So many people have contributed to making the UBC MD Undergraduate Program (MDUP) Island Medical Program (IMP) and the surrounding UBC medical education community on Vancouver Island the tight-knit, supportive, and successful place it is today. We asked some of our past and present faculty, staff, and students to share their favourite memories from their time here.
The early days of building the IMP were an amazing and energizing experience. Building a sustainable, stable foundation for teaching students – our future doctors – meant long hours and hard work, but the rewards were immense. Milestones were marked by special events, which early on created a culture of celebration. My favourite memories were these events: welcoming new students, honouring student and faculty accomplishments, marking special seasons in December and June, celebrating our donors, recognizing the dedicated staff, and – our most treasured event, of course – graduation! Many of these celebratory events continue at the IMP today and it was a privilege to be at the forefront of creating these wonderful traditions.
Lianne Peterson
Administrative Director, IMP (2005 – 2017)
My favourite memory from my time at the IMP is the student-led mock OSCE. Year 1 and 2 students collaborate to plan and deliver a full-scale mock OSCE with Year 3 and 4 students serving as examiners. Originally started by the IMP Class of 2024 to learn hands-on clinical skills in the COVID-adapted learning environment, this tradition has continued. It is so fulfilling to see everyone work hard and show up for each other with so much dedication. Opportunities like these are what makes IMP unbeatable as a learning site.
Taranjot Kaur
IMP Class 2027
One of my favourite memories was when Dr. Fiona Manning and Dr. Tina Webber were appointed Co-Site Directors for the UBC Family Practice Residency Training Site in Victoria back in 2019. When I joined the program in 1997, Dr. Manning was one of our program residents and the year after that, Dr. Webber was too. Being a part of their training, then seeing them become site faculty and eventually moving into the Co-Site Director roles was a dream for me, as was working alongside them as a triumvirate for their term. We were not just colleagues but an extension of family. We worked incredibly well together, and I will always treasure this time with them.
Josie Terlesky
Site Manager, Victoria Site, UBC Department of Family Practice
[Photo, L – R] Dr. Fiona Manning, Dr. Tina Webber, and Josie Terlesky
As a member of the IMP Class of 2028, I’ve only been part of the IMP family for a few months and I am still creating my favourite memories. One of my favourite things about the program, however, is that when looking at the longevity of many faculty and staff, it’s apparent that a lot of people have felt well supported over the past 20 years, and they in turn are supporting us students in pursuit of excellence.
Vincent Michaud
IMP Class of 2028
A special memory for me is the morning in early 2005 when I was about to meet my very first Project Based Learning (PBL) group from the inaugural IMP Year 1 class. There was such energy, excitement, enthusiasm, and anticipation among the students – and among the tutors as well! Now, as I remember that first PBL group, I reflect on the accomplishments of the IMP’s first graduating class and of the classes that followed. Our IMP graduates have gone on to practice in a variety of specialties, bringing their expertise, skills, and passion for medicine to their work in both urban and rural communities. Of note is that several IMP graduates have come back to contribute to the IMP in a variety of teaching and leadership roles. It is thrilling and gratifying to see our former students involved in medical education, bringing their perspectives, unique interests, and passion for medicine to the learning environment. They are an inspiration to us all!
Dr. Amita Modi
Site Director, Years 1 & 2, IMP; Director, Provincial Year 4 Electives, UBC Undergraduate Medical Education
This Easter, the Medical Sciences Building transformed into a chaotic battleground for the annual egg hunt. After CBL, if you peeked out of your office, you’d see 20 med students sprinting through the halls, sweating, and shouting in search of the golden egg. After 30 minutes of frantic searching, the hunt finally ended when it was discovered in the freezer, tucked inside an old ice cream container.
Natalie Szakun
IMP Class 2027
There are so many memorable moments that I have cherished over the years at the IMP. Instead of focusing on a specific one, I will focus instead on my favourite time of the year at the IMP, which is early September, when the new students arrive and there is a sense of “new beginnings” in the air. Getting to meet the new cohort of students and being inspired all over again by their enthusiasm, as well as reconnecting with the wonderful staff and faculty that makes it all possible, gives me the energy to face the year ahead!
Dr. Joana Gil-Mohapel
Master Teacher and Site Lead, Neuroanatomy, IMP; Director, Curriculum, UBC Undergraduate Medical Education
I still crack up every time I think about a duo presentation Kelly Arason and I gave at the Seasonal Celebration in December 2024, especially as neither of us are really “take the spotlight” people! I acknowledged her 20 years of service (she has been with the IMP right from Day 1) and she acknowledged my 15 years. We had so much fun performing with our various props, and we had so many laughs while planning it on our lunch-hour walks through UVic. Heart-shaped glasses will have a special meaning for me forever (and I still have them on my shelf if anyone needs to borrow them). Medical education on Vancouver Island is all about teams, and I am grateful every day for the amazing people I get to work with. How did I get so lucky to work so closely with two lead admin rocks for more than a decade?? Kelly and Josie Terlesky have brought lightness to the days that are full of complexities. I have many fond memories of meetings with Josie at Victoria Gymnastics while watching our kids (who are now young adults) and high-fives with her over “matchmaking” (the annual puzzle of the resident-preceptor match), as well as of delightful brisk walking meetings with Kelly, the master navigator of all UVic pathways. I am reflecting on all of this with gratitude and with a smile.
Dr. Fiona Manning
Assistant Dean, Student Affairs, IMP
