First-year MOT students Ivneet Lidder and Nicola (Niki) Marriott recently participated in the Healthcare Travelling Roadshow (the Roadshow), a showcase of careers in healthcare delivered by UBC students at high schools across BC. Initiated in 2010 by UBC’s Northern Medical Program, the Roadshow aims to fill shortages in the rural healthcare workforce.
As part of the Cariboo Roadshow, Ivneet and Niki travelled to Bella Coola, 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, and Quesnel. We recently sat down with them to ask them about their experiences, the highlights of the program, and their interactions with students.
One of Ivneet’s biggest takeaways from the program was how much she enjoyed teaching high school students what occupational therapy (OT) is. “Often, people don’t know what an OT does, so it was great being able to spread that education to young students in communities here in the North,” she said. She also discussed how hands-on learning sparked students’ interest.
“Niki and I had our OT station set up, where the students were really interested and engaged in the OT equipment we showed them. Spreading awareness about occupational therapy in rural cities was truly inspiring for me. I am glad to be a part of the 2023 roadshow team, and encourage the young students to consider a career as an OT in the future.”
Niki noted that, while some of them already had a specific career in mind, many students were interested in a variety of options. She and Ivneet demonstrated adaptive tools, including the box and blocks test, a hand dynanometer, and devices of which students guessed the purpose. She experienced the Roadshow as being deeply rooted in place.
“For many rural communities, students don’t get exposure to allied health careers due to limited healthcare resources in their communities, so it was rewarding to connect with students on how their career choices could impact the communities in future. I particularly enjoyed the hike we did with an Indigenous cultural leader from the Nuxálk Nation to see a section of culturally significant territory, participate in a smudging ceremony, and listen to stories and songs. Spending a week with students from various healthcare professions also introduced me to different perspectives on the education of healthcare students, clinical placements, and ideas on career choices.”
The Roadshow runs yearly and usually features students from our MOT program. Keep an eye out next year for more stories from the Roadshow!