They may be in different health programs with varying perspectives and experiences, but what six UBC students have in common is their demonstrated leadership in advancing health. And UBC Health is recognizing their achievements.

Each year, UBC Health offers scholarships to celebrate the academic excellence and achievements of students from various health disciplines. We are pleased to announce the six recipients of the 2020 UBC Health Scholarships, which include students from both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.

Congratulations to these outstanding students for their commitment to patient-centred care and their achievements in advancing better health for all. This is just the beginning of their valuable contributions to our health system.

Professor Jessie Gordon MacCarthy Memorial Scholarship

Established through an endowment in memory of the late Jessie Gordon MacCarthy, long-term contributor to the development of the health sciences at UBC, this scholarship recognizes an outstanding student in the final year of any pre-licensure health science program who best combines academic excellence, demonstrated interest, and leadership in the field of community health. 

Navjit Moore, fourth year student in the Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, is the recipient of the 2020 Professor Jessie Gordon MacCarthy Memorial Scholarship. Navjit has established and led support groups for people living with chronic conditions, provided emotional support and facilitated communication for hospital patients, and helped long-term care residents maintain their cognitive capabilities by engaging them in mental and social activities. Navjit works towards ensuring the most vulnerable groups are well-supported and have access to appropriate resources. Navjit’s commitment to early advocacy for healthy habits and proactive approaches to disease and illness is commendable.

ImpactBC Scholarships in Healthcare Research and Development

These scholarships were established through an endowment by ImpactBC and recognize outstanding students in health disciplines who have completed a research or development project focusing on patient/client involvement in healthcare decision-making or in health professional education.

Five students received the 2020 ImpactBC Scholarships in Healthcare Research and Development.

Gabriel Dix, second year student in the Master of Science in Health and Exercise Sciences program in the Faculty of Health and Social Development at UBC Okanagan, was recognized for research on the effects of non-pharmacological interventions on various health-related outcomes in individuals with a spinal cord injury. Gabriel’s project uses an integrated knowledge translation approach, which includes patient engagement throughout the research process, from inception to dissemination. This research on the link between non-pharmacological strategies and immune function aims to enhance the quality of life for people with spinal cord injury and may have significant physiological, psychological, and financial implications. 

Emily Giroux, first year student in the Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology program in the Faculty of Health and Social Development at UBC Okanagan, was recognized for a development project aimed at ensuring people with spinal cord injury were meaningfully engaged in decisions regarding their healthcare needs. Conducted for a spinal cord injury organization, Emily’s project assessed client agreement with the organization’s proposed strategies for addressing specific healthcare areas. Using the findings, the organization adjusted its plans for research, implementation, and service provision in ways that reflected the perspectives and priorities of clients and best supported their needs.

Deana Kanagasingam, fourth year student in the Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology program in the Faculty of Education, was recognized for research on the impact of social justice practices on patients’ quality of care. Deana’s project explores obesity treatment and how social justice is understood, enacted, and experienced in clinical interventions related to weight. Seeking to raise awareness about equitable and fair healthcare from the perspectives of both patients and practitioners, Deana will use research findings to conduct a capacity-building workshop for health students. The workshop will equip them with clinical skills consistent with a social justice and patient-centred paradigm, which will ultimately enhance patient-clinician communication and health outcomes.

Arwa Nemir, second year student in the Master of Science program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, was recognized for research on patient participation in the workplace-based assessment of pharmacy learners. Arwa’s study is the first of its kind in Canada that provides patients with a space to voice their perceptions of pharmacy trainees, with the intent of improving care delivery as well as learner training as a holistic healthcare practitioner. The results of this research will contribute to the enhancement of existing competency-based assessment modalities that will better train future health professionals and prepare them for the evolving landscape of healthcare. 

Nevena Rebic, first year student in the Doctor of Philosophy program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, was recognized for research exploring how female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) form decisions about having children, pregnancy, and medication use. Nevena developed a dynamic, multidimensional women-centered framework and demonstrated that a patient-centred approach to care supports female patients with RA in making informed reproductive and medication choices that align with their individual desires, needs, and values. The research has implications for advancing patient care improvement and engagement through the creation of a standard of perinatal rheumatology care for supporting planned pregnancies among female patients with RA and other rheumatic diseases.

“Congratulations to these outstanding students for their commitment to patient-centred care and their achievements in advancing better health for all,” says Anne Martin-Matthews, Associate Vice-President, Health. “This is just the beginning of their valuable contributions to our health system.”

Posted March 15, 2021