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It’s not often you get to meet the author when you finish reading a book.

However, that’s exactly the opportunity a group of students will get this Saturday as part of a special public event with Vincent Lam.

Lam’s book, Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, is the focus of this year’s Queen’s Reads, a common reading program designed to help incoming first-year students prepare for and adjust to university life. 

Approximately 300 students opted in to the program, which wraps up Saturday with an open lecture, Q & A and book-signing at Grant Hall starting at 2 pm. Currently, 50 students have signed up to attend small faculty-led discussion groups after the lecture.

“From a pedagogical perspective, Queen’s Reads strives to contribute to active and collaborative learning in a co-curricular context, enhance formal and informal student-faculty interactions, as well as enrich the educational experience by providing students with an opportunity to engage with others who may have different perspectives, values, and opinions,” says Tim Tang, Manager of the Student Experience Office, the team that organizes the program.

Dr. Lam is also an ER physician. Based on his experiences, Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures is a collection of linked stories about a group of medical students and their transition to work and their experiences during the SARS epidemic in Toronto. The book won the Giller Prize in 2006.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Lam to campus and offer students, faculty, staff and the broader community a chance to hear him talk about his writing and his own stories of transition and growth,” says Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs Ann Tierney.

All first-year students were able to join online discussions about the book and relevant themes throughout the summer on Facebook and Twitter, as well as follow updates to the online reading guide on the Student Experience Office website.

Students could also submit a creative piece of work for a chance to win prizes, including a $500 tuition bursary.

Queen’s students can attend Dr. Lam’s lecture for free by showing a valid student ID card. Staff, faculty, alumni and community members can online or at the door. Copies of Dr. Lam’s books will be available for purchase at the event.