Dr. Vincent Lau: Training that can travel
Dr. Vincent Lau has crisscrossed the country for his medical education. Now a fifth-year resident in critical care at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry he is experiencing unique opportunities that have him travelling around the world while caring for patients.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Penticton, British Columbia.
What degrees do you have, and from what universities?
I have an honors BSc from the University of Toronto, and my medical degree from the University of British Columbia. I also completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Alberta.
What special interests or hobbies do you have?
I have a special interest in educating people on the importance of critical care and resuscitation medicine, as well as to the uses of advanced point-of-care ultrasound applications. I also enjoy research in the fields of system flow optimization and cost-savings analysis.
Why did you choose to pursue your residency at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry?
There were a number of reasons I chose Schulich Medicine & Dentistry - the faculty and staff are excellent. The School provided me unique educational experiences, such as working with ultrasound and in neurocritical care that I may not have had at other locations. And finally, I found there was an outstanding sense of collegiality among all of the allied health care staff.
What inspires you in your work?
I find my inspiration through God’s grace, mercy and blessings. He gives me the strength and wisdom to do what I do every day. I treasure the opportunity to help every individual patient who is under my care, including those who are close to and love the patient. Also, the loving support of my wonderful family has brought me this far.
What has been your greatest experience to date in your residency?
My greatest medical experience to date involved the transportation of a patient from a hospital in the United States to the Isle of Man in the United Kingdom. Before the patient could be transported I had to perform an ultrasound scan to see if there was excess fluid around her lungs. The skills I learned at the School are what allowed me to perform this procedure in another country, and I find that level of portability to be incredible.
What do you do when you’re not working?
When I’m not working I spend as much time as possible with my amazing wife and our two wonderful puppies, known to us as the monsters.
