NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 21, 2013
TWO NEW EMERGENCY MEDICINERESIDENTS FOR FRASER HEALTH
SURREY– Fraser Health’s reputation as a centre of academic and teaching excellence continues with the expansion of the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Emergency Medicine residency program.
Earlier this summer, Emergency Medicine residents Dr. Jessica Paul and Dr. Margaret Zhang began their program based out of the Royal Columbian Hospital. The program has transitionedfrom a single site program to a distributed residency program. Over the course of the next five years, Fraser will have 10 new Emergency Medicineresidents, with Dr. Paul and Dr. Zhang being the first to graduate in 2018.
While they will spend a majority of their time in the emergency department of the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, they will also benefit from training in other acute sites across the region.
Fraser Health currently trains Emergency Medicineresidents on rotation from the Vancouver site and is increasingly recognized for its commitment to innovation and emphasis on quality training. As such, the establishment of two new training positions entirely based in Fraser Health is a testament to this outstandingeducation and support.
In addition, the new residents will have the opportunity to develop and enhance their emergency medicine expertise in a unique environment that is culturally and economically diverse. The result will be highly trained emergency physicians with exceptional skills.
Quotes:
Honourable Terry Lake, Minister of Health
“This is an exciting time for medical education in British Columbia and today’s announcement is a perfect example of how we are expanding residency positions to keep pace with undergraduate program growth. The addition of two new emergency medicine residencies is great news for Fraser Health and I want to congratulate and wish both Dr. Jessica Paul and Dr. Margaret Zhang success in what is sure to be a remarkable training ground for them.”
Dr. Anne Clarke, Program Medical Director Emergency, Fraser Health:
“Fraser Health and the Royal Columbian Hospital in particular, already have a reputation of being an interesting and challenging place to do Emergency Medicine. We are excited to expand our training and teaching opportunities.”
Gavin Stuart, Dean of the UBC Faculty of Medicine and UBC Vice Provost Health:
“The creation of these new Emergency Medicine residency positions reflects UBC’s effort to expand both undergraduate and postgraduate medical training beyond Vancouver to all parts of the province, a process that began a decade ago to address doctor shortages. The addition of these newly-minted doctors to Fraser Health’s hospitals may ease the strain on the region’s emergency departments by providing a sustainable work force. By exposing these trainees to the professional and personal opportunities in Fraser Health’s various communities, we hope it will address the region’s long-term needs for emergency specialists.”
Dr. Caroline Tyson, Associate Program Director, Fraser Site,Royal College Emergency MedicineProgram, UBC:
“This is a very exciting day for Fraser Health. The expansion of the Emergency Department residency program is a sign of Fraser’s increasing reputation as a leader in academic excellence and innovation. Royal Columbian is already recognized for the wide scope of interesting and challenging cases the emergency department sees. With the expansion of the residency program, Fraser Health now has the ‘complete package’ – an exciting, challenging place to work with unique teaching opportunities.”
Dr. Jess Paul, Emergency Medicine Resident, Fraser Health:
“As a major trauma centre for BC, the Royal Columbian is a great place to be in terms of trauma training. Add to this a real emphasis on hands-on training and you have a work environment that is wonderful.”
Dr. Margaret Zhang, Emergency Medicine Resident, Fraser Health:
“I feel the Royal Columbian has a good balance of patients and attention from staff. You get to see a lot of really interesting pathology, and there is a lot of emphasis on education and working as a team.”
About Fraser Health
Fraser Health provides a wide range of integrated health services to the largest and fastest growing population in B.C. The health authority is committed to improving the health of the population and the quality of life of more than 1.7 million people living in communities from Burnaby to White Rock to Hope.
About the Emergency Medicine residency training program:
Established in the 1980’s, the Emergency Medicine residency program offers training to physicians wishing to pursue a career in Emergency Medicine. The program is accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and is five years in length. Residents in the program are thoroughly trained in all aspects of emergency care and upon completion of the program, graduates have consultant level abilities in the management of patients with any illness or injury presenting to the emergency department and are well prepared for clinical, academic or leadership roles in emergency medicine.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Fraser Health Media Pager: 604-450-7881
Visitfor more health news and information.
Follow us:
1/3