VMDAS members gathered October 28 to celebrate medical staff achieving five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service at VCH. The evening was also a chance to honour those receiving VMDAS awards for 2024.

Years of service recognition

Representatives from each of the classes reflected on their professional experiences and spoke enthusiastically about the commitment they feel towards quality patient care.

Dr. Zafrina Poonja represented the largest cohort—149 VMDAS members are celebrating five years of service. She highlighted the four lessons she’s learned over this time: it’s the people around you who keep you going and support you; no matter how dark it gets, you can always create light; the value of letting go of what you can’t change; and, laughter truly is the best medicine.

Dr. Ann Marie Colwill spoke on behalf of the 82 members being recognized for 10 years of service. She noted that this cohort is a diverse group of health-care professionals who have benefited from the connections they have made over the past decade. She commented that this group has gained confidence over time as well as fulfillment from doing work that is so meaningful.

Dr. Vandad Yousefi spoke on behalf of his cohort reaching the 15-year service milestone. He talked about the new buildings and technology this group of 58 people have seen during their careers at VCH and noted the investments being made in Vancouver Community that are helping to transform health care across the Lower Mainland.

Dr. Debra Miller represented the 46 members who have now been working at VCH for 20 years. She said the best part of her work is the people she works with. She expects that rings true for anyone who has worked a long time in one place. Her department reminds her of a small village where everyone supports one another.

Dr. O. Neely Panton recalled his early career and the changes that the 22 members who have served 25 years at VCH have witnessed. He offered thoughtful reflections on the progress he has seen and that is still to come. Dr. Panton encouraged members to embrace learning opportunities that could lead to leadership roles.

Dr. Juan Jose Ronco joined the event via Zoom to speak on behalf of the 15 VMDAS members reaching 30 years of service. He quoted Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem Ulysses: “To strive, to seek, to find, and never to yield” and encouraged colleagues to advocate for quality patient care, more research, and infrastructure improvements.

Dr. Elaine Drysdale spoke on behalf of the 11 individuals with 35 years of service. She provided a great historical overview of the changes to the VGH campus of care over that time period. When she joined VGH, it was the largest single hospital in the British empire and she remarked on ways the practice of care has changed and improved.

Dr. Simon Rabkin represented the eight members who have reached the 40-year milestone. He noted that medicine is a tough taskmaster that requires sacrifices that can cause personal heartache. It is the gratitude of patients, he said, that drives us forward. He encouraged members to speak out more about the crisis in health care and to speak as people who have insights and who can advance health care with constructive critiques.

Dr. R. Gordon Robinson was the last milestone years of service speaker. He represented the four VMDAS members who have been with VCH for 45 years. He too recalled the many changes this group has seen over the years and the mentors who make all the difference in a career. He remarked that the quality and commitment of his medical colleagues is the one thing that hasn’t changed over this time.

All those members who are celebrating milestone anniversaries will receive their years of service certificates and pins via their department’s administrative assistant in the coming days.

VMDAS 2024 Academic Awards

Nine academic awards were handed out to 11 VMDAS members at the event. Details on the work of each winner can be read here.

Dr. Marla Gordon was the recipient of this year’s Roberta “Bobby” Miller Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Gordon said she was humbled to be considered in the same league as previous winners of this award. Teaching is what gives her the greatest joy and she is always learning from her students and residents. She encouraged everyone to be role models for respectful and inclusive behaviour.

The Bringing Clinical Renown to Vancouver Community of Care Award went this year to Dr. Pouya Azar, who is leading groundbreaking advancements in addictions and mental health treatment. He noted that collaboration with colleagues is key to this work and expressed his gratitude to them as well as for the protected time to do research.

Dr. Natasha Dehghan, whose contributions to the field of rheumatology are both profound and far-reaching, received this year’s Clinical Achievement Award. She thanked her patients for trusting her with their care, her mentors who pushed her to realize her dreams, and her family for always having her back.

This year’s Community Excellence Award went to Dr. Susan Burgess, who has a long history of clinical excellence working with marginalized populations in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood. She thanked her patients who she is privileged to walk with and learn from.

Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Buck is this year’s recipient of the Excellence in DEI Award. Ms. Buck said that she loves working and practicing with a DEI lens and at an institution that cares about diversity, equity, and inclusion. She commented that every day is a great day to embrace DEI values.

There were three recipients this year of the Excellence in Early Career Award: gynecological pathologist Dr. Lien Hoang; gynecologic oncologist Dr. Amy Jamieson; and pathologist and nephrologist Dr. James Lan. Each thanked VMDAS as well as their colleagues and mentors.

This year’s Larry Collins Award for Committee Service went to Dr. Raheem Kherani. He thanked his colleagues and patients from whom he receives inspiration as well as his family who make the time and space for Dr. Kherani to spend time on committees.

Dr. Faisal Khosa was honoured with this year’s Scientific Achievement Award. Dr. Khosa has made an exceptional commitment to advancing research on intersectionality and fostering inclusivity in both academia and society at large. Upon receiving the award, he remarked that after about 300 publications, two books, and this (among many) awards, he mentioned to his wife that he was considering doing research about assisted living as he might soon need that level of care. His wife replied that Dr. Khosa had been enjoying assisted living ever since they married.

The final award of the evening, the Special Service Award, went to Dr. Sarah Finlayson for her work to bring additional positions in gynecologic oncology to BC, including a new gynecologic oncology program in Kelowna. Dr. Finlayson emphasized that meaningful work is important to everyone and that acts of service are good for those performing the acts as well as those on the receiving end. She encouraged everyone to focus on where they can help others in small as well as big ways.

Check out photos from the evening here.

Next meeting

VMDAS members are reminded that the next quarterly meeting on Monday, December 16 is also our annual general meeting. Look for details and registration information in upcoming issues of your weekly Checkup e-newsletter.