Finding her home away from home

Gillian Corbo

After highschool, Gillian Corbo stayed close to home to complete her bachelor’s of kinesiology degree at the University of British Columbia. When she decided to pursue her master’s degree, she wanted to find the best program in her field. She found it at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.

While she decided to stay close to home to complete her bachelor’s of kinesiology degree at the University of British Columbia, she knew she would have to move if she wanted to receive the best graduate education in her field. She decided to attend Schulich Medicine & Dentistry to complete her masters of science in clinical anatomy.

“Schulich Medicine & Dentistry’s Clinical Anatomy program is so unique, and the blend of pedagogy with the hands-on anatomy experience was like nothing I found anywhere else in Canada,” Corbo said. She added that the dedication of the School's faculty was apparent as soon as she started her studies.

“The professors are so committed to their students and clearly put learning at the top of their priority list,” she explained. “The School really felt like a community, a family even, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that environment.”

Corbo is about to begin her research project with Dr. Alan Getgood, an assistant professor and
orthopedic surgeon based out of the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic. They will be looking at the relationship between the anterolateral ligament and the lateral meniscus in the knee.

“We are essentially trying to determine how connected the anterolateral ligament and lateral meniscus are,” she said. “For example, we want to know if tearing one of the ligaments means you will tear the other.”

They are hoping this information will impact knee reconstructions moving forward.

Though Corbo understands that academia can be a competitive field, her favourite thing about studying at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry is how supportive everyone is.

“The collaboration between all of the departments is crucial to the work everyone is doing, and there is a real sense of teamwork here,” she said. “Everyone is working to help everyone around them succeed.”