Dr Shao-Hua Lu talks to medical students about life as a psychiatrist at the February event. The other  disciplines represented were emergency medicine, obstetrics-gynecology, urology, pediatrics, general  practice, dermatology, endocrinology, surgery, and neurology.

UBC medical students came together with practising physicians from a variety of specialties to gather information about career planning and lifestyle choices at the first-ever Life in Medicine: Doctors of BC Mentorship Dinner 27 February 2014 in Vancouver. The event was organized as a “speed networking” dinner, where 11 physicians rotated from table to table to talk about what life is like in their chosen discipline. Over 120 students asked questions about work and lifestyle choices and to gain a deeper understanding of what opportunities were available.

Dr William Cunningham, an ER physician and president of Doctors of BC, was one of the mentors. He told the audience that throughout the year he’s met and heard students voice their concern about the lack of career counseling before graduation. “We’re supporting medical students to get information before they make their career choices, something they’ve told us they want,” said Dr Cunningham. “We believe that by engaging with students—the doctors of tomorrow—now and throughout their careers, we will help them become influential physician leaders who can make a meaningful difference to their patients, their communities, and to the health care system.”

Throughout the event doctors and students were engaged in animated conversations, and students said that while the evening was busy, it was also of great value and they were happy they attended. 

The event is one of the initiatives coming out of Doctors of BC’s 3-year strategic plan that focuses on stronger engagement with medical students, residents, and other members. More such events will be planned in the future, and students and residents will also be invited to have lunch with the president as he continues to travel around the province.