Reducing Needle Fear in Children Ages 3-6, by Victoria Grandi, MD ‘24

Victoria participated in ICC Vaccination Conversations Pop-Up Event to address the common concern of needle phobia in children. She recognizes that vaccine appointments can be very stressful for both caregivers and nervous children, and this fear can persist later in life resulting in avoidance of necessary vaccines or medical procedures. In an effort to promote trust and positive interactions with the healthcare system, Victoria created an evidence-based resource with strategies for reducing needle anxiety in children ages 3-6 years old. The resource is available online and includes links to multimedia sources (such as audios, videos, workbooks, children’s books, and websites) for both parents and young children. Victoria’s project was reviewed and approved by pediatricians, teachers, parents, and other community members.

Dr. Bear Visit - Learning Through the Visual Arts, by Jennifer Ji, MD/PhD ‘24

“[Dr. Jennifer Ji’s] most recent project includes illustrating a children’s book titled “A visit to Dr. Bear,” an interactive book written and designed by UBC medical students and faculty.”

Written by: Jennifer Ji, MD/PhD Student, Dr. Bear Visit - Learning Through the Visual Arts.

Health advocacy in action: The implementation of an early literacy initiative in Vancouver

“There is a growing awareness that physicians, in addition to attending to the medical needs of patients, should also address the patients’ social, emotional, and community connections in order to improve their total well–being.”

Liu, R., Zazoulina, J., Dueckman, J., Vadeanu, C. Health advocacy in action: The implementation of an early literacy initiative in Vancouver. UBCMJ. 2016: 7.2 (30-31)

Rachel Q. Liu,° , BMLSc MSc; Julia Zazoulina , BSc (Pharm); James Dueckman , BSc; Cristian Vadeanu , BSc Citation info: UBCMJ. 2016: 7.2 (30-31)
° MD Student 2017, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

UBC’s Reading Bear Society still going strong, expands across B.C.

“Students have created materials such as a symptom checker for parents outlining symptoms requiring medical attention, educational modules for kindergarten visits, an early literacy activity book entitled My Bear Book, and an online reflective journaling program for peer reading visits.”

The University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, MD Undergraduate Program. UBC’s Reading Bear Society still going strong, expands across B.C. by Christine Wang.

Reading Bear Society with Joanne and Paul

“Paul talks to Joanne Roussy and Paul Abraham about the wonderfully inspiring and heartwarming work that over 100 volunteers do in each year to build stronger communities.”

Signals For Change, May 2018.

Medicine curriculum facilitates students’ literacy initiative

“RBS focuses on promoting literacy to young children in Vancouver. “In my year, a few students got together to work on creating the My Bear Book and [it] was given to kindergarteners. It’s an activity book that they do with high school students during each visit,” said Baronas. “Every visit has its own theme ... and they do different activities.””

Lilian Odera, The Ubyssey, Oct 2017.

Giving back: How a 26-y.o. med student became a DTES pioneer

“Reading Bear was just sort of a natural extension of how individuals can create a healthier community just by spending time, compassion, and sharing resources,” says Chen. “Education is one of the strongest gifts that we can share with each other. And it is one of the strongest gifts for individuals to take and excel in their lives.”

Kelsey Klassen, Vancouver Is Awesome, Dec 2014.

The Reading Bear

Medical student ambassador Dr. Andrew Purssell recently published an article on the RBS in The Saint, newsletter of his former school, St. George’s School.

“The response to this initiative has been profound. . . . children across the city are better equipped to have successful academic careers. Teachers have remarked at the progress their kindergarteners have been making with reading. The response each child shows when their buddy arrives for a session speaks volumes about the impact of their relationships developed throughout the program.” 

by Andrew Pursell, Spring 2014 (pages 8-9).

The Reading Bear. A service learning model

by Catherine Holmen, Spring 2019 (pages 32-37).

“YHS Alumna volunteers with Reading Bear”

The York eRose (Summer 2014), York House School

Medical student ambassador Katrina Dutkiewicz is featured along with the Reading Bear in the York House School alumnae newsletter.

“This is the part of the program that I value the most - children helping children to learn to read and to bring more support and love into their lives. . . . I really believe that childhood is where we can most make a difference in a life, whether it be through health care, teaching, recreational programs, or the many other ways there are to reach children in our community."

Family Medicine Conference Poster

Senior FLEX students, Paul Abraham and Cheryl Gascoyne, submitted a poster and abstract for the 2018 BC College of Family Physicians Fall Conference held on November 2-3, 2018. The poster focused on the Reading Bear's approach to early childhood literacy, the relevant literature, and its impact.

Spark Conference

As a part of their fourth-year medical FLEX project, Cheryl Gascoyne and Paul Abraham presented a poster at the Spark Conference held on May 10th at UBC.

Doctor, Patient, and Society Lecture, Faculty of Medicine

Recently, Julia Zazoulina and I gave a presentation to the UBC Medicine class of 2018 about the Reading Bear and how it addresses important determinants of health in our city’s children.  This is the third year that the talk has occurred and Julia and I enjoyed giving our views on why we feel the Reading Bear is such an important initiative.  We also used the opportunity to kick off the second annual province-wide Reading Bear Book Drive.  Donated books are given to children who would not otherwise have books in the home.

By Andrew Purssell, RBS Ambassador, Spring 2015.

Presentation with City Official, Vancouver Healthy City Strategy

On September 16, at the School of Public and Population Health, the RBS board members and Ambassadors met with Stephen Owen, City of Vancouver official for the Healthy City Strategy. This was an opportunity to discuss the parallels between the Healthy City Strategy and the RBS pillars.

The experience of poverty and the implications on maternal and child health

Dr. Joanne Roussy and Isabel Chen, 2nd year medical student presented to Doctor, Patient and Society course along with mother Tracy Johnson on January 13th, 2013.