Every physician remembers their days as residents and fellows. It is a challenging time for anyone’s career and can determine whether pursuing this profession is worthwhile. Acknowledging residents’ and fellows’ contributions to patient care is a priority for VMDAS and VPSA, which started an annual resident and fellows recognition and appreciation event three years ago with financial assistance from the Mas Yukawa Foundation. This year, VCH took over funding and partnered with VPSA for event coordination. The 2025 event was open to all VA and VC residents, fellows, physicians, and other medical staff.

The evening’s speakers included VMDAS/VPSA Vice President Dr. Michael Nimmo, VA Senior Medical Director Dr. Vinay Dhingra, Dr. Sonia Butterworth, Assistant Dean, UBC Faculty of Medicine Postgraduate Medical Education, and Dr. Imayan Subramaniam, who spoke on behalf of VA and VC residents and fellows.

A highlight from the evening was the heartfelt speech by VCH’s new Medical Director, Post-Graduate Medical Education, Dr. Kelly Lefaivre. She listed 10 things that are better because of our residents and fellows:

• Thank you for being the single greatest source of knowledge on how to get things done.
• Thank you for being the voice for change when outdated processes need it. Change can be hard but is so important.
• Thank you for surviving long call shifts on boost and very small containers of apple juice—hospital-issued food never changes.
• Thank you for being brave and speaking up when you or your colleagues need support.
• Thank you for being at the frontline for patients and families facing their worst days.
• Thank you for speaking up when you catch something we may have missed, because we know that is so important to patient safety.
• Thank you for taking that research idea and putting in the hours to make it something great.
• Thank you for always asking great questions and finding the opportunity to learn even when the basics like food and sleep have been scarce.
• Thank you for the teaching and mentorship that you give each other, resident-to-resident education and mentorship is central to the success of PGME programs.
• Thank you for tirelessly working to put our patients first.

VMDAS and VPSA aim to strengthen engagement across the medical staff and build a supportive environment where residents and fellows not only thrive during training but choose to stay and grow their careers here as staff. By fostering this kind of culture, we are investing in the future leaders of our health-care system.

May is Residents Wellness Month. Our residents and fellows matter. Their efforts are seen. Their impact is deeply appreciated.

Check out photos from the 2025 Resident and Fellows Recognition and Appreciation Event here.