Shortly after starting the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Southern Medical Program based in Kelowna, Ayra knew she was on the right path. Her certainty came from finding solutions that not only worked, but worked specifically for each patient. She was astounded by the vulnerability patients shared with her, even as a student. In returning their trust with empathy, understanding and affirmation, she knew she was exactly where she was meant to be.

Passion for rural communities

Coming from Golden, a small town in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia, Ayra grew up with a passion for rural communities. She recalls a defining feature of going to high school in a small town—having one teacher, Ms. T, for almost all her classes, from calculus to chemistry. Ayra credits the diligence and kindness of Ms. T as a big influence on her. Through the Southern Medical Program, Ayra combined her passion for people, science and rural communities in an experience that proved deeply rewarding.

Philanthropy helps students thrive

Ayra explains that the demands of medical school leave no time for a part-time job. That’s where bursaries and donor support come in—they allow students to focus on learning. With financial support, she pursued research and volunteer opportunities to deepen her knowledge and shape her future practice, while staying involved in her community.

Although Ayra hasn’t yet chosen a medical specialty, she is certain she would like to be a humble doctor, aware of the power and responsibility of the role, and work alongside her patients to find realistic and sustainable solutions for them. She strives to be a compassionate physician, bringing empathy and humanity to her work. She hopes to work with people every day as someone patients can rely on, while contributing to the healthcare system through advocacy, teaching and mentorship.

When asked what she would say to someone considering a gift to bursaries, Ayra comes to her answer thoughtfully, having reflected on her time in medical school and the impact donor support has had on her journey so far.

“I would say ‘however big the difference you think you are making for the receiving student, know that the impact is much bigger.’ As a student who is lucky enough to have received bursary support, I can tell you that it makes all the difference. It provides sustainable learning, but a bursary is also encouragement,” says Ayra.

“Your generosity allows students to focus on building the future rather than worrying about it. You’re investing in the students and their education, but you’re also investing in the community they’re going to serve in the future. Your gift will touch so many people alongside and beyond that student, which is a really nice way to think about it.”

Training more healthcare professionals for rural BC

It’s well-known that Canada is experiencing a significant healthcare shortage. To bridge this gap, UBC has distributed health professions education throughout the province to train students from and for underserved rural communities. In a collaborative response to the challenges faced in rural and remote health, UBC fosters discussions to help strengthen the connections among health partners who have a role in the delivery of practice and education in rural and remote areas of BC. These efforts have propelled UBC to the forefront as a leader in distributed health professions education.

This approach resonates deeply with Ayra, so much so that she participates in the Healthcare Travelling Road Show. In this program, she and other multidisciplinary healthcare students travel to rural communities to talk about their studies and showcase healthcare career opportunities to high school students.

“I signed up for the Travelling Road Show because a couple of things were important to me, like advocating for rural medicine, engaging with the community and interacting with students,” says Ayra. “I love going out and sharing my experience as a medical student. Coming from a rural community myself, I was excited that this project was focused on rural recruitment into healthcare fields. We got so much positive feedback from the students, and I believe our sharing really made a difference in their considering going into careers in healthcare.”