Updates, news and stories

Search for a new Dean, Faculty of Medicine, and Vice-President, Health

We are pleased to announce that UBC has embarked on a search for a new Dean, Faculty of Medicine, and Vice-President, Health. The current Dean and Vice-President, Dr. Dermot Kelleher, has served in the role since 2015, with his second term ending in summer 2025.

Updated Sexual Misconduct Policy and new mandatory training for faculty and staff

UBC has updated its Sexual Misconduct Policy and has launched new training for all faculty and staff to ensure everyone understands UBC’s expectations under the revised policy.

Dr. Henry Yu re-appointed as Principal, St. John's College

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies is pleased to announce the re-appointment of Dr. Henry Yu to serve as Principal of St. John’s College (SJC) for a five-year term effective January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2029. This appointment follows a review of Dr. Yu’s performance as Principal to-date, and the larger SJC ecosystem.

Message from the President: Share your thoughts on UBC’s vision for the future

A message from Benoit-Antoine Bacon, President and Vice-ChancellorIn September, UBC launched a process to refresh its strategic plan in order to better define the university’s long-term vision and establish priorities and actions, focusing on our academic and research mission, for the next three to five years.Throughout the fall, we invited students, faculty, staff and alumni to share their thoughts in a series of surveys, workshops, pop ups and other events and activities. More than 1,600 participants took part, contributing over 5,900 ideas.

Nominations open for alumni UBC Achievement Awards

Faculty and staff are invited to nominate UBC alumni for their professional and community contributions through the alumni UBC Achievement Awards. These awards recognize excellence, leadership, and innovation in achievements and contributions to the social, cultural, and economic well-being of society, which positively reflect on the university.Learn more about the awards, eligibility, criteria, and process and submit your nomination by February 14.

Staff – submit your Professional Development Fund claims by Feb. 28

Don't forget to use available professional development (PD) funding and submit claims in Workday by Feb. 28. 

Physician-paramedic teams can save lives: new study

In much of B.C. and Canada, pre-hospital care is delivered solely by teams of paramedics. However, a new UBC study suggests that physicians and paramedics working alongside each other on specialized teams could greatly improve patient outcomes, especially in rural and remote areas.The analysis of jurisdictions that use interprofessional physician-paramedic teams shows they can increase patient survival rates by 49 per cent and decrease mortality risk by 20 per cent.

Challenges in Partnered Research: Professor Moura Quayle, Associate Provost, UBC Vancouver

“Challenges in Partnered Research” is a Q&A series by Partnering in Research that highlights individuals transforming policies, practices, and communities through collaborative research. 

How sexuality conflicts are quietly breaking relationships apart

Apply to the Green Labs Fund by Mar. 18

Do you have a creative idea to make your lab or research activity more sustainable?The Green Labs Fund promotes and supports sustainability in labs across our campuses. Faculty, staff and students from UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan are invited to apply to receive up to $4,000 to implement an innovative project.

Congratulations to the new University Killam Professors

I am delighted to announce the appointment of three new University Killam Professors. This is the highest honour that UBC can confer on a faculty member.Our three new University Killam Professors were each nominated by our community of faculty, staff, students and alumni. They are exceptional teachers and researchers who are leaders in their fields and have received international recognition for their talents and achievements.The University Killam Professors appointed in 2024/25 are:

Advance your research while supporting student workplace learning

UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan faculty members can receive $6,000 in wage subsidies to hire Canadian undergraduate students full time during summer 2025, fall 2025 or winter 2026 by submitting a proposal through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Awards program.