Meet the Coaches!

Dr. Valeriya Zaborska

Born in Ukraine and grew up in Burnaby. I studied Physiology and Kinesiology at SFU and finished my medical school at the Vancouver Campus in UBC. I am now a 2nd year Resident Physician at UBC in Internal Medicine, and rotate through all the hospitals in BC. My interests are particularly centred around Liver disease, as I have previously worked for the Canadian Liver Foundation and administratively at a Hepatology Clinic. In my free time, I enjoy travelling, eating any and all foods simple or exotic, dancing like no-one is watching, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying the now. I am looking forward to meeting you, and helping you on your journey to achieve your health goals! "Why do I coach"?: Change is hard. It may be the hardest thing in the world. I truly believe in the "baby step" approach to life, and I believe that small meaningful actions have immense potential to change a life. In medicine, a large component of healing for many illnesses is a healthy lifestyle, however this is often the hardest change to make. I coach because I believe that with support, motivation, a non-judgemental ear, and encouragement, small changes can make substantial differences in a person's health journey. There is nothing that brings more of a smile to my face than hearing about the success of those I have coached, and in turn the life lessons and motivation I have received from my participants drives me to keep trying to implement small changes in my own life, and continue growing as a person.

Mariam Manna

Hello everyone! My name is Mariam and I am a fourth year medical student at University of British Columbia. My hobbies include painting, taking my dog out for walks, and baking! I have always had a passion for coaching because I believe that change is accelerated through our interactions with others. I simply love having conversations with people. The value of coaching takes this further through the building of relationships that in turn fosters accountability, resilience, and change. It would be my pleasure to speak with you, determine what your goals are, and support you in getting there!"

Arlo Johnson

Arlo Johnson is a student in the Northern Medical Program's class of 2025 in Prince George. Medicine is Arlo's second career, as he spent most of the past decade working as a Mechanical Engineer throughout B.C. His passion for understanding a person's health through the lens of the entire spectrum of well-being drew him to medicine and is the reason why he joined the PLM team. Arlo is a very active person who loves spending time outdoors and works to understand "the why" behind his client's specific health goals.

Karen Jiang

Karen is a medical student at UBC that has been passionate about preventative and lifestyle medicine for several years, beginning early on as she grew up dancing competitively and playing sports. As a coach, she hopes to support you in leading a healthy, balanced lifestyle, whatever that looks and feels like to you. She herself is motivated by those around her, so she knows how valuable it is to have someone motivate you. She wants to be there for people like you and support them towards their health goals, big and small. In her spare time you can find Karen doing anything outdoors: hiking, biking, playing sports, or just basking in the sun."

Ruvini Amarasekera

Hi, I'm Ruvini! I’m a UBC medical student in my last year of training. I am interested in family medicine with a focus in preventative health and addiction work. Before medical school, I majored in Biomedical Physiology, while doing a minor in Counselling and Human Development. Pursuing this minor opened me up to the importance of human connection and how we can work together with clients to support them in their personal development. I became a PLM Coach to empower clients to take a hold of their own health and wellness, one step at a time. Outside of work, you can find me spending time in nature, hiking, paddleboarding, practicing yoga, and always taking time to just breathe. I am looking forward to meeting you, learning about your goals, and working together to help you reach them!

Naomi Day

Naomi is a UBC Medical Student (Class of 2025) attending school in the beautiful Okanagan. When not busy with school, she enjoys a variety of outdoor activities from hiking to kayaking, and dabbles in hobbies including photography and drawing. Her premed background is nursing, and her experiences as a nurse have contributed to forming her view that health promotion and illness prevention are vital - but too often under-utilized - aspects of healthcare. As a result, when she first discovered PLM coaching in her first year, she was (and still is!) excited to be involved in an initiative where she could learn to practically provide support to others who are interested in pursuing healthier lifestyle choices. She looks forward to connecting and collaborating to work towards what health means for you!

Stephanie McCann

Stephanie is a third-year student at the Southern Medical Program in Kelowna. She finished her undergraduate degree in biochemistry at UBC Okanagan, and enjoys spending her time playing soccer, skiing, and hiking around the beautiful Okanagan when not busy with school. She has been a part of the PLM team since 2023 and enjoys working with individuals to find a plan that fits their unique lifestyle.

Gurmaan Gill

Gurmaan was born and raised in Vancouver, and now is attending medical school at the University of British Columbia. In May 2022, he completed his undergraduate honours degree in Cellular, Anatomical, and Physiological Sciences at UBC. He has a black belt in Taekwondo and is currently training to get into amateur boxing. He is interested in pursuing a career in psychiatry, and is currently doing research in addictions medicine.

Hillary Janssens

Hi, my name is Hillary and I’m a medical student at UBC (class of 2026). I grew up on an organic dairy farm in Cloverdale, BC, and completed my BSc in Biology at UBC. After being introduced to rowing at university, I spent 5 years competing as a T-bird and 7 years racing for Canada, ultimately earning a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. My time as an athlete taught me so much about taking care of myself physically and mentally, and studying medicine has further inspired me to use this knowledge to help others reach their health goals. In my free time I enjoy running, cycling, hiking, reading, and making and eating delicious food.

Monica Luo

Monica is a MD/PhD student at UBC. Prior to medicine, she studied physics with an interest in medical imaging research. As a coach, she hopes to support clients in working towards their health and lifestyle goals. Outside of school, she enjoys kickboxing and spending time with friends.

Ziqi Liu

Hey, I'm Ziqi! I am a UBC medical student (class of 2026) born in China and raised between Vancouver and Toronto. Before entering medical school, I completed my Bachelor's degree and one year of law school at the University of Toronto. Outside of my studies, I enjoy exercising, painting, and playing the piano. I'm currently learning how to mix and DJ too! I understand and have experienced how difficult it is to change longstanding habits. As a coach, I look forward to learning about your goals and working with you to take ownership of your health and lifestyle!