Dr. Laura Arbour Receives UBC Distinguished Achievement Award

Dr. Laura Arbour

Dr. Laura Arbour, professor of medical genetics at the Island Medical Program and affiliate professor with the University of Victoria’s Division of Medical Sciences, recently received a 2019 UBC Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Achievement Award. Dr. Arbour was recognized for her meritorious service to the university and community in relation to her work in medical genetics.

“It is an honour to be recognized by UBC, but as with all awards, there are a whole lot of folks who pave the way,” she says. “Thanks to my good colleagues and amazing team! I am very grateful.”

Dr. Arbour is project lead of Silent Genomes, a four-year project aiming to bridge the gap in healthcare access and improve diagnostic success for Indigenous children with genetic diseases. You can find out more about the project here.

RSVP Early for Gairdner Symposium Video Casting at UVic

On October 21, 2019, the University Of Victoria (UVic) will host a live video casting of the Gairdner International Symposium.

This free UVic event offers attendees the opportunity to hear the two inspiring and dynamic keynote speakers, Dr. Ronald Vale and Dr. Bruce Stillman. However, this option is not guaranteed. So, attendees should RSVP early to avoid cancellation of the UVic Video Casting option.

The Gairdner International Symposium is held each fall to give students, teachers, and researchers the opportunity to hear from Gairdner award-winning scientists. The Canada Gairdner Awards recognize the world’s most creative and accomplished biomedical scientists who are advancing humanity and the world.

To access full-size PDF poster, please click on image.

Vale, PhD, is a biochemist and cell biologist. He is a professor at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of California, San Francisco and an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He was awarded the 2019 Canada Gairdner International Award for the discovery of a new motility-producing molecule, which was named “kinesin” and how living organisms generate motion.

Stillman. PhD, FRS, is a biochemist and a cancer researcher who has served as the Director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) since 1994. He was awarded the 2019 Canada Gairdner International Award for his pioneering research on how our genome is duplicated and how this process is coordinated with many other essential cellular events, which have implications for understanding genome instability and tumour heterogeneity in cancer.

To RSVP and for more information, please email Jessica at jshum@cmmt.ubc.ca

What: Video casting of Gairdner International Symposium

When: Monday, October 21, 2019. 3:30 – 6:00 p.m.

Where: University of Victoria, Medical Sciences Building Rm 160

RSVP: jshum@cmmt.ubc.ca

IMP Clinical Faculty Members Receive UBC Faculty of Medicine Awards

Three IMP clinical faculty members have received 2019 Clinical Faculty teaching awards from the UBC Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Alison Walzak

Dr. Alison Walzak received the Clinical Faculty Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching, which recognizes excellence in teaching by clinical faculty members. Dr. Walzak is the IMP’s clinical skills site director, a clinical assistant professor of community internal medicine, and the clinical teaching unit director at Royal Jubilee Hospital.

“I am very honoured to receive this award! The credit certainly goes to my mentors, the trainees I get to work with, and my patients that allow us to learn from them,” she says. “I feel very fortunate to be part of such an amazing team of colleagues and students at the Island Medical Program that continue to challenge me in my professional growth.”

Dr. Sam Stewart

Dr. Sam Stewart received the Clinical Faculty Award for Career Excellence in Clinical Teaching. This awards recognizes senior clinical faculty members who have demonstrated sustained excellence in teaching over the course of their careers. Dr. Stewart is currently a master teacher and the ambulatory discipline site leader at the IMP. Previously, he held the roles of Year 3 Director and Year 4 Elective Director.

“I have been with IMP since the beginning,” he says. “Being a teacher and now a Master Teacher at the IMP has given me the opportunity to combine my life’s passions of teaching and practicing medicine—and to enrich my experience of both. What a gift I have received.”

Dr. Donna Doyle

Dr. Donna Doyle received the Clinical Faculty Award for Excellence in Community Practice Teaching. This award recognizes clinical faculty members throughout B.C. who have demonstrated excellence in teaching and made an educational impact in a local community. Dr. Doyle has taught family practice students in her office for more than 20 years. She also teaches Year 3 IMP students and residents on the ward during their obstetrical rotations, and she occasionally teaches Year 2 IMP students with a special interest in obstetrics. She held the position of clinical educator in obstetrics for IMP students and postgrad residents from 2010 – 2019.

“I feel very honoured to be receiving this award, as I hope it reflects that I have made, and am still making, a positive impact with the young new physicians that I have encountered in my many years of teaching,” she says. “I love teaching students because it is a relationship that benefits us both! It encourages me to keep up-to-date on my medical knowledge, and it allows me to share this knowledge and my years of clinical experience with the next generation of physicians. It is also a great opportunity to demonstrate to new graduates the benefits and diversity of full-service family medicine.”

You can learn more about the 2019 Clinical Faculty teaching awards and see who else received an award here.

2019 IMP / DMSC Teaching Award Recipients Announced

Drs. Samantha Stasiuk, Jonathan Tang, John Cooper, and Brad Williamson were recently recognized for their teaching contributions to the Island Medical Program (IMP).

Dr. Samantha Stasiuk

Dr. Stasiuk received the Teaching Award in Medical Sciences (TAMS) for 2019. The TAMS, which is adjudicated by a committee, recognizes full-time or affiliate faculty who has taught at the IMP or the Division of Medical Sciences (DMSC) for at least two consecutive years. The committee selected Dr. Stasiuk as this year’s recipient based on her exemplary teaching and outstanding support for student learning.

“I am both delighted and honoured to be a recipient of this award,” she says. “I feel so privileged to work with such a lovely group of learners, faculty and staff at IMP.”

Dr. Jonathan Tang

Dr. Tang received the Bruce Crawford Award of Excellence for 2019. This award is presented by the IMP’s third-year students to the teacher, preceptor, or tutor who has made an impact on their first two years of medical training.

“I am deeply honoured and flattered that I received this award,” he says. “The other talented educators at the IMP and I recognize our contributions to this program when we see our students become competent and thoughtful physicians, which is the outcome that matters most.”

The recipients of the Year 3 Teaching Awards were also recently announced. The individuals and groups who receive these awards are recommended by fourth-year IMP students based on experiences during their third year.

Dr. John Cooper received the 2019 Vancouver Island Clerkship Preceptors Teaching Excellence Award, which acknowledges the outstanding dedication, enthusiasm, and respect a clerkship preceptor demonstrates in teaching Year 3 IMP students. Dr. Brad Williamson received the 2019 Resident Teaching Excellence Award, which acknowledges the outstanding dedication, enthusiasm, and respect a Vancouver Island resident demonstrates in teaching Year 3 IMP students. Finally, the Internal Medicine clinical rotation won the 2019 Island Medical Program Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award. This award acknowledges the rotation that provides the most efficient, supportive, and engaging learning environment for third-year clinical clerk medical students.

IMP Info Sessions Restart September 9

Do you want to be a doctor?

Find out how you can earn your MD at the University of Victoria with the Island Medical Program (IMP) at the first IMP information session of the 2019/20 academic year.

Open to everyone, the session will run on September 9, 2019, at 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. in the Medical Sciences Building, Room 160.

You will learn more about the IMP’s admission requirements, curriculum, and history. If you have an questions, a Q&A period with the IMP’s admissions coordinator will follow the presentation.

If you can’t make it, please join us at any of our regular info sessions throughout the year. They run once a month between September and April. You can find out dates, times, and locations on the IMP events calendar.

You can also contact the admissions coordinator at 250-472-5527 or impadmcom@uvic.ca.

Student Summer Research Project Explores Central Nervous System Inflammation

Instead of taking a break from the books over the summer, four IMP students spent the past few months summer tackling research projects with the UBC Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research Program (FoM SSRP). Currently open to non-MD undergraduates and MD students after years 1 and 3, the FoM SSRP offers students an opportunity to explore their interests in medical research under the supervision of a principal investigator who holds an appointment in the faculty.

“Exposure to research during their education encourages students to pursue medical research in their careers, and, for those students in the MD program, improves their appreciation of the role that research can play in improving patient care and health outcomes,” explained Linda Herbert, Student Research & Education Coordinator, FoM.

Now that summer is fading, we caught up with one of those students – Sofía Zhang-Jiang (IMP Class of 2022)– to find out more about her project.

Sofía Zhang-Jiang (IMP Class of 2022)

Title of Project: Cerebrospinal Fluid Metagenomics and Cytokine Profiling in Pediatric Patients with Central Nervous System Inflammation

Please briefly explain your project.

The project study team is looking to characterize the causes of central nervous system (CNS) inflammation in patients with encephalitis (brain inflammation) using a new technique called metagenomics. Metagenomics entails sequencing all genetic material from a sample – in this case, of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) – to identify any pathogens present. This method is more time- and resource-efficient as it allows researchers to test for known infectious agents and identify novel or unexpected microbes at the same time.

We are also looking at how certain inflammation-causing proteins express themselves in CSF by assessing biomarkers. Combining comprehensive pathogen detection with the assessment of biomarkers will allow us to differentiate infectious from non-infectious inflammation and impact patient management to improve outcomes.

What are the study’s results? If the study is on-going, what are the expected results at this point?

This study is ongoing. We expect that specific pathogens predispose patients to or cause CNS inflammation. We also hypothesize that different pathogens are associated with specific cell-signalling proteins, allowing the development of biomarkers.

What is the significance of this study?

This unique multidisciplinary study will be the first in Canada to develop and validate a CSF metagenomic technique that is both sensitive and specific.

Where did you complete the research for this project?

BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.

What drew you to this project?

I am interested in pediatric neurology, and this project was an excellent way to gain some exposure to that field. The study itself is seeking answers that have the potential to change patient management, which makes it very relevant!

Back to School Q&As – Part 2

Brittany Calibaba

Year in Program: Year 1

Hometown: Calgary, AB

What inspired you to pursue medicine?

I wanted to become a more integral part of my community while being able to nerd-out on the neat science-y part of medicine.

What are you looking forward to most this upcoming year?

I am super excited to meet everyone from my year at the IMP! Also, learning.

What did you study before attending the IMP?

I just graduated this year with a B.Sc. in biochemistry from the (sometimes forgotten) UBC Okanagan campus.

Proudest moment?

The obvious choice is getting into UBC’s MD Undergraduate Program, but aside from that, having one of my BARK animations used at conferences, high schools, etc.

What’s next on your BC bucket list?

I really want to get more active, explore Victoria, and try all sorts of fun outdoors activities. Also, getting to know BC and its beauties wouldn’t hurt. I’ve actually never been to Victoria before, but I’ve only heard good things and I’ve always dreamed of having an excuse to go.

Shan Rajapakshe

Year in Program: Year 1

Hometown: Kelowna, BC

What inspired you to pursue medicine?

Inspiration from my parents combined with great advice from mentors working in the medical field helped me make the long journey into medicine. I wanted to use the skills I accumulated over the years in computer and data sciences, as well as in health research, to help improve the health of Canadians overall.

What are you looking forward to most this upcoming year?

I’m looking forward to forging lifelong friendships with an incredible cohort of like-minded peers and learning how I can best use my skills to serve the medical field.

What did you study before attending the IMP?

Just before studying at the IMP, I completed a M.Sc. in population and public health at UBC. Prior to that, I completed a B.Sc. in computer science at UBCO.

Proudest moment?

Successfully defending my master’s thesis! It was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

What’s next on your BC bucket list?

Either a full trip along the Pacific Coast Trail or picking up skiing or snowboarding again and shredding some powder up at Whistler-Blackcomb!

Kash Gwiazda

Year in Program: Year 1

Hometown: Victoria BC

What inspired you to pursue medicine?

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a Power Ranger. When I learned that wasn’t a real thing (to my sincere dismay), I decided to try the second coolest thing: medicine! I love science, art, helping people, and solving puzzles, and medicine is a fascinating intersection of all that.

What am I looking forward to most this upcoming year?

Anatomy labs and meeting all the amazing people in the program!

What did I study before attending IMP?

I have a B.Sc. in combined biology and psychology, and half a B.Sc. in kinesiology, from UVic.

Proudest moment?

Saving four out of five penalty kicks to help qualify my Vikes soccer team for CIS nationals, and being accepted to the IMP!

Next on my BC bucket list?

I want to hike the Lions, visit Haida Gwaii, and finally learn to surf.

Ted Chen

Year in Program: Year 1

What inspired you to pursue medicine?

The fascination of complex medical science. The intricacies of the human body. The privilege to witness and participate in the delicate moments of the human experience.

What are you looking forward to most this upcoming year?

Making a group of ragtag friends that will help each other through this growth-stimulating journey.

What did you study before attending the IMP?

Mechanical engineering. It’s the best career choice if you want to constantly hear, “Oh you’re a mechanical engineer? Can you fix my car for me?”

Proudest moment?

When I went into my manager’s office to tell him I’m quitting my well-paved engineering career for a dream that comes with a 10% success rate. He froze for a good five seconds.

What’s next on your BC bucket list?

Learn how to swim properly so I won’t get lapped by my 1.5-year-old nephew.

Lauren Wotton

Year in Program: Year 1

Hometown: Kamloops, BC

What inspired you to pursue medicine?

When I started my B.Sc., I was 99% sure I did not want to pursue medicine. I thought I’d end up studying zoology or something similar. However the courses I enjoyed most were those concerning human health and disease and those that offered hands-on experience in the form of a laboratory component. Further research into medical careers provided me with the deciding factor in my choice to pursue medicine: an introduction to the role of pathologists. With its opportunities for lifelong learning, small-town living, and a behind-the-scenes collaborative work environment, this career sounded like an ideal fit for me. I’ll be able to use my interests and skills to help others.

What are you looking forward to most this upcoming year?

This year I am most looking forward to starting medical school and finding out everything that it entails. I am excited for the new knowledge and unique experiences that will come with attending the IMP, as well as meeting everyone involved (my classmates, upper-year students, preceptors, etc.). In my personal life, I am looking forward to the release of Taylor Swift’s new album and the possibility of a supporting concert, the Arrowverse “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event, and cheering on Team Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

What did you study before attending the IMP?

I studied biology at UVic, where I earned my B.Sc.

Proudest moment?

My proudest moment was receiving the UVic Jubilee Medal for Science, which is awarded to the Faculty of Science undergraduate with the highest graduating average. I was very surprised and honoured to receive this award; it was such a great ending to my degree. However, completing my gold-medal-winning, personal-best-scoring balance beam routine at what would turn out to be my last gymnastics competition is a close second.

What’s next on your BC bucket list?

I would love to visit more of the Gulf Islands or join a kayaking trip to explore some of the islands and inlets off Vancouver Island’s west coast. However, a northern BC road trip along the Alaska Highway or Great Northern Circle Route to the Yukon or Alaska is currently at the top of my BC bucket list. In addition, many of my favourite TV shows are shot in Vancouver, so I’d love to get the opportunity to watch them film while I am there for the start of this program.

Hamish Frayne

Year in Program: Year 3

Hometown: Fort Langley, BC

What inspired you to pursue medicine?

Before medicine, I worked as a lifeguard, taught swimming lessons and pursued a chemistry degree. I loved the first-aid and medicine of lifeguarding, the teaching and human interactions of swimming lessons and the science of chemistry. I find medicine to be the perfect blend of all of these interests.

What are you looking forward to most this upcoming year?

I’m pursuing my clerkship at the ICC program in Vernon. Everyone here (especially the doctors) mountain bikes, cross-country skis and climbs, so I’m excited to have an active year outdoors! Hoping for no major injuries.

Best piece of advice for your fellow IMP students?

Set reasonable expectations for yourself. Next to upper-years, residents and attending physicians, it’s easy to feel pretty inadequate—but everyone has to learn sometime!

First job?

I was the guy who copies paper at Staples… but I was at a much smaller company than Staples.

What’s next on your Victoria bucket list?

When I get back from Vernon, I’m heading to John’s Place for their famous Catch 22 brunch.

Back to School Q&As – Part 1

Nathan Chen-Mack

Year in Program: Year 1

Hometown: Victoria, BC

What inspired you to pursue medicine?

During my undergraduate degree in kinesiology, I was exposed to various clinical experiences. One of those experiences was volunteering at a clinic for clients with pain and neuromuscular conditions. I found that being able to apply what I was learning about exercise prescription and health directly to these clients and seeing their quality of life increase before my eyes was extremely rewarding. Moreover, building rapport with these clients, observing them overcome challenges, and encouraging them along the way were things that I came to appreciate and look for in a future career. I was inspired to pursue a career in medicine because of these attributes.

What are you looking forward to most this upcoming year?

My first baby, who is coming this September, and the following sleepless nights! Also, making new friends and joining the friendly community at the IMP.

What did you study before attending the IMP?

I received my B.Sc. in kinesiology at UVic in 2017.

Proudest moment?

Winning two BC provincial silver medals for Junior B Ice Hockey.

What’s next on your BC bucket list?

A golf trip throughout all of Vancouver Island or to watch the Canucks raise the Stanley Cup.

Erin Flanagan

Year in Program: Year 1

Hometown: Kamloops, BC

What inspired you to pursue medicine?

Was I curious today? Was I challenged? Has my perspective on something changed? Did I help someone or show someone kindness without expecting anything in return? These are all questions I try to ask myself on a regular basis. I knew that as a doctor I would always be finding new answers to these questions.

What are you looking forward to most this upcoming year?

The memories to be made with all of the wonderful people I am about to meet. I think it is safe to say this year is going to be one for the books!

What did you study before attending the IMP?

Biology and psychology at UVic.

Proudest moment?

In recent memory, I have to say my acceptance to the IMP takes the cake! Winning back-to-back volleyball intramural championships in my second year of university was also pretty epic.

What’s next on your BC bucket list?

Hiking the Juan de Fuca trail, trekking to Garibaldi Lake, and trips to Haida Gwaii and Hornby Island are all on my BC bucket list. I’m also excited to explore more of Vancouver Island over the next few years – I have my eye on Strathcona and Cape Scott provincial parks.

Lisa Hackett
Year in Program: Year 1

Hometown: Victoria, BC, and Halifax, NS

What inspired you to pursue medicine?

I made the decision to pursue medicine at the end of high school. At that point, I wasn’t positive that it would be the right path for me – I was still torn between studying science or acting! Over the course of my bachelor’s and master’s degrees, I became increasingly passionate about human biology and social issues related to medicine. The more I learned, the more confident I was that a career in medicine would be right for me.

What are you looking forward to most this upcoming year?

Having not yet started my medical studies, I don’t yet know what to expect. I am looking forward to being surprised by the people I meet and the things I learn. I am committed to being open-minded about where this journey takes me.

What did you study before attending the IMP?

I just completed a MA in health promotion. My thesis was on community-based participatory action research methods with Indigenous youth – a popular research paradigm in social and health sciences.

Proudest moment?

I was hired as the first coordinator of the Súa Cultural Program in Klemtu, BC, in 2015. I had very little knowledge going into the job and what Klemtu was seeking in terms of youth programming. Over the last four years, the program grew into a successful youth internship and cultural skill-building program. I left the program this year and have kept in touch with the community. I am so proud to see the program thriving and evolving as new people get involved.

What’s next on your BC bucket list?

I am excited to reconnect with the improv communities in Vancouver and Victoria. I hope to flex my performance skills on stage and do some outreach with teen improvisers through the Canadian Improv Games. Aside from the arts, I have missed the BC wilderness since moving to Halifax eight years ago. I will be seeking out opportunities to hike, camp, and sit by the ocean!

Anthony Hinde

Year in Program: Year 1

Hometown: Ladysmith, BC

What inspired you to pursue medicine?

A combination of factors led me to medicine. I had some experiences in my teenage years with family doctors and neurologists, and I was able to see their amazing knowledge and bedside manner firsthand. My parents both teach, so they made me intellectually curious. This curiosity led me to learn about the workings of life in university, and using this knowledge to directly benefit people as a physician appealed to me as a career choice.

What are you looking forward to most this upcoming year?

I’m looking forward to learning things that have a direct application to patients, and also to becoming part of the overall community of medical students and practitioners in BC. I’m really excited to see what medical school and life as a physician is actually like after so much time just thinking about how to get into the program!

What did you study before attending the IMP?

I studied microbiology at UVic and spent some time doing research in yeast molecular genetics and sepsis diagnostics. I also try to maintain interests outside of science. I’m a bit of a history buff, so I took a couple of Greek and Roman studies courses.

Proudest moment?

Outside of school, probably converting my girlfriend into an avid gamer.

What’s next on your BC bucket list?

Skiing on Cypress Mountain, wiping out repeatedly, and then soothing my battered body in a hot bath.

Levi Godard

Year in Program: Year 1

Hometown (optional): Summerland, BC

What inspired you to pursue medicine?

I have always been interested in how the human body works, and I found that I enjoyed helping others when I started volunteering. Medicine was a career path that allowed me to combine both of those.

What are you looking forward to most this upcoming year?

I am most excited to meet everyone in my class and finally see what goes on in the Medical Sciences building!

What did you study before attending the IMP?

I completed a B.Sc. in biochemistry at UVic.

Proudest moment?

When I taught myself to knit and completed my first scarf.

What’s next on your BC bucket list?

I’ve lived in BC my entire life, but the next thing on my BC bucket list is to try and learn how to surf in Tofino.

Rohit Singla

Year in Program: Year 2 (MD/PhD)

Hometown: Tsawwassen, BC

What inspired you to pursue medicine?

A resident I know once told me that “all paths can lead to medicine.” I took that to heart; I’m a software engineer who discovered he enjoys the clinical world more than he did the tech world. As I make the transition into medicine, I hope to use my engineering skill set within my clinical practice to make significant health care improvements for patients and providers in the future.

What are you looking forward to most this upcoming year?

We’re covering pediatrics more in depth this year, both in our weekly topics and clinical skills sessions. I haven’t had the chance to do much in that domain yet, so I’m keen to learn more! Also, kidneys; I love kidneys.

Best piece of advice for your fellow IMP students?

Low-fi instrumental hip hop is what gets me through studying. Maybe it’ll work for you too.

First job?

I like to say I worked as a cashier at my parents’ candy store for years, but they might say I was really there for the free snacks.

What’s next on your Victoria bucket list?

I’m a bit of a foodie, and I haven’t done nearly enough to sample Victoria’s great restaurant scene. I’m open to recommendations!

Student Co-founds Peer-support Chat Line for LGBTQ2 Youth in BC

Update: QCHAT opened its peer-support lines on October 7, 2019. You can find the support email address, toll-free phone number, and text contact on the qchat.ca homepage.

Conor Zeer-Wanklyn (IMP Class of 2021) and Victoria entrepreneur Corey McPherson, co-founders of QCHAT.

Growing up is hard for everyone, but teenagers and young adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, or two-spirited (LGBTQ2) often face additional risks.

Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario reports LGBTQ2 youth are more likely to experience sexual harassment, bullying, physical abuse, and discrimination, and they face approximately 14 times the risk of suicide and substance abuse than their heterosexual peers. Many youth also report engaging in more high-risk sexual activities. The Canadian Observatory on Homeless estimates between 25 – 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ2.

If left unaddressed, these risks often continue into adulthood. Statistics show LGBTQ2 people have higher rates of depression, anxiety, chronic stress and loneliness, and phobic disorders, and are twice as likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder as heterosexual people.

To help ensure LGBTQ2 youth in BC get support they need to navigate these health risks, Conor Zeer-Wanklyn (IMP Class of 2021) and Victoria entrepreneur Corey McPherson created QCHAT. A non-profit, low-barrier referral and peer support program, QCHAT will allow youth to confidentially contact volunteers via chat lines, email, phone, or text.

“QCHAT is designed to engage with those who may find it difficult to reach out to a loved one or a friend to discuss topics that are integral to their own personal development,” says Conor.

“[C]oming out, confusion about sexuality and gender identity, relationships, and safety at home or elsewhere are topics that play an important role in the health and well-being of youth. We aim to be a low-barrier, non-judgemental, youth-positive service that youth in these situations can reach out to as a first point of contact – and for ongoing peer support if they are dealing with ongoing problems or isolation. Chronic loneliness does have a known association with poor mental health outcomes in several populations, including LGBTQ2 youth populations, and is something we’d like to champion with our BC-wide service.”

Along with emotional support, volunteers will also provide youth with referrals to LGBTQ2-focused and -friendly resources. The referral database, which is already available on the QCHAT website, includes services like counselors and crisis lines, peer groups, safe-sex and harm reduction programs, clinicians, and health centres.

LGBTQ2 individuals of all ages face barriers when it comes to accessing healthcare services. A 2015 position paper from the Canadian Federation of Medical Students lists fear of victimization, stigma, and negative judgement as some of these barriers. A combination of past experiences with healthcare services and cultural, religious, and personal beliefs can also affect a person’s comfort in accessing healthcare.

“These referrals have the ability to help clients in tangible ways,” Conor says. “We believe that QCHAT has the ability to help improve the health and well-being of LGBTQ2 youth in BC.”

QCHAT is based on a similar service in Ontario called LGBT YouthLine, which Conor volunteered with when he lived in Toronto. When he couldn’t identify a peer-support service like this in BC, Conor decided to create on as his medical school FLEX project under the supervision of Dr. Danika Milne. “Doing this wouldn’t have been possible if I didn’t have a chance to use some UBC Medicine curricular time towards it,” he says.

QCHAT is now an approved not-for-profit and it received its first year’s worth of funding from the Island Health Community Wellness Grant. All it needs now are Victoria-based volunteers to staff the lines.

“We have a volunteer call out page on the website, which describes the types of skills and qualifications that we’re looking for in prospective volunteers, in addition to the kinds of outcomes that we’re looking for our volunteers to achieve. We believe that QCHAT will be of interest for those who have a service ethic, as well as those who want to build their competency in non-profit business management and leadership, since there are ample opportunities to build the organization into a sustainable and impactful force for good,” Conor says.

As QCHAT is a peer support service, it will prioritize LGBTQ2 volunteers aged 30 and under. However, older individuals are still encouraged to get in touch and discuss how they could assist the organization.

To access any of QCHAT’s resources or to find out more about volunteering, please visit qchat.ca.

Paving the Road to Indigenous Genomic Equity

In 2018, the Silent Genomes project received $10.4 million in funding from Genome Canada, Genome BC, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and others to reduce healthcare disparities and improve precision diagnosis for Indigenous children with genetic disease. Now, just over a year into the project, the team has laid a solid foundation for the work head.

Imagine suspecting your child has a rare genetic disease. To gain a precise diagnosis, and the tailored medical management that follows, your child needs access to advanced genomic technologies and a clinical database of genetic variations in their own population.

If you’re an Indigenous person in Canada, achieving that accurate diagnosis may be more challenging.

“There’s next to no genomic information available,” says Laurie Montour, who is Kanienke’há:ka (Mohawk) and Indigenous Community Engagement Coordinator of Silent Genomes (SG), a four-year project aiming to bridge the gap in healthcare access and improve diagnostic success for Indigenous children with genetic diseases. To accomplish this, SG aims to create an Indigenous Background Variant Library (IBVL) from a diverse group of healthy 1,500 First Nations people as a start. Understanding which genetic variations are common (i.e., background) within a population is critical in precision diagnosis; common variants, which are less likely to cause disease, can be ruled out, and the focus placed instead on rare variants.

The Silent Genomes project officially launched with the Gathering Ceremony, which was held at the BC Royal Museum on July 18-19, 2018. Photo by Lawrence Gillman

Since the project began in 2018, the SG team has been focused on laying their foundation. Activities have included Indigenous community engagement, community education, and capacity-building, as well as developing standards for Indigenous oversight of the library and the biological samples from which it will be built.

Together, these foundations help ensure a level of comfort and understanding of the project within Indigenous communities, without which the project could not move forward. “Sometimes people really don’t want to be involved with genetics care or research because they’re concerned the info could be used for different reasons—reasons they had not intended,” says SG project lead Dr. Laura Arbour, Professor of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia’s Island Medical Program, and Affiliate Professor with the University of Victoria’s Division of Medical Sciences.

SG has partnered with the Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Health Authority, Métis National Council, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, as well as created an International Indigenous Genomics Advisory Council to advise on the creation its governance policies.

The team is also in discussions with eight First Nations communities that are part of a national cohort study addressing chronic disease. Their stored biosamples, consented for future research, could be used to generate the IBVL. (Though samples will come from a biobank, the IBVL itself will not be a biobank. Instead, it will store variant data for clinical purposes—and only if the communities are in agreement for use.) SG is engaging with each community to determine if and how the project could proceed.

While the governance policies are not yet finalized, SG has opened participant enrollment in BC (enrollment will open up elsewhere in Canada soon). In the interim, the SG team is using a “DNA-on-loan” policy. In this light, the biosamples are not seen as gifts; they are under contract, and the team can only use the biosamples for SG in the way originally agreed upon. Indigenous-stakeholders can also review any manuscripts to ensure they’re comfortable with the way the data is being used.

“We call it DNA-on-loan because it really puts the patient or the community in the driver’s seat for the way the samples and DNA are used,” says Dr. Arbour. “It keeps that mindset to say ‘I’m really the steward; I’m not the owner of this.”

“We’re paving a new way to do research and deliver genetic healthcare, especially with large genomic data sets,” adds Brittany Morgan, who is Nuu-chah-nulth and Secwepemc, and Community Engagement Coordinator of SG.

As mentioned above, another big focus of the first year has been capacity-building. This has included developing education tools for patients and communities; creating user-friendly, culturally connected consent forms, and teaching genetic counsellors at 14 sites across the country to work with Indigenous peoples in culturally safe ways. SG has also built student capacities by encouraging Indigenous grad students to work with the project and providing scholarship for Indigenous students to attend the Summer Internships for Indigenous Peoples in Genomics Canada (SING Canada).

“My head spins when I see how much we have accomplished in the last year,” says Dr. Arbour. Still, there’s a lot of work to do in the next three years.

“There is an unfortunate amount of time pressure that goes along with this project, but we knew we were trying to fit into something that is conventionally done differently than the way we do,” she says. “We have to stick to our principles to the maximum degree because we have to ensure we’re doing this in a way that’s going to be sustainable. If we rush it and don’t do it well, it’s not going to work.”

In other words, with solid foundations of strong governance, capacity building, and community engagement, SG and its reference library will help more than the 200 children who will receive their diagnosis as part of the project – they will provide advanced genomic healthcare to Indigenous communities across Canada for years to come.