Dear members,

Happy New Year! I hope this year is filled with all good things for you and your loved ones.

One of our most important roles as a medical staff association is to advocate for your interests and to be your voice. We do this by collaborating with medical leadership at monthly meetings with VCH VA and VC senior leaders, as well as at VMAC and HAMAC. We also pushed for the formation of a VCH MSA Presidents Council, which began meeting in November 2024. Dialogue between medical staff and senior leadership is critical to improving the quality of care we offer our patients.

Your wellness is essential, and we are committed to working to improve our workplace experiences. In 2024, we took several steps forward including supporting over 200 members through commensality group funding, monthly lunches at VGH and UBCH, supporting 14 physician-led QI projects, providing funding for lactation spaces, encouraging departments and divisions to apply for recruitment and retention funding, connecting members with the VCH violence prevention team for customized presentations, and pushing for the creation of a digital health committee.

Results from last spring’s wellness survey are starting to roll out and will inform many of our actions in 2025. I hope you will join us at our February 24 quarterly meeting when VCH’s Interim Regional Medical Director of Wellness, Dr. Fahreen Dossa, will present the survey results for Vancouver Acute and Vancouver Community. Registration details will be available soon in your weekly Checkup newsletter.

Thank you for your commitment to excellence and looking forward to working alongside you in 2025!

Sincerely,

Dr. Ka Wai Cheung, President
VMDAS/VPSA