News Archive

Jenny Lam, Department Assistant with UBC’s Department of Emergency Medicine.

How long have you worked in the Department/UBC?

I have been working for the Department since July 2022 – it has been just four months but it feels longer!

Can you summarize what you do in the Department?

As a department assistant, I am mainly responsible for providing administrative support to the co-heads especially on facilitating calendar management and meeting arrangements. I also provide financial support to our residents and faculty members.
 

What is your favourite thing about working in the Department?

The encouraging and supportive culture of the team! There are challenges in every position, and with an encouraging and supportive team, I never feel alone when I got lost. I am really grateful for this.

What is one interesting fact about you that people may not know?

Apart from being an assistant, I am also a freelance yoga instructor. I started practising yoga in 2017 because of low back pain caused by scoliosis, and completed my yoga certification training in 2020 (it was an in-person training rescheduled three times because of lockdown measures, and finished right before the fourth wave/ lockdown commenced in Hong Kong – lucky me!). It has been five years since I started and I am still very passionate about it. There is just too much to explore.

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?

Practising yoga for sure – just give me some space and I can play on my yoga mat for hours. I also enjoy being outdoors, particularly hiking and strolling. I love walking and walk a lot as long as the weather allows. Can’t wait for the next summer!

DURR AL-HAKIM
CLINICAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT


Site:
Vancouver – VGH Research Pavillion

Durr Al-Hakim, Clinical Research Assistant with UBC’s Department of Emergency Medicine.

How long have you worked in the Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM)/UBC?
I have been working with the Department of Emergency Medicine since August 2021.

Can you summarize what you do in the Department?

I’m currently a clinical research assistant working under the supervision of Dr. Jeffrey Brubacher, with a primary focus on the National Drug Driving Study at the Road Safety and Public Health (RSPH) lab. The study aims to evaluate the prevalence of drug-impaired driving (e.g., alcohol, cannabis) among injured drivers involved in motor vehicle collisions across Canada, and can help policymakers and road-safety professionals to inform policies and programs that protect against driving after drug use. Beyond performing blood sample and data collection, and other study-related responsibilities, I’m involved in multiple systematic reviews to study specific risk factors associated with increased risk of motor vehicle collisions, in an effort to further promote injury prevention and road safety. It’s been exciting and I’ve certainly learned a lot thus far. 

Before joining RSPH, I worked as a research assistant on the Canadian COVID-19 Emergency Department Rapid Response Network (CCEDRRN), led by Dr. Corinne Hohl. By helping to characterize COVID-19 ED visits and hospital admissions, this data was used to validate COVID-19 clinical decisions. Certainly rewarding to have been involved in this project at the height of the pandemic.

What is your favourite thing about working in the Department?
My team! I’m surrounded by great colleagues, and it’s been a pleasure working with and learning from Dr. Brubacher – an incredibly driven, inspiring, and supportive mentor.

What is one interesting fact about you that people may not know?
Often comes as a shock to most people, but I really love classical music. I try to go to “concerts” (e.g., orchestras/symphonies) whenever I have the chance! It’s usually what I’m listening to while working, studying, or even during my coffee walks.

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?
I’m really interested in social advocacy and strive to improve the accessibility of basic necessities for individuals facing social marginalization in BC. In May 2021, I founded an NPO named The Good Day Charitable Society to help to carry out this mission. Since then, we’ve partnered with VGH Emergency Department and also offered support to women at the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre!

As for hobbies, weightlifting is one of my top priorities and I’ve been consistently training for a few years now – it never fails to fill my cup up. I also love solo-travelling, baking, and going for long coffee walks with my close friends.

MICHAEL ASAMOAH-BOAHENG
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE


Site:
Vancouver – BC Resuscitation Research Collaborative

Michael Asamoah-Boaheng, Research Associate with UBC’s Department of Emergency Medicine.

How long have you worked in the Department/UBC?

I have worked for one year now in the department.

Can you summarize what you do in the Department?

I am a research associate in the Department of Emergency Medicine (BC Resuscitation Research Collaborative) under the supervision of Dr. Brian Grunau. I specifically work on the ongoing COVID-19 Occupational Risks, Seroprevalence and Immunity among Paramedics in Canada (CORSIP Canada) project. I am responsible for analyzing (including data programming) the CORSIP database using a variety of statistical analytic strategies. I am also responsible for writing and submitting research manuscripts on behalf of the study team. Also, I am involved in cardiac arrest research and I am a member of BC RESURRECT (BC Resuscitation Research Collaborative).

What is your favourite thing about working in the Department?

My favourite thing about the department is the fantastic team I work with as well as the great supervision I have received from my supervisors, Dr. Brian Grunau and Dr. David Goldfarb. 

What is one interesting fact about you that people may not know?

That I am an epidemiologist and bio-statistician (data scientist).

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?

I am a soccer fan and I love watching soccer on TV during weekends. I also play table tennis and the piano occasionally.