Doctors of BC’s bursary supports UBC medical students pursuing their dreams of a medical career by providing financial assistance. Each year, hundreds of students receive funding thanks to these bursaries. In the 2024-2025 academic year, Doctors of BC supported 360 medical students throughout BC. Here are two of their stories.
Ali Gangji—from teaching to medicine
Ali Gangji never planned on a career in medicine. However, his passion for learning and helping others led him to apply to UBC’s Faculty of Medicine MD Undergraduate Program, where he is now in his third year and hopes to specialize in either psychiatry or internal medicine.
“What I really like about psychiatry is you get to spend time talking to people and connecting with them,” he says. “As for internal medicine, I like the idea of working with a team to discuss cases and think through problems.”
Today, Ali is in Vernon, BC, as part of the Integrated Community Clerkship (ICC), a stream of the Medicine Undergraduate Program that gives students the opportunity to enhance their clinical education and training by living in a rural community for one year.
“Medicine is such a big program that I truly wasn’t expecting to receive this bursary, which made it extra exciting when I found out I did,” says Ali. “I really appreciate that the Doctors of BC Bursary in Medicine exists for students like me who grew up with little financial support. By helping me through medical school, I in turn will one day help people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.”
Alishia Lindsay—Dedicated to improving healthcare in Northern BC
Alishia Lindsay always aspired to become a doctor. However, since no one in her family had attended university, in many ways, her dream felt impossible. Yet, despite starting down a different path, she couldn’t shake her desire for a career in medicine.
“I wanted a career where I could make a difference and contribute to society in a meaningful way,” says Alishia. “Over time, I realized that for me, medicine was the only way I could do this.”
Now in her second year of medical school at UBC’s Northern Medical Program (NMP) Undergraduate Program, Alishia was thrilled to receive the Doctors of BC Bursary in Medicine, which she describes as “truly magical,” because it helped ease the financial burden of medical school.
Alishia plans to become a family doctor in Prince George, where she currently resides. She recognizes the high demand for family medicine in British Columbia, especially in rural regions of the province, and is excited to make a difference in her own community.
“This bursary has allowed me to focus on my studies and means there is one less thing for me to worry about,” says Alishia. “As a mother, it has also given me the gift of spending more time with my children, who I hope will look back on their childhood with happy memories of their mother being present.”
