Bobby Taylor
Vancouver, BC

Bobby is a third year pharmacy student at UBC. His travels have taken him to Japan where he taught English in the school system through a program sponsored by the Japanese Government. “When I went to Japan I felt that I was part of the community I lived in and I loved it. For me, being able to be part of the local culture gives me a chance to learn about a place and I really enjoy that.” Prior to Japan he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alaska and worked his summers on a commercial fish boat on the northern BC coast. This summer Bobby will have a chance to revisit an area where he previously spent time when he does his rural placement through IRPbc in Port McNeill.

Bobby learned about IRPbc through Dr. Angie Kim-Sing, the practical rotation coordinator for third year pharmacy. He then met Kathy Copeman-Stewart, IRPbc Project Manager, who provided him with information about the program. As Bobby said, “Kathy’s excitement for the program was infectious. I knew about it through Dr. Kim-sing, but listening to Kathy talk really got me interested.” He goes on to say, “I knew I had options for my third year placement but when I heard about IRPbc I jumped at the chance to be integrated into a rural community and work with other students of different disciplines. When I found out I was accepted to the program, I was really excited!”

As Bobby learned more about IRPbc he was sure this was the right program for him for several reasons: “First, I’m always looking for a way to challenge myself. IRPbc takes students outside of their cultural and educational comfort zone and puts them into an area that may be unfamiliar. Second, I also had an interest in practicing pharmacy in a rural setting and I thought this would be a great opportunity to experience life in a rural community. Finally, the chance to work with students in other disciplines would help me learn how to practice in an interprofessional environment. I am looking forward to this experience.”

Like anyone going into a new experience Bobby is not completely sure what to expect but he has an open mind. He already knows that he has a lot to learn about the other professions and how members of a health care team work together. Also, he is aware that being a stranger in a new town isn't always easy. However he’s ready to face these challenges. “I’m heading into this experience knowing that it may be tough. I’m also going into it knowing that what I get out of it will make any difficulties insignificant. I hope to connect with the community in a meaningful and positive way and also engage with fellow health care students on a professional level.”