1st Annual: Health Mentors Symposium in Prince George

The Prince George symposium brought together the largest and most diverse group of attendees across the distributed sites, reflecting Mandy’s strong community connections in the region. In addition to students, mentors, and faculty the event welcomed community partners, including representatives from Spinal Cord Injury BC and the BC Schizophrenia Society.

This year featured three interprofessional groups, with students from Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Medicine learning alongside their Mentor. The collaborative spirit was evident throughout the presentations, with students gaining a deeper appreciation for the roles and expertise of other disciplines. The symposium is strongly supported by faculty across all participating programs, reinforcing the importance of interprofessional learning at the site.

As one medical student shared:
“This program really gave me a greater appreciation of the other disciplines I will be working with. OT really knows their stuff, and I need to make strong connections with other professionals once I’m in practice.”

One group took creativity to the next level by incorporating a musical element into their presentation, showcasing the unique and expressive ways students and mentors engage with their learning in distributed sites.

The Prince George symposium highlighted the strength of community partnerships, interprofessional collaboration, and the creativity that emerges when learning is grounded in place and relationship.