Mini Med School Booklet 2024 Vernon

LEARN. ENGAGE. BE INSPIRED. 2024

Welcome to Mini Med School Vernon

On behalf of BC Children’s Hospital, it is our pleasure to welcome you to Mini Med School Vernon. We are honoured to be speaking to you from the unceded and ancestral territories of the Syilx people of the Okanagan nation.

At Mini Med School, you’ll learn about some of the latest big ideas and discoveries in health research. Our speakers are among Canada’s leading investigators, healthcare professionals and up-andcoming researchers. They will share their passion, their commitment and the way they’re working to transform child health for kids in our province and around the world.

We’re here today with a big goal: to inspire you. We hope that you leave today excited about what’s possible in the fields of science and health and, most importantly, your own future careers.

Sincerely, 2024 Mini Med School Faculty

Stay connected with BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute

@bcchresearch

Friday, May 3, 2024 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

OUR SCHEDULE

8:30 am Registration & Welcome Activity

Welcome & Introductions

8:55 am Fast Lane Medicine – A Day in the Life

9:00 am

in the Emergency Department

“I put a bead in my nose.” “My baby can’t breath!” “I’m dizzy and the world is spinning.” Ever wondered what a shift in a pediatric emergency department is really like? We will use real-life cases from the pediatric emergency department to explore the highs and lows of a career in pediatric emergency medicine and demonstrate how the things you learn in physics, anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology class apply to the every-day care of children and families in this fast-paced and diverse medical specialty. Presented by Dr. Garth Meckler

9:45 am

Ex-Quiz Me?

Test your health science knowledge! This interactive game will let you compete for prizes and gain more insight on the latest translational and clinical research topics. Presented by Naa Lanquaye-Opoku and Sharon Yau

Science Making Miracles

Did you know BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute conducts world-class research to improve the health of children and families? 1,000+ researchers and staff members are leading scientific discoveries for a healthier future for all kids in BC and beyond. 222.

10:00 am

Research Leader Introductions

Meet the 2024 Mini Med School Faculty! Learn more about the BC Children’s Hospital researchers who are pursuing discovery and translating their research into life-saving clinical innovations and excellence in child health.

10:05 am

10:15 am

Research Activities

Session 1

Get ready for some hands-on science! Students will work in groups and participate in a selection of the following activities:

From DNA to Protein: A Building Challenge

Uncover how information in your DNA codes for proteins. In this activity, you’ll race against the clock and work as a team to build the 3D structure of a protein from a DNA sequence... but everything might not be as simple as it first appears.

Presented by Hannah Illing

Under the Microscope: Staining Pancreatic Tissue

Examine tissues and organs under the microscope as you learn more about medical diagnoses for scientific studies. In this activity, participants will have the opportunity to stain dull grey pancreas tissue with chemical dyes and examine the findings under a microscope. Note: this activity will require the handling of biological specimens. Participants will be required to wear the proper safety equipment

. Presented by Dr. Yi-Chun Chen

Pandemic: The Escape Room

A mystery illness has caused mass hospitalizations and mass hysteria in Vancouver. Without quick action, the sickness may cause permanent damage to our population and society. Can you race against the clock to manage its spread and identify the culprit? Join us to learn how experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) manage outbreaks of unknown pathogens, and the basics of infectious disease immunology! Presented by Emily Mason

Smart Triage: Prioritizing Children Using Technology

When a child shows up at a busy emergency department, they need to be quickly assessed to see how urgently they need care. How can we do this in a global health setting where there are frequent power outages and few nurses? Explore the Smart Triage platform! Using a mobile app, dashboard, sensors and Bluetooth tracking, learn how to quickly prioritize patients, track their progress throughout a hospital, and manage their treatments. Presented by Dustin Dunsmuir

On the Road

In 2017, Mini Med School expanded beyond the Lower Mainland for the first time to Terrace. Over the past few years, sessions were also held in Fort St. John, Kamloops, Williams Lake, Chilliwack, Victoria, Nanaimo, Nelson and Castlegar.

Where to next? This award-winning science education program will be on the road for years to come!

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CodeQuest: Deciphering Cancer Genomes

Embark on a thrilling CodeQuest adventure! Become virtual genetic detectives by using online bioinformatics tools to analyze real-world data and reveal crucial insights into cancer biology. In this hands-on activity, you will analyze a publicly available gene expression dataset containing information on multiple cancer types. Through a series of bioinformatics tasks, you will also decipher the unique language of gene expression, identifying biomarkers that could revolutionize cancer diagnostics and treatment. Presented by Abisola Kehinde

Switching Genes On and Off: How It Can Shape Us

The human body consists of more than 200 different types of cells, but all cells contain the same DNA code. How is it possible that the same code can tell these cells to be different? Epigenetics – chemical attachments to the DNA, can “turn off” part of the DNA code. Sometimes, epigenetics are influenced by our surroundings and changes might lead to diseases. Learning how our environment can influence epigenetics will help us better understand the mechanisms that cause diseases, and hopefully find ways to cure and prevent them. In this activity, you will explore how epigenetics tells the cell what part of the DNA code should be turned on and off, and how this is influenced by our surroundings. Presented by Dr. Mandy Meijer

Anesthesia and Pain Management

Let’s dive into the pivotal role of an anesthesiologist! Anesthesiologists specialize in administering medications to reduce pain and keep you asleep through surgery, while simultaneously monitoring your body’s vital functions. We will explore the components of anesthesia including anesthetics, analgesics, and more. Through a fun and interactive exercise, participants will learn about the drugs that are used for these different components. Presented by Bianca Vizcaino

11:15 am

12:15 pm

1:15 pm

Research Activities – Session 2

Students will continue to work in groups and participate in activites from Session 1.

LunchBreak -

Summer Student Research Program

The Summer Student Research Program fosters research awareness and interest for undergraduate and medical students. Each year, the program provides an opportunity to participate in research projects related to child and family health under the supervision of researchers at BC Children’s Hospital. Learn more: www.bcchr.ca/ssrp

1:30 pm

When AI Meets Healthcare

The AI revolution is upon us. Smart algorithms are being trained on large datasets to predict every aspect of our lives. Healthcare has been slow to adopt AI for diagnosis and clinical decision making due to the known risks of these algorithms. Do you know about the risks?

Who and what can you trust? We are inclined to trust what we read – especially about our health and illnesses. Cutting-edge research will help us adopt the best of the AI revolution and avoid the pitfalls –we hope! Presented by Dr. Mark Ansermino

2:00 pm

2:10 pm

Health Pros Tell All

Explore a variety of career opportunities and interact with health science experts. Hear from a local registered nurse and clinical educator, respiratory therapist and medical lab supervisor to learn about their experiences working in the Southern Interior and beyond. This discussion will be driven by participants, so get your questions ready! Presented by Dr. Wyeth Wasserman, Jenna Hunter, Aryn Murray and Marie Skura

3:00 pm

Closing Remarks

3:05 pm

Optional: Student Networking

Interact with our health science experts! After dismissal, the Mini Med School Faculty will be available to network one-on-one with interested participants until 3:30pm.

OUR FACULTY

Dr. Mark Ansermino

Investigator & Executive Medical Director – Global Health, BC Children’s Hospital; Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, UBC

Mark is a Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He is also the Executive Medical Director for Global Health at British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. Mark was a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar and past winner of the Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering. He leads an interdisciplinary research team of engineers, researchers, and clinicians who are developing and evaluating novel digital health applications to improve the health outcomes of women and children worldwide. As a team, they combine science and engineering to create cutting-edge technology that uses clinical data, automation, and smart physical sensors to extract important data features. By using predictive models based on large population datasets, they also provide accessible decision-making support to ensure the safety and quality of healthcare.

Dustin Dunsmuir

Global Health Technical Lead, Institute for Global Health, BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre

Dustin grew up in north-eastern BC before moving down south to complete his MSc degree at Simon Fraser University in the School of Interactive Arts and Technology, with a specialization in Visual Analytics. He has worked at the BC Children’s Hospital since 2006 on digital health projects and is currently the Global Health Technical Lead at the Institute for Global Health at BC Children’s & Women’s Hospitals (IGH-BCCWH). Dustin supports the institute’s sepsis research by creating and managing digital health solutions such as data collection and risk prediction mobile applications. He has developed digital tools with pulse oximetry connected to smartphones and patient and treatment tracking using Bluetooth. His current focus is on the sustainability of the Smart Triage project, a pediatric triage and patient prioritization platform in use at 7 hospitals in Africa.

Hannah Illing

Master’s Student, Robinson, Brown, and Taubert Research Teams, BC Children’s Hospital; Department of Medical Genetics, UBC

Hannah is a graduate student in Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia. She grew up in Calgary, AB and did her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Forensic Science at UBC Vancouver. She is a medical genetics rotation student working under the supervision of Dr. Robinson, Dr. Brown, and Dr. Taubert at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and UBC Life Sciences Institute. She is working on a variety of projects including studying maternal age and birth order influences on DNA methylation in the placenta, and exploring the functions of different parts of the XIST RNA in maintaining X chromosome inactivation in female cells. Outside the lab, Hannah loves listening to podcasts, dancing, baking, and watching movies.

Bianca Vizcaino

Clinical Research Coordinator, Pediatric Anesthesia Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital and UBC

Bianca completed her Bachelor of Science degree in General Studies with an emphasis in biology and psychology at UBC-O and is now working with the Pediatric Anesthesia Research Team at BC Children’s Hospital. Her team focuses on clinical research aimed at improving pediatric anesthesia and pain management. Some of their studies involve their active participation in the operating room to communicate with the care team, set-up equipment and collect data. In her free time, Bianca enjoys dancing, hiking, and volunteering in the local community.

Mini Med School Online

High school students throughout BC can now experience Mini Med School online at any time and from anywhere. Participants in our self-directed program are also eligible to receive an electronic certificate of participation. Learn more: www.bcchr.ca/mmsonline

Dr. Garth Meckler

Division Head, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine & Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital; Associate Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, UBC

Garth is a pediatrician and pediatric emergency physician at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. He was born and raised in the United States but moved to Canada 10 years ago and is grateful to live and work (and occasionally play) on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish peoples. Garth has had a diverse career in medicine, starting as a pediatrician interested in working with teens, and in particular queer youth, before working briefly in primary care pediatrics, then training in emergency medicine and research. He currently works in the BCCH Emergency Department, teaches medical students, residents, and other physicians, and does research related to pre-hospital (ambulance) care of children, access to healthcare, and headache treatment. He is most excited about the future of medicine and the prospect of a more diverse and inclusive generation of new doctors who can help imagine a new way of delivering healthcare. In his spare time, he loves photography and hiking and camping in the backcountry with his partner, Steve, and their two dogs.

Dr. Mandy Meijer

Postdoctoral Fellow, Kobor Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital; Department of Medical Genetics, UBC

Mandy is a postdoctoral researcher at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute who is aiming to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying brain development and psychiatric disorders. Mandy received both her BSc and MSc in Biomedical Sciences in the Netherlands, followed by a PhD in Medical Sciences in the Netherlands. Her doctoral thesis focused on externalizing behaviours and associated neurodevelopmental disorders. She did this by studying epigenetic mechanisms, as a link between the genome and environment, across species. During her PhD trajectory, Mandy spent two years in Switzerland to perform research. As a postdoctoral researcher, she is expanding on her previous research by aiming to better understand which genetic and environmental factors contribute to early brain development, and how epigenetics could teach us about the molecular mechanisms in the brain underlying neurodevelopment and psychiatric disorders. When she is not working on exciting science, you can find Mandy dancing (swing, ballet, jazz) or baking cookies and cakes (and sharing them with friends)!

Dr. Yi-Chun Chen

Postdoctoral Fellow, Verchere Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital; Department of Surgery, UBC

Yi-Chun is originally from Taiwan. She received a MSc in Cell Biology from the University of Connecticut and a PhD in Cellular and Integrative Physiology from Indiana University School of Medicine. She moved to Canada and joined Dr. Bruce Verchere’s research team as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of British Columbia. Yi-Chun’s research interests focus on endocrinology and diabetes. During her spare time, she enjoys going outdoors with her dog, Golgi.

Emily Mason

Doctoral Student, Sadarangani Research Team, Vaccine Evaluation Center & BC Children’s Hospital; Department of Medicine, UBC

Emily is a PhD student studying at the University of British Columbia. Originally from Vancouver, Emily attended Queen’s University for her BSc. She has been involved in pediatric research since 2019 and currently focuses on pediatric infectious disease. After completing her Biochemistry degree in 2022, Emily transitioned to the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, where she has since been working on pre-clinical vaccine development for highly resistant bacterial infections.

Stay Connected with Events

High school students get the chance to virtually participate in different BCCHR research events throughout the year. For the most up-to-date information on upcoming public events and other opportunities to get involved in research, sign up for our newsletter.

Video recordings of past education events are also available in our video library. These may be of interest to those who are unable to attend live events.

Abisola Kehinde

Doctoral Student, Parker Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UBC

Abisola is a PhD candidate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Parker Lab (BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and UBC). She obtained her BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and her MSc in Biochemistry at UBC, Canada. With over 6 years of laboratory experience, she possesses expertise in cutting-edge cellular and molecular techniques, including cell/organoid culturing, microscopy, mass spectrometry, immunoblot, CRISPR, flow cytometry, spectrophotometry, lentiviral transduction, genetic engineering, qPCR, and statistical analysis. Her academic journey reflects a commitment to understanding how nutrients and their transporters can be leveraged to mitigate or treat metabolic diseases. Recently awarded the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, she is focused on researching the metabolic consequences of systemic alanine depletion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Beyond her academic pursuits, she finds joy in mentoring, cooking, and exploring.

Dr. Wyeth W. Wasserman

Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital; Senior Scientist, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics; Professor, Department of Medical Genetics, UBC

A Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia and based at BC Children’s Hospital, Wyeth’s computational biology research focuses on the analysis of the human genome. After undergraduate studies in mathematics and cell biology, Wyeth completed a PhD in cancer research at the University of Wisconsin with a focus on the regulation of gene expression related to cancer prevention. He subsequently trained in the field of bioinformatics and worked in the pharmaceutical industry. His research laboratory at BC Children’s conducts research in two overlapping domains: the control of gene activity and the identification of the causes of rare genetic disorders. His lab created the JASPAR database and a wide range of software which are used globally to identify the “on/off” switches in genes. Since low-cost DNA sequencing became accessible for patients, his team works closely with clinicians at BC Children’s Hospital to discover the genetic causes impacting patients and families. He is a co-lead for the Silent Genomes Project and the lead for Activity 3, the Development of an Indigenous Background Variant Library.

LOCAL SPEAKERS

Jenna Hunter

Interim Regional Knowledge Coordinator/Internationally Educated Nurses – Clinical Education

Born in the Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH), Jenna’s career and life have come full circle. After becoming a registered nurse (RN), Jenna would spend her time caring for patients in the same hospital that she was born, before becoming a clinical educator. When she’s not at work, you can find her spending time with her family, travelling and enjoying the fresh air with a book in hand. She also adds that she’s always up for anything as long as it’s an adventure.

Aryn Murray

Registered Respiratory Therapist, Vernon Jubilee Hospital

Aryn’s professional journey began as a rehabilitation assistant, where she developed a passion for helping others navigate their paths to recovery. However in 2017, after being inspired by the life-saving work and advocacy provided by respiratory therapists, she went back to school. Graduating at the peak of the pandemic, Aryn immediately put her skills to use by joining the frontline efforts at the two largest hospitals on Vancouver Island. Seeking new opportunities to contribute to the healthcare community, Aryn relocated to Vernon Jubilee Hospital in 2023. Here, she continues to advocate for the well-being of her patients as the Respiratory Liaison, ensuring all patients receive the highest standard of care.

Marie Skura

Accession Supervisor, Medical Lab, Vernon Jubilee Hospital

Marie chose to be a Medical Lab Assistant after a health scare. In June 2014, Marie ended up in the Vernon Jubilee Hospital after suffering from Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome, which caused her to have a massive heart attack. After being a patient at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, Marie felt a draw to be a part of that environment. After going back to school, she got her MLA (Medical Lab Assistant) certification and is now the Accession Supervisor of the Lab at the Vernon Jubilee Hospital.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

What do all those acronyms and academic titles mean? Our Mini Med School Faculty represents a variety of educational backgrounds. While everyone has a unique career path, typically training looks something like this:

Individual seeking a career as a clinician-scientist, combining their medical school experience with intensive scientific research training.

Outreach Opportunities

Looking for additional opportunities to get involved in research and health sciences? Check out the resources below to see the different types of outreach programs available for high school students.

BC Children’s Hospital is not affiliated with the programs below. For any questions, please contact the program organizers directly.

UBC Pathways to Medicine Club Online Resource

SHAD Canada Summer Program

UBC Pathways to Medicine is a club run by current UBC Medical Students, and offers equitable access and guidance to students who would like to learn more about the field of medicine at BC’s only medical school.

SHAD is a month-long STEAM program that allows grade 10 and 11 students to collaborate and work with different peers outside of their home province.

Let’s Talk Science Outreach Program

GeneSkool Outreach Program

Pre-Health Shadowing Online Resource

Let’s Talk Science connects with youth through classroom or community group visits, virtually and in-person. Free of charge, these outreach volunteers arrive on-site to incorporate hands-on science activities for different programs and events.

Presented by Genome BC, GeneSkool provides a variety of resources and programs for students in grades 9 through 12 that make learning about genomics fun.

Pre-Health Shadowing can be completed from the comfort of your home. Meet with healthcare professionals from various domains and specialties to get an inside look at their education and career paths.