Dr. Christopher Chin – Home is where the heart is
Some residents need to travel far from their hometowns to attend the best programs in their field, but not Dr. Christopher Chin. Originally from London, Ontario, the fifth-year resident explained he stayed close to home to take part in Schulich Medicine & Dentistry’s Otolaryngology program, which he argues is the best of its kind in Canada.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in London, Ontario — not very exotic.
What degrees do you have, and from what universities?
I did three years of a physiology undergraduate degree at Western, and then stayed here to complete my MD.
What special interests or hobbies do you have?
I’m an avid hockey fan. I cheer for the Montreal Canadiens, so I try to go to Montreal once or twice a year to watch a game. I also love to travel with my wife, so we are often in the midst of planning trips for the future.
Why did you choose to pursue your residency and Schulich Medicine & Dentistry?
I’m a resident in Otolaryngology (Head and Neck Surgery). I initially became interested in the field after I worked with a few of the Head and Neck surgeons here in London as a medical student and saw the amazing anatomy skills and surgery that our specialty performs.
The reason I came to Schulich Medicine & Dentistry is because we have one of the best, if not the best, Otolaryngology programs in Canada. We have a very young and talented group of staff surgeons here to train with, and I felt this program would give me the best hands-on experience in the country. We also have a great core group of residents, and it is a pleasure to work with them. Having my family close by is always a plus too.
What inspires you in your work?
The answer that immediately comes to my mind is our patients, which is cliché, but true. Our specialty is extremely diverse and we are given the opportunity to do a wide variety of interesting surgeries, so learning the various procedures and techniques is also a driving factor.
What has been your greatest experience to date in your residency?
This is a really tough question, because I have interesting and rewarding experiences with patients on a daily basis. I'm going to choose an experience from one of my other passions in residency: teaching. I really enjoy teaching junior residents and medical students, so being selected by the clinical clerks as the best resident teacher last year meant quite a lot to me.
What do you do when you're not working?
I'm a fifth-year resident, so I study for the Royal College Exam... and answer Resident Spotlight questions for The Pulse!
