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| Original News Release |
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| Original News Release |
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Government
is increasing the number of B.C.-educated doctors through the expansion of the
University of British Columbia’s medical program. This includes the number of
education spaces for undergraduate and postgraduate medical students.
Undergraduate
medical students
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In September 2004, 200 medical students, 72 more than last year, started
their first semester at UBC’s Vancouver campus, and are now continuing their
education at UBC, UNBC or UVic, depending on the program to which they have
been admitted.
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Seats
will be added to the programs each year until 2008/09.
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By
2008/09, a total of 896 undergraduate medical students will be studying to
become doctors in the northern, Island and Vancouver-Fraser medical programs. A
total of 896 medical students will produce 224 medical graduates annually.
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The
Island medical program at UVic and the northern medical program at UNBC
represent the first time formal undergraduate medical training has been
available in B.C. outside of Vancouver.
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The
undergraduate medical program is four years. The first two years are primarily
classroom-based; the final two are spent largely working in hospitals and
doctors’ offices.
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Upon
graduation, students from all three programs will receive medical degrees from
UBC.
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To
be a licensed practising physician, a doctor must complete postgraduate medical
education.
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Postgraduate
education takes between two and seven years to complete, depending on the
specific area of focus.
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It
takes two years to become a family practitioner, and between four and seven
years to become a specialist. For
example:
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An
internal medicine specialist takes four years.
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An
emergency room doctor takes five years.
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An
oncologist takes five years.
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A
psychiatrist takes five years.
o
A
heart surgeon takes six years.
o
A
pediatric general surgeon takes seven years.
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The
number of residencies for postgraduate medical students is planned to increase
by about 20 positions every year until 2007/08. A final increase of 32
residencies is planned for 2010/11, bringing the total to 256.
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contact: |
Ministry of Health Services 250 952-1887 |
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Visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services. |
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