Congratulating our graduating resident doctors & welcoming this year’s new residents

On Friday, June 24, 2016 I had the honour of attending and speaking at the Doctors of BC’s hosted Resident Graduation event. Completing medical residency is a significant milestone in a young doctor’s life and career, and this annual celebratory event is our way of acknowledging this rite of passage, commemorating this achievement and welcoming these new graduates – our colleagues – into the profession.

There were graduates, friends, families and loved ones in attendance that evening, all with a story to share and all there to celebrate this momentous occasion. The buzz in the room was one of excitement about the new journey these young physicians are about to embark upon, gratitude for an event that honours them and their achievement, and anticipation of what lies ahead. 

For me the experience was rewarding in that I was honoured to engage with these bright and vibrant residents, but also humbling as it reminded me of the remote memories of trepidation and vulnerability we have all felt and experienced at that stage in our lives and our careers. That is why as a profession it is imperative we create and support a strong culture of medical mentorship for our young doctors – they are the future of our profession and we need to embrace them with open arms and support them as they enter practice. Each one of them has the ability to make a meaningful difference – to become leaders and physicians of influence – but they need our encouragement and our support.

A few days later at the Resident Doctors of BC’s “New Member Orientation Day” & Doctors of BC’s hosted reception, I also had the joy of welcoming this year’s new residents to the profession – offering our collective support and emphasizing that Doctors of BC is here for them every step of the way as their careers unfold. 

Events such as these are incredibly important. They allow us to engage with our younger colleagues and show them our support and our heartfelt gratitude. And I encourage you all to take advantage of every possibility you have to engage with our residents and to offer to mentor them. They need us, but not as much as we need them.

Once again congratulations to this year’s graduating Residents and welcome to all of our new Residents. Remember – as a profession, we are all, better together.

For photos from the Resident Graduation event click here.

Dr Alan Ruddiman
President, 2016-2017