2021 VMDAS Election

I am excited about this opportunity to serve you as vice president of the VPSA/VMDAS board. I am a clinical associate professor of emergency medicine, and joined Vancouver Coastal Health in 2008, working now at VGH and UBC Hospital. In 2010, I graduated with a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, with an interest in health education. My work with the VPSA/VMDAS has grown from working with the Projects Task Group four years ago to now also assisting the Wellness Committee and serving as member-at-large with the VPSA/VMDAS board this past year.

My ongoing work with the VPSA/VMDAS has given me an intimate appreciation of the organization’s mission to foster care, build connections, and enhance collaboration. I find that this mission truly resonates with my belief that high-quality patient care can only occur within a supportive professional environment built on strong and respectful relationships.

The importance of care became personal for me when over a year ago, I felt the reality of burnout, and it was the incredible work of the VPSA Wellness Committees that helped me realize there were actionable steps to improve wellness. I am now one of my department’s physician wellness champions, having assessed the extent of burnout in our team and identified the biggest sources of stress. We are only as strong as our workforce, and care should be extended to our patients and health care staff alike. To this end, I am also on the Doctors of BC Section of Emergency Medicine Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team compiling a toolkit of best practices for hiring, retention and recognition.

The importance of connection is something that I do not take for granted. I believe in creating a culture of trust and inclusion where all voices are safely heard. In my quality improvement work with cardiology, radiology, family practitioners and others, I have found that the best solutions come about when all members of the team are respected and valued. As an examiner with the Royal College and as a member of the Doctors of BC Guidelines and Advisory Committee, I know that we are more than the sum of our parts when we are connected.

The importance of collaboration cannot be overstated. My initial research in smoking cessation was only made possible by “banging on doors” to get a Ministry of Health grant. Uniting organizational silos and in partnership with VCH, we produced a smoke-free premises policy video that won a VCHA People First Award. Collaborating with national and international research leaders, I know the importance of identifying key stakeholders, building a purposeful vision and establishing trust to reach goals and bring about positive change.

With three young children at home, I recognize the need to prioritize and focus on what is most precious and meaningful. Work with VPSA/VMDAS has brought all my passions together.  With humble inquiry and a clear vision, I would be honoured to serve you as vice president.

Please accept this letter as part of my application for the President-Elect position in the VMDAS. I believe that my qualifications for this position can best be summarized by highlighting aspects of my career that exemplify the three strategic pillars of the VMDAS.

I have held a number of leadership positions at VCH which have helped to foster a relationship with the health authority leadership. I am currently an Associate Division Head of General Surgery, responsible for various administrative duties in the division. I am also an Assistant Program Director for the General Surgery residency program. My primary role is chair of the Competency Performance and Remediation committee. Prior to this, I was the Program Director for the General Surgery residency program from 2013 to 2018. In addition, I am a member of the VCH Endoscopy Executive committee as well as the service chief for the MIS service at VGH. I was also the Director of Research, Education and Development at CESEI. These various leadership and administrative roles have allowed me to develop collaborative relationships with the health authority leadership.

I have held various positions that were responsible for promoting physician leadership and hosting leadership courses. As the Program Chair for the Canadian Association of General Surgeons meeting (CAGS), I was responsible for developing and organizing the program content of our national meeting. One of my roles was also to ensure diversity and equity in the material being presented. As a Program Director, I was a member of the Royal College Education Committee, and I was responsible for updating the Objectives of Training in General Surgery as well as developing the Competency By Design EPAs and Milestones for General Surgery in Canada. I am a current member of the Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee, responsible for revising the protocols for colon cancer screening and polypectomy management in British Columbia. I have been involved in a number of initiatives to promote quality and best practices in surgery throughout the province.

Strengthening community and promoting physician involvement in the community has been an important priority in my career. I was the president of the BC Surgical Society, which includes general, pediatric and thoracic surgeons from around the province. This society helps to unite physicians and provide a venue to promote learning. I am a certified DOPS (Direct Observation of Procedural Skills) Assessor for teaching and maintaining endoscopy skills around the province. I am also a member of the VGH Hospital Foundation and I have been involved in a number of fundraising activities that help to support the community. In addition, I have an extensive background in education and teaching. This involves lectures, courses and education committee memberships at the local, provincial, national and international level.

I am proud to be a member of the VCH community and I feel that with my background in administration, leadership, and education, I can fulfill the responsibilities of the President-Elect position.