News Archive

Drs. Richard Lee and Eric Juneau from Richmond Hospital, along with Dr. Chris Newcombe from Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, recently completed a remarkable six-month deployment on Operation AMARNA, a Canadian Armed Forces mission focused on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. The three physicians are reservists with 11/12 Field Ambulance, the CAF Health Services Reserve unit in BC, in addition to their full time work as emergency physicians within the UBC community.

During their two-month rotations in unit 11/12 BC Field Ambulance from April to October 2025, the dedicated physicians served as Task Force Surgeons. They were responsible for planning and executing medical exercises alongside allied forces, including the U.S. Air Force and the Italian Air Force. Their work ensured that Canadian personnel received vital medical care while also contributing to health initiatives in countries like Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon.

The deployment was not without its challenges. The doctors faced complex scenarios, such as maintaining medical readiness amid heightened regional instability and supporting humanitarian aid efforts, including an airdrop in Gaza.

Their experiences not only enhanced their medical skills but also strengthened their leadership abilities, bringing valuable insights back to their roles in the emergency departments. The support from their respective hospitals was crucial in enabling them to balance military responsibilities with their civilian practices. Through their dedication, Drs. Lee, Juneau, and Newcombe exemplify their commitment to both their patients at home and to serving those in need abroad. Their ability to serve as reservists is made possible by the strong support of the Emergency Departments in Richmond and Nanaimo, whose teams ensure they can meet the demands of military training and deployments.

We’ve asked Dr. Eric Juneau and Dr. Chris Newcombe for insight on their experience.

Dr. Eric Juneau
DEM Clinical Assistant Professor

What inspired you to participate in Operation AMARNA and serve as a Task Force Surgeon?

Being a health services reservist in the CAF provides plenty of unique and interesting opportunities to develop new medical and leadership skills, and there is no environment that allows these skills to be employed and tested more than deployed international operations. These situations provide the opportunity to work with highly motivated Canadian and allied service members and ensure they receive the best possible medical care in difficult environments, which is the kind of challenge that led to me joining the CAF in the first place.

What advice would you give to other physicians or healthcare professionals considering a deployment with the military or a humanitarian mission?

Much like our work in the ED, these situations require maximum flexibility and adaptability. Being able to rapidly assess the evolving situation, adapt to the reality on the ground, and make decisions efficiently is the key to providing clinical care in these situations. Good preparation is obviously critically important, but this needs to be matched with flexibility when the situation does not evolve as planned.

Dr. Chris Newcombe
DEM Clinical Assistant Professor

What inspired you to participate in Operation AMARNA and serve as a Task Force Surgeon?

Op AMARNA was my first deployment and an enriching experience from a cultural, clinical, and institutional perspective.  Emergency Medicine has always been a team sport requiring communication and coordination across disciplines, practitioners, and care sites. 

Was there a particular story or experience during your time in the Middle East that stood out to you and impacted you personally?

The parallels with the Task Force Surgeon position were notable.

Overseeing the health care for members (and in some cases, allied troops) across several countries with disparate infrastructure, operational risks, and legal/cultural considerations was challenging and rewarding.  Relying on distant medics to be the eyes, ears, and hands; building relationships with local partners, and liaising with support back home stretched my communication and teamwork skills.

It was an honour to serve Canada and contribute to our efforts in the Middle East while growing personally and professionally.

In the ever-evolving landscape of medical education, traditional teaching methods are being reassessed to enhance learning experiences and patient care. In response to the challenges faced in high-volume environments like Surrey’s busy emergency room, a new teaching model has emerged. Previously, residents and students were often paired with staff physicians in a standard format that limited individualized instruction due to overwhelming patient loads. Recognizing the need for change, Dr. Jonathan Mills, a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, along with the teaching leaders at Surrey Memorial Hospital—Dr. Andrew Cameron, Dr. Sally Barrio, Dr. Michael Louie, Dr. Karla Finn, and Dr. Brian Baker—launched an innovative initiative aimed at creating a more effective learning environment.

The new teaching approach contrasts sharply with its predecessor, emphasizing a reduced pace and a maximum of 16 patients per physician. This structured curriculum not only includes weekly lessons, journal readings, and simulation opportunities but also provides hands-on experience with specialized procedures. By pairing multiple residents and medical students with a single physician, this model enables richer, more focused teaching interactions. Early feedback indicates that this shift is well-received among staff and residents alike, enhancing not only learner engagement but also team dynamics and, ultimately, patient care. As this program continues to evolve, it promises to improve the quality of teaching in emergency departments.

In this Q&A with Dr. Mills, we explore this new teaching model.

What inspired the shift towards the new teaching model at Surrey Memorial Hospital?

The high volume, high acuity setting of SMH ER provides an incredible backdrop for medical trainees at all levels. However, our group was expressing an overwhelming amount of moral distress providing patient care in such a demanding ER, while at the same time knowing the importance of equipping a new generation of ERPs and not having the time on shift to adequately do so. We were looking for a way to allow our trainees to access this high acuity in a manner which was better supported by a supervising ERP freed from the time demands of patient volume. 

What immediate improvements do you see after implementing this new teaching method? 

The most immediate improvement we have seen is in the amount and specificity of feedback which we are able to give our trainees. This model has greatly increased the contact time between the supervising ERP and the trainee. This greater contact time has increased our insight into the strengths and weaknesses of our trainees, and has allowed for much greater transition of experiential knowledge (i.e. knowledge not found in any textbook) from ERP to trainee. 

Do you have plans to measure its effectiveness in the short term or long term?

Yes, we are collecting post-rotation evaluation forms specific to trainees at varying levels (MSIs, FPs, EMs, FRCPs). These evaluations compare and contrast their experience as part of this new group learning shift, with their experience in traditional 1-to-1 ERP pairings.

How does the new approach change the dynamics between residents, medical students, and staff physicians?

One of the goals of this new training method is to increase the transfer of knowledge between medical colleagues at all levels. Towards this goal we have various approaches which can often but not always include a hierarchical sharing of information where the MSI reviews a patient with the FP, who together will review with the EM and in turn, the ERP. At times, we will have the FP shadow the MSI while they perform a patient interview or physical exam. The idea is to have our trainees involved in teaching their colleagues at every stage in their training. With this approach we hope medical education and sharing of knowledge will be viewed as an innate and natural aspect of patient care.

What advice would you give to other institutions looking to implement similar changes in their medical education programs?

It’s self-evident that willingness to try something new provides the structural framework for progress. At SMH we are fortunate to have a group of ERPs who are able to tolerate change and uncertainty in order to bring about potential improvements. However, I don’t think that this adaptability is necessarily unique to the SMH ER. Given the inherent unpredictability of our work as ERPs, we are the ideal group of physicians to trial and implement new ideas and programs. Specifically in the roll-out of this learning shift, it has been successful in large part due to our actively seeking out and responding to feedback from physicians and trainees alike. There have been some aspects of this learning shift which required a lot of time and effort to establish, yet they simply did not work. In these instances, we have been able to quickly realize this, make adjustments and move on because we are not married to the concept of the learning shift itself but rather to the goal of improving medical education.

Dr. Jonathan Mills
DEM Clinical Instructor

Dr. Mills lives in Vancouver, BC, with his wife and three sons. He completed his undergraduate medical education at Dalhousie University and his family practice residency in Victoria. After that, he pursued additional training in Anesthesia and Emergency Medicine. Since finishing his residency, he has divided his clinical time between the operating room (OR) and the emergency department (ED) at SMH ER.

On May 13, the Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) hosted its 17th Annual Emergency Medicine Research Day at the Life Sciences Center on UBC’s Point Grey campus. The event brought together DEM and Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) faculty and trainees to present their research in emergency medicine.

This year, we had a total of 144 registrants, including 35 virtual attendees. The day was facilitated by Dr. Frank Scheuermeyer and Dr. Vikram Sabhaney and included 31 compelling presentations and engaging Q&A sessions. Topics covered included critical care, prehospital care, virtual and AI methods, technology, opioids, advocacy, and more.

There were two featured program presentations. Dr. Erica Lau shared insights on Emergency Care BC’s initiative titled “Designing a Learning Health System for Opioid-Related Emergency Department Care in BC,” while Kurtis Stewart and Nazia Nadir Shah discussed “Continuous Improvement of a Provincial Virtual Physician Service” from Digital Emergency Medicine.

We were honoured to welcome Visiting Professor Dr. Amy Plint, a Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at the University of Ottawa and Pediatric Emergency Physician at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. She presented her research on the vital connections between research and patient care, sharing valuable insights on integrating research into clinical practice.

Awards

Several awards were presented during Research Day this year, each honouring individuals in our DEM community for their commitment and dedication to research and emergency medicine. Congratulations to all the award winners listed below!

Dr. Jim Berbee Award

The Dr. Jim Berbee Award provides funding for research by UBC emergency medicine residents, covering expenses for equipment, materials, student support, statistical assistance, and travel for presentations.

Award Recipients

• Dr. Matthew Yeung, A Retrospective Multicentre Survey of Presentations to Ski Patrol at a Western Canadian Ski Resorts: A Focus on Extremity Fracture Management
• Dr. Alisha Hussey, Embedding social emergency medicine in Canadian emergency medicine residency: a mixed-methods evaluation of a novel elective
• Dr. Katie Zugic, The Association of Intra-Arrest Transport Distance and Survival in Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Dr. Riyad Abu-Laban Resident Abstract Award

The Dr. Riyad Abu-Laban Resident Abstract Award honours the top three resident abstracts submitted for Research Day, providing prizes for the winners.

Award Recipients

• 1^st Prize Dr. Delaney Duchek
• 2^nd Prize Dr. Amneet Dhillon
• 3^rd Prize Dr. Brendan Lee and Dr. Damian Feldman-Kiss

Dr. Jill McEwen Emergency Medicine Award

The Dr. Jill McEwen Emergency Medicine Award is offered annually through a donation from the McEwen Family Charitable Trust in memory of Dr. McEwen. The award is designated for an outstanding fourth-year M.D. student who shows passion, mentorship, and advocacy in emergency medicine.

Award Recipients

• 2026 Dr. Foster Wynne
• 2025 Dr. Samara Reyes
  

Dr. Kendall Ho Award in Digital Emergency Medicine

The Dr. Kendall Ho Award in Digital Emergency Medicine is awarded to M.D. students who are interested in applying digital emergency medicine in rural, urban, or remote settings. This award aims to help remove barriers for future generations of physicians seeking to improve healthcare access for vulnerable communities through digital solutions.

Award Recipients

• 2025/26 Aziz Ghafoor
• 2024/25 Adrianna Paiero

Emeritus Recognition for Dr. Riyad Abu-Laban

Dr. Corinne Hohl, DEM Department Head, honoured Dr. Riyad Abu-Laban’s transition to Emeritus Professor by presenting him with a commemorative plaque. With nearly three decades of dedication to research, education, and mentorship at UBC, Dr. Abu-Laban has made significant contributions to the field, serving as the Research Director and earning numerous prestigious awards. His legacy of excellence in emergency medicine will continue to inspire future generations of clinicians and scholars.

A recording of our day is now available online. For those who attended, we would appreciate your feedback to help us improve our future events. Please take a moment to complete our post-event survey. Your input is invaluable to us!

Dr. Thomas Green, DEM Clinical Associate Professor and RCPSC-EM Residency Program Associate Director at the Fraser site, reflects on his remarkable journey as a team doctor for the Men’s Alpine ski team at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games held across multiple sites in northern Italy, including Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in February. With a background in emergency medicine and sports medicine, Dr. Green brings a unique perspective to the high-stakes world of elite athletic competition.

In this Q&A, he shares insights from his behind-the-scenes experiences, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of supporting athletes at the pinnacle of their sport.

I did my emergency medicine residency and a sports medicine fellowship at UBC. The combination of EM and sports medicine is perfect for working with elite teams, particularly higher-risk sports like alpine skiing.  I have always been interested in working with national teams, and the opportunity presented itself when I substituted for my colleague, Dr. Kate Thompson, during a training camp in Austria in 2015.  Since then, I have travelled with the team once or twice a year to training camps and World Cup races around the world. Being invited to work with the team at the 2026 Olympic Games was an amazing opportunity that I will be ever thankful for.

The physician team is made up of a group of emergency physicians, sports medicine physicians, and orthopedic surgeons. A typical trip with the team ranges anywhere from 10 days to 3 weeks and those that travel, usually do one or two trips a year. Trips to World Cup races often try to combine races so you may arrive in Europe and meet the team somewhere in the week before a World Cup race and then travel with them to the next race the following weekend, often with a stop somewhere to train for a few days.

Training camps are usually in Chile in the fall. The team spends about 6 weeks training in Chile every year and these trips are often covered by 2 or 3 of the docs who overlap. Some of the places we train in Chile are a long way from serious help, so the team really likes emergency physicians for these trips. For those interested in working with the team, these trips are a good introduction without all the logistics of the World Cup.

This sounds like a really fun experience. Can you describe what a “typical day” looked like for you during the alpine skiing events, if such a thing even exists?

A typical day with the team starts early: breakfast and the first one or two coffees before heading up the hill with the physio and the team. On race day, the athletes may do a few warm-up laps before course inspection. The physio and I will typically be at the top of the warm-up slope in case we are needed. After the warm-up, there is a course inspection, where the athletes ski the course very slowly, stopping at key sections to receive advice and pointers from the coaches. This is my opportunity to ski down the course, which is an amazing, if not slightly hairy, ski down a very steep and very icy course. After inspection, there is usually time for cappuccino number 3 and maybe 4, and then it is down to the finish area for the race. During the race, I am usually in the finish area with a team radio calling times and generally being around just in case. After the race is usually free time unless someone needs medical attention, which, touch wood, is infrequent.

On a good day, the team doctor can be seen carrying bags, carrying skis, driving vans, and generally helping out…and hopefully doing no medicine.

What was it like working behind the scenes with elite athletes at the peak of global competition?

Being behind the scenes, whether at training, a World Cup race, or a big event like the Olympics is always an amazing experience. It is incredible to see the amount of work that goes into these events from course workers, on-course medical teams, logistics teams, coaches and of course the huge number of enthusiastic volunteers. Each race has its own community, and I have met amazing people from around the world.

What surprised you most about the experience—either about the athletes, the medical role, or the Olympic environment itself?

It’s hard to encapsulate the experience of working at the Olympics. I have worked with the team at several World Cup races, including the big classics at Wengen and Kitzbuhel where there can be crowds of 50,000 people or more. The Olympics are a bigger stage and higher pressure. There is more media, more security, and more logistics. What always amazes me is the professional approach of our skiers in such a high stakes environment.

Looking back, how did this experience shape your perspective on emergency medicine, teamwork, or even your own career?

Emergency medicine is a fantastic specialty that develops skills that translate to many areas outside of the hospital. It is also a specialty that opens doors to amazing opportunities.

The Canadian ski team is a great example of a highly skilled and functional team. Every member of the group, from coaches to ski servicemen, physio, doctor, and the athletes has a role. Every time I am with the team I am reminded of how a high performing team can work together. Many of the attributes that make the ski team successful translate to work in the emergency dept.

Can you share a memorable moment?

There is nothing like the energy in the finish area just before the start of the race, with the crowd chanting and the music loud. That is always a highlight for me.

The Department of Emergency Medicine is excited to share that Abigail Torrijos will join our department as Administrative Manager starting May 1, 2026, succeeding Meredith Edwards.

With fifteen years of experience at the University, most of which has been spent serving as the Operations Lead for Population Data BC, Abigail prioritizes a people-first approach. She’s a passionate advocate for both health services and clinical research, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from UBC.

In her spare time, Abigail enjoys exploring creative hobbies, running short distances, and searching for the best pastries in Vancouver. She is eager to connect with faculty, staff, and students across the Department of Emergency Medicine to find ways to support the important work of its members.

As we welcome Abigail, we also want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Meredith for her contributions. The department is truly sad to see her go. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours, and she will be missed dearly by all of us.

Abigail can be reached at emergency.admin@ubc.ca.

The Department of Emergency Medicine invites applications for the role of Assistant Program Director, Acute Care POCUS AFC Fellowship. This is a 5-year position, renewable once, requiring a time commitment of 0.1 FTE (4 hours per week).

Administrative Duties

• Attendance at AFC Program Committee meetings
• Attendance at Clinical Competency Committee meetings
• Involvement in application review, interview and selection of fellowship
  candidates
• Assists program director with financial and budgetary decisions
• Assists program director with preparation for program accreditation with the
  Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
• Assists program director with establishing objectives and learning activities of
  the program
• Provides career mentorship for fellows
• Performs program director roles in the event program director is unavailable

Academic Duties

• Organizes journal club articles, assignments and hosts
• Administers CPOCUS examination for fellows requesting independent
  practitioner status
• Involvement in fellow research and scholarly projects
• Assists program director with drafting of academic schedule for the year
• Assists program director with organizing additional learning experiences for
  fellows outside of the emergency department (e.g. POCUS workshop teaching,
  cardiology echocardiography lab, regional anesthesia, etc.)

Wellness Duties

• Acts as the program’s wellness representative
• Development and revision of AFC POCUS policies on fatigue, safety and
  wellness
• Organizes annual fellowship retreat including accommodations, academic
  content, activities and social events
• Assists program director in organizing wellness events such as kick-off event,
  year-end event, journal clubs, and phantom creation session

How to Apply

A letter of application, accompanied by a curriculum vitae should be directed to:

Dr. Corinne Hohl
Head, Department of Emergency Medicine
Email: DEM.Head@ubc.ca
Subject: POCUS AFC Assistant PD

Review of applications will begin June 15, 2026 and continue until applicants are shortlisted for an interview. The anticipated start date for this position is between July 1 and September 1, 2026.

Compensation for this position is $7,500 per annum (0.1 FTE).

We are excited to bring our community together for this year’s in‑person Research Day! Join us on May 13, 2026, at the UBC Life Sciences Centre (Point Grey Campus), LSC 1002 LT2, for a full day of inspiring podium presentations.

Now in its 17th year, Research Day will showcase the outstanding work of Department of Emergency Medicine and Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) faculty and trainees, featuring both completed studies and works in progress. We’re also delighted to host visiting professor Dr. Amy Plint, who will deliver this year’s plenary presentation.

We can’t wait to connect and learn together. For those unable to attend on campus, a Zoom option will be available so you can still take part virtually.

Event Details

Event: Emergency Medicine Research Day 2026
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM PT
In-person: UBC Life Sciences Centre (Point Grey Campus), LSC 1002 LT2

The Department of Emergency Medicine is thrilled to announce the promotion of 23 clinical faculty members. These individuals have consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to medical education, inspiring countless students and colleagues through their teaching methods and commitment to academic excellence. Please join us in congratulating them on this well-deserved recognition.

Clinical faculty members interested in promotion must submit their documents by June 30, 2026. For details, see Clinical Faculty Promotions.

Dr. Ka Wai Cheung, Clinical Professor

Dr. Cheung has served UBC since 2008 and is widely recognized for her contributions to clinical care, teaching, leadership, and scholarship. A dedicated emergency physician, she has taught medical students and residents for more than 17 years and is known for her thoughtful, relational approach to mentorship and collaborative care.

Dr. Cheung is a strong advocate for system improvement and equity. As the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Lead for Emergency Medicine, she co‑created the department’s EDI statement, advanced fair and transparent hiring practices, and helped embed Indigenous Cultural Safety principles into governance processes.

She also serves as physician co‑chair of the Doctors of BC provincial Facility Engagement Working Group, supporting all 76 medical staff associations across the province. Her scholarly work includes over 20 peer‑reviewed publications, multiple grants, and research focused on equity, wellness, and system improvement.

Dr. Michael Curry, Clinical Professor

Dr. Curry, an esteemed emergency physician, has devoted over two decades to excellence in clinical practice, education, and leadership. His significant contributions at Delta Hospital, along with his pivotal roles in the MD Undergraduate Program, reflect his unwavering commitment to medical education and curriculum enhancement. Moreover, Dr. Curry’s national influence is underscored by his involvement in medico-legal leadership and contributions to crucial standards in stroke care and beyond, exemplifying his broad expertise and dedication to the advancement of healthcare.

Dr. Hazel Park, Clinical Professor

Dr. Park showcases her expertise in emergency medicine through pivotal roles at Lions Gate Hospital, including the Emergency Department Medical Director, and the Regional Trauma Director for VCH. Her remarkable contributions include establishing the Coastal Simulation Centre and developing innovative trauma education programs for urban and rural emergency teams, alongside a stellar teaching record that has garnered outstanding evaluations from students and colleagues alike. Recognized for her leadership and dedication to both clinical excellence and community wellness, she has received prestigious accolades such as the VCH People First Award of Merit and continues to support colleagues through mentorship and peer support.  

Dr. Patina (Tina) Webber, Clinical Professor

Dr. Webber brings over twenty years of experience in emergency medicine and medical education across Vancouver Island. Renowned for her expertise in adult education, she has played a pivotal role in training a diverse array of healthcare professionals, consistently receiving outstanding evaluations for her comprehensive teaching methods and leadership in innovative educational programs. Her dedication to mentorship and curriculum development, complemented by multiple prestigious teaching awards, underscores her influential presence in the medical community.

Dr. Jared Baylis, Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Baylis has established a distinguished reputation in emergency medicine, particularly in simulation-based education and departmental leadership at Interior Health. His commitment to teaching is reflected in high learner satisfaction ratings, alongside substantial contributions as Medical Director of Simulation, where he has led initiatives in curriculum design and quality improvement. With a robust scholarly record featuring around 15 peer-reviewed publications and active community service, he exemplifies excellence in both clinical and educational realms.

Dr. Anthony Fong, Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Fong has excelled as a Clinical Assistant Professor since 2019, showcasing his expertise in disaster medicine and emergency management. He serves as Medical Director for Emergency Management at Providence Health Care and has actively participated in international disaster responses, including recent hurricane mobilization efforts in Jamaica. Renowned for his effective teaching and dedication to continuous learning, Dr. Fong’s impact spans local, national, and global arenas in emergency medicine.

Dr. Gina Gill, Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Gill is an Emergency Physician and Trauma Team Leader at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General Hospitals, where she is known for her clinical competence and collaborative spirit. Committed to education, she holds a Diploma in Medical Education and has actively contributed to teaching across various medical programs, earning consistent praise for her clarity and supportive approach. Her involvement extends beyond the clinical teaching, as she engages in numerous service activities and scholarly initiatives, reflecting her dedication to both local and provincial healthcare advancements.

Dr. Robert Gooch, Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Gooch has distinguished himself in emergency medicine through his expertise in trauma, prehospital care, and airway management, significantly enhancing patient outcomes as the BCEHS Regional Medical Director for Vancouver Coastal. His exemplary teaching, characterized by structured instruction and hands-on mentorship across various medical disciplines, underscores his dedication to learner-centered education. Furthermore, Dr. Gooch’s notable contributions to scholarship, quality initiatives, and leadership within hospital committees reflect his unwavering commitment to advancing the field of emergency medicine.

Dr. Neil Long, Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Long is recognized for his excellence in simulation, point-of-care ultrasound, and procedural instruction. His leadership within Interior Health and Kelowna General Hospital is underscored by his commitment to professional development, physician well-being, and enhancing workplace culture, alongside successful educational initiatives at various levels. Co-founding the Interior Health Cadaver Skills and Education program and participating in numerous leadership and professional development courses, Dr. Long’s dedication to teaching is reflected in his impactful evaluations and published educational contributions.

Dr. Shahin Shirzad, Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Shirzad has excelled as a Clinical Assistant Professor since 2018, delivering exemplary clinical care at Vancouver General Hospital while earning high praise from learners. His leadership as Assistant Dean of MD Admissions has driven significant reforms and enhanced support for diverse applicant backgrounds, particularly for Indigenous, Black, rural, and low-SES communities. Through his dedication to medical education, mentorship, and scholarly contributions, Dr. Shirzad has firmly established himself as a pivotal force in both clinical service and academic leadership.

Dr. Ravi Sunder, Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Sunder is recognized for his significant contributions to trauma resuscitation, transport medicine, and medical education. As Trauma Medical Director at Royal Inland Hospital from 2015 to 2024, he pioneered the region’s first inpatient trauma program and has played a vital role in shaping medical training as the Discipline-Specific Site Lead and founding Program Director for various initiatives, including the KEEP program for rural physician upskilling and Kamloop’s CCFP(EM) residency. His dedication to education is further evidenced by his itinerant simulation-based training across rural communities, earning accolades for its effectiveness across diverse learner levels.

Dr. Wilson Wan, Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Wan has demonstrated exceptional contributions to clinical practice, education, and leadership across Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, and BC Emergency Health Services. His roles include Co-Director of the UBC–BCEHS Fellowship and various leadership positions within BCEHS, where he has excelled in medical education and system-level improvements in emergency healthcare. With a commitment to scholarly excellence, Dr. Wan has authored guidelines, published peer-reviewed research, and participated in initiatives that enhance the quality of medical care.

Dr. Baljeet Brar, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Brar has distinguished herself as a remarkable clinical instructor and academic leader within DEM since 2019, excelling in both teaching and clinical practice. With an MD and postgraduate training from UBC, along with a Diploma in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Global Health, she has garnered acclaim for her educational efforts, receiving the 2024 Teacher of the Year award from CCFP Emergency Medicine residents. In her role as Associate Head of the department, she showcases significant leadership while contributing to research on topics such as COVID-19, trauma, concussion, and pediatric emergencies, solidifying her dedication to advancing academic emergency medicine.

Dr. Laura Chng, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Chng practices in both Fraser and Coastal Health and demonstrates exceptional expertise in emergency medicine and clinical teaching for both undergraduate and postgraduate learners. Over the past 3.5 years, she has made significant contributions to postgraduate medical education; leading the academic coach program and other mentorship initiatives at the Fraser site, as well as actively participating in residency program committees, earning her high praise from trainees. Her commitment to education is further exemplified through structured workshops and simulation-based training, earning her recognition as the Teacher of the Year in 2021.

Dr. Natasha DeSousa, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. DeSousa excels as an Emergency Medicine Physician and educator in rural British Columbia. She has been instrumental in strengthening Emergency Services in Terrace, and has worked to increase opportunities for medical students and Residents to train in rural BC communities. Dr. DeSousa has contributed to various educational initiatives, such as leading ATLS courses, local Journal Clubs and local Simulation Sessions. Additionally, Dr. DeSousa is UBC’s Integrated Community Clerkship Program Director and recently completed a UBC-MGB Fellowship in Emergency Department Leadership.  She continues to actively collaborate with Northern Health, the Rural Coordination Centre of BC, and Emergency Care BC with a particular interest in rural healthcare and health equity.  

Dr. Matthew Douglas- Vail, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Douglas-Vail has made remarkable contributions to emergency medicine. He has excelled in his roles as an emergency physician at Vancouver General Hospital and BC Children’s Hospital. He is an innovative educator, having established UBC’s Social Emergency Medicine Elective and the Global Health & Social Medicine Area of Concentrated Expertise (ACE), while receiving accolades for his exceptional teaching and mentorship. His scholarly work is distinguished by numerous peer-reviewed publications and impactful leadership in advancing equitable and sustainable health programs both locally and globally.

Dr. Lindsey Forest, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Forest has established herself as an exemplary rural emergency physician and educator, significantly enhancing patient care across multiple hospitals while advancing clinical standards in rural communities. Her extensive teaching contributions, including supervising medical students and residents and developing innovative curricula, reflect her commitment to fostering essential emergency skills in future healthcare providers. Additionally, her leadership roles and recognition through prestigious awards underscore her dedication to medical education and mentorship, making a lasting impact on the field.

Dr. Kira Gossack-Keenan, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Gossack-Keenan has distinguished herself in geriatric emergency medicine and palliative care through her innovative leadership at Vancouver General Hospital, enhancing the care of older adults in emergency settings. Her extensive teaching portfolio, combined with notable scholarly contributions and peer-reviewed publications, underscores her commitment to education and research in this vital field. Recognized for her excellence with numerous awards, she demonstrates a profound impact on both her clinical practice and academic endeavors, positioning her well for promotion.

Dr. Shari Li, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Li has cultivated a robust academic and clinical presence across various Vancouver Coastal Health sites and enhanced their expertise with a Master of Science from the UBC School of Population and Public Health. With a diverse teaching portfolio that includes clinical supervision and mentorship for students and residents, Dr. Li consistently receives positive learner feedback and contributes significantly to the academic community through peer-reviewed publications and research projects. Dedicated to education, research, and clinical excellence, Dr. Li demonstrated these values during leadership roles, particularly through the coordination of VGH Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds.

Dr. Stephanie Mokrycke, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Mokrycke has built an impressive academic and clinical profile in emergency medicine, supported by her certifications and fellowships from esteemed institutions. She actively practices at St. Paul’s and Mount Saint Joseph’s Hospitals while providing vital emergency coverage in rural and remote areas of British Columbia and the Northwest Territories; her expertise in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is complemented by her outstanding teaching portfolio and recognition through multiple awards.

Dr. David Obert, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Obert has distinguished himself as a Clinical Instructor since 2020, showcasing his exceptional skills as a clinician, educator, and leader in emergency medicine, particularly in the field of prehospital and transport medicine. As the Provincial Medical Director for Emergency Dispatch with BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), he provides medical oversight to one of the largest 911 dispatch systems in North America and is leading transformational quality improvement work in prehospital triage and resource allocation. Whether he is teaching BCEHS or UBC learners, he is passionate about providing hands-on, safe, learner-centred clinical education. Through his ongoing contributions at both St. Paul’s Hospital and with BCEHS, Dr. Obert exemplifies sustained excellence in advancing the fields of both emergency and prehospital medicine. 

Dr. Anna O’Malley, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. O’Malley works as an Emergency Physician and Trauma Team Leader at Lions Gate Hospital and is committed to patient care and the advancement of medical education. Her teaching credentials reflect her commitment to both structured and bedside instruction for medical students and colleagues alike. She is passionate about simulation based learning for medical students and residents, and improvement of patient care through insitu, multidisciplinary simulation. She has demonstrated leadership, innovative approaches to practical training, and has actively contributed to departmental wellness initiatives. Dr. O’Malley’s engagement in clinical education, simulation, and service paints a picture of a well-rounded and accomplished academic professional, dedicated to shaping the future of medicine.

Dr. Jeff Yoo, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Yoo is recognized for his unwavering commitment to both undergraduate and postgraduate education, culminating in the 2019 Teacher of the Year Award at St. Paul’s Hospital. His extensive contributions include leading high-impact courses, mentoring through the UBC Medical School Mentorship Program, and shaping curriculum development for emergency medicine residency training. Coupled with his clinical leadership in trauma care and impressive scholarly output, Dr. Yoo exemplifies the qualities necessary for promotion, reflecting his dedication to teaching, mentorship, and patient safety.