Opportunities to Engage
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, November 10: 5 - 6:30 pm - WISE Journal Club: Harassment in Surgery – Still a Long Way to Go
The Women in Surgery in ENT (WISE) Journal Club started in the Division of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. The group meets quarterly and is open to all health-care providers interested in equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Our speaker at the next session is Dr. Natashia Seemann, a pediatric general surgeon and assistant professor at Western University. She will present her peer-reviewed published article: A Canadian National Survey Study of Harassment in Surgery-Still a Long Way to Go.
Attend online.
Register here by November 6
Monday, November 16: 5:30 - 7:30 pm: VPSA Wellness Showcase
Discover what’s happening in Medical Staff wellness. VPSA is committed to supporting the wellness of its members. Join us for the inaugural VPSA Wellness Showcase and learn about the initiatives supporting wellness across VA/VC. Learn more about the opportunities, initiatives, programs and projects that have been developed to support connection, recognition, community and well-being.
Hear from your colleagues and learn about the work happening through:
- Commensality groups
- Funding for department/division wellness initiatives
- Dinner with Leaders events
- Friends and family events
- The Kudos Project
- Monthly lunches at VGH and UBCH
- The impact of the temporary closure of the VGH HEW
- Wellness speakers and workshops
- Resident recognition
- 2024 Physician Wellness Survey
Attend in person or online
Paetzold Auditorium at VGH
Dinner at 5:30 pm in the Multipurpose Room
Presentations begin at 6 pm
DoorDash vouchers for first 50 members who register to attend online
Register here.
Tuesday, November 17: 12 noon - Physician Appreciation Lunch at UBC Hospital
Join us for lunch in the Physician Hub (Room S-334A) or grab a box and go.
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Thursday, November 19: noon - 1:30 pm - Indigenous Health Round: Legacy Learning from Elder Doris Fox: Culturally Safe Care
Click here to register.
Disclaimer: This session includes Elder Doris Fox sharing personal experiences navigating the healthcare system, including experiences that may be difficult or upsetting for some participants. We encourage participants to take care of themselves and engage with the session in a way that feels appropriate for them.
Monday, November 23: 12 - 1 pm - From Policy to Practice: Indigenous Cultural Safety in Clinical Care
In May 2026, Vancouver Coastal Health introduced a new Indigenous Cultural Safety (ICS) policy establishing shared responsibilities for culturally safer care across the organization.
Join Sasha Askarian from VCH Indigenous Health for an exploration of what the policy means for medical staff, including its foundations in legislation, key guiding documents, and professional practice standards. The session will explore how the policy informs clinical decision-making, everyday interactions with Indigenous patients and families, and the supports available to advance culturally safer care, including Indigenous Patient Navigators.
Participants will leave with practical considerations they can apply in their clinical practice, including guidance on offering meaningful territory acknowledgements that honour the 14 First Nations whose territories VCH serves.
Monday, November 23 from 12 to 1 pm
Attend online
DoorDash vouchers for VPSA members.
This event is also open to members of other VCH MSAs.
Saturday, November 28: Private screening of Toy Story 5
Jessie leads the toys as eight-year-old Bonnie becomes addicted to Lilypad, a frog-themed smart tablet. When Jessie and Bullseye get lost and meet a new friend named Blaze along with her electronic gadgets, they must help Bonnie balance screen time with real-world imagination.
Doors open 3:30 pm
Movie begins at 4 pm
Tickets include popcorn and a drink
Dunbar Theatre
4555 Dunbar Street, Vancouver
Register here by Tuesday, November 24.
Limited to first 200 RSVPs; up to four tickets per VMDAS/VPSA member.
Monday, November 30: 7:15 - 8:15 pm - VPSA Dinner Group: Beyond Clinical Practice: Exploring Non-Clinical Roles, Passions, and Opportunities in Medicine and Beyond
Drs. Lisa Weger and Junella Lee will moderate our next dinner group. This is an informal opportunity for VPSA physician members to share with colleagues in a congenial atmosphere.
Our question for this dinner is: What non-clinical activities, roles, or interests do you currently pursue, or hope to incorporate into your professional life in the future?
We will share our insights and experiences, without giving direct advice to others. There will be an expectation of confidentiality. We request that participants turn their video on for at least part of the time to increase trust during the discussion. Space is limited to allow for small group discussion.
A free dinner is included (feel free to eat during the discussion!), with DoorDash vouchers emailed separately.
Via Zoom
RSVP here by November 29.
To respect everybody’s time, we will start promptly at 7:15 pm. Of course, people who cannot join promptly are welcome to join late.
Space is limited to allow for small group discussion.
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This year's guest speaker is André Picard, one of Canada’s top health and public policy observers and commentators. He is the health columnist at The Globe and Mail, where he has been a staff writer for more than 30 years. He is also the author of numerous books and has received much acclaim for his writing and for his dedication to improving health care, including earning him the National Newspaper Award as Canada’s top newspaper columnist.
Join us for lunch Current Opportunities
Engage with us!
We want to hear from you about ideas for VPSA events and/or workshops. Share your brainwaves with us and we’ll direct your suggestion(s) to the relevant VPSA committee or task group for their consideration and action.
Complete this form and we'll get back to you within 10 business days.
Let's care, connect, and collaborate!
Want to participate? Click here to send kudos to a VPSA physician colleague!
Funding available for quality improvement, physician wellness, substance use disorder, and/or planetary health initiatives
Vancouver Physician Staff Association members may submit project ideas for consideration for funding. Proposed initiatives should align with at least one of VPSA’s priorities; quality improvement, physician wellness, substance use disorder, and/or planetary health.
Check out our process, which begins with a letter of intent
Retention and Recruitment funding
Department or division heads can apply for this funding.
Do you have ideas that would fit? Talk to your department or division head and encourage them to apply or contact VPSA Operations Director Andrew Pinfold.