Congratulations to all the UBC Sociology students graduating this week!
We asked the November graduates of our graduate program to share their thoughts and reflections on their time in our program.
Nathan Shen
Nathan Shen
MA Program
Supervisor: Ethan Raker
Nathan’s research focuses on understanding the healthcare barriers and needs of adolescents and young adults with cancer, as well as cancer survivors in British Columbia. He explore how these young individuals navigate a healthcare system primarily geared toward either younger children or older adults.
A key aspect of his work is to translate research insights into actionable strategies that improve care delivery. Through close collaboration with survivors and cancer care partners, Nathan seeks to identify gaps in current practices and propose targeted solutions to make the healthcare system more responsive to adolescents and young adults. His goal is to improve long-term health outcomes for cancer survivors and those managing chronic illnesses, empowering them to thrive at every stage of survivorship.
During his time as a master’s student, Nathan received the Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s (CGS M) Scholarship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and he had the opportunity to serve as a journal reviewer for a special issue of Current Oncology, “AYA Cancer Care and Support: Patient Perspectives, Programs, Practices, and Policy Change.” He also collaborated on a successful research grant application for the Michael Smith Convening & Collaborating (C2) Program, titled “Prioritizing Steps to Address Oncofertility and Supportive Care Needs for Young Adults Identifying as Male in BC.”
Since completing his MA, Nathan has continued into the PhD program. His focus will be examining the critical transitions between pediatric and adult healthcare systems in British Columbia and his goal in this next phase will be to develop evidence-based transition pathways that better support childhood cancer survivors as they move from pediatric to adult healthcare systems. This work will involve ongoing collaboration with survivors, their families, healthcare providers, and cancer care partners to translate research findings into practical improvements that create a more coordinated and responsive cancer care system.
What were your most memorable moments in the program?
Completing the first full draft of my thesis! It was when I saw all my ideas, thoughts, and progress over the years come together. Successfully defending my thesis and sharing my work with others, after numerous iterations and revisions, made all the challenges worthwhile.
What advice do you have for future graduate students?
Graduate school is both challenging and rewarding because it offers a unique opportunity to explore your personal interests in a professional environment. Choose a research topic that genuinely excites you and one that you feel passionate about – you’ll be living with this work for several years! When your research feels meaningful, it becomes easier to stay motivated, engage with your community, and push through the challenges and setbacks.
Where do we belong? Categorizing adolescent and young adult cancer care in British Columbia
Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related mortality among adolescents and young adults (AYAs), who face significant challenges in healthcare systems primarily designed for pediatric or older adult populations. In many contexts, cancer care trajectories and access to services for AYAs are heavily influenced by age-based criteria. While it's recognized that AYAs have distinct biological, developmental, and psychosocial needs, many studies overlook differences within this group, specifically how the timing of a cancer diagnosis impacts the types of disruptions, long-term life course trajectories, and healthcare needs of AYAs. This research examines and compares AYA cancer survivors diagnosed as children/early adolescents with those diagnosed as late adolescents/young adults to provide insights into their diverse healthcare experiences. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine AYA cancer survivors from British Columbia, Canada – three who began treatment in pediatric care and six in adult care. The findings reveal that the timing of diagnosis significantly shapes distinct healthcare trajectories and challenges, a reality often overlooked in current population-based healthcare models and AYA cancer care research. All participants faced substantial barriers, including diagnosis delays due to age-related misconceptions, lack of age-appropriate support during treatment, and loss of psychosocial support post-treatment. However, experiences diverged markedly based on age at diagnosis. Those diagnosed before 16 faced integrating cancer into their developmental trajectory, with comprehensive pediatric care diminishing as they aged out of the system. Conversely, those diagnosed after 16 experienced acute disruptions to established independence, navigating adult care settings lacking age-appropriate support and post-treatment care. The findings suggest that addressing AYAs' specific psychosocial and developmental needs and ensuring continuous, coordinated care can significantly improve their long-term outcomes and quality of life. This research extends current knowledge about healthcare frameworks by offering clearer insights into AYA oncology care that transcend conventional age-based boundaries. It advocates for systemic changes to create a healthcare environment where surviving cancer also means thriving in life. By examining these nuanced experiences, this study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of AYA cancer survivorship and highlights the need for tailored, age-specific approaches in oncology care.
Jinyang Yu
Jinyang Yu
MA Program
Supervisor: Laura Nelson
Jinyang Yu is graduate of UBC Sociology’s master’s program. Her research interest lies in gender & sexuality and contemporary China. She am particularly interested in exploring these topics using computational methods. Her master’s thesis examines the media representation of gay people in China using word frequency analysis and topic modeling, combined with qualitative reading.
One of my most memorable experiences in the program was working as a TA with Dr. Rima Wilkes, who continuously encouraged her and offered valuable advice on building confidence and authority as a TA. She gained more than just academic knowledge from the supportive faculty at UBC and her academic growth was significantly strengthened thanks to the department’s excellent faculty.
After graduation, Jinyang plans to further explore the intersection of sociology and computational methods, with an enthusiasm for learning more computational techniques and their applications.
Shifting Shadows: Media Attention and Censorship of Gay People in China (1949-2023)
China appears to have a divergent trajectory from the global trend of improving gay rights. Previous research suggests an increase in attention toward gay people. However, the situation of China presents a contrasting socio-political context, in which these theories might not hold. I conduct word counting and topic modeling on 547 articles and a content analysis of 73 articles mentioning gay people from two official Chinese newspapers from 1949 to 2023 to explore the evolution of media attention and the contexts in which gay people are featured. My findings show that in contrast to the expectation of increasing attention, attention toward gay people sharply declined in 2017 and ceased entirely by 2018. Gay people typically appear in three contexts: international events, public health concerns, and the arts, which form safe zones for their mention. However, critical gay issues such as identity, coming out, same-sex relationships, and gay rights receive limited coverage, reflecting areas of restriction. When the safe zone and the forbidden intersected with each other, it created a gray area, which allowed the forbidden to be seen. Gay issues are rarely the main subject of the articles, suggesting a neglect. The decline in media visibility coincide with the rise of President Xi. These patterns suggest more broadly that in an authoritarian regime, the supreme leader’s agenda can swiftly and profoundly influence shifts in the social landscape for sexual minorities. Gay people in China are confronting an unprecedented crisis, marking a stark departure from the previous trends.
