The RBS FLEX Program
Medical students at the University of British Columbia can opt for projects and electives with the Reading Bear Society (RBS) through the FLEX program (formerly the Self-Directed Practicum Option course). Through the FLEX program students are given time to pursue projects within the community or in research, and are supported by the guidance of the RBS FLEX committee. To date, participating FLEX students have assisted in the development of the buddy reading program, creating and piloting the My Bear activity book and the creative writing exercises and reflective journal for peers. They have developed and piloted the Visit to Dr. Bear program for preschools and kindergarten children and developed educational resources for young families regarding healthy lifestyle topics. Learn more about history and RBS FLEX program
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During my time with the Reading Bear, I have been touched by how the kindergarteners and adolescents create a beautiful and caring relationship, and how important that connection becomes in their lives. It brings joy and happiness to the peers and their buddies, and all of those who work so hard to make this possible!
— Victoria Baronas, MD/PhD ’20, RBS Director & Past FLEX Student, Surgical Resident
I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all of the support, mentorship and inspiration you have offered over the last 4 years - yourself and the Reading Bear have been such an integral part of my medical school experience, and have hugely shaped and inspired my vision for my future career as a physician. I can’t express how incredibly grateful I am.
— Jennifer Wildi, MD ’21, Recipient of the YWCA Young Women of Distinction, ’19
FLEX & Self-Directed Practicum Students
’24-Current: Simone Dew, Jannie Ko, Rohin Makkar, Jennifer Wang
‘23–24: Nastaran Moarefi (Victoria), Thumri Waliwitiya, Precilia Kong, Sydney Lai
Spring–Summer ‘23: Nikita Mennon
‘22–23: Jannie Ko
Summer ‘22: Christopher Wong (UBC Computer Science)
Spring ‘22: Annaliese Beck-McKenzie, Jannie Ko
Winter ‘21–22: Arman Singh (third FLEX cycle), Arjun Arora, (third FLEX cycle), Lauren Gingerich
Fall ‘21–Spring ‘22: Victoria Grandi, Alexandra Jamie (Victoria)
Spring–Summer '21: Allissa Zhang, Grace Kim
Spring '21: Ted Roh, Victoria Grandi
Winter '21, Spring '20, Summer '18: Ceilidh Matthews
Fall '20–Spring '21: Anisha Bains, Eloise Moss
Summer '20: Jamie Beaulieu
Spring '20: Bhavan Panghali and Darren Guenther (Kelowna third FLEX cycle), Alex Degrace (Victoria), Eloise Moss, Anisha Bains, Ceilidh Matthews (Practicum graduate student)
‘19: Mathew Heron, Joseph Goody
Spring '19: Arman Singh, Arjun Arora
Spring '18–Ongoing: Jennifer Wildi, Gabby Levesque (Kelowna), Darren Guenther (Kelowna)
'18–Ongoing: Nancy Li (Vancouver), Bhavan Panghali (Kelowna)
Winter '18: Valerie Ward (Prince George)
'17–18: Amy Plessis (Kelowna), Thomas McFarland (Kelowna)
Spring–Summer '17: Ceilidh Matthews, Mary Zheng
'16–17: Carolyn Norton
'16–19: Cheryl Gascoyne, Paul Abraham (Three FLEX cycles)
'14–15: Victoria Baronas, Rachel Liu, Cristian Vadeanu, John Peel, Julia Zazoulina, Andrew Purssell, James Dueckman
'13–'14: Kay Fung, April Lu, Christine Wang
Amy Plessis (MD ’20) - pediatric resident, RBS Kelowna Founder (left), Isabel Chen (MD ’15) RBS Co-Founder and Vice-President (right), share the valuable experiences in their time with the Reading Bear Society.
The RBS FLEX Committee
Learn more about the accomplished group of individuals who have helped RBS FLEX students get the most out their practicums.