Drs. Brian Hayes and Hannah Young collaborated on a cancer survivorship study during their time as UBC Southern Medical Program students.

Two UBC Southern Medical Program (SMP) graduates are helping change how cancer survivors receive follow-up care in rural BC, and they started while still in medical school.

Drs. Brian Hayes and Hannah Young, now family medicine residents in Kamloops, co-authored a study examining barriers to family physician-led cancer survivorship care in the BC interior.

Their findings highlight a growing concern: as more Canadians survive cancer, they often return home to communities where specialist access is limited.

Family doctors are being asked to take the lead in survivorship care—but many lack the support, tools or clear protocols needed to do it well.

“It was really important for me to be a key player in this research project as a medical student, directly addressing an issue that tangibly affects physicians and patients,” Dr. Hayes says. “This experience has pushed me to continue researching patient outcomes and physician wellness throughout my career as a family doctor here in BC.”

The study, published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship, identified five tactics that could improve the system: 

The study identified five ways to strengthen the system:

• Survivorship guidelines tailored to primary care
• Standardized discharge summaries
• Clear points of contact at cancer centres
• More continuing education for primary-care providers
• Compatible electronic records across providers

The research emerged from the Clinical Research and QI Incubator program, which is operated by the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management at the UBC Okanagan campus.

“This was one of our most meaningful incubator projects,” says Dr. Christine Voss, research mentor and assistant professor at UBC Okanagan. “This project has become part of a larger multi-phase initiative with BC Cancer, which connected students, oncologists and primary care physicians in a way that’s still generating insights and momentum.”

With more papers expected this year, led by new sets of SMP students, the project is seen as a model for how education can drive practical improvements to care, especially in underserved regions.

“Working with our interdisciplinary team to identify strategies to optimize care for cancer survivors and support primary care providers providing survivorship care was an incredibly meaningful experience,” said Dr. Young. “I’m proud to have been one of the leads on this phase of the project and look forward to seeing the impact of the next phase of the project led by a new set of SMP students.”

The research team also included Dr. Siavash Atrchian and Alissa Loader from BC Cancer; Dr. Sarah McCorquodale and Dr. Matthew Stork from UBC; Elijah Haynes and Alissa Taki from UBC’s Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management; and Dr. Erica Bennett from UBC’s School of Kinesiology.

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Students from UBC Okanagan’s School of Education took part in STARR on Friday, walking, running or volunteering along the campus trail ahead of National Indigenous Peoples Day.

The sound of shoes crunching gravel, birdsong in the air and a breeze stirring the trees set the tone for a morning of reflection and purpose.

On Friday, students from UBC Okanagan’s School of Education gathered for the Supporting Truth and Reconciliation Run (STARR). Held ahead of National Indigenous Peoples Day, the event brought together more than 100 aspiring teachers, faculty and staff, many of whom ran, walked or volunteered along the course near UBCO’s campus.

More than a physical challenge, STARR offered a space for personal and professional reflection on Canada’s colonial history and the responsibilities of educators walking the path of reconciliation.

“The STARR event can be thought of as future teachers, faculty and staff, with Syilx Elders and educators learning from the past. They will be walking, running and connecting to pedagogy to ensure future schools are more inclusive, sustaining and appreciative of tmixʷ: the water, earth, plant and animal communities that give us humans everything we need to live well,” says Dr. Bill Cohen, Indigenous Scholar and Assistant Professor in the Okanagan School of Education.

“In Syilx Okanagan territories, it is pragmatic, humanizing and critical in this era of fires, floods, pandemics, racialized violence and violence against women and the earth, to learn from and with Syilx peoples so future generations can live well. That is what real reconciliation is about: very diverse communities creating and renewing relationships with food, wellness and security for all.”

Student participant Jordy Decker echoed this spirit of learning, intention and connection.

“It was an intentional process starting with Dr. Bill Cohen, and Elders Rose Caldwell and Kathleen Michel, who imparted words of wisdom about the importance of ensuring our future students feel seen, heard, safe and respected,” says Decker. “We received a cedar brushing and a pinch of tobacco to offer on our walk after we set our intentions. On our walk, we discussed our strategies for decolonizing our learning spaces as we connected with nature.”

Following the run, participants wrote personal pledges in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action for education. These pledges acknowledge their professional responsibility as future educators to value and respect Indigenous knowledge, histories and cultures.

Dr. David Trumpower, Director of Undergraduate Programs, says the long-term vision is to expand the STARR event into a broader, community-engaged initiative.

“Our goal is to invite families, schools and the wider community to join us in this shared act of reflection and commitment,” says Dr. Trumpower. “Reconciliation is a collective journey, and we aim to continue moving forward together in the same direction—step by step.”

Through experiential learning opportunities like STARR, the Okanagan School of Education is advancing its commitment to embedding Indigenization into teacher education.

To learn more about the resources available to educators, visit education.ok.ubc.ca/research-partnerships/co-curricular-making/co-curricular-making-resources.

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UBCO’s Southern Medical Program is hosting an information session on Friday, June 27 to explain how people recovering from a stroke can get involved with a virtual rehabilitation program.

After a few previous trials, UBC Okanagan’s Dr. Brodie Sakakibara says telerehabilitation is proving to be an effective way for people recovering from a stroke to receive treatment in their homes and communities while continuing with their recovery after discharge from hospital.

Dr. Sakakibara conducts research with the UBC Southern Medical Program’s Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management and has been testing various methods of telerehabilitation for stroke patients. His study, TeleRehabilitation with Aims to Improve Lower Extremity Recovery Post-Stroke (TRAIL), has been running for several years and is now looking for new participants.

He describes the goals of his study and how people can get involved.

Can you explain the benefits of telerehabilitation for stroke patients?

According to our research, telerehabilitation is a new reality.

More people are surviving a stroke and the need for accessible treatment regardless of geographic location is increasingly important.

While the efficacy and cost of telerehabilitation are similar to that of traditional face-to-face management, individuals report satisfaction with telerehabilitation—especially when therapists are appropriately trained and there is some social interaction.

Many people who have experienced a stroke have their driver’s license revoked, making accessibility to medical or rehabilitation appointments difficult. Telerehabilitation can be done in their own homes and on their own schedules., These individuals get one-on-one time for their treatments and can easily access the expertise of clinical therapists.

Why specifically target the lower limbs?

Shortened length of hospital stays and continued challenges in transitioning back to the community—including poor access to continued stroke rehabilitation services—have resulted in substantial unmet recovery needs. This is especially true for lower extremity recovery. People can struggle to regain balance, stability and gait coordination for daily life activities and even proper ambulation.

How does the study work?

TRAIL provides patients with a four-week progressive exercise and self-management program that is delivered by videoconference in real time by a trained physiotherapist. Participants work to improve strength, balance and other mobility issues like regaining full use of their legs.

Our end goal is to prove that telerehabilitation for stroke patients works and be rolled out across the health-care system.

How can people get involved?

We are hosting an information session on Friday, June 27 at the Vernon branch of the Okanagan Regional Library. We will have UBC researchers, Interior Health clinicians as well as representatives from the March of Dimes and Patient Partners at the event. They will be able to answer questions about advancements in clinical trials, new research and resources for after-stroke support.

The event is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about the study and other stroke research in the Okanagan. To register visit: events.ok.ubc.ca/event/understanding-stroke-research-in-the-okanagan-2.

Anyone who can’t attend the event is welcome to contact the research team by email at ok.strokeresearch@ubc.ca

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Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Natalia Dyer (Nancy), Joe Keery (Steve) and Charlie Heaton (Jonathan) laugh during a scene from Stranger Things. The hit Netflix series blends supernatural drama with nostalgic 1980s storytelling—and economics, at least according to a UBC Okanagan researcher. (Handout photo)

A new study co-authored by UBC Okanagan’s Dr. Julien Picault shows how scenes from hit shows like Narcos and Stranger Things can help students grasp complex economic concepts—from cartels and market control to creative destruction and inflation.

Published in The Journal of Economic Education, Teaching economics with Netflix explores how carefully selected Netflix content can help undergraduate students engage with economics in a more meaningful, accessible way.

“Students are already watching this content,” says Dr. Picault, Professor of Teaching in the Department of Economics, Philosophy and Political Science. “Our goal is to meet them where they are and use culturally relevant media to explain fundamental concepts like opportunity cost, supply and demand, or moral hazard.”

The paper introduces EcoNetflix, a free online resource Dr. Picault and collaborators at Marymount University created.

The site features teaching guides built around diverse clips from Netflix original shows, films, and documentaries from around the world, with clear connections to both introductory and advanced economics concepts.

Stranger Things and smartphones: A lesson in creative destruction

For example, in the popular alien sci-fi series Stranger Things, the characters use walkie-talkies, phone booths and cassette players. Today, a single smartphone replaces all these tools.

This shift illustrates creative destruction, where new technology makes old products obsolete. It also raises questions about cost: would buying each of those devices separately be more expensive than owning a smartphone?

And how do new products like smartphones affect how we measure inflation through the Consumer Price Index?

Narcos and cartels: Teaching market control and oligopoly

In the crime drama Narcos, based on the true story of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, one scene shows Escobar meeting with rival kingpins to propose a formal alliance. He offers to manage operations while the others contribute funding in exchange for shared profits and protection.

This collusive behaviour is known as forming a cartel—an agreement among producers to avoid competition and control prices or territory. It reflects how firms and organizations operating in an oligopoly or a fragmented market may begin cooperating when powerful players see cooperation as more profitable than conflict.

By dividing the market, they reduce risk, stabilize earnings and limit outside threats—even if the arrangement is illegal or unsustainable long-term.

Why it works: Connecting real life to economic theory

The material reflects various cultural, geographic and social perspectives, aligning with efforts to make economics education more inclusive.

“It’s not just about being entertaining,” says Dr. Picault. “We want to improve learning outcomes and show how economics applies to the world students already navigate.”

The paper also argues that platforms like Netflix, with global reach and diverse catalogues, offer a rich foundation for building more inclusive economics lessons.

Dr. Picault’s recent work builds on earlier studies and teaching guides he’s authored on using pop culture to teach economics.

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This composite features anatomical illustrations from medieval Islamic medical manuscripts, including depictions of the vascular and nervous systems by Persian scholars such as Ibn Sina and Mansur ibn Ilyas, revealing an early and remarkably detailed understanding of human physiology.

Dr. Tareq Yousef wants to stimulate your thinking by showing you diagrams of ancient brains.

The assistant professor of teaching in UBC Okanagan’s Department of Psychology is offering educators another way to incorporate perspectives from outside Western academia.

In an article for the Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education, he linked his expertise in neuroanatomy and retinal neuromodulation—how the eye processes visual information—with his passion for student performance and equity in academia.

“This paper is a compendium for educators,” Dr. Yousef explains. “It’s a tool to help instructors expand their teaching materials to include broader perspectives. When we acknowledge the contributions of non-Western civilizations, we’re not only being inclusive; we’re making the curriculum more accurate and engaging.”

His article is a resource for neuroscience instructors and offers valuable lessons for anyone seeking to broaden their viewpoint.

The article focuses on three key historical sources as examples of how education expands the further you look:

• Hasan ibn al-Haytham (Kitab al-Manazir, 11th century, Iraq) is renowned as the father of optics. He was the first to suggest that vision occurs when light reflects off objects and enters the eye, challenging ancient Greek theories. His manuscript contains some of the earliest anatomical illustrations of the eye, establishing the groundwork for modern vision science.
• Ibn Sina (Canon of Medicine, 11th century, Uzbekistan): One of history’s most influential physicians, Ibn Sina (also called Avicenna) suggested that different regions of the brain control reasoning, sensation and memory. This idea foreshadowed modern neuroscience’s understanding of brain function. His Canon of Medicine was a medical textbook for over 600 years.
• Mansur ibn Ilyas (Tashrih-i badan-i insan, 14th century, Iran): He created one of the earliest known full-body anatomical studies, featuring detailed diagrams that distinguish between the centraland peripheral nervous systems. His work combined scientific accuracy with artistic precision, making neuroanatomy more accessible to both students and scholars.

What inspired you to write this article?

I want to help educators expand their worldviews. Although neuroanatomy has historically been taught through a Western lens, there is a rich history of contributions from other parts of the world. I wanted to make it easier for educators to include these perspectives in their teaching.

What makes the historical illustrations you studied so significant?

The illustrations provide visual evidence of an early understanding of the nervous system. For example, Mansur ibn Ilyas’s work from the 14th century demonstrates remarkable detail about the central and peripheral nervous systems centuries before some of the more well-known Western discoveries. These illustrations also remind us of how art and science intersect in education.

How does this work contribute to educational understanding?

This work aligns with broader efforts to decolonize education.

Incorporating diverse perspectives helps create a more inclusive and accurate curriculum, which benefits all students.

What’s the broader takeaway for educators?

Education should reflect the diversity of our world. By including non-Western perspectives, we can make the curriculum more representative and engaging for students from all backgrounds.

What do you hope this work achieves?

I hope it serves as a resource for educators looking to broaden their materials and challenge traditional ways of thinking. It’s a step toward a more inclusive approach to teaching neuroanatomy.

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Dr. Mohamed Shehata and Dr. John Braun at UBC Okanagan recently received a Husky A300 Starter Kit through Clearpath Robotics’ 2024 PartnerBot Grant Program. The grant supports innovative robotics research by providing equipment and resources to Canadian institutions.

A new research initiative at UBC Okanagan is using robotics and artificial intelligence to address two of Canada’s biggest challenges: wildfire mitigation and sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Mohamed Shehata, Dr. John Braun and their UBC Okanagan student recently received a Husky A300 Starter Kit through the 2024 PartnerBot Grant Program.

“The Husky A300 allows us to develop and test our navigation algorithms in real conditions,” says Dr. Shehata, a Professor of Computer Science with the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science. “It’s not just theoretical anymore—we can take it into the field, collect real data, and refine how these robots can work in challenging environments.”

Wildfire response: Reducing risk for firefighters

One of the most effective ways to control wildfires is to use a fire line, a cleared strip of land where vegetation is removed or burned down to bare mineral soil. This creates a barrier designed to stop or significantly slow the progression of a wildfire by depriving it of fuel to burn across.

Dr. Shehata’s team is exploring how autonomous robots, guided by AI and drone-assisted navigation, could perform these high-risk tasks. For example, the Husky A300 could be equipped with fire ignition tools or high-pressure water hoses, reducing the need for firefighters to enter high-risk areas.

Working alongside drones, which provide real-time data and mapping, the robot could navigate rough landscapes and assist in targeted fire suppression, making wildfire management safer and more precise.

“We’re looking at how we can send these robots into difficult terrain and control them remotely,” Dr. Shehata says. “Instead of putting firefighters at risk, we can use AI-powered navigation and real-time data visualization to guide operations from a safe distance.”

The team is collaborating with wildfire researchers at UBCO and an Alberta company specializing in high-pressure water delivery systems to explore how robots could complement existing aerial firefighting tools like helicopters.

Precision agriculture: Smarter, chemical-free farming

Beyond wildfires, Dr. Shehata is applying robotics to agriculture, using AI to help farmers detect weeds, monitor crop health and reduce chemical herbicides.

This automation can reduce chemical use, improve crop yields and make farming more sustainable—key priorities for Canada’s agricultural sector.

It’s the type of work made possible through engaged community partners such as the PartnerBot program. Established by Clearpath Robotics in 2012, the program supports innovative robotics projects by providing equipment and resources.

“We’re working with the Summerland Research and Development Centre and partners in Germany to develop new ways to use robotics in precision farming,” Dr. Shehata says. “Using AI and sensor-equipped drones, we can map fields and identify exactly where intervention is needed—whether it’s watering, fertilizing or targeted weed removal using lasers instead of herbicides.”

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A new study by UBCO and TRU suggests medical cannabis can support addiction recovery by managing cravings, pain, and mental health symptoms.

A new pilot study from UBC Okanagan and Thompson Rivers University examined how medically supervised cannabis use in a residential recovery home may support people in treatment for substance use challenges.

Participants reported that cannabis helped them manage pain, anxiety, depression and sleep issues—key symptoms that can complicate recovery.

“Our findings suggest medical cannabis could play a meaningful role in reducing cravings and improving retention in recovery programs,” says Dr. Zach Walsh, a psychology professor at UBC Okanagan and co-lead researcher.

“Participants clearly indicated benefits in managing both physical and psychological challenges during recovery.”

Users also reported reduced cravings for opioids and other harmful substances, improved pain management and enhanced mental health and sleep quality.

However, stigma surrounding cannabis use remains a significant barrier, according to the research.

Staff interviews revealed a need for increased education and better integration into the cannabis treatment approach.

“Reducing stigma through targeted education for program staff is critical,” says Dr. Florriann Fehr, co-lead researcher and nursing professor at Thompson Rivers University.

“Staff skepticism often comes from misunderstandings about cannabis as a legitimate medical treatment, highlighting a clear opportunity for improvement in recovery support.”

The study, recently published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, was conducted by researchers from UBC Okanagan and Thompson Rivers University.

This collaboration between institutions in Kelowna and Kamloops sought to better understand patient and staff experiences with medically supervised cannabis use in a supportive recovery environment.

It examined patient and staff experiences at Maverick Supportive Recovery, a residential recovery centre in the BC interior.

Residential recovery centres provide structured, live-in environments where people receive treatment and support to manage substance use disorders.

While the results are promising, researchers emphasize the need for larger-scale studies to fully assess the benefits and risks of incorporating medical cannabis into substance use recovery programs.

This study was funded by the Interior Universities Research Coalition and the BC Ministry of Health. Dr. Fehr is to present the findings to the International Council of Nurses Congress in Helsinki this June.

TRU is also planning the Medical Cannabis and Recovery forum on Saturday, April 26. The forum is open to the public, health-care professionals and researchers interested in cannabis and recovery solutions.

For more information about this study, contact Dr. Fehr at ffehr@tru.ca or Dr. Walsh at zachary.walsh@ubc.ca.

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Researchers at UBCO are investigating how sweet cherry flower buds survive freezing temperatures in winter orchards.

Researchers at UBC Okanagan are working to learn more about how sweet cherry trees naturally protect their buds from freezing during cold winter months.

Dr. Elizabeth Houghton recently graduated from the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science’s Department of Biology. Her latest paper, published in Plant Biology, examines how sweet cherries, like many fruit trees, use a natural survival strategy called supercooling to protect undeveloped flower buds during freezing temperatures.

This is critical for fruit trees because these flower buds must survive the winter to produce the following year’s crop.

In late January 2024, temperatures in the Okanagan dipped to –27°C, causing severe damage to many fruit trees. Estimates indicate that 90 per cent of the anticipated summer crop was destroyed.

While many trees have natural methods to survive harsh winters, a supercooling survival process in stone fruits still raises questions for researchers.

“Plants like sweet cherries can survive freezing temperatures in winter using supercooling. When in a supercooled state, the liquid in plant cells can avoid freezing, even at temperatures well below 0°C —we call this a metastable liquid. However, the liquid can freeze if triggered by an impurity or ice particle,” she says.

“We don’t fully understand how this works in some plant structures, and we wanted to learn more about how sweet cherry flower buds survive cold temperatures.”

While most research on stone fruit-bearing trees has focused on peaches, Dr. Houghton notes that little attention has been paid to sweet cherry flower buds containing multiple primordia. These cell structures develop into a flower and eventually produce fruit, rather than just a single one like those of a peach tree.

Dr. Houghton examined several factors to better understand supercooling, including how ice forms in the buds, how the outer layers freeze, and the internal changes buds undergo as the weather warms and spring approaches.

Dr. Houghton notes that cherry trees are especially vulnerable in early spring because they lose their ability to supercool as the buds grow. A sudden cold snap can be disastrous, she explains.

“In simple terms, cherry buds have a special way of protecting themselves from freezing in winter, but as buds grow in the spring, they lose some of that protection,” says Dr. Houghton.

“We are trying to understand better how these fruit buds survive extreme winter temperatures,” she adds. “And because there is some debate about what winters might look like in the future—we may experience more extreme cold snaps—it’s important that we learn from the cherry trees to work towards protecting fruit crops.”

The governments of Canada and British Columbia funded this project through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC delivered the program.

An anonymous private foundation, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the BC Cherry Association and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada provided additional funding.

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New research shows that endangered caribou are migrating shorter distances due to habitat loss and environmental changes.

Decades of data following the migratory patterns of endangered caribou show that migration areas have decreased significantly. Researchers are concerned that resource extraction is disturbing caribou habitats.

Dr. Clayton Lamb, a researcher with UBC Okanagan’s Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, led a team that recently published a paper detailing the migration patterns of several threatened caribou herds.

Their study, published this week in Global Change Biology, showed the caribou herds changed their migratory duration, distance or elevation over 35 years of radio tag tracking using very high frequency and Global Positioning System collars.

“Western science and Indigenous knowledge recognize the critical role of migration in sustaining abundant wildlife populations, yet these movements are increasingly disrupted by human activity worldwide,” says Dr. Lamb. “We studied the extent and type of migration as well as changes through time, and determined if these changes correlated with landscape disturbance or shifts in weather.”

The research team, which included representatives from Environment and Climate Change Canada, BC’s Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, and Alberta Environment and Parks, analyzed telemetry data for southern mountain caribou from 1987 to 2022.

Study data was collected from 1,704,842 caribou relocations of more than 800 animals across 27 southern mountain caribou subpopulations.

“The data shows that most of these subpopulations remain migratory to some degree, but seasonal migrations appear to be shrinking in both duration and extent,” says Dr. Lamb.

“Though our study spanned just 35 years—a blink compared to millennia caribou have been migrating here—we found migration eroding, not due to weather shifts, but alongside expanding human disturbance and caribou population decline.”

Migrating ungulates, like caribou, follow seasonally available foods, tracking gradients in rainfall, snow depth and safety from predators. Barren-ground caribou in the North American Arctic are known to complete one of the most dramatic migrations, with herds numbering in the hundreds of thousands, including pregnant females, moving 200–500 km each year between seasonal ranges.

While not as dramatic, southern mountain caribou migrations historically occurred vertically, up and down mountains, and horizontally between mountainous areas and lowland forests. But this appears to be changing, says Lamb.

“Due to their southern distribution, these caribou are exposed to higher levels of human-caused landscape disturbance and associated habitat change and loss. Observations from Indigenous communities, local people, scientists and government biologists indicate that southern mountain caribou migrations are changing or not happening at all.”

Dr. Adam Ford, Director of UBC’s Wildlife Restoration Ecology Lab and UBCO’s Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience and Ecosystem Services, is part of the research team and says habitat loss for the caribou is a definite threat to the survival of the species.

“Southern mountain caribou migration, including the distance and elevation change, has declined significantly over the past 40 years, and we believe these changes are correlated with human-caused disturbances, including change and loss to habitat,” he adds.

Dr. Ford noted in 1983, the average per cent of the landscape disturbed by human causes, including logging, reservoirs and oil and gas drilling activity, was about five per cent, while natural disturbance from fire and pests was 0.3 per cent.

By 2020, however, more than 30 per cent of that landscape was disturbed by human behaviour.

“Within the last 35 years, human-caused disturbance increased nearly sixfold within the ranges of the caribou subpopulations. Beyond impacts to migration, habitat disturbance—which has disrupted predator-prey dynamics—is a primary cause of caribou population declines,” says Dr. Ford. “It’s important to note the southern mountain caribou population declined by more than 50 per cent over the period of our investigation.”

Shrinking caribou populations and loss of their migratory behaviour indicate a landscape that isn’t sustaining caribou or their formerly adaptive migratory habits. During the observation period, researchers noted the near collapse of elevational migration for five southern caribou subpopulations.

“Sustaining caribou populations and their migratory behaviour into the future will require a rapid change in managing the landscape that facilitates extensive habitat conservation, restoration and a reduction in ongoing human-caused disturbance,” adds Dr. Lamb.

“Creating a landscape with suitable caribou habitats and lower predator densities that can once again sustain caribou is imperative to preserve their migratory behaviour and support recovery efforts.”

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