2024 VMDAS Annual Awards

As head of VCH’s Complex Pain & Addiction Service, Dr. Azar is leading groundbreaking advancements in addictions and mental health treatment worldwide. His work with Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) protocols is saving lives and has established Dr. Azar as an international leader in this field. OAT prevents withdrawal symptoms and reduces cravings; however, its initiation phase can be lengthy and painful. Dr. Azar has developed protocols that allow patients to initiate OAT in under 24 to 48 hours under clinical supervision. These practices are being used at VGH as well as other major medical institutions across North America.

Dr. Azar has developed several other recent paradigms in collaboration with scientists from UBC with the theme of reducing the induction time for patients being initiated on OAT. These include using transdermal buprenorphine for low-dose inductions and subsequently transitioning patients to sublingual or extended-release buprenorphine, safely treating withdrawal and cravings for patients using symptom-inhibited initiation of intravenous fentanyl or Hydromorphone, and transitioning high-risk patients onto Sublocade using rapid micro-induction as a bridge.

Dr. Azar’s innovations have drawn significant attention, and he has presented at a number of large addictions conferences around the world. He was invited to speak at Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Columbia, and Yale universities recently; his presentation for this tour was entitled Novel opioid use disorder interventions in the fentanyl era – From bench to bedside to community.

Dr. Azar was recently awarded a large NSERC grant for a project called Digital innovation for constructive social transformation: internalizing agency, health, digital literacy, values and world views in software design and development processes. This project involves using gamification and positive reward pathways to treat addiction.

Dr. Azar received the Western Canada Addiction Forum’s Effectuating Chage in Opioid Use Disorder Care 2024 award. In addition to numerous other awards, Dr. Azat is also a two-time recipient of the Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award from the Goldcorp Addiction Medicine Fellowship at St. Paul’s Hospital.

Dr. Azar is one of the founders of the CPAS anti-stigma lecture series, which aims to strengthen collaboration, integration, and coordination of services with other departments to increase awareness within the organization, to improve communication with patients, and to balance programs and services to meet the needs of the community.

Nominated by Dr. JJ Sidhu

Dr. Dehghan exemplifies the highest standards of clinical excellence and dedication within the Vancouver Community of Care; her contributions to the field of rheumatology are both profound and far-reaching.

As a clinical association professor, Dr. Dehghan also services as an active physician at both VGH and St. Paul’s Hospital. She has been the founder and medical director of the Vasculitis Clinic at the VGH-Mary Pack Arthritis Program since 2016, where she manages and provides advice on some of the most complicated and challenging vasculitis cases from across the province. Her clinical acumen and compassionate care have earned her immense respect from colleagues, trainees, and patients.

The Vasculitis Clinic at the VGH-Mary Pack Arthritis Program is the only quaternary vasculitis clinic in BC. Under Dr. Dehghan’s leadership, the clinic has grown to include additional physicians and a satellite clinic in Victoria. This expansion enhances patient care and fosters greater accessibility for patients across the province. Dr. Dehghan’s ability to manage complex cases with precision and empathy is a testament to her clinical excellence and unwavering commitment to patient advocacy.

Dr. Dehghan is also committed to the professional development of medical residents and fellows. The VGH Vasculitis Fellowship, which is run through the Vasculitis Clinic, recently saw its first fellow complete training. Dr. Dehghan actively mentors and supervises post-graduate trainees, many of whom have published research under her guidance. In 2018 she was identified as a formal mentor by three PGY-5 fellows, reflecting her significant impact on their professional growth. Her dedication to teaching has been recognized with multiple awards, including the UBC Department of Medicine’s Honour Roll for Clinical Teaching Excellence (2017) and the UBC Division of Rheumatology Teaching Award (2018).

Dr. Dehghan’s efforts to promote equity and support systemically marginalized groups are exemplary. She takes time from her practice and quaternary vasculitis clinic to travel to Quesnel to provide rheumatology care to a primarily First Nations population. She has taken significant steps to create a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment within the Vasculitis Clinic and beyond. By organizing province-wide weekly rounds and fostering cross-division collaboration, Dr. Dehghan has ensured a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to patient care.

Furthermore, Dr. Dehghan’s involvement with the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium and the Canadian Vasculitis Society highlights her commitment to advancing the field through research and collaboration. She contributes valuable patient data to the Canadian Vasculitis Registry and has played a crucial role in the development of the Canadian Vasculitis Learning Initiative, an educational tool that enhances understanding of vasculitis through interactive clinical cases for trainees.

Nominated by Dr. Kam Shojania

Dr. Burgess has a long history of clinical excellence working with marginalized populations in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood. She has been a strong advocate for her patients, both on an individual level and at the system level, tirelessly working to address the social determinants of their health. She has worked in several settings (Downtown Community Clinic, Kilala Lelum Clinic, Vancouver Aboriginal Health Clinic, and the John Ruedy HIV Clinic at St. Paul’s Hospital) with Indigenous patients and others facing considerable social, health and economic challenges. Additionally, Dr. Burgess has provided compassionate palliative care to her patients in her clinic, in their homes on outreach, and in May’s Place and Cottage Hospices. Given her long commitment to providing exemplary primary care, the number and variety of places she has worked, and her strong connection to the interdisciplinary team and to inner city agencies, Dr. Burgess has made a huge impact on health-care provision in the community.

In the Downtown Eastside, Dr. Burgess’s name is synonymous with sensitive, patient-centred care. She has been recognized and received awards nationally and provincially for excellent clinical care, for her humanitarianism, and for her contributions to society. She recently presented her Physician Quality Improvement project “Finding Our Way Home,” promoting Indigenous approaches to end-of-life care.

Nominated by Dr. Jay Slater.

Ms. Buck’s dedication as a nurse practitioner, health-care leader, and advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is truly exemplary. She leads by example and has spearheaded numerous EDI initiatives that have had a profound impact on VCH and the community. Among her many contributions is the development of a decolonized interview tool, which has become a vital resource in ensuring equitable hiring practices within our organization. More recently, she initiated the creation of a bursary for Indigenous Vancouver Coastal Health registered nurses to pursue training to become nurse practitioners. This initiative not only promotes diversity within the profession but also helps to address the underrepresentation of Indigenous health-care professionals in advanced practice roles.

One of Ms. Buck’s most significant contributions is her leadership of the VCH Nurse Practitioner Reconciliation and Decolonisation Committee. Under her guidance, this committee works tirelessly to diversify the nurse practitioner workforce at VCH and to decolonize our workplaces, ensuring that our department embodies the core values of our organization. Her work with this committee has been instrumental in fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect.

In addition to her leadership with the Reconciliation and Decolonisation Committee, Ms. Buck is also an active member of the VCH Medical Staff EDI Steering Committee. Here, she brings a wealth of knowledge from her extensive lived experience and provides a unique perspective as a practicing nurse practitioner and leader. Her contributions to this committee have been invaluable in advancing our organization’s EDI efforts.

Through her work on these committees, her leadership roles, and her clinical practice, Ms. Buck has successfully created safe spaces for open dialogue on identity and the many intersections it encompasses. Her leadership in EDI has not only benefited those directly involved but has also set a new standard for EDI efforts within our institution. Her drive, inclusiveness, and tireless efforts to address EDI challenges have made a lasting impact on our organization and the broader community.

Nominated by Dr. Jennifer Beaveridge with support from Dr. Lynn Straatman and Dr. Joy Masuhara.

Dr. Hoang has been an integral part of the Anatomical Pathology Division at Vancouver General Hospital for the past seven years. She has not only carried on the tradition of gynecological pathology excellence at this hospital but has developed her own area of expertise in vulvar neoplasms. Her expertise in this area has been recognized worldwide, evident not only by her extensive participation in the recent WHO publication of gynecological malignancies but also in the fact that the department is challenged in finding seats for all the visiting fellows and pathologists wanting to spend time with Dr. Hoang at VGH.

Dr. Hoang’s publication record is impressive at this early stage in her career, but, more importantly, she is very involved in the clinical applicability of her work, evident by her leadership in several national and international clinical trials.

Nominated by Dr. David Schaeffer.

Dr. Jamieson completed her medical training and residency in New Zealand, and her gynecologic oncology fellowship in both Australia and Canada. She received the highest marks in her written and oral examinations for the Board-certified specialty of gynecologic oncology both in Australia/New Zealand, and in Canada. She was granted the first Miller- Mindel Research Fellowship at UBC—a peer-reviewed competitive fellowship position that enables early investigators to commit two years of additional training in translational research.

Following completion of her Miller- Mindel Translational Research Fellowship Dr. Jamieson joined the VGH/UBC faculty in August 2022; she was awarded a highly competitive academic tenure track position as assistant professor. She has been part of the medical staff at Vancouver General and UBC and BC Cancer hospitals since that time and is already distinguishing herself as a collaborative, innovative young leader in the field.

Dr. Jamieson has been outrageously productive and impactful in her early career. Successful clinician-scientists are rare, rarer still are surgeon-scientists, but Dr. Jamieson has already first authored multiple impactful publications, presented her work internationally, been an invited speaker locally, nationally and internationally, and is co-principal investigator for an international clinical trial. She has authored 20 peer-reviewed papers, and is senior author on one, and middle author for an additional 13 manuscripts.

Dr. Jamieson was the 2023 recipient of the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute Mentored Clinician Scientist Award. She has been accepted to present her research at national and international meetings over 18 times in the last four years and collaborates with research teams in Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, UK, Germany, USA, Australia and New Zealand. All of this has been achieved while also practicing as a gynecologic cancer surgeon.

Also of incredible impact, Dr. Jamieson has led a team to implement practice changes in BC and across Canada, ensuring molecular subtype-specific cancer care is available to patients and incorporated into management/treatment decisions.

Early career excellence in academic medicine would not be complete without also achieving excellence in clinical care and in education. In addition to being an outstanding researcher, Dr. Jamieson is a valued, collegial, intelligent clinician and skilled surgeon. She has been appointed to lead the medical school OBGYN course curriculum and supervises the visiting medical student electives and is widely credited for marked improvements in these activities. She is among the highest rated teachers in our division, appreciated by students, residents, and fellows. She has been a shining example to those around her of hard work, compassionate patient care, and advocacy.

Nominated by Dr. Jessica McAlpine with support from Dr. Gavin Stuart.

Dr. Lan is a rare clinician-scientist in Canada and among a small select group internationally with the expertise to bridge immunogenetics and transplant medicine. In 2020, he was recruited to the UBC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine with cross-appointment to the Department of Medicine (Nephrology) to establish an inter-disciplinary, translational Precision Medicine Program in Transplantation.

Dr. Lan is project lead for the Genome Canada large-scale Canadian program for prevention of antibody-mediated rejection, a co-lead for the Genome Canada national GAPP program for epitope matching for transplantation in Canada, and a co-lead for the Genome Canada GAPP program for ultra-rapid genome sequencing to prevent adverse drug reactions now in finalization. He is the recipient of a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar Award and a VCHRI Mentored Clinician Scientist Award. His laboratory is recognized as a UBC Precision Medicine in Transplantation Excellence Cluster, and the principal site of the Genome Canada Transplant Consortium, a major research initiative linking over 70 investigators from 22 major universities across Canada, the US, EU, and UK and guiding the transition from systems pharmacology to immune tolerance.

The major goal of Dr. Lan’s research program is to accelerate the translation of advanced laboratory diagnostics to address three of the most pressing problems in organ transplantation: (1) disparity in access to transplant due to immune sensitization, which has a disproportional impact on women and patients from ethnic minority groups; (2) premature organ failure due to irreversible rejection; and (3) suboptimal patient survival due to the long-term complications of immunosuppressive medications.

Dr. Lan has published >30 peer-reviewed manuscripts in leading journals in transplantation and immunogenetics and has another eight currently in submission to leading journals including the Lancet and Nature families. Importantly, his work has enabled the adoption of revolutionary new technology into clinical practice.

Dr. Lan’s precision medicine approach is highly innovative: he combines core research platforms in genomics and related -omics, computational modelling, data science and biobanking, coupled with his medical background in the deployment of efficient clinical adaptive trial designs translated from oncology.

His contributions have allowed him to take on local, national, and international leadership roles. Dr. Lan is the medical director of the VGH Immunology Laboratory, the sole reference centre in British Columbia that provides high complexity testing to support all solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients. Nationally, he serves as the co-chair of the National HLA Advisory Committee in Canada and four additional transplant committees. Dr. Lan is now spearheading a new Canadian Willing to Cross program that will enable centres to perform kidney transplants across the HLA barrier for highly sensitized candidates who are currently excluded from receiving life-saving transplants. Internationally, Dr. Lan is an associate editor of the American Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Quarterly, Frontiers in Genetics, and a member of the international Sensitization in Transplantation: Assessment of Risk (STAR) working group that is tasked with forming expert opinions and guidelines on the novel donor-derived cell-free DNA test.

Dr. Lan also contributes actively to education and delivers regular teaching to students across different disciplines (pathology, medicine, biomedical engineering). His effectiveness as a teacher and mentor was recently recognized with a BMLS Graduates’ Choice for Teaching Excellence Award in both 2023 and 2024.

Nominated by Dr. Paul Keown and Dr. David Schaeffer.

Dr. Kherani’s exceptional contributions to the medical community embody the spirit of the Larry Collins Excellence in Committee Service Award. He has demonstrated exemplary engagement within the Vancouver Community of Care through his extensive committee work and leadership roles across multiple sites, including VGH, GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, and Richmond Hospital.

Dr. Kherani’s has held several notable positions including:

• Chair, Vancouver Physician Staff Association Clinical and Systems Transformation Task Group (2022 to present)
• Founding Division Head, Rheumatology, Richmond Hospital (2020 to present)
• Founding President, MPAP Physicians Association (2016 – 2018)
• Chair, MPAP Clinical Services Contract Group (2015 – 2016)

Through these roles Dr. Kherani has significantly influenced clinical practices, streamlined processes, and improved patient care. His leadership has been instrumental in the establishment and growth of rheumatology services at Richmond Hospital, ensuring comprehensive care for patients in the region.

Dr. Kherani’s contributions have been equally impactful at UBC. As chair of the UBC Adult Rheumatology Residency Program Committee (2020 to present), he has guided the development and implementation of innovative educational programs, fostering the professional growth of future rheumatologists. His involvement in various UBC committees, such as the PGME Policy Working Group and CBME Working Group, underscores his commitment to advancing medical education.

Dr. Kherani’s leadership extends beyond VCH and UBC. His work with the Canadian Rheumatology Association includes:

• Chair, CRA Education Committee (2017 – 2023)
• Immediate Past Chair and Undergraduate Subcommittee Chair, CRA Education Committee (2023 to present)
• Founding Chair, CRA Canadian Rheumatology Education and Learning (2011 – 2016)

Dr. Kherani has been a dedicated speaker for the Arthritis Society, a volunteer with the Ismaili Muslim community, and an active participant in the Aga Khan Development Network’s annual World Partnership Walk. His work with Scouts Canada has been recognized with multiple certificates of commendation and the Medal for Good Service.

Nominated by Dr. Kam Shojania

Dr. Gordon is an exceptional educator and mentor to practitioners across the spectrum of medical providers, including students, residents, new physicians, and her leadership peers. Her commitment to teaching extends beyond physician education to other health-care providers and the community through her work with UBC, CPD, PQI, and non-profit seniors societies.

Dr. Gordon has taught medical students and residents in the UBC Faculty of Medicine Department of Family Practice for over 20 years. She developed a 10-part teaching module for students and residents working with her on the care of frail seniors. This has led to many students pursuing a career focusing on elder care.

Past students describe Dr. Gordon as building their confidence and helping them challenge stereotypes by creating an enriched learning environment that fosters both academic learning and personal growth. Medical directors and peers also acknowledge Dr. Gordon for enhancing their skills to succeed in their careers. They cite her for modelling inclusion and promoting equity.

Dr. Gordon is a sought-after presenter at the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons for its Practice Ready Assessment (PRA) program. Through education, mentorship, and support of PRA candidates, she has improved their transition to practice and life in Canada. She was recognized by the BC College of Family Physicians with its award of excellent in teaching in 2015. She remains dedicated to improving medical education through her over 10-year commitment to the UBC/VCH annual family medicine review course.

Dr. Gordon has also engaged in a variety of teaching activities for the Physician Quality Improvement (PQI) and Spreading Quality Improvement (SQI) initiatives at VCH. Her role has encompassed coaching and mentoring PQI cohort physicians and project teams, alongside providing comprehensive education to medical staff, residents, families, and caregivers.

In summary, Dr. Gordon has had an indelible influence on all who have been fortunate enough to have been taught by her over the years.

Nominated by Dr. Lynn Straatman and Dr. Michael Norbury and supported by UBC Division of Continuing Professional Development Conference Director Lindsay Callan, VCH/PHC SQI Manager Amy Chang, Dr. Kelly Little, Dr. Nori MacGowan, Dr. Amrit Riarh, Residential Care Coordinator Banfield Pavilion Christine Rumberg, Dr. Haley Smith, and Dr. Jessie Zhang.

Dr. Khosa is an award-winning scholar, but it is his work as a mentor and advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) that has created a legacy, not only for his profession but also for society at large. Moreover, Dr. Khosa is globally renowned for his dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion within the academic and professional sphere. Dr. Khosa has consistently demonstrated an exceptional commitment to advancing research on intersectionality and fostering inclusivity in both academia and society at large. Through this groundbreaking research, Dr. Khosa has delved into the intricacies of various social identities, shedding light on the nuanced experiences of individuals who navigate multiple marginalized identities. Dr. Khosa has explored the theoretical underpinnings of intersectionality and translated these findings into actions that promote equity and justice.

Dr. Khosa’s groundbreaking research has coined the terms sticky floor, broken ladder, and glass ceiling that, like the phenomenon of intersectionality, have compounding effects on the academic and professional progress of the underrepresented and minorities. Dr. Khosa has made vital contributions to the leadership and diversity literature with over 289 peer-reviewed publications. He has forged a unique, interdisciplinary body of research on intersectionality that has had an exceptional interdisciplinary impact on health sciences, social sciences and humanities. Indeed, this research has positioned Canada as a world leader in this arena and has been cited more than 5,000 times by educators, social scientists, EDI advocates, and policymakers. These novel undertakings have brought EDI experts from minority and underrepresented groups on a single platform giving them impressive traction. Dr. Khosa’s tireless advocacy, research, mentoring and EDI workshops have positioned Canada as a leader in this arena.

The publishers Bloomsbury and Elsevier have signed contracts with Dr. Khosa for a book series on styles of leadership and equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. Khosa’s work has also been recognized with prestigious awards provincially, nationally and internationally including the recent Michael Smith Health Research BC Award. Dr. Khosa volunteers in several leadership roles including as chair of the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Advisory Committee of Doctors of BC, chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Publications & Presentations Workgroup of the American College of Radiology, member of the EDI Committee of the Canadian Association of Radiologists, and co-vice chair of the EDI committee of University of British Columbia Radiology. Dr. Khosa’s work has resulted in tangible improvements through policy change resulting in increased access for minorities in academic and health-care disciplines and leadership positions. The more important yet intangible benefits of his work include the provision of culturally competent care through increasing diversity in the health-care workforce across Canada.

Nominated by Dr. Savvas Nicolaou

Dr. Finlayson has been a gynecologic oncologist at VGH since 2006. She is a clinical professor in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC, division co-head of gynecologic oncology and the Chew Wei Chair in gynecologic oncology. She has received multiple local, and national accolades in teaching, including the Mike Turko Award for Surgical Teaching, the Carl Nimrod Educator Award, the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) award, the Bobby Miller Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the UBC Killam Teaching Prize in 2021/2022. Dr. Finlayson has also been one of the lead voices and educators in the successful opportunistic salpingectomy campaign for ovarian cancer prevention.

Her career as a surgeon and an educator is stunning. However, this special service award is specifically for her heroic efforts on behalf of the women in British Columbia with gynecologic cancers to bring additional positions in gynecologic oncology to BC—in Victoria, Vancouver, but most specifically a new gynecologic oncology program in Kelowna with three newly hired gynecologic cancer surgeons joining an already thriving medical oncology and radiation oncology team.

Dr. Finlayson builds relationships, trust, and goodwill with anyone she interacts with. She instills confidence, is compelling in what she presents (data, need, patient distress), and is a passionate advocate. Her leadership and communication—with politicians, medical leadership at VGH and in Kelowna has ultimately succeeded in creating a new program of gynecologic oncology in Kelowna that opened in September 2024. This new program addresses the long distances patients must travel, the stress (financial and emotional) of travel and being away from a support system, and the vulnerability/ potential for discordant cancer care based on where a patient lives.

Dr. Finlayson worked as the point person and main communicator with the BC Ministry of Health and Vancouver Coastal Health leadership, provincial surgical services, and community and patient advocates since 2021 to bring attention to the key issues:

• The shortage of gynecologic oncologists in BC as compared to other provinces based on patient population. Specifically, prior to this successful expansion, B.C. had only eight gynecological oncologists to serve 5.5 million people. With this service expansion, B.C. will have three major surgical treatment centres (Kelowna, Victoria, and Vancouver) with plans in motion for a fourth in Surrey, and with a minimum of three gynecologic oncologists at each site, thus increasing the number of full-time gynecological oncologist positions in the province to 15.
• Lengthy wait times—both for referral appointments/first consults and surgery.
• Access to gynecologic cancer surgeons and cancer treatments and access to multidisciplinary team care (consultations with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and surgeons, together to direct the best plan for the patient in front of them).
• Distance to travel for gynecologic cancer care—mapping current patient referrals and where they came from and where the greatest need was (southern Interior, followed by Abbotsford and Fraser Valley).
• Lack of supportive services—nurse care coordinators, consistent nursing staff, nurse practitioners, general practitioner oncologists, administrative assistants, and surgical booking staff to name some of the key team members needed to run a successful cancer program. Dr. Finlayson was able to show that the gynecologic oncology team had the lowest support of any other cancer disease site.

Dr Finlayson has achieved something that impacts all patients with gynecologic cancers across BC, certainly benefiting the patients in the interior of British Columbia but also impacting wait lists and work burden at VGH and resulting in more resources across all cancer centers in BC.

Nominated by Dr. Jessica McAlpine with support from Dr. Gavin Stuart.