The UBC Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) is pleased to announce that Dr. Trevor Skutezky and Dr. Michael Bergunder have been selected for the 2025 UBC-MGB Emergency Medicine Leadership Fellowship at Mass General Brigham. The two-year fellowship program is designed to help residency-trained Emergency Medicine specialists develop into leaders in managing Emergency Departments (ED).
Our participants will gain skills in emergency care management, budgeting, health policy, and personnel management, all of which are essential for leadership roles at various levels. The program emphasizes teamwork, decision-making, and the administrative processes necessary for functioning in hospitals, urgent care settings, and broader health systems.
The fellowship is co-directed by emergency physicians Dr. Shawn D’Andrea, Director of the Strategic Collaborations Unit at Mass General Brigham, and Dr. Chad A. Kim Sing, Vice President of Medicine & Academic Affairs at Vancouver Coastal Health. Primarily based in Boston, the program is affiliated with Mass General Brigham, a major teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
Historically, only one fellow is chosen for this program each year, but this year marks a significant change, as DEM is offering two fellowship positions. We also received a record number of applications, featuring outstanding candidates, making the selection process highly competitive. Our selection panel was impressed by the quality of the applications, and we would like to thank all applicants for their interest. Congratulations to Dr. Trevor Skutezky and Dr. Michael Bergunder!
Dr. Trevor Skutezky currently serves as the Department Head and Medical Director for Emergency Medicine at Vancouver Acute (VA), comprised of Vancouver General and UBC Hospitals. He is a practicing emergency physician and a DEM Clinical Assistant Professor.
Leading with a clinical operations partner, Dr. Skutezky oversees an interdisciplinary team renowned for effectively implementing new initiatives. His aim is to position the VA emergency department as a leader in emergency medicine at both the provincial and national levels, thereby enhancing emergency medicine practices throughout British Columbia.
Dr. Skutezky will offer a unique perspective to the Fellowship, drawing on his experience in leading emergency medicine at VA.
“The Fellowship is a key opportunity to learn how other large, complex health systems operate and bring that knowledge back to BC to help tackle some of the current and emerging challenges faced by our emergency department teams.”
Dr. Mike Bergunder is an Emergency Physician practicing in Penticton, and the Senior Medical Director for the Thompson Cariboo region with Interior Health. He also holds leadership positions with UBC’s Southern Medical Program. He completed medical school with UBC Vancouver, rural family medicine training in Red Deer Alberta through the University of Alberta, and a fellowship in emergency medicine at St. Paul’s Hospital with UBC. When not working, Mike spends time with his wife Melissa, their twin boys Will and Ben, and tries to get outside to golf, hike, and explore the Okanagan.
“I believe one of the foundational components of emergency medicine is the concept of adaptability, and I have found over my first five years of practice, that this trait is essential to success, and overall well-being. I have had to overcome several barriers as an Indigenous physician, but those barriers have often directly led to amazing opportunities. I believe that this fellowship will provide foundational opportunities to learn, grow, network, and gain a better understanding of both emergency medicine, and healthcare leadership.”