When Dr. Oscar Casiro first looked at the UBC MD Undergraduate Program (MDUP) Island Medical Program’s (IMP) top leadership role, he saw an irresistible opportunity to help create a program that fostered excellence in education, innovation, discovery, and community service on Vancouver Island. We connected with the founding Regional Associate Dean (RAD), Vancouver Island, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia (UBC) and Head, Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria (UVic) to ask him about his past experiences, his current projects, and his future hopes for the program.
What drew you to the role of Regional Associate Dean (RAD), Vancouver Island?
In the year 2000, physician shortages, exacerbated by difficulties in the recruitment and retention of both family physicians and specialists in coastal, rural, and northern areas prompted calls for action. The Province of British Columbia responded by developing a bold, ambitious plan for a collaborative, distributive medical education model built around the unique expertise of its universities and the resources available in health centers throughout the province. The plan called for a major increase in enrolment of medical students, a broadening of the sites for medical education, and an increase in the number of residency positions. The UBC MDUP IMP presented an opportunity to build on the strengths of both UBC and UVic, to recruit excellent faculty, increase health research, improve community-based healthcare, and provide economic benefits to communities throughout the Island. The goal to attract students who grew up and/or lived on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, or in rural communities across the province of BC was aligned with evidence suggesting that physicians are more likely to practice in underserved areas if they come from or are trained in those areas.
In May 2003, when I was asked to look at the opportunity to be the founding Regional Associate Dean for the UBC MDUP IMP, I identified the following strengths: timing, extensive strategic planning, strong government support, substantial new funding, the commitment of two prestigious universities, participation of multiple stakeholders in the healthcare sector and a strong undergraduate medical education program at UBC. The challenges I perceived were inherent to the ambitious goals and uniqueness of this rapid expansion and distribution of medical education: resistance to change, cultural differences, communication gaps, and the need to build significant resource capacity on Vancouver Island over a relatively short period of time. The ultimate short-term challenge was to ensure that the program would be ready to receive medical students just over a year later, and that their legitimate expectations would be met.
When offered the position, it was clear to me that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that came with great risks and a potential for enormous success. In the end, it proved irresistible.
When you first took on the role of RAD, what was your 10-year vision for the UBC MDUP IMP?
My vision was to develop a first-class medical education program on Vancouver Island, committed to excellence in education, innovation, discovery, and service to the community. A program that would broaden the options for Vancouver Island students who wanted to pursue a career in medicine close to home. A program that would provide clinical learning opportunities across Vancouver Island, allowing the students to develop relationships with physicians in smaller communities.
Scientific inquiry is recognized as an essential component of medical education. A first-class educational experience includes opportunities for students to interact with a community of scholars, to participate in research, and to develop research interests and skills. As part of the vision for the UBC MDUP IMP, the UVic Division of Medical Sciences [now, the School of Medical Sciences] was created as an academic research unit that would strengthen the program.
We also hoped, once the UBC MDUP IMP was on solid ground, to develop new opportunities for medical students to pursue their postgraduate residency training on Vancouver Island, to increase the likelihood that they would eventually practice here.
Which of the accomplishments made during your time at RAD are you most proud of?
The fact that we developed a medical education program that became very popular among applicants to the UBC MDUP, that we attracted excellent students from Vancouver Island and beyond (by the end of my ten-year term, nearly 50 per cent of UBC MDUP IMP students had graduated from a Vancouver Island high school or post-secondary institution), that our graduates were very successful in the annual competitions for postgraduate training spots, and that we created new residency programs for graduates to continue their education on Vancouver Island. I am also proud of the quality of basic science faculty, clinician scientists, and clinical faculty we were able to recruit, and the success of our research enterprise.
What makes the UBC MDUP IMP and medical education on Vancouver Island special?
A welcoming environment, a supportive, student-centered culture, and the dedication of the faculty, clinical faculty, and staff at all our educational sites. We fostered a “personal touch” approach and strived to make sure that every student was in the best position to do well. The small size of the program and its distributed nature allowed for rich community-based experiences in urban, rural, and coastal settings.
Looking forward, how would you like to see the UBC MDUP IMP evolve in the next 20 years?
As the program grows and expands, I hope the distinctive elements of a “small site” culture can be preserved. And I hope innovation and research remain a feature of the UBC MDUP IMP.
What have you been doing since ending your term as RAD? Any exciting plans for the future?
In the past twelve years I did work for a number of national organizations, such as being Chair of the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools and being the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada’s first Regional Director for Latin America. I also worked on a few projects for the UBC Faculty of Medicine until I retired at the end of 2024. That same year, I obtained Paddle Canada certification as a Stand Up Paddleboarding Instructor and now spend much time on the water, all year-round. I have five grandchildren in Victoria and one in Vancouver and I love spending time with them and with my wife, as well as gardening and walking.