News Archive

KELSEY INNES
CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Site:
Vancouver –  Vancouver General Hospital

Dr. Kelsey Innes is a Clinical Assistant Professor with the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine and Co-Director of the Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) Emergency Department Simulation program. She grew up in Vancouver and completed her undergraduate medical degree and residency at UBC.

Can you share a little bit about your educational background and journey, and how you got to where you are today?

I grew up in Vancouver British Columbia and have managed to stay here. I completed my undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Victoria, and I’m not sure I can even do basic math anymore, although at the time I loved it. I completed my undergraduate medical degree and my residency at UBC. I love the city of Vancouver and the group I worked with throughout residency, so I decided to stay (that and my husband would never have allowed us to move).

What inspired you to work in Emergency Medicine?  

My father is an emergency physician, so I guess it’s in my blood? I tried hard to like something else, but I was hooked the second I did my third-year elective. I always felt well suited to the specialty. I like the dynamic, fast-paced environment. I like having a relatively high level of knowledge of many areas of medicine. I like the collegiality of the department and the friends I have made there. I also think there is something noble about a specialty that has agreed that we are willing to see anyone at any time for any problem.

What impact would you like to see your work have on patients, communities and society at large?

To be honest, my main focus is always on the patient in front of me and how I can improve things for the patient, whether that’s easing pain, preventing harm, educating and generally trying to ensure the patient has a good outcome. I think for this reason, outside of my clinical work, my main focus is on simulation and team behaviors. I do a lot of simulation with residents and allied staff with the goal of improving how we work together. I hope that this makes a difference for that one patient when they come in really sick and really need our help.

What excites you most about your work? What are you most proud of?

I love education and am passionate about teaching. I think the thing that excites me the most about work is watching our residents grow from very green first year residents into very competent and compassionate physicians. I am so proud to play a small part in their journey. 

What is one piece of advice that you would give to current trainees?

Make friends with your cohort and stay in touch often. I have received the greatest support from the group of women who were hired when I was hired, and it has meant everything. 

When you’re not working, where can we find you?

These days you’ll mostly find me at home with my first child (my dog, Lucy) and my new baby, Adelyn.  Exercise is my wellness and I consider Peloton instructors my therapists, so when I can find a moment’s peace, I like to escape to our makeshift home gym and do a class or two.

Learn more

• Listen to CBC’s The Early Edition with Stephen Quinn: Doctor who got covid vaccine while she was pregnant

MANAL MASUD
RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Site:
Vancouver – Vancouver General Hospital Research Pavilion

How long have you worked in the Department/UBC?

I have worked at UBC for three years, first as a graduate research assistant for the UBC School of Nursing and now as a research coordinator with Department of Emergency Medicine. I have been in this role since June 2019, a little over two years.

Can you summarize what you do in the Department?
I coordinate a national multi-centre research study that monitors the prevalence and pattern of drug use in injured drivers across Canada, led by Dr. Jeff Brubacher. I track project progress and budget, support data collection activities, and lead evaluation of the research project for our funder (Health Canada). I am also involved in developing knowledge exchange products, such as surveillance and progress reports, presentations and infographics to engage stakeholders across the country. Additionally, I maintain our research website and assist with grant and manuscript writing.

What is your favourite thing about working in the Department?

The people! Everyone on our road safety and public health research team is a pleasure to work with. We have a very supportive work environment, and I’m always learning new things.

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?

I enjoy cooking, community organizing, and exploring the beautiful Coast Salish lands and water that I feel very grateful to live and work on.

NICOLE ESLIGAR
PROJECT COORDINATOR

Site:
Vancouver –  Vancouver General Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital

How long have you worked in the Department/UBC?

I celebrated one year with the department on August 16, 2021

Can you summarize what you do in the Department?

I am a project coordinator for the EMED Study (PI: Dr. Jessica Moe), a multi-site clinical trial including Vancouver General Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital comparing microdosing and standard dosing of buprenorphine/naloxone for emergency department patients at risk of opioid overdose. I help coordinate the day-to-day logistics of our clinical trial, including working with our emergency department sites to implement study protocols and train staff. I also help support our research grants and reporting requirements, and I collaborate with our external study stakeholders in British Columbia and Alberta.

What is your favorite thing about working in the Department?

My favorite thing about working in the department is connecting with so many different types of people in so many different careers. I work with nurses, doctors, social workers, researchers, hospital administrative staff, grant funders, doctoral students, Public Health officials, and more. It’s an incredibly collaborative and diverse place to work, and I learn so much from interacting with people from very different backgrounds.

What is one interesting fact about you that people may not know?

My first time leaving Canada was to travel to East Africa at age 19 for a field work summer study program. I have had the travel bug ever since, and I am hoping to travel to every continent in my lifetime.

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?

I am an avid book nerd, and I can almost always be found with a new book in hand. I also love to travel, but when I’m at home, I am outside exploring the BC coastline as much as possible. I am always on the hunt for the best Mexican food, and I love trying out new restaurants and wine bars wherever I am. I’m always up for a hike or a bike or a kayak, and I have recently learned how to rock climb. On the extremely rainy days, you can find me curled up on my couch with a cup of coffee and some reality tv.