BRAD ASHMAN
BSc, MD, FRCSC
UBC Orthopaedics Residency Program, 2016
Hometown:
Trail, BC
Current Location:
Prince George, BC
Why did you choose the UBC Orthopaedics Residency Program?
The UBC Department of Orthopedics had several key draws for me. First, UBC residents get to work with and learn from world-renowned faculty in all sub-specialties of orthopedics. The opportunity to obtain this top education was too great of a draw to pass up. Secondly, I had met many of the residents at the time of my application and knew that was exactly the group of people that I wanted to learn from and become both friends and colleagues with. Lastly, Vancouver as a location was the right choice for me personally given the proximity to family, friends and outdoor recreation.
What do you consider some of your greatest achievements to date?
Professionally, I would say becoming competent in my craft as an orthopedic surgeon in a practice that I value, with colleagues that I respect. In addition, being able to give back to the orthopaedic community by helping train the next cohort of graduates as a UBC Orthopaedics faculty member, has been very rewarding. However, I would consider my personal achievements to be my greatest. Nothing has been greater than marrying my wife and starting a family together. We have a 2 year-old son. Watching him grow and develop with our guidance has been an absolute privilege. I also truly value my previous amateur baseball career as I know I achieved the most out of my talent and skills.
Tell us about your career journey after graduation.
Following graduation from the UBC residency program, I successfully matched to my top choice of fellowship programs at the Cincinnati Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Cincinnati, Ohio and had a fantastic year of professional growth as a fellow. Following fellowship, I returned to BC where I took on several locum positions and worked doing surgical assisting with the UBC Reconstructive Orthopedics faculty. I was approached by the Prince George orthopaedic division in 2018 when they offered me a full-time position and I haven’t looked back since. My current practice has a sub-specialty interest in shoulder and knee preservation surgery while maintaining my general orthopaedic skills, serving the needs of the communities of Northern BC. I also hold a clinical instructor position within the Division of Comprehensive Orthopaedics.
What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your chosen career path?
I think being able to help provide comprehensive orthopaedic care for much of Northern BC has been very rewarding given the marginalized and under served population we treat, and the geographical challenges we face in providing that care. I also highly value being able to give back to the medical community by teaching orthopaedics to the next generation of learners, from medical students and family practice residents to our own orthopaedic residents.
I am hoping my professional impact will be from both providing quality patient care to enhance the lives of my patients and helping improve the overall level of orthopaedic care that my community experiences.
What advice would you give to current residents in the program?
Residency and Fellowship are certainly a challenging time personally and professionally, but I can’t stress enough the importance of finding and maintaining balance in your life so that you can get the most out of your years as a learner. This means not only graduating as a skilled surgeon, but also as a trusted colleague, a good friend, and as a well-rounded individual.