New Students Officially Welcomed to Cape Breton Medical Campus

 

The Cape Breton Medical Campus (CBMC) recently honoured 30 future doctors at the annual Rising Tide ceremony at Cape Breton University’s Boardmore Theatre. Students were presented with stethoscopes from Doctors Nova Scotia during the ceremony, recognizing the start of their journey in medicine. This is the second cohort of future doctors who were welcomed to the CBMC, bringing the current number of students to 60.

Rising Tide is a cherished rite of passage for students at the new medical campus, bringing together family and friends to mark this important milestone. The ceremony is named for the ocean tide. When the tide rises, it lifts all boats. The symbolism positions the students as the rising tide, coming together to build a health system that is accessible in all regions of Nova Scotia.

Jesse Fuller is one of the first-year medical students honoured during the ceremony. His parents traveled from their hometown of Avonport, Nova Scotia to join the celebration. Jesse says Rising Tide was a special moment for everyone.

“Following a number of inspiring speeches, we were presented with our stethoscopes and lab coats and we gathered on stage as a class,” says Jesse. “Everyone was smiling and there was a sense of hope in the room, not only for us as future family doctors, but for the future of healthcare in rural Nova Scotia. I think everyone came away with a deeper appreciation for what the CBMC is doing here.”

CBMC was created as a rural pathway in medicine, where students train to serve as rural family doctors in Nova Scotia, helping to address the shortage of family doctors in rural and underserved communities across the province.

Dr. Saleem Razack, Dean of Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine, marked his first visit to the CBMC since assuming the role on September 1. Dr. Razack spoke about the community-focus of the distributed medical education model that guides the CBMC.

“We know that great physicians are shaped not only by what they learn in classrooms and clinics, but also by the communities where they train, the relationships they build and the people they have the privilege to care for.”

Students at the CBMC represent rural communities across Nova Scotia. Following the rural pathway to reach the CBMC, the students bring connections to rural life. They hail from Yarmouth to Pictou, Cheticamp to Eskasoni and many points in between.

Dr. Stephanie Langley, CBMC’s Senior Associate Dean and a local physician, reflected on her personal experience as a rural family doctor. She encouraged students to collaborate during their studies and future practice.

“The classmates sitting beside you today will become colleagues, collaborators and lifelong friends. Celebrate each other’s successes, offer help when you can and remember, you are stronger together than you are alone,” Dr. Langley said. “Rural family medicine is a team effort, relying on healthcare networks to provide holistic care to patients.”

The CBMC was envisioned by CBU and founded through a partnership with Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Tanya Brann-Barrett, Vice-President of Research and Innovation, extended a CBU welcome to the future doctors, while expressing gratitude for those who made the CBMC vision a reality.

“What was once an idea is now sitting in front of us and that vision is now a growing community of students, educators, physicians, researchers and partners working together toward a common purpose,” she said. The impact of this partnership was highlighted during the event, including the support of the Province of Nova Scotia for funding the CBMC.

The ceremony concluded on a poignant note as retired physician Dr. Beth MacCormick and her daughter Ella led students and their guests in singing Rise Again, a song written by Dr. MacCormick’s late husband, Leon Dubinsky.  Rise Again is CBU’s official school song and carries an empowering message of hope for future generations, a message that is well-aligned with the CBMC’s foundations. It was a special full-circle moment, connecting to the Rising Tide theme and welcoming the future doctors.

Welcome to the CBMC Class of 2030!