In 1950, the Faculty of Medicine at UBC opened its doors to its first 60 medical students. Today, our undergraduate medical program represents the third largest in Canada, with faculty and students engaged in research, education and service across B.C.
Yet the MD program has not always been a province-wide enterprise. A rally in Prince George, protesting the state of health care in northern B.C., laid the groundwork for the program’s expansion and distribution. Today, 10 years later, we look back at the impact of creating Canada’s first fully-distributed undergraduate medical program and celebrate the visionaries, leaders, faculty and students who paved the way for change.