UBC

I am writing to comment on the letter from Dr Angus Rae referring to the steps taken by the BCMA to improve the relationship between the Faculty of Medicine (FOM) and clinical faculty. The BCMA has supported clinical faculty and the Section of Clinical Faculty for many years, and continues to allocate resources in this regard.

I want to thank the BCMA most sincerely for the time they have given to improving the relationship between clinical faculty and the Faculty of Medicine. A key factor in the process is the letter of intent (LOI) which, although undated and with limited circulation (if any) to BCMA members at the time it was written, is an important document. It confirms the BCMA’s pledge to support its members who are now, or may in the fu­ture become, clinical faculty teachers/mentors in their quest for a just settlement with the Faculty of Medicine.

Medical education at the University of British Columbia has been transformed in the past decade and continues to evolve. Currently, the MD undergraduate program is delivered in communities throughout BC, at UBC’s Vancouver campus, and at campuses in Prince George, Victoria, and Kelowna. The number of undergraduate seats has increased from 128 to 288 in the past 10 years and postgraduate positions have more than doubled.

Multiple sclerosis patients sometimes experience “natural” improvements in disability at least over the short term, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.

Exacerbations of COPD are currently the leading cause of emergency room visits and hospitalizations among chro­nic disease sufferers in BC, and account for over $5.7 billion in direct health care costs every year in Canada.