Dr. Megan Roberts Honorary Scholarship

The Dr. Megan Roberts Honorary Scholarship was established to recognize Dr. Roberts’ tremendous contributions to and impact on psychiatry residents, physician colleagues, and patients at Royal Columbian Hospital. This scholarship will be given annually to a psychiatry resident at Royal Columbian to assist with education costs.

Preference will be given to a Royal Columbian Hospital resident(s) who embodies the qualities Dr. Roberts is well loved and respected for:

• Academic excellence
• Leadership
• Collaboration and relationship building
• Mentorship

Tom Soroski

Tom Soroski is a PGY-1 Research Track psychiatry resident. Originally from Alberta, he was drawn to British Columbia for undergraduate studies and later, psychiatry residency.

Tom’s understanding of compassion was shaped by his grandmother, a dedicated nurse. Growing up, she frequently brought him along to volunteer at the food bank and deliver grocery hampers. Later in life, she developed Alzheimer’s disease. Supporting her through twelve years of living with dementia inspired his path into medicine, and ultimately, psychiatry. This deep personal connection now drives his work in the research track, where he studies neurocognitive disorders in the hope of improving care for those living with dementia.

Tom is incredibly grateful to have worked and learned at the Royal Columbian Hospital over the last year. He is continually impressed by staff’s daily commitment to care, advocacy, and mentorship. Mirroring Dr. Roberts’ balance of clinical dedication and “working to live”, Tom spends his time outside of medicine playing board games, weightlifting, and spending time with his family, friends, and dog, Luna.

It is a true honour for Tom to be nominated by his mentors for the Dr. Megan Roberts Honorary Scholarship. While he never had the privilege of working with Dr. Roberts directly, her legacy of empathetic patient care and medical education deeply resonates with him and clearly lives on at RCH. He strives to carry her spirit forward by forging genuine, long-lasting connections with his patients, colleagues, and mentors.

Kaveh Rayani

Kaveh Rayani is a PGY3 psychiatry resident in the Fraser Track at Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH). Growing up in nearby Coquitlam, he completed undergraduate and graduate studies at Simon Fraser University before pursuing medical school at the University of British Columbia.

His desire to practice psychiatry arose through serendipitous involvement with psychiatric research during medical school, followed by a formative clerkship experience at RCH, where he found that psychiatrists were the physicians whose values most closely aligned with his own. Since then, he has had the privilege of training with clinicians who embody an approach attentive both to the science of diagnosis and to the meaning patients make of their experiences.

Though the Tri-Cities has always felt like home, Kaveh remains struck by the sense of community and collegiality that permeates every unit at RCH, where the seamless integration of allied health professionals, compassionate nursing staff, and expert clinicians creates a culture of holistic, patient-centred care that meets patients wherever they are in their mental health journeys. At RCH, attending staff cultivate a milieu of mentorship through genuine investment in their residents’ growth as physicians and as people, modelling the qualities Kaveh hopes to emulate as a clinician.

Throughout residency, Kaveh has contributed through lead resident roles, committee representation, and both formal and informal teaching, striving to follow the path set by the myriad mentors who have guided him. Outside of medicine, he enjoys spending time with loved ones, staying active, and travelling.

Kaveh is deeply honoured to receive the Dr. Megan Roberts Honorary Scholarship and extends his sincere gratitude to Dr. Roberts’ family, the Department of Psychiatry, and the RCH Foundation and its donors. Although he never had the privilege of working with Dr. Roberts directly, her influence remains unmistakably woven into the department she helped shape, the residents who carry her legacy forward, and the culture of care she left behind. Her dedication to leadership and mentorship has set a standard that Kaveh hopes to honour through a career grounded in collaboration, advocacy, and service to this community.

Rowan Laird

Rowan Laird is a PGY-2 Fraser Track junior psychiatry resident. Born and raised in BC, she completed a Bachelor’s degree in History and Sociology (University of King’s College and Dalhousie University) and a Master’s degree in Public and International Affairs (University of Ottawa), before returning to BC to work in a variety of policy roles for the provincial and federal governments.

She believes strongly in the importance of trying to improve one’s small corner of the world, and it was this (at times quixotic) impulse which ultimately brought her to a career in medicine. She completed medical school at UBC (Southern Medical Program). During clerkship, she was immediately drawn to Psychiatry and the value it placed on empathy, pragmatism, and treating patients as a biopsychosocial whole.

Rowan is proud to work and learn at Royal Columbian Hospital, and has been fortunate to benefit from teaching, mentorship, and collaboration from multiple staff across multiple departments. She is deeply honoured to receive this scholarship, and to be inspired by Dr Roberts’s example of the mark we can leave on the world. She would like to thank Dr. Roberts and her family, the Psychiatry staff at RCH, and the RCH Foundation.

Bridget Hooper

Bridget Hooper is PGY5 Fraser Track senior psychiatry resident. Originally from Edmonton, she completed her Bachelor of Kinesiology and Medical Degree at the University of Alberta. Bridget’s interest in psychiatry was sparked during clerkship, where she found herself most engaged with her patients’ individual narratives and the opportunity to understand and support how patients make sense of their experiences.

Bridget moved to British Columbia for residency. She felt warmly welcomed by the team at Royal Columbian Hospital, where she was especially grateful for the supportive learning environment, mentorship opportunities, and collegiality.

During her residency, Bridget has contributed to the residency program through various roles, including as lead resident and as a member of the social committee. She enjoys supporting junior residents through the early stages of training and is passionate about fostering a strong sense of community within the program. Outside of psychiatry, Bridget enjoys hiking, downhill skiing, biking, and spending time with friends and family.

Bridget is deeply honored to receive this award, and while she never had the privilege of meeting Dr. Roberts, she is grateful to carry forward her legacy of dedication and service in psychiatry. Just like Dr. Roberts, she shares an interest in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry.

Yi Zhang

Yi Zhang is a PGY1 Vancouver track junior psychiatry resident. Born in northwestern China and having spent her formative years in Ontario, she yearned for an adventure close to the ocean. She eagerly packed her bags to study pharmacy at UBC. Her post grad work in pharmacy and governmental policy facilitated experiences in caring for patients with mental illness. The resiliency demonstrated by these patients and the compassion of their psychiatrists ultimately led her to pivot towards a career in psychiatry.

This past year, Yi has been fortunate to work with kind and knowledgeable psychiatry mentors at RCH who have embodied everything she loves about psychiatry. She saw firsthand how they integrated both the science and art of medicine by truly taking the time to listen to each patient’s unique lived experiences and then formulating evidence-based assessments and plans for them. The culture of psychiatry in mentoring and fostering growth is unparalleled and Yi aspires to pass the torch on in her future to junior learners by being the role model her mentors have been to her.

Yi is honoured to receive the Dr. Megan Roberts Honorary Scholarship and wishes she had the opportunity to work with Dr. Roberts personally. Yi extends her utmost gratitude to Dr. Roberts, her family, the psychiatry staff at RCH, the RCH foundation and its donors. She hopes to contribute to the psychiatry community which continues to live out Dr Roberts’ legacy by delivering patient care to the highest standard.

Tanisha Vallani

Tanisha Vallani is a PGY1 junior psychiatry resident who was born and raised just ten minutes from Royal Columbian Hospital. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Physiology at Simon Fraser University, followed by medical school at the University of British Columbia. Her passion for psychiatry began early, shaped by her work as a Girl Guide leader supporting young women with mental illness and as a youth leader within her faith community. These roles provided her with insight into the many ways mental health challenges affect individuals’ quality of life and their support networks, particularly within immigrant communities.

Tanisha shares that Royal Columbian Hospital has been an incredible learning environment. The knowledgeable and compassionate staff have modeled a standard of holistic, individualized care that addresses patients’ needs across the full spectrum of their mental health journey. She is particularly inspired by the collaborative atmosphere and the emphasis on empathy and dignity in patient care, especially within the Consult Liaison service.

She feels deeply honored to receive a scholarship that celebrates the remarkable legacy of Dr. Megan Roberts. Tanisha is committed to embodying the values she was known for, including a dedication to academic excellence, fostering leadership, and supporting collaboration and mentorship, as she continues to grow personally and professionally.

Max Liu

Max Liu is a PGY2 Fraser Track psychiatry resident. Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, he completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of Saskatchewan in Physiology and Pharmacology. Inspired by his older sister and his various volunteer experiences, including working with individuals with intellectual disabilities, cuddling babies in the pediatrics unit, and conducting research in behavioral neuroscience, Max pursued a career in medicine.

He moved to Vancouver to attend medical school at UBC, where he discovered a passion for supporting patients through a biopsychosocial model. The privilege of listening to, validating, and understanding a patient’s most vulnerable experiences to support their mental health has been incredibly humbling for him. Max is grateful for the opportunity to foster his career and personal growth at Royal Columbian Hospital with the support of mentors and allied health professionals.

In addition to his clinical work, Max enjoys mentoring junior colleagues and medical students to promote a positive culture in medical education and mental health care. Outside of work, he enjoys running, trying new foods, and spending time with friends.

Max is honored to receive this scholarship and will continue to uphold the values embodied and passed down by Dr. Roberts to better serve the community.

Jessica Chin

Jessica Chin is a PGY4 Fraser Track Psychiatry resident. Born and raised in South Korea, Jessica embarked on an exciting adventure to Atlanta in grade 11, where she started to forge her path independently. Her journey led her to BC where she pursued Master of Science degree at University of British Columbia, studying biomarkers for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Following her graduate studies, Jessica took a detour in her career and worked in biotechnology sales, where she gained valuable insights into the business side of biomedical research and enhanced her leadership skills. However, her true calling to the medical field persisted, and she decided to pursue a career in medicine.

During her clerkship, she was fortunate to work alongside dedicated and knowledgeable preceptors at Burnaby Hospital and Royal Columbian Hospital. Their support and expertise fueled Jessica’s growing passion for the field and reaffirmed her decision to pursue a career in psychiatry. Having witnessed her close family suffering from severe and persistent mental illness, while it was a tremendously emotional experience for her, it provided her with a unique perspective and deep empathy when working with patients and their families.

Throughout her residency, Jessica demonstrated her commitment to the residency program by serving on program committees and taking on a lead psychiatry resident role. As a lead resident, Jessica dedicated her time to supporting junior residents navigating the challenges of residency and addressed various resident related concerns or complaints.

Outside of her professional pursuit, Jessica leads a fulfilling family life, caring for her 8-year-old daughter. When she is not working, she is busy with her daughter’s extracurricular activities, playdates, and children’s birthday party. She strives to be a good role model to her daughter and balance her professional and personal responsibilities.

Having worked with Dr. Roberts who was an inspiring leader and an astute physician, Jessica feels honoured to be a recipient of the Dr. Megan Roberts Honorary Scholarship.

Daniella Crocker

Daniella (Dani) Crocker is a PGY2 Fraser Track psychiatry resident. Dani was born and raised in BC and studied Business at Okanagan College prior to realizing that medicine was her calling. In medical school she was interested in both physical and psychiatric medicine and took a short detour through orthopaedic surgery prior to transferring to a residency in psychiatry in 2022. She now feels that she is in the right place with the right people and could not be happier to go to work everyday.

She says that the Royal Columbian Hospital has provided an amazing learning environment for PGY 2 psychiatry and getting to know everyone on IPU 2 has been an unexpected and wonderful experience. She is incredibly grateful for all of the fantastic admin, nursing, social work, mental health workers, psychologists, recreational therapists, and every other allied health worker. One of her favourite things about inpatient psychiatry has been the incredible teamwork and dedication that everyone shows for their patients. Dani feels it has been an honour to be a part of that team.

Going forward, Dani hopes to continue to bring her passion for both physical and mental health to the Fraser track and is very much looking forward to rotating through CL psychiatry where she can integrate both aspects of medicine.

Andrew McDonald

Andrew McDonald is a PGY-1 Fraser Track psychiatry resident. Andrew was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and began his post-secondary education studying biopsychology and jazz music at the University of British Columbia. He was ultimately inspired to pursue a career in psychiatry after spending nights volunteering with the Fraser Health Crisis Line, seeing firsthand how ubiquitous the need for more mental health workers and addressment truly was, especially behind closed doors on a university campus. In clerkship, he found the experience of being one of a patient’s most consistent daily confidantes to be intensely gratifying and humbling. Moreover, it was evident that for patients without a healthcare background, the hospital environment often offered harrowing unfamiliarity.

One of the greatest joys for Andrew throughout his medical school and PGY-1 years has been to learn to facilitate the dissemination of medical knowledge to patients, to make the unfamiliar more familiar, and to foster the connection between patient and provider. As a psychiatry resident, the first year of residency was a wonderful opportunity to develop foundational knowledge in many different fields – acute care, neurology, and internal medicine to name a few – and then share this knowledge in a compassionate manner with patients or in family meetings with their loved ones. Furthermore, Andrew’s psychiatric rotations taught him the importance of first sitting back and giving the patient the floor to tell their own story. This was particularly important in consult liaison psychiatry, where a holistic understanding about each patient’s narrative as well as their medical background was paramount to building the bonds of trust.

Looking forward, Andrew hopes to always keep earning that trust from future patients in his psychiatry residency.

Kelly Zerr

Kelly Zerr is a PGY3 Fraser Track psychiatry resident. Born and raised in Alberta, Kelly completed her Bachelor of Science at the University of Alberta. Growing up on an acreage, Kelly has always had an immense love for the outdoors and studied everything from oceanography to entomology. Her interest in psychiatry was sparked through volunteering at an outdoor camp for disadvantaged youth and leading arts and crafts at a Psychiatric Unit. This interest continued to flourish during her medical schooling at the University of British Columbia.

Amazing teaching, collegiality, and mentorship at the Royal Columbian Hospital motivated Kelly’s interest in the Fraser track and she has not looked back since! During her PGY1 year she was fortunate to have worked with Dr. Megan Roberts on Consult Liaison psychiatry. Kelly recalls Dr. Roberts as an exceptional role model, with compassion, patience, and clarity she fostered a wonderful learning environment. Kelly observed the opportunity that CL psychiatrists have to bridge the gap between psychiatry and medicine, creating a fascinating, multi-faceted understanding of individuals on the medical units. Furthermore, the fulfilling opportunity to collaborate and advocate within multidisciplinary teams, on diverse services, to optimize the patient’s path to recovery. Kelly’s experience on CL motivated her pursuit of related research in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

Kelly is incredibly honored to have known Dr. Roberts and be a recipient of the Dr. Megan Roberts Honorary Scholarship. She extends many thanks to Dr. Robert’s family and the staff of Royal Columbian Hospital.