VMDAS members gathered October 5th 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 2026.

VMDAS President Dr. Adam Meneghetti described the event as a chance to come together to recognize and celebrate outstanding contributions to VCH and to patient care.

“Whether you have been here for five years or 45 years, through your time, dedication, and expertise, you have made countless contributions,” he said.

Years of service recognition

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

Dr. Tina Zhang represented the largest cohort: members celebrating five years of service. A radiation oncologist, Dr. Zhang described a physician’s first years as a time to build their practice, get their foot in the door, and come to understand the system. She expressed her gratitude for mentorship and looks forward to “accumulating gray,” an oncologist’s term for the most effective dosage.

Anesthesiologist Dr. Alexandra Kisilevsky spoke on behalf of members being recognized for 10 years of service. She recalled how 25 years ago her husband died from metastatic melanoma. While grieving, she decided to write the MCAT. It changed her life and she has found her work brings her great joy. She noted that she works with upstanding people who support her and make her laugh. Our work, she said, is the highest service to society and that we all do it on the shoulders of others.

Psychiatrist Dr. Anna Borowska  spoke on behalf of her cohort reaching the 15-year service milestone. Dr. Borowska spoke of a three eras to her career. The first was in the 1980s when she attended med school; this was before personal computers and laptops and required using lots of paper and heavy books. She returned to med school to specialize in psychiatry during the 2000s and called this second era the digital age. Today she sees a third era thanks to artificial intelligence and the impact it is having in the medical world. Throughout all these times, Dr. Borowska is grateful for all the support she has received from her colleagues.

Endocrinologist Dr. Jason Kong represented members who have now been working at VCH for 20 and 25 years. He remarked on the many distinguished names among these cohorts, many of whom he admires. He noted that these people have given their careers and lives to VCH and that their work is fulfilling because of their patients and their colleagues.

Neurologist Dr. Michelle Mezei spoke next on behalf of members reaching 30 years of service. She described her time here “as quite the ride” and recalled some of the changes over the past three decades. There have been tough times (epidemics and pandemics), but she has also witnessed amazing new treatments. The things she values most are the connections she has made and the opportunity to be continually learning.

Plastic Surgeon Dr. Douglas Courtemanche spoke on behalf of members with 35 years of service. He expressed his appreciation for working with people who are keen, curious, and up to date. In a “prickly modern world,” he counselled that everyone has value and everyone needs support.

Vascular Surgeon Dr. Anthony Salvian was the last milestone years of service speaker. He represented the nine VMDAS members who have been with VCH for 40 and 45 years. While noting that it is hard to believe that he has been with VCH for 45 years, he commented that he has enjoyed a great career largely because of his colleagues. He looks back on his time here with gratitude and fondness.

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 2026 Academic Awards

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

Dr. Graham Wong is this year’s recipient of the Bringing Clinical Renown to Vancouver Community of Care Award for his work on the VCH ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) program, which is one of the first and remains one of the largest regional STEMI programs in Canada. Dr. Wong thanked VMDAS for acknowledging that this is a team award and that the program exists because of the team’s persistence. He is proud of their work and noted that it has been a privilege to do this at VGH.

Dr. James Gray received the Clinical Excellence Award. Dr. Gray is one of a small number of physicians at VGH who hold triple certification in family medicine, internal medicine, and gastroenterology—a foundation that has given him an unusually broad and grounded perspective on patient care, and one that has informed his clinical judgment and his teaching throughout his career. Dr. Gray thanked VMDAS and expressed his appreciation for his colleagues and students.

This year’s Community Excellent Award went to Dr. Randall White whose work has transformed the care of individuals living with severe mental illness while advancing psychiatric practice locally, provincially, and internationally. He said it was truly meaningful for him and clinics he works with to receive this recognition. While the demand for mental health and substance use services affects emergency departments and acute care, most clients are cared for in community settings. Dr. Randall emphasized his gratitude for the support he and his colleagues receive from medical directors and operations leaders.

Dr. Sara Belga received the Excellence in Early Career Award. She joined the Vancouver Acute Division of Infectious Disease in July 2019, bringing specialized expertise in transplant infectious disease. In the relatively short time since her appointment, she has demonstrated outstanding performance across multiple domains. Dr. Belga arrived shortly before the pandemic, which was a challenging time to start any job, but she said she has thrived even during the hardest times thanks to VCH being a great and supportive place to work.

The Dr. Larry Collins Award for Committee Service this year was awarded to Dr. Silvia Chang. She is proud to work at VCH and had an amazing experience here as a trainee. Her teachers, leaders and mentors inspired her to give back through committee work. Dr. Chang said she appreciates working on committees with people across many disciplines and the impact this work has had on patients across the province.

VMDAS’s DEI award was renamed this year to honour the late Dr. Lynn Straatman and Dr. Joy Masuhara is its first recipient. As a family physician and the inaugural regional medical director for diversity, equity and inclusion at VCH, Dr. Masuhara has spent decades breaking down social and cultural barriers to care. Dr. Masuhara spoke of her recent visit to the Japanese Canadian Monument in Victoria, which marks the injustice done to people interned during WWII. Seeing the names of all 22,000 people affected, including several of her own family members, was monumental and overwhelming. Dr. Masuhara said these ancestors inspire her to continue valuable DEI work.

Dr. Dirk Coetsee is this year’s recipient of the Dr. Roberta Miller Award in Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Coetsee has guided multiple learners through their family medicine residency at Raven Song Primary Care Clinic and provides opioid agonist treatment training and clinical mentorship to community doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurse prescribers. In accepting the award, Dr. Coetsee emphasized that learning is a two-way street and he is grateful to his colleagues and clients for creating a learning environment in a low-barrier and trauma-informed setting.

Dr. Adnan Sheikh received the Scientific Achievement Award, which is based on the impact factor of publications and recognition of research. Dr. Sheikh is clinical professor and vice chair, Continuing Medical Education, in the UBC Department of Radiology, and serves as director of research, musculoskeletal imaging, at VGH and UBC Hospital. Since joining the Vancouver Community of Care in 2020, he has distinguished himself as a national leader in diagnostic radiology, an innovative clinical investigator, and a dedicated educator.

The last award of the evening was the Special Service Award, which this year goes to Dr. Rod Tukker. His most distinctive contribution to special service is his role as physician and mentor in the Street2Peak Project, part of the Streetfront Alternative Program at Britannia Secondary School. Dr. Tukker thanked his hospitalist colleagues, without whom he couldn’t take time off to climb mountains. He noted that we are privileged to do the work we do and encouraged others to take their skills and knowledge out into the community.

Check out photos from the evening here.

Next meeting

VMDAS members are reminded that the next quarterly meeting on Monday, December 7 is also our annual general meeting. Look for details and registration information in upcoming issues of your weekly Checkup e-newsletter.