, we’re creating more opportunities for learners to train in or near their home communities in state-of-the-art facilities, and, through local placements, we’re strengthening the network of health professionals for families and communities on the Island.

We also recently marked an important milestone for distributed research at the Faculty of Medicine. The Northern Centre for Clinical Research, a joint collaborative initiative between UBC, the University of Northern British Columbia and Northern Health, launched its first-ever clinical trial, which will test the effectiveness of a new drug for people with chronic kidney disease.

Underpinning our success in research and education is our community of dedicated faculty and staff, including clinical and adjunct faculty, instructors and lecturers, teaching and research assistants, administrative and research staff, academic leaders and more. Together, we are shaping the next generation of doctors, health professionals and practitioners, and scientists who will go on to play a transformative role in the health and wellbeing of people and communities across this province and beyond.

Amid the excitement of a new academic year, September comes with many competing demands here at the Faculty of Medicine. It’s important that we take care of ourselves and each other. Supports for faculty, staff and learners are always available if you find yourself navigating a particularly challenging period.

As we settle into the rhythm of the 2025/26 academic year, I encourage you to carry forward the spirit of relationships, partnerships and community in all that you do. By bringing together diverse voices, perspectives and experiences within the Faculty of Medicine, we move closer to solving some of the most pressing health challenges of our time.