May 31, 2017

Faces of U of T Medicine: Venus Valbuena

Venus Valbuena

Venus Valbuena
Before she began medical school, Venus Valbuena had already experienced life on the front-lines of health care, helping patients as a registered nurse. As a medical student, Valbuena didn’t just focus on her training — she was also active in promoting student wellness through Monologues in Medicine (MiM). The video testimonial features MD students and residents sharing their personal stories of trial and triumph. Valbuena was also one of the students involved in helping to shape the resilience component of the new Foundations Curriculum. As she prepares to receive her degree on June 6, she reflected on her experiences with writer Erin Howe.

Tell me a bit about your background. I see you completed a degree in nursing prior to starting the MD program at U of T.

I was drawn to nursing for a few reasons; I wanted to ensure health care was right for me and to be employable after graduation. That training introduced me to the world of patient care, social determinants of health, and the art of balancing clinical duties with an academic workload. It also encouraged self-awareness, which helped me as a nurse and as a medical student. My nursing background made the steep learning curve in my first few years of the MD program more manageable. I also believe my perspective as a nurse has given me profound insight into interprofessional teams. 

Tell me about your involvement with MiM. How were you involved with the development of the new resilience curriculum?

I became involved in MiM as a video participant. I spoke about some of the challenges I faced during medical school. From family losses and strained relationships to imposter syndrome, I shared my story with hope it would strike a chord with other students who faced similar difficulties but felt alone. The response was amazing — my peers reached out to me, offering thanks and empathy and identifying with those experiences. My involvement with MiM progressed over the year and I helped annotate other participants' videos and recently trained to help conduct future video interviews. 

The opportunity to become involved in the resilience curriculum arose around the same time I was working with MiM. The faculty was looking for students to help and I was enthusiastic because I’m especially interested in physician health and wellness. Previously, I had chaired an Ontario Wellness Retreat for medical students and worked with the Office of Health Professions Student Affairs to include wellness sessions during the Class of 2018 Orientation Week. The Faculty's efforts highlight the importance of producing resilient, healthy doctors and changing the culture of the medical environment.

Now that you’ve completed your MD studies, what are you excited to do next? How did your experience in the MD program prepare you for this?

I’ve dreamed about earning a medical degree since I was in grade five. I look forward to serving patients. I’ll do my Family Medicine residency here at U of T and while the idea of being an independently practicing doctor can be intimidating, this responsibility is what my colleagues and I work toward for years.

As an advocate of physician wellness, I'm also excited to participate more fully in the "life" aspect of the "work-life balance" paradigm. Perhaps that is why I am best suited for family medicine; I love family and I love medicine. I’m indebted to the MD program which encouraged healthy balance over the years. Whether it was taking advantage of the optional attendance policy at certain lectures or making appointments with OHPSA counsellors, the Faculty offered its support to us in both academic and personal spheres. 

Where do you see yourself in five years?

This is the question that keeps me up some nights! In five years, I hope to be working as a community physician — although I'm not sure which niche I’d like to settle into at this point, my goal is to maintain a diverse, challenging practice. I'd also like to continue complementing my work life with other activities, like participating in medical associations, teaching, and doing research. I'd also love to start a family within those 5 years. Hopefully by that time, we may have figured out how to grant paid parental leave to physicians! 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Australia, New Zealand and Philippines. Travelling and experiencing new climates and cultures have been an integral component of my sanity and stress relief throughout medical school. I’m also an avid cook, baker, and singer. I try to balance my culinary conquests with frequent yoga and fitness classes (BodyCombat is my favourite!).

What advice do you have for incoming students?

  • Surround yourself with positive, encouraging people — they’ll celebrate your ups and provide buoyancy when you're down.
  • "To thine own self be true" — you deserve to be here because of your accomplishments! Continue to do what makes you happy and honour the things that inspire you. 
  • Be mindful — spend 10% of your day focusing on the past, 10% on the future, and 80% on the present.
  • Look out for your colleagues — if a friend is in need or you haven't heard from them in a while, speak up and ask how they're doing.

What’s your favourite thing about the Faculty of Medicine?

The Faculty of Medicine at U of T is a leader in research, innovation and medical education; this environment allowed me to thrive as a medical student. I enjoyed having the chance to live in a metropolitan city and all the perks that come with it — top notch lecturers and hospitals as well as exposure to cutting edge research. I made many close connections here, both professionally and personally, and I'm glad to continue my training here to cultivate those connections. 

For the full schedule of #UofTGrad17 convocation ceremonies, visit http://www.convocation.utoronto.ca/events.