2025 VMDAS Annual Awards
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Vancouver Medical, Dental and Allied Association Annual Awards.
Bringing Clinical Renown to Vancouver Community of Care: Dr. Ted Steiner
Dr. Steiner joined the Vancouver Acute Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine in 2000. He is a professor within the UBC Department of Medicine and head of the UBC Division of Infectious Diseases. He has a strong research focus on intestinal immunity and associated infectious and non-infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal system. Dr. Steiner’s clinical area of expertise is in the management of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and it is for his care of this population that he was nominated for this award.
CDI is an infection that can have both acute and life-threatening presentations and a more chronic relapsing course with significant morbidity. It has been known for over a decade that fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is a highly effective treatment for this infection. Dr. Steiner has participated in many clinical trials in this area, including some of the pivotal ones that form the basis of this treatment modality today. He still has ongoing trials to improve care in this area.
Despite this, there is no existing structure in the health authority or the province to support or fund this highly beneficial intervention for patients. Identifying this gap in care and seeing the need in his patients, Dr. Steiner has leveraged his own research laboratory to be able to provide this essential treatment option to patients across British Columbia.
FMT is highly resource intensive. Health Canada requires a high standard of testing of potential stool donors even beyond what is required for potential solid organ donors. Dr. Steiner has built this capacity first by bringing clinical trials of various FMT products to Vancouver Acute and subsequently by developing local capacity for processing donated stool. Dr. Steiner finds his own donors and, for many years up until recently, has paid for all the laboratory requirements out of his own research pocket. Beyond this, the clinical intervention of FMT is not remunerated in British Columbia. Despite this, Dr. Steiner provides this life-altering treatment to patients on a weekly basis. He is the only physician in BC – outside of Vancouver Island – providing this service to patients. As a result, he gets referrals from around the province for patients. Patients have flown down to see him for the procedure. When there are challenges for patients to reach Vancouver, he has creatively found solutions for patients to get the procedure locally. Sometimes, this results in him shipping processed stool to providers closer to the patient or to the patient themselves and walking them through the procedure.
Again, this is out of his own pocket. Moreover, each patient who undergoes FMT needs close follow-up for weeks because of the risk of relapse. Some patients require second or even third transplants or combination therapy before the treatment is successful. This can be quite labour intensive because it can be very challenging to determine if the patient is truly relapsing or just having post-infusion altered bowel habits akin to irritable bowel syndrome. It also can require additional agents that are only available via the Special Access Program of Health Canada, namely bezlotoxumab. There are alternative products coming to market to treat this condition using oral capsules. However, the cost for these commercial products is $9000-$18,000 per treatment course, which is far above the cost to the province for Dr. Steiner’s program.
Dr. Steiner is known as the clinical expert in this area. He has been actively involved in different guidelines and protocols at all levels. He was involved in the Infectious Disease Society of America guidelines for managing C. difficile. Locally, he has also been an advisor to the province for the funding of different drugs for this condition. Within our Infectious Disease community in BC, he is the person people turn to with questions about this challenging disease. He has patiently answered questions from colleagues – even on weekends when he is not on call. Patients also write him with their queries, and he has patiently and respectfully answered their concerns.
Due to the constraints described above, understandably there is limited availability of FMT throughout the province. The FMT program at Vancouver Acute serves patients across British Columbia. Recognizing the ongoing need of patients in this province, Dr. Steiner is trying to support providers in BC to expand access to this important treatment. Thus far, it has been a slow process. He has built a program from the ground up with no dedicated support with the sole purpose of providing patients with better outcomes, and he continues to advocate for access to care and expand service provision to the entire province.
Nominated by Dr. Alissa Wright
Clinical Excellence: Dr. George Isac
Dr. Isac is a staff physician and anesthesiologist at Vancouver General Hospital, and clinical professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics at UBC. Dr. Isac exemplifies clinical excellence in every facet of his work. Over nearly two decades, he has consistently demonstrated superb medical knowledge and acumen, developed patient-centered programs with local and provincial impact, and earned deep respect from colleagues across disciplines. His programs have tangibly improved outcomes for patients in BC, including those from equity-deserving groups, while advancing the standard of care provincially and nationally.
Clinical Acumen, Innovation & ECLS Program Development
As medical director of the VGH ICU from 2011 to 2021, Dr. Isac steered our institution through a time of unprecedented ICU demand: the COVID-19 pandemic. His leadership was vital in orchestrating the rapid deployment and scaling of critical care services, including Extra-Corporeal Life Support (ECLS), to allow VCH to provide life-saving care to residents across the province. The ECLS program developed under his leadership is now recognized by ELSO as a Platinum Center of Excellence, the highest international designation and the only adult program in Canada with this status. The program now manages nearly 50 ECLS cases per year, all with access regardless of geography, ensuring health equity across the province.
Moreover, Dr. Isac pioneered the ECLS specialist model wherein critical care nurses receive subspecialty training to care for complex ECLS patients, thereby preserving specialized perfusion resources. His ability to lead such system-level transformation, during crisis, speaks to both his clinical skill and organizational acumen.
Quality Improvement & Organ Donation
As chair of the VGH Organ Donation Committee since 2007, Dr. Isac has been a visionary champion for organ donation innovation at VA, including the implementation of Donation after Death Determination by Circulatory Criteria (DCC) and the successful integration of organ donation after Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). His quality improvement initiatives have directly fostered a dramatic rise in transplant recipients at VGH between 2016 and 2023. During this time, the number of lung transplant recipients increased from 40 to 77, and liver transplant recipients from 74 to 107.
As a product of his leadership in championing donation following cardiac death, an additional 368 donors have helped save recipient lives over the past 10 years. His work in organ transplantation and donation ensures that all BC patients have access to these advances.
Provincial/National Recognition & Leadership
A recognized expert nationally and provincially, Dr. Isac is regularly invited to present at leading conferences (Canadian Critical Care Forum, Alberta Health Services Symposium, BC Transplant Education Day, and more) and is a published subject matter expert on Canada’s most recent clinical guidelines for death determination in intensive care (PMID: 37131020). Locally, his influence is felt through roles as ICU medical director, program director for Adult Critical Care Training (2009–2011), Resuscitation Committee chair (2007–present), and chair of the ICU Quality Council (2011–2021). In every capacity, he is a sought-after resource for the most challenging clinical cases, called upon by surgeons, intensivists, and anesthesiologists at VCH, and across the province.
Mentorship, Teaching, and Culture
Dr. Isac’s legacy extends to education and mentorship. His receipt of the UBC Master Teacher Award, his supervision of fellows, residents, and nurses, his development of simulation and QI curricula, and his tireless support for interdisciplinary teamwork all reflect his commitment to nurturing the next generation of clinicians and creating a collaborative, respectful clinical environment.
Conclusion
Dr. Isac embodies the VMDAS’s ideal of clinical excellence: he is a visionary leader, a compassionate and skilled clinician, a champion for system-level quality improvement, and a tireless advocate for equity and high standards of care. His contributions have transformed intensive care not only at Vancouver General Hospital but across British Columbia and Canada.
Nominated by Dr. Gordon Finlayson and Dr. Donald Griesdale
Community Excellence: Dr. Brent Ohata
Dr. Ohata is a clinical assistant professor with the University of British Columbia Division of Rheumatology whose impact extends well beyond his Burnaby community practice to rural regions across British Columbia, Indigenous communities, and Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. His career exemplifies excellence in clinical care, teaching, leadership, and advocacy for equity-deserving groups.
Leadership in Virtual and Community-Based Care
Long before the pandemic accelerated telemedicine, Dr. Ohata was a pioneer in telerheumatology. He began lecturing on this innovation in 2015 and was recognized with the UBC Division of Rheumatology Innovation Award in 2018. Since then, he has not only integrated virtual care into his own practice but has taught trainees how to perform musculoskeletal assessments virtually, developed educational modules for the Canadian Rheumatology Association, and presented nationally and internationally — including at the EULAR 2020 Congress.
His leadership extended to serving as co-chair of the Canadian Rheumatology Association Telemedicine Working Group (2020–2022), and his innovation continues as the founder of RheumVision, a finalist in the Arthritis Society’s 2022 Arthritis Ideator Program. His most recent scholarly contribution, as first author of the July/August 2024 BC Medical Journal article “Real-Time Virtual Support quick-reply pathways” highlights his sustained academic productivity and thought leadership.
In addition, Dr. Ohata’s leadership in Real-Time Virtual Services has broadened beyond rheumatology, helping to redesign user interfaces and manage video advice hotlines that link rural practitioners with subspecialists in hematology, dermatology, neurology, gastroenterology, and orthopaedics.
Commitment to Indigenous Health and Rural Communities
Dr. Ohata has worked closely with the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) to improve specialist access for Indigenous British Columbians, not only through virtual care but also through on-the-ground service delivery. Since 2015, he has provided rheumatology care for Carrier Sekani Family Services, and since 2019 he has participated in the Mary Pack Travelling Consultation Service, visiting remote Indigenous clinics in Takla, Stellat’en, Tachet, Fraser Lake, and Fort St. James.
These experiences are shared with postgraduate trainees who accompany him, instilling in the next generation of rheumatologists a respect for Indigenous health, equity principles, and the importance of relationship-building with rural and Indigenous patients. His mentorship inspired one Internal Medicine resident to undertake a quality improvement project focused on rural Indigenous outreach, with Dr. Ohata as the primary supervisor.
Most recently, Dr. Ohata has begun working with BC Pathways, a program that connects rheumatologists with specific communities — including remote and underserved regions — to improve access to care, strengthen referral pathways, and build sustainable bridges between specialists and primary care providers across the province. This initiative reflects his ability to turn vision into systems-level change.
Advocacy for Marginalized Communities
In 2019, Dr. Ohata co-founded and became director of the Mary Pack Arthritis Centre Downtown Eastside Rheumatology Clinic — the first rheumatology clinic in Canada dedicated to serving inner-city, at-risk populations. This clinic has now been integrated into the UBC Rheumatology training program, ensuring that future rheumatologists gain experience in caring for patients facing poverty, stigma, and inequitable access to care.
Excellence in Teaching and Mentorship
Dr. Ohata has received multiple teaching accolades, including the UBC Division of Rheumatology Teaching Award (2020). His trainees consistently describe him as a generous and inspiring mentor whose example blends clinical skill with social accountability.
Dr. Ohata’s sustained innovation in virtual care, his deep commitment to Indigenous and rural health, his leadership in establishing an inner-city specialty clinic, and his ability to mentor the next generation of physicians all reflect the essence of community excellence.
Nominated by Dr. Neda Amiri
Excellence in DEI: Dr. Amanda Hu
Dr. Hu is one of the few female otolaryngologists in the Division of OHNS at UBC. Despite efforts to change it, women are still a minority in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery with the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada reporting that only 23.8 per cent of the OHNS workforce is comprised of women.
Dr. Hu’s work on diversity, equity and inclusion has made an impact for women at UBC within and outside of the Division of OHNS. In 2022, she founded the Women in Surgery in ENT (WISE) group. The WISE group was first funded by the Small Steps Big Ideas fund of the Vancouver Physician Staff Association and then adopted by the Equity Diversity Inclusion Committee of Vancouver Coastal Health. This group meets with the goal of discussing peer-reviewed journal articles looking at the unique challenges faced by female Otolaryngologists.
This quarterly hybrid journal club is open to all health-care providers who are interested in diversity, equity, and inclusion and participants have included both men and women, otolaryngologists at UBC and other Canadian universities, and guests from other specialties, such as Thoracic Surgery, Gynecology, and Orthopedics. Topics discussed include role of gender on income disparity, ergonomics relevant to women in surgery, and the role of gender in imposter syndrome.
Dr. Hu has formed a research collaboration with other female otolaryngologists who have an interest in DEI (Drs. Yvonne Chan from the University of Toronto, Elise Graham from Dalhousie University, Tanya Meyer from University of Washington) This collaboration has resulted in the publishing of six peer reviewed articles on DEI in prominent OHNS journals. This collaboration has also resulted in mentorship of female medical students and OHNS residents and their research projects relevant to DEI. Dr. Hu also was a sponsor for Dr. Graham for her Triological Society thesis, which granted her membership to arguably the most prominent academic society in OHNS in North America; Dr. Hu is also a member of this society.
Dr. Hu has been recognized for her DEI research with grants from national and international organizations, including the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery Dr. Elena M O-Connell Memorial Fund Grant (2022 and 2025) and the American Academy of Otolaryngology Women in Otolaryngology Endowment Grant (2021).
Above all, Dr Hu has been a mentor to junior female faculty members in our division (Drs. Kiersten Pianosi, Dianne Valenzuela, Grace Yi), and to female trainees (Drs. Alice Liu, Emily Oulousian). As the UBC Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery expands, it aims to be more diverse, and expects to succeed at least partly attributable to the work of Dr. Hu.
Nominated by Dr. Brian D. Westerberg
Excellence in Early Career: Dr. Roberto Trasolini
Dr. Trasolini has had an incredible career trajectory from UBC Internal Medicine resident to UBC Gastroenterology fellow, then finally divisional colleague at Vancouver General Hospital. In between his UBC Gastroenterology fellowship and his appointment as a staff gastroenterologist at VGH, he was an Advanced Endoscopy fellow at Harvard University for two years. As a review of his extraordinary CV will confirm, within a very short period of time, Dr. Trasolini has managed to accomplish what takes many leading gastroenterologists years to decades to accomplish and some never reach this level of achievement/accomplishment during their entire careers.
Dr. Trasolini is an outstanding young gastroenterologist with excellent clinical acumen/technical skill, clinical judgement, and excellent communication skills but what needs to be appreciated is that the many innovative techniques that he has brought to VGH have been profoundly transformative. He has created a new endoscopic myotomy program for achalasia, introduced endoscopic enteroenterostomy for small bowel obstruction and created an endoscopic gallbladder drainage pathway for VGH. At BC Children’s Hospital (which refers its advanced endoscopic cases to the VGH endoscopists), he has introduced endoscopic esophageal stenting post pediatric surgery for congenital atresia. None of these non-surgical endoscopic options were available to patients in BC before and Rob has transformed the clinical landscape at VGH (and BC Children’s Hospital). As a result, he has placed VGH on the leading edge of advanced therapeutic endoscopy regionally, provincially and nationally. He is currently working to try and establish an endoscopic bariatric non-operative surgery program at VGH. If he is successful, this will further advance VGH’s profile on the national scene. It is little wonder that Harvard University has tried to recruit Dr. Trasolini as he is clearly an asset that any leading university would covet. It is important to note that his work and accomplishments at VGH, in addition to the national reputation that he has quickly developed, were key to VGH’s high profile recruitment of an established, renowned, therapeutic endoscopist from the University of Toronto, who will start late this fall. The VGH Division of Gastroenterology is now highly likely to become the leading centre for therapeutic endoscopy in Western Canada and one of the leading centres in Canada.
In terms of administrative leadership, Dr. Trasolini has been appointed the director of Endoscopy at VGH & UBC Hospitals. He is the youngest endoscopist to ever be appointed to this important portfolio in the modern history of the hospital. This appointment includes responsibilities for clinical service oversight but also has resource implications as endoscopic equipment acquisition is extremely costly.
Academically, Dr. Trasolini is very productive and accomplished. In his relatively short period of time at VGH, he has developed a national and international profile and as a direct result is an invited speaker at national and international conferences. For someone this early in his academic career, this is unprecedented. This summer, he was the invited keynote speaker at the Alberta Digestive Disease Society conference and in the spring, he was on the teaching faculty of an American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (the most prestigious endoscopy society in the world) course in San Diego, held in association with Digestive Disease Week (the most prestigious American gastroenterology conference). The significance of these speaking and teaching invitations cannot be understated as the usual faculty are veteran full professors at American and European universities. Not surprisingly, Dr. Trasolini has 30 peer review publications in his bibliography and is a reviewer for the leading gastroenterology journals (e.g. Gastroenterology, American Journal of Gastroenterology etc.).
In conclusion, Dr. Trasolini is clinically outstanding, and he has transformed advanced endoscopy at this hospital. Most importantly, he has changed the way the VGH gastroenterologists think about clinical gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary issues (ie. the transformative influence). In Gastroenterology, Dr. Trasolini can only be described as a generational talent who comes along only once in a decade or more. At VGH, Dr. Trasolini is a game changer who has already created a huge impact in his field.
Nominated by Dr. Eric M. Yoshida with the support of Dr. Ian Gan and the members of the VGH Division of Gastroenterology
Larry Collins Award for Committee Service: Dr. Junella Lee
Dr. Lee was selected for this reward in recognition of her outstanding and enduring contributions to the Vancouver Physician Staff Association’s Projects Committee and Community Building and Wellness Task Group.
Dr. Lee is a dedicated family physician whose work in local youth clinics reflects her commitment to accessible, compassionate care for some of our most vulnerable populations. Within VPSA’s committees, she has been a steady and invaluable presence over many years, consistently offering thoughtful perspectives and innovative ideas that have advanced our collective goals.
What makes Dr. Lee truly remarkable is her ability to approach every discussion with measured insight, kindness, and a genuine spirit of collaboration. She freely shares her knowledge and expertise, often elevating the work of others without seeking recognition for herself. Her brilliance is matched only by her humility, and her positivity has been a source of encouragement and cohesion within our committee work.
Dr. Lee’s contributions go beyond attending meetings—she actively shapes projects that benefit both our colleagues and the communities we serve. Whether fostering wellness initiatives or championing new programs, she embodies the values of service, collegiality, and generosity of spirit that this award seeks to honour.
Nominated by Dr. Fahreen Dossa
Roberta (Bobby) Miller Award for Excellence in Teaching: Dr. Arif Janjua
Dr. Janjua is an outstanding surgical educator whose contributions to the Vancouver Community of Care exemplify Dr. Miller’s legacy of knowledge sharing, mentorship, and a commitment to preparing the next generation of medical professionals.
Local Teaching Activities
Within Vancouver General and St. Paul’s hospitals, Dr. Janjua has shaped surgical education in Advanced Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery at every level. He has developed structured surgical education curricula, pioneered the use of surgical video analysis for teaching, and integrated simulation-based training. He contributes at least 1,000 teaching hours annually working directly with residents in the operating room, clinic, and didactic teaching sessions. In addition, as fellowship director since 2013, he leads the only Canadian Rhinology & Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery Fellowship program recognized by both the American Rhinologic Society (ARS) and the North American Skull Base Society (NASBS).
Student and Resident Evaluations
Trainees consistently place Dr. Janjua among the very best educators in the Department of Surgery. His mean evaluation scores — 6.7/7 for clinical teaching and 4.7/5 for didactic sessions — reflect both skill and dedication. Residents describe him as “inspirational” and “transformative,” citing his ability to set high expectations, while creating a strong learning environment for resident education.
Teaching Dossier
Dr. Janjua’s teaching record is distinguished by repeated recognition for teaching excellence. He is a three-time recipient of the UBC Division of Otolaryngology Annual Teaching Excellence Award (2016, 2018, 2022) and, in 2023, was awarded the Dr. A.D. Forward Postgraduate Faculty Teaching Award as the best teacher in the entire UBC Department of Surgery, selected from among our more than 200 faculty members. This rare combination of repeated divisional recognition and top departmental honours underscores his sustained educational impact.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Dr. Janjua has mentored numerous international fellows from around the world. In many of these instances, he has selected fellows from smaller countries, who would become the first fellowship-trained rhinologist in their home country. Many of these trainees now hold leadership or tertiary-care positions in abroad, a testament to his commitment to global equity in medical education and utilizing the academic opportunities provided by his fellowship program to improve the quality of rhinology instruction around the world.
Dr. Janjua’s influence reaches far beyond technical instruction. Like Dr. Miller, he models the highest standards of professionalism, curiosity, and compassion, inspiring learners to carry those values throughout their careers.
Nominated by Dr. Scott Durham
Scientific Achievement: Dr. Teresa Tsang
Dr. Tsang is an internationally recognized leader in cardiovascular imaging whose work has transformed both clinical practice and scientific understanding in echocardiography. She is a professor in the Division of Cardiology at UBC and directs British Columbia’s largest echocardiography laboratory, caring for over 27,000 patients annually. She also leads Canada’s only AI-enabled Echo Core Lab, a national resource advancing precision cardiovascular medicine.
Her research impact is extraordinary. She has helped shape major international guidelines, including the 2025 American Society of Echocardiography Diastolic Function Guidelines, where she is the only Canadian author, and she has contributed to forthcoming Genetic Cardiomyopathy guidelines.
Her pioneering work in echo-guided pericardiocentesis is now the global standard of care.
Dr. Tsang is also a powerhouse in scientific innovation, integrating imaging, machine learning, and health equity. She has secured over $20 million in peer-reviewed research funding, leading landmark initiatives such as the $11.5 million MOSAIC project, the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging echocardiography program, and the TOHFINO provincial AI ultrasound network, which extends cardiac expertise to over 100 rural and First Nations communities.
Her scholarly record includes more than 300 peer-reviewed publications, an H-index of 63, and citations in the world’s top cardiovascular journals, including Nature, Circulation, JACC, and The Lancet.
Equity, mentorship, and capacity-building are central to her leadership. She has trained over 50 fellows and research trainees from around the world and, in her role with VCHRI, helped establish the Indigenous Health Research Unit to support community-driven research.
This award recognizes not only her global influence on echocardiography and artificial intelligence, but also her deep commitment to improving cardiovascular care for all British Columbians—including those in remote and underserved communities.
Nominated by Dr. Marshall Dahl
Special Service: Dr. Bruce Foster
Dr. Foster joined the clinical faculty in 1991 and has been a full professor with tenure at UBC since 2010. He was previously the head of the Vancouver Acute Radiology Department and VCH-PHC regional department head. While his educational endeavours laid the foundation for the department’s world-renowned radiology program, they represent only a fraction of the impact his work has had on other students, patients and colleagues worldwide. His contributions in sports imaging, regional quality leadership, and outreach work have advanced radiology in unique, far-reaching, and equity-driven contexts.
Sports imaging
Dr. Foster is a pioneer in the establishment of sports imaging as a radiology subspecialty, with his influence stretching far beyond the walls of UBC. A reflection of his renowned expertise in MSK imaging, Dr. Foster has been invited to speak at more than 600 lectures worldwide. Having published more than 185 peer-reviewed manuscripts, his scholarship has been instrumental in advancing MSK research, clinical practice, and sports injury care. Accordingly, Dr. Foster was appointed the senior associate editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Dr. Foster was appointed imaging director for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games. He oversaw a team of radiologists and technologists working at onsite polyclinics in Whistler and Vancouver. Dr. Foster and his team performed over 879 imaging studies throughout the event, streamlining imaging-to-intervention while enabling rapid, informed return-to-play decisions. His unique experience and hands-on leadership style were integral to the success of the Games. Since 2010, these skills have been further showcased as imaging director at the Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022, and Paris 2024 Olympics. As lead radiologist for the International Olympics Committee Medical Games Group, Dr. Foster plays an instrumental role in planning and managing medical care. Continuing his work with the IOC, he will attend and direct imaging at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games.
He has been a trusted consultant for virtually all local professional sports teams for over 30 years and was recently imaging director for the Vancouver/Whistler Invictus Games. As a true leader in the field, Dr. Foster uses these experiences to pursue further research in sports imaging and injury prevention—not just for the elite, but for athletes of any level, skill, and age.
Regional quality leadership
As the first VCH-PHC Regional Radiology Department head from 2011 to 2016, Dr. Foster’s work in quality and informatics projects had helped to transform our local health-care systems by enhancing patient experiences, raising standards of care, and inspiring professional improvement across the greater Vancouver region. Following the findings of the 2011 Cochrane Inquiry, Dr. Foster co-created and managed the first ever digital radiology peer review system in western Canada. The system, which remained active until 2025, enabled tens of thousands of cases to be re-assessed within VCH-PHC, thus improving patient care while advancing professional growth.
Dr. Foster has played an equally inspiring role in the optimization of imaging quantity. As founder and member of the Choosing Wisely Steering Committee within VCH-PHC, he has led four projects aimed at reducing low-value exams and establishing imaging appropriateness guidelines. These guidelines have since been integrated into the Lower Mainland Centre Intake, reducing thousands of unnecessary exams and downstream tests while creating space for more urgent patient imaging.
In recognition of these accomplishments, Dr. Foster was honoured as the first-ever radiologist runner-up for the Doug Cochrane Award for Leadership in Quality, BC Patient Safety and Quality Council in 2019.
Outreach work
Dr. Foster is at the forefront of radiology outreach initiatives, expanding access to high quality education and training worldwide. As UBC department head, he launched the UBC Radiology Outreach Program, providing educational resources and interactive workshops to underserved regions such as Vietnam, Jakarta, and Fiji. Since launching this program, UBC Radiology grand rounds have also been made available internationally, offering learners across the globe access to up-to-date information on radiological practice and clinical work.
Through his membership with the International Skeletal Society and foundational work with Radiology Across Borders (RAB), Dr. Foster has conducted similar work in Peru, Brazil, the Middle East, Indonesia, and Cambodia. Collaborating with other members of the not-for-profit organization, he played a leading role in the creation and delivery of RAB’s International Certificate in Radiology Fundamentals. Since being deployed in 2021, the course has trained over 200 students within the Pacific Rim and Africa, not only advancing the knowledge of clinicians in emerging nations but improving the delivery and quality of care within their communities.
Nominated by Dr. Saavas Nicolaou












