Want to be a UBC Mini-Med student?

University offers public classes on latest health research starting October 29

There’s no homework, no quizzes, but Mini-Med students will experience what it’s like to be a UBC student in the 21st century while learning about compelling health topics ranging from the power of exercise to how your genes influence your health.

A new health education lecture series, Mini-Med is one of the ways UBC Okanagan is sharing its expertise with the community, offering a unique opportunity to learn about current medical issues and how the latest research can teach us more about our own health.

The series of four Mini-Med lectures starts Tuesday, October 29, at UBC’s Clinical Academic Campus at Kelowna General Hospital.

“In the news, we see a wide array of facts on important medical issues but often not in a form that allows us to fully understand what it means for us,” says Deborah Buszard, deputy vice-chancellor and principal of UBC’s Okanagan campus. “Our faculty are leading research in important areas of health. Mini-Med is a chance for the public to learn from our professors, ask questions and improve their own health.”

Mini-Med participants will take the following four classes on successive Tuesday evenings, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at UBC’s Clinical Academic Campus at Kelowna General Hospital, 2312 Pandosy St., Kelowna:

– October 29: Concussion Repercussions:  From a simple bump on the head to the risks of playing football, what does a concussion mean in your future?
– November 5: Run for your life: Beyond the hype: how much and what kind of exercise gives you the best chance of living longer.
– November 12: Fat – The good, the bad and the ugly: Sorting out the confusing world of dietary fats and the links to heart disease.
– November 19: Genetics – Blame your parents: How your genes shape your risk of disease.

Here’s what to expect from UBC’s Mini-Med series:

– Welcome package from UBC and course guide
– Four educational and entertaining lectures taking place over four weeks
– Each lecture includes a one-hour presentation, followed by 30 minutes of questions and answers
– Certificate of completion at the end of the lecture series

There is a tuition fee of $49 plus GST. Student tuition is $25 plus GST. For more information and to register online: minimed.ok.ubc.ca.