One hundred and sixty-five members gathered in person (26) and online (139) on December 8th for the VMDAS and VPSA annual general meetings. The evening included the business portions of an AGM along with remarks from guest speakers VCH President and CEO Vivian Eliopoulos, VCH VP of Medicine and Academic Affairs Dr. Roger Wong, and Doctors of BC President Dr. Charlene Lui.

VMDAS AGM

Outgoing VMDAS President Dr. Ka Wai Cheung presented her report on the past year’s activities. VMDAS exists to advocate for members’ interests, and it does so at regular meetings with VA/VC senior leadership as well as at meetings with the Vancouver Medical Advisory Committee, the Health Authority Advisory Committee, and the recently created MSA Presidents Council. (Summaries of these meetings are included in your weekly Checkup e-newsletter.) VMDAS also works to promote member recognition and connection through such events as the annual long-service recognition ceremony, the annual medical staff awards, a resident recognition event and the biannual Hall of Honour Induction Ceremony. Your MSA also provides funding towards family-friendly events; this past year that included an afternoon of bowling and a seed-growing workshop.

Dr. Cheung also reflected on VMDAS members who passed over the last year and paid tribute to their dedication to excellent patient care: Drs. Marcel Dvorak, Terry Waters, John Tsang, Raja Abboud, Frank Tyers, and Lynn Straatman.

Outgoing VMDAS Treasurer Dr. Adam Meneghetti presented the organization’s finances and proposed budget for 2026/2027, which was passed unanimously.

Outgoing Past President Dr. Alison Harris presented the election of the new executive. Normally the current vice president becomes the new president once the latter’s two-year term ends. Unfortunately, outgoing Vice President Dr. Michael Nimmo in unable to assume this role due to new demands as the regional head and VA lead for pathology. Stepping away from VMDAS was not a decision he made lightly, and we will miss his input. The nominees for the 2026/2027 VMDAS board of directors, who were accepted unanimously, are as follows:

• President: Dr. Adam Meneghetti
• Vice President: Dr. Fahreen Dossa
• Treasurer: Vacant
• Secretary: Dr. Sarah Barrett
• Member at Large: Dr. Zafrina Poonja

We would like to send a special note of thanks to our departing board members for their dedication and commitment over the past year(s): Drs. Michael Nimmo, Eric Yoshida, Debra Miller, and Alison Harris. Dr. Cheung will remain on the board in the role of past president.

VPSA AGM

Dr. Cheung’s presentation for the VPSA AGM included a review of the association’s strategic pillars and its committees and task groups. She drew attention to the VPSA Board of Directors’ Report, which provides a detailed review of VPSA’s activities over the past year.

Dr. Meneghetti presented VPSA’s unaudited financial statements for approval, which passed unanimously, as did approval of the appointment of Jerry Wong and Associates as the association’s accountant.

Dr. Harris led the ratification of VMDAS’s directors as VPSA directors. In addition, Dr. Anna Borowska was approved as VPSA’s treasurer, with Drs. Melanie Altas and Parmiss Mojtabaie approved as members at large.

VCH speakers

VCH President Vivian Eliopoulos spoke about the health authorities goals and priorities for 2024-2029 and the oneVCH awards that support retention and belonging. She also touched on the provincial government’s review of health authorities and its recent announcement that it will be creating a new standalone shared services organization to support all health authorities. Administrative and corporate services across all regional health authorities and PHSA will be brought together in this new organization, which will be established by spring 2026. Services will gradually transition to the new organization over time, and as details are finalized.

VP of Medicine and Academic Affairs Dr. Roger Wong remarked about how every time VMDAS members engage with patients and clients they are breathing into the vision of empowering healthy lives and healthy communities. He underlined the importance of compassion in our professions and thanked everyone for their expertise and commitment. He also touched on ways that Medicine and Academic Affairs is modernizing and streamlining the credentialling and privileging process and updating the medical leadership structure to make our work easier.

Doctors of BC presentation

DoBC President Dr. Charlene Lui noted that this would be her final presentation as the association’s president. Dr. Adam Thompson is the incoming president.

She said it has been an incredible privilege to represent physicians and that her role gave her the opportunity to travel the province and speak with physicians everywhere, which was inspiring and humbling. Dr. Lui also touched on the initial findings of the health authority review and the hope that the shared services organization will lead to better care for patients by reducing the administrative burden and redirecting funds to frontline care.

Dr. Lui also spoke about changes to the Health Professions and Occupations Act and some of the concerns Doctors of BC has with it as well as issues regarding waitlist management for specialists, and ongoing challenges in accessing family physicians. She discussed the Physician Master Agreement negotiations at a high level, noting that the details remain confidential at this time. Dr. Lui concluded by emphasizing the need for collection action and collaboration, saying that, “Together is our superpower.”

Event photos

Check out photos from the AGMs here.