Teaching in focus: James Lee

Name:

James Lee

My pronouns:

He/him

Title:

Director of the Pediatric Neurology Residency Program

Faculty/Department/Unit:

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology

Location:

Vancouver

Year I started working at UBC:

2013

What first motivated you to become an educator?

As a resident working toward growing as a physician, I saw and felt how much of a positive impact good teachers could have on both the professional and personal development of their students. I wanted to be able to pass that benefit on to my own learners.

Tell us more about your work.

I am a pediatric neurologist at BC Children's Hospital, treating kids with a variety of neurologic disorders, with a special focus on epilepsy and sleep problems. Since 2021, I have been the Director of the Pediatric Neurology Residency Program at UBC, but I have been interested in teaching my entire career.

What inspired your particular approach to teaching?

My own experiences with my mentors made me realize that education is most effective when the teacher is enthusiastic, the lesson is relevant to the interests of the learner, and the teaching is done in a safe environment where the student feels respected. I strive to make sure any teaching I do, with learners of any level, fulfills those criteria.

What have you learned while teaching that has surprised you the most?

Every student has something they can learn from just about every situation, and as a teacher, keeping that in mind will pay off. Even a seemingly mundane case can yield an interesting lesson.

What impact do you hope to have on your students?

I hope my students will gain the same enthusiasm for learning the material that I have for teaching it. The amount they will learn on their own if they are motivated far outweighs what I can teach them, so I hope to inspire them to become and stay interested.

Are there any colleagues or mentors you’d like to acknowledge and why?

There are many, but one, Dr. Linda Huh, my former program director, comes to mind. She teaches with an enthusiastic, fun, and high-energy style that engaged her learners like no one else could.