Blair MacDonald
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I was initially exposed to research through a series of directed studies projects where I was continuously encouraged to think for myself. This spirit of open inquiry ultimately motivated me to pursue a graduate degree.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
I'm fortunate in that almost all my friends and family are around Vancouver and UBC had a program that was a great fit for my research interests. This made for a very easy choice.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
Through the Entry-to-Practice PharmD program at UBC’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, I was able to meet my eventual co-supervisors Drs. Ricky Turgeon and Mark Harrison. They were both easy to get along with and had research interests that greatly overlapped with my own. I knew with their support I’d be well set for a successful graduate student experience.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
The best surprise about UBC is how late the food places are open. I may not always need pizza at 2am, but I feel reassured knowing it is a possibility.
What aspect of your graduate program do you enjoy the most or are looking forward to with the greatest curiosity?
The best part about the program is that I’m able to do research that is focused on promoting people’s autonomy. There are many aspects of people's lives where they have very little freedom (e.g. being at work). This is unfortunately also true in healthcare, where patients are often simply told what to do despite there usually being more than one reasonable option available. So, I’m very much looking forward to using my research to shift healthcare towards a model that better appreciates people’s autonomy. I’m hopeful this can be one component of a shift towards promoting autonomy in society more broadly in the long term.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
My most valuable experience prior to graduate school was completing an undergraduate degree in philosophy at Simon Fraser University. Throughout my philosophy experience we were consistently taught to question “Is this true?”. That might not sound like much, but in my experience few other undergraduate courses cultivate that type of mindset. Usually it’s just “memorize this information, repeat it on the exam,” and you get good grades if you’re compliant with that. Of course there are no doubt other exceptions to this rule, but studying philosophy was no doubt the best preparation I had for graduate school.
What do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
After a long day of reading long papers in my field I like to relax by reading long books not in my field. Reading takes a bit more work than other pastimes, but it is work that pays well in a variety of ways.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
The font size on your slides and posters needs to be at least three times larger.