Dr Yasemin Arikan
My name is Dr. Yasemin Arikan. I am an Infectious Diseases physician who works in the Fraser Health Authority in British Columbia .
I wanted to pursue a career in medicine since I was quite young and aimed my schooling towards that goal. I completed a Bachelor's of Science degree at McGill University in Montreal, before going on to get my medical degree at the University of Calgary. In medical school, I got the opportunity to explore different fields of medicine. There were so many avenues I could have taken. Going into medical school, I thought that I wanted to be a Pediatrician or an Obstetrician but what ended up capturing my interest was the field of internal medicine and more specifically, infectious diseases based on patients I saw and mentors I worked with. I then went on to complete a residency in Internal Medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax followed by a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the University of British Columbia.
Since finishing my training, I have worked as an Infectious Diseases consultant for Fraser Health. I divide my time between hospital work and outpatient clinics. I most enjoy interacting with my patients and the variety of cases I see. I have enjoyed watching treatment developments for diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C throughout my career and learning as I go with new infections such as COVID-19. Medicine is an ever-evolving discipline and has always kept me on my toes. I have always enjoyed teaching and my current job allows me to do this by teaching and mentoring medical students and residents at the hospital and by participating in teaching rounds.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my three children, my husband, family and my friends. When I am able, I love to travel and discover new places and cultures. I have also found a great creative outlet in knitting.
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