Episode 56: Dr. Quinten Clarke and Student Dr. Shira Gertsman

In today's episode, Dr. Meeks is joined by Quinten Clarke, a psychiatry resident at the University of British Columbia and the vice president of the CAPD, and Shira Gertsman, a current medical student at McMaster Medical School who just finished her first year of clerkships. Throughout this episode, our guests discuss their experiences navigating medical school and residency with multiple disabilities and the work they're doing with the Canadian Association of Physicians with Disabilities. 

Bio: Shira Gertsman

Shira Gertsman received the Governor General's Silver Academic Medal and University Gold Medal for her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science at the University of Ottawa, though her experience was significantly impacted by Crohn’s disease and associated complications and chronic pain. She was initially discouraged from applying to medical school due to health concerns, but currently is a second-year medical student at McMaster University in Canada. She is passionate about peer-support for students living with chronic illness, and spearheading patient-centered research on clinical empathy and how it is influenced by medical education.

Bio: Quinten Clarke, MD

Quinten Clarke is a resident physician in the Psychiatry - Research Track program at the University of British Columbia and Vice President and Trainee Group Lead for the Canadian Association of Physicians with Disabilities. He also serves on the Ostomy Canada Society’s Youth Camp Organizing Committee. He is a graduate of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Health Sciences.

Key Words: DocsWithDisabilities, Medical Education, Canada, Chron's Disease, Autoimmune Disorder, Psychiatry, Canadian Association of Physicians with Disabilities  

Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qjlLOrsbMJBlOBAPMcxYDSxZIGbj-DjoQ4ZKN8_2VaU/edit?usp=sharing