With the IMP Class of 2024 officially beginning classes in Victoria this week, allow us to officially introduce you to a few members of the class.
Jessy Sidhu
Hometown: White Rock, BC
What inspired you to pursue medicine at the IMP?
Volunteer and work experiences, as well as my own experience as a patient, inspired me to pursue medicine. I knew I wanted a career that would challenge me with opportunities for professional and personal growth throughout my lifetime and that would continually push me to become a better version of myself. Medicine provides a unique window into the lives of community members, and the privilege to bear witness to vulnerable moments of the human experience is an honour like no other I can imagine. Choosing the IMP was a no-brainer for me. My extended paternal family lives in Victoria and has roots here that go back to the earliest South Asian immigrants to BC. I believe Victoria has the best weather in Canada and UVic has the most idyllic university campus, so the IMP seems like the perfect place to be.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I’m most looking forward to meeting my amazing classmates and instructors. I’m curious to see what lies within the Medical Sciences Building; I’ve walked by it many times hoping that one day I could study there as an IMP student. I’m incredibly lucky and grateful to be starting in the IMP alongside my sister, and I’m so excited for the opportunity to share this experience with her.
What did you study before attending the IMP?
I just graduated with a BSc from the combined biology and psychology major program at UVic. This degree program offered me the flexibility to take courses spanning from anthropology and sociology to molecular endocrinology and neurobiology.
How are you making personal wellness a priority during COVID-19?
I’ve been running early in the morning down by the beach while watching the sun rise to obtain my daily dose of vitamin D. I’ve also been hiking with my sister, and I’ve reacquainted myself with painting as a form of self-expression. FaceTime calls with friends and socially distanced walks along scenic trails have also been a cornerstone of my summer.
Favourite physically distanced social activity?
In the spirit of every adventurous Vancouver Islander, I’ll go with hiking. I also enjoy beach walks, picnics, and anything that allows for exploration and appreciation of the great outdoors.
Jordyn Heal
Hometown: Saanichton, BC
What inspired you to pursue medicine at the IMP?
While I was in high school, I worked at Science Venture summer camps at UVic. That was where I first learnt about the IMP. My current interests are in primary care (e.g., family medicine, emergency medicine, etc.), and I thought that it would be incredibly rewarding to pursue my medical education in and around the same communities that I grew up in!
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Since my undergraduate education was more macro (e.g., healthcare systems and population health), I am most looking forward to learning more about the provision of healthcare at the individual level, such as how to advocate for and work alongside a patient through challenging and vulnerable times in their life.
What did you study before attending the IMP?
Before attending the IMP, I was three years into a Bachelor of Arts and Science in global health and public health at McGill University in Montreal. I jumped at the opportunity to move out East for my first post-secondary degree so I could spread my wings and learn more about myself. That said, moving back to BC was always on the agenda for me.
How are you making personal wellness a priority during COVID-19?
I have the habit of (nearly) daily journaling. This practice has become even more important to me during COVID-19, since this is my protected time to check in with myself and reflect on what I see, hear, and experience around me. The days seem to slip by so quickly now, but this daily practice allows me to record and appreciate the beautiful little things in life.
Favourite physically distanced social activity?
Since moving back to Victoria after a few years away, my favourite physically distanced social activities would have to be hiking and BYOPicnic. These activities allow me to reconnect with both my loved ones and the natural beauty of the Island I am fortunate enough to call home.
Simona Bene Watts
Hometown: Lee Creek, British Columbia
What inspired you to pursue medicine at the IMP?
I was raised in a small rural community where one chronically struggles to find a physician. This made me gain a strong appreciation for medicine and an understanding of what happens when a community goes without it. The IMP felt like the best place to pursue medical school as I worked with the Community Genetics Research Program, which is based out of the IMP, for my MSc and loved it!
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I am most looking forward to meeting new friends and future colleagues! Medicine draws such a diverse group of people and I can’t wait to meet everyone in the IMP Class of 2024.
What did you study before attending the IMP?
I completed a BSc in physiology at McGill University and then a MSc in interdisciplinary studies at the University of Victoria. My MSc partnered with a First Nations community in Northern BC to explore the impact of an inherited cardiac condition on children and youth in their community.
How are you making personal wellness a priority during COVID-19?
That’s a tough one! Before COVID-19, I loved going to in-person barre and yoga classes to de-stress. Nowadays I’ve transitioned to going for runs around my neighbourhood and making sure to prioritize video calls with friends. I’ve especially enjoyed having more time to call friends that live far away.
Favourite physically distanced social activity?
I really love paddle boarding and it’s inherently socially distanced because the board is greater than 2m long!
Faraz Damji
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
What inspired you to pursue medicine at the IMP?
Having lived in Vancouver all my life, I was drawn to the beautiful city of Victoria with its old-world charm and breadth of amazing outdoor activities to participate in. I also loved the idea of being part of a small, tight-knit class that emphasized building relationships with fellow students and faculty members.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
It would definitely be meeting the faces of UBC medicine—everyone from incoming students to professors.
What did you study before attending the IMP?
I completed my Bachelor of Kinesiology and MSc in rehabilitation sciences, both at UBC. During this time, I realized I am fascinated by human anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and sports injury prevention.
How are you making personal wellness a priority during COVID-19?
During my master’s degree, I explored the use of wearable technology to monitor training and competition loads in elite athletes; I am intrigued by their potential applications. This led me to purchasing a fitness tracker for myself. This summer, I’ve enjoyed cycling numerous routes in Vancouver and geeking out at the end of the day while analyzing my metrics.
Favourite physically distanced social activity?
A round of golf!
Janae Vlaar
Hometown: Vineland, ON / Vancouver, BC
What inspired you to pursue medicine at the IMP?
Stories and sciences are two of my favourite things, and I think medicine is a beautiful combination of the two. I see medicine as a space to be with and listen to people in some of their most vulnerable moments, and I think it is an unparalleled privilege to have people share their story with you. I’ve also always been fascinated by the complexity of the human body and how it works, so medicine has resonated with me in that way too. As for the IMP, I’ve been living in Vancouver and Squamish over the past four years and love both for different reasons, so an opportunity to live in a place that has elements of both and have a small class was super appealing.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I’m really excited to be a student again, to be challenged, and to learn, but I am most looking forward to anatomy labs. I’m also stoked to explore the Island, find my new favourite riding trails, and make the most of the amazing road biking around Victoria.
What did you study before attending the IMP?
I studied life sciences at Queen’s University (BSc, 2016) and population and public health at UBC (MSc, 2018).
How are you making personal wellness a priority during COVID-19?
I’m an introvert and a homebody, so the whole staying-home-most-of-the-time thing is a happy place for me. I’ve appreciated the extra time and I’ve really focused on my home hobbies to keep me busy. I’ve grown a beautiful balcony garden (which sadly had to stay in Vancouver), played so many games of Pandemic and Settlers of Catan, honed my sourdough recipe, baked way too many crumbles, made a big dent in the Canada Reads longlist, spent some quality time doing Yoga with Adriene, and had a lot of cuddles with my very large and fluffy cat. Fortunately, I’ve been able to keep up most of my pre-pandemic physical activity since running and cycling are perfect for being outside and keeping my distance.
Favourite physically distanced social activity?
Biking. Road biking, mountain biking, cruise to the beach or ice cream shop—any of the above will do!
Peter Nguyen
Hometown: Victoria, BC
What inspired you to pursue medicine at the IMP?
I know medical school is going to be full of challenges and I wanted to be positioned for success. I was born and raised in Victoria and I have a strong support network here. I have lived in other cities in Canada before, but Victoria always felt like the best fit. I love the pace of a small city and the option to explore rural parts of the Island. Like all of BC, the Island offers breathtaking views to reset yourself from everyday stresses. We have mountains, surf, old growths, and nightlife! What more can you ask for?
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I am currently a paramedic for BCEHS and I would love to apply my medical knowledge of diseases from the classroom to the field. Having worked alongside nurses and doctors, I am constantly reminded how much more there is to learn. I graduated from UVic in 2018 and I’ve missed the pace and breadth of university learning.
What did you study before attending the IMP?
I completed my BSc in chemistry at UVic, then completed my paramedic training at JIBC.
How are you making personal wellness a priority during COVID-19?
This pandemic has been hard on people for several different reasons including social isolation, interruption of daily routines, and possible contraction of COVID-19. Something that has kept me positive and active is my dog, Sigma. We go on beach walks and hikes every day to relieve the stresses of working as a paramedic. I also keep in contact with my friends through video chats and texts, so even though we don’t see each other face-to-face, we can still keep up-to-date with our everyday lives.
Favourite physically distanced social activity?
Going for walks on the beach while Sigma get the zoomies!
Ivy Deavy
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
What inspired you to pursue medicine at the IMP?
At 27 years of age—after nearly a decade of travelling and working while trying to decide on a career path that would be purposeful and fulfilling to me—I made the decision to pursue a career in healthcare. Though medicine was not something I initially considered, I committed myself to following my educational path as far as needed to reach my ultimate goal of a rewarding career. Halfway through my undergraduate, a friend showed me an advert for a medical school in Ireland. That seed, alongside a budding interest in human anatomy, was all it took to bring me around to the realization that medicine was where I wanted to be.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Cadaver dissection has been the thing I have been looking forward to most. The thing I am next most excited about is simply starting the process of my medical education. I have no desire to rush through the next four years, and I have no regrets over starting this process later in life than most of my peers. I am eager and excited to be taking concrete steps towards the start of my career.
What did you study before attending the IMP?
I did one year of academic upgrading as I had opted out of studying math and sciences in high school. After upgrading, I worked towards a degree in kinesiology at UVic.
How are you making personal wellness a priority during COVID-19?
Personal wellness, with a strong focus on mental health, is something that I’ve always made a priority throughout my adult life. I feel that staying mentally balanced is important, not just for my quality of life but also for my academic performance. That being said, I have used some of the time off during the pandemic to explore therapy as a new tool to increase my overall self-awareness, as well as to increase my ease and happiness within personal and professional relationships.
Favourite physically distanced social activity?
Playing Dungeons and Dragons remotely with friends has been a great way to stay in touch during lock down and to keep my in-person bubble small. But when the weather is nice, I love to get out for socially distance swims or Butchart Garden strolls.