London, ON – The University of Western Ontario’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry will hold convocation for 144 new physicians Friday, May 20th starting at 9:30 a.m. at Alumni Hall. This marks not only the largest class of medical graduates to date but also the first graduation ceremony for Dean Michael Strong, who took over from Dr. Carol Herbert in July.
“I feel tremendous pride going into this convocation. These young doctors are now embarking on a life that I have loved from the day I embarked upon it,” says Dr. Strong. “It is a life that I continue to wonder at as it changes constantly, almost always in directions that I could have never predicted. It is a life and a calling that they now share.”
Two noteworthy graduates include:
Samantha Boshart from the Indigenous Program who will stay close to her roots in rural Southwestern Ontario to do her family medicine residency. “I have chosen to practice family medicine because it allows me the chance to become involved in families and communities, to encourage and support healthy lifestyles as well as provide primary care,” says Boshart. “After residency I hope to have the opportunity to provide care to First Nations people on reserves or here in the city. This has always been a priority to me as I am a First Nations woman myself. "
Eva Knifed started medicine with a background in neuroscience and full intentions to become a neurosurgeon, but because of her medical school experience, she’s now is becoming a family physician instead. “Rather late in my medical school career I realized that although I loved the nervous system I loved building relationships with patients more. I realized that I wanted a broader scope of practice with more flexibility and the opportunity to treat patients over the course of their lives. That is why I choose to enter family medicine instead of neurosurgery.”
Knifed and Boshart are among the nearly 43% of this year’s class who chose to go into family medicine. Another 17% will do their residency in surgery and 12% in internal medicine. The next three highest specialties matched were pediatrics, emergency medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology.
Media contact: Kathy Wallis, Media Relations Officer, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, 519-661-2111 ext. 81136, Kathy.wallis@schulich.uwo.ca.
