Dr. Ashok Krishnamoorthy has been our regional medical director responsible for medical staff wellness for close to a year now. His path to this position was influenced by many factors, including two from his childhood that he shared at VPSA’s recent Dinner With Leaders event. Dr. Krishnamoorthy came from a family of farmers and landlords in southern India. Every 12 years, two million people would attend a nearby 10-day religious … Read More
Prescribing patients with a dose of nature
There’s an evidence-based option available to Canadian physicians looking to offer their patients effective treatment: prescriptions to spend time in the great outdoors. That’s thanks to Dr. Melissa Lem and the PaRx program. Dr. Lem shared her passion for the program with a group of VMDAS members recently as part of the Vancouver Acute/Vancouver Community Medical Staff Planetary Health Committee’s speaker series. After hearing from Dr. Lem, members heeded the … Read More
VMDAS Family-Friendly event garners rave reviews
VMDAS members and their families gathered recently for a great afternoon of lawn bowling, fantastic food, and networking. This was the third time VMDAS and VPSA have co-hosted the event, and, by all accounts, the day was perfect. “It is wonderful to have received such great feedback,” said Dr. Lesley Wood, a member of VPSA’s Community Building and Wellness Task Group and the event’s key organizer. “With a net promoter … Read More
VMDAS honours members with remarkable service
There was a celebratory mood as VA and VC medical staff gathered September 18 in person and online to acknowledge members attaining service milestones as well as eight physicians who have made remarkable contributions to our communities of care. “This event is one of the highlights of our calendar,” said VMDAS President Dr. Alison Harris as she welcomed attendees. “This year, we’ll hear from representatives of medical staff observing five, … Read More
Writing for Wellness
In March 2023, nine physicians who care for cancer patients gathered for a three-day writing retreat in a beautiful retreat centre in the rainforest of the west coast of BC. The goal of the session, which included palliative care physicians, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and psychiatrists, was to provide a safe space to explore the complex emotional landscape of working with illness, death, and grief through the creative process of … Read More