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UBC emergency medicine graduate Dr. Matt Douglas-Vail leads study on the association of forest fires with emergency department visits in BC
July 20, 2023
There is a probable association between air quality during forest fire season and emergency department visits for respiratory chief complaints, according to a new study led by UBC Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) RCPSC-EM graduate Dr. Matt Douglas-Vail.
UBC emergency medicine graduate Dr. Matt Douglas-Vail leads study on the association of forest fires with emergency department visits in BC
July 20, 2023
There is a probable association between air quality during forest fire season and emergency department visits for respiratory chief complaints, according to a new study led by UBC Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) RCPSC-EM graduate Dr. Matt Douglas-Vail.
The study, “Association of air quality during forest fire season with respiratory emergency department visits in Vancouver, British Columbia”, was published in The Journal of Climate Change and Health.
The study examines the association that air quality during forest fire season had on emergency department (ED) visits in Vancouver, BC from January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2019, where the chief complaints were related to cardiac, respiratory and psychiatric/behavioral health. Wildfire smoke contains high levels of particulate matter and toxins – particularly carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide and benzene, which are known to have cardiovascular, respiratory, ophthalmic and psychiatric implications.
“I moved to British Columbia in the summer of 2018 and was shocked by the air quality fluctuations during forest fire season,” said Dr. Douglas-Vail. “Anecdotally, we saw many more sick patients in the ED when the air quality worsened.”
The study calls attention to the direct impact of climate change on health through several independent interactions, including changing patterns of disease and mortality, food insecurity, access to clean water, migration/displacement and increasing extreme weather events. All of these interactions combined are predicted to place an extreme burden on an already stressed healthcare system.
“In the ED we often see the most vulnerable patients,” said Dr. Douglas-Vail. “These patients are disproportionately affected by climate change and extreme weather events, so it’s vital that we study and understand these effects and how they impact our patients.”
Dr. Douglas-Vail hopes this work will generate more discussion on the impacts of extreme weather events on patients in BC and will lead to more research on climate health and the ED. He is particularly interested in the effect of air quality on mental health presentations to the ED.
DEM researchers Alex Jiang, Shannon Erdelyi, Dr. Jeffrey Brubacher and Dr. Riyad Abu-Laban served as co-authors on this study. They, along with Dr. Douglas-Vail, hope it serves as a call for adaptation to climate change, which has been deemed the biggest global health threat of the 21st century.
At a community and population health level, the researchers suggest that future efforts to address forest fire-related respiratory concerns may include masking during forest fire season in Vancouver or increasing access to high-efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA). In the ED, efforts may include surge staffing for increased visits.
While completing his residency training with the UBC DEM, Dr. Douglas-Vail obtained further training in climate health at the Yale School of Public Health where he studied the effect of climate change on health. This project was conducted during his participation in the DEM’s Novel Education in Research and Design (NERD) block, a month-long research skills and critical appraisal education course.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Roy Purssell
July 19, 2023
This special Faculty Spotlight highlights Dr. Roy Purssell, our outgoing Interim Co-Head of the Department.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Roy Purssell
July 19, 2023
With the July 2023 UBC Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) Faculty Spotlight, we highlight our Interim Co-Head, Dr. Roy Purssell. As his term will end when a new Department Head is named in late 2023, this special edition shines a spotlight on his journey to emergency medicine. Thank you to Dr. Purssell for his contributions as co-head of the Department since 2021, and for his commitment to emergency medicine!
Roy Purssell, Co-Head (Interim) and Professor with UBC’s Department of Emergency Medicine
Can you share a little bit about your educational background and journey, and how you got to where you are today?
I completed my medical degree at UBC, and then my fellowship training in emergency medicine at McGill University. At that time, there were only two Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) training programs in emergency medicine in the country. I completed my certification exam in emergency medicine in 1983, the first year it was available, and I am the 38th person in Canada to have received this certification.
In addition to my role as co-head of the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine, I am currently the medical lead of the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre. I trained in medical toxicology in San Francisco, Denver, Calgary and New York and obtained certification in the Subspecialty of Medical Toxicology from the American Board of Emergency Medicine.
I was born and raised in BC and had always wanted to return to Vancouver after medical school. I spent a lot of time outdoors when I was growing up and find the beautiful mountain and ocean views to be spectacular. Following my medical training, I began my practice at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and Shaughnessy Hospital. I have practiced at VGH for my whole career. Both UBC and VGH are very dynamic places that have given me the opportunity to work with really talented people and constantly adapt the way we practice based on the latest evidence and literature.
What inspired you to work in emergency medicine?
As a third-year medical student, I had the chance to spend time with physicians in the emergency department (ED). During my time there, I saw patients with a variety of serious conditions and realized that a wide range of knowledge was required to work in the ED. This struck me as being both an interesting and important place to work.
I decided to go into emergency medicine because I wanted to be able to take care of patients with any sort of medical problem. There are many patients who have multiple medical, psychiatric and social problems and get much or all of their medical care in the ED. Everyone you encounter in the ED is having significant difficulties and some patients are in crisis. It a privilege to help people who have such profound and serious needs.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of the emergency medicine residents, and the residency program itself. I co-founded the RCPSC-EM program at UBC with Dr. Victor Wood, and served as the program director from 1987 until 1993. The program was created out of a recognition that there was a need for specialized training for this tough type of practice. In the beginning, we had just one resident. Now 13 residents graduate every year. I am so proud of the great care and wonderful work provided by all of our residents.
I also played a central role in the formation of the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine. The creation of the Department in 2008 has greatly enhanced our ability to educate learners at all levels, and to complete research that will change the way emergency medicine is practiced. Many faculty members in the Department are making major contributions in teaching, research and provision of care that have a huge impact on the care of emergency patients in BC.
I am also proud of the research I have done. I have completed important impaired driving research and have worked with MADD Canada and Doctors of BC, supporting the crafting and passage of federal and provincial legislation to address impaired driving. Since these laws were passed, the number of people dying due to impaired driving has continued to decrease. In recognition of my contributions, I was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, and I also received an Award of Recognition from Doctors of BC in 2019.
I am continuing to work with many incredibly talented and dedicated colleagues completing research on the emergency response to overdose. It is our hope that this research will make inroads to address the terrible tragedy of deaths caused by toxic drugs.
Throughout my career, I have been interested in creating change that will ultimately help people, and I’m proud to have received the acknowledgement from others that this important work has made a difference.
However, I am most proud of my family. We all work in professions taking care of people. My wife recently retired after a career as an ICU Nurse at VGH. My older son is an infectious disease specialist. His wife is an obstetrician/gynecologist. My daughter is an emergency physician at the Royal Columbian Hospital. She also takes care of trauma patients at Abbotsford Hospital. My younger son has a Master’s degree in public administration and works for Community Living BC.
What impact would you like to see your work have on patients, communities, and society at large?
It is important to set the ground work for important research in the areas of impaired driving and overdose deaths caused by toxic drugs. I want to continue to encourage emergency physicians and researchers to continue the important work in these areas to reduce these terrible tragedies.
I have been fortunate to collaborate with and mentor many wonderful students, residents and colleagues who have gone on to do great work in emergency medicine as physicians, instructors and researchers. This includes Dr. Jeffrey Brubacher who, with his team, is doing outstanding, high-profile traffic safety research. Dr. Jessica Moe and her team are also doing incredibly important work in developing and evaluating emergency department and community-based interventions for people who use substances. Our residents are also doing excellent work, and it’s wonderful to have a program to provide specialized training and opportunities for those interested in emergency medicine.
What excites you most about your work?
I enjoy taking care of patients and find it gratifying to help people. Sometimes we can make a huge difference in a patient’s outcome, and sometimes we can only try to provide as much comfort and support as possible. I also find it really gratifying to be able to complete research that changes the way medicine is practiced.
What is one piece of advice that you would give to current trainees?
You are starting practice at a very challenging and very important time. You will have very difficult emergency shifts. We don’t have enough doctors to take care of all the patients who need care in reasonable length of time. You will be tired. However, it is important to remember that we need you. The citizens of BC need you. Also, the health care system will need to change so we can cope with all the people that need care. You will play a vital role in this transition of the emergency health care system.
Thank you for what you’re doing, I’m sorry it’s so hard, but it’s so important. Do what you can, and recognize that you have to take care of yourself.
When you’re not working, where can we find you?
I love spending time outdoors, especially with family. I really like hiking and skiing, both in resorts and in back country in the mountains in BC. I like backcountry skiing at Sol Mountain in the Monashee Mountains. Garibaldi Park is also a special place to me and my family. My daughter is also an emergency physician, and the day after her last day of training we celebrated by hiking to Tunnel Bluffs above Howe Sound.
My wife and I enjoy travelling and have had the opportunity to see many beautiful places in the world including the Galapagos Islands, Peru, Botswana, Australia and Iceland as well as visiting many spectacular places in BC. We have two young grandchildren, and we enjoy travelling to Ontario to spend time with them.
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Remembering Dr. Bruce Mohr
July 17, 2023
It is with heavy hearts that we acknowledge the passing of Dr. Bruce Mohr. Dr. Mohr was a passionate teacher in his role as Clinical Assistant Professor with the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine. He was also an accomplished emergency physician at Whistler Health Care Centre.
Remembering Dr. Bruce Mohr
July 17, 2023
It is with heavy hearts that we acknowledge the passing of Dr. Bruce Mohr after a long and courageous battle with depression. He was a dedicated and exceptional emergency physician, educator, mentor and healthcare leader, as well as a beloved family man and friend.
Dr. Mohr was a passionate teacher in his role as Clinical Assistant Professor with the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine. He was also an accomplished emergency physician at Whistler Health Care Centre, where he recently served as Medical Director during the pandemic and had previously served as Head of the Emergency Department.
Born in St. Boniface, Manitoba and raised in Brighton, Ontario, Dr. Mohr had a full life, rich in experiences, friends and family. He graduated from medical school at the University of Ottawa, and went on to complete his emergency medicine residency training at the University of Calgary.
Dr. Mohr joined the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine as a clinical faculty member in December 2004. In addition to teaching through UBC, he regularly presented at local, provincial and national conferences in the specialty area of acute orthopedic injuries. He was also a valued member of the CASTED team, where he taught over 25 courses. He was selected to be a member of this team based on his teaching and clinical excellence.
An obituary for Dr. Mohr, as well as a tribute wall, can be found here.
In honour of Dr. Mohr’s passion for emergency medicine, his friends, family and colleagues have created the Dr. Bruce Mohr Memorial Fund. Gifts will pay tribute to his Dr. Mohr’s life and career by supporting awards for M.D. students focused on emergency medicine at UBC. For more information or to give in memory of Dr. Mohr, visit https://give.ubc.ca/memorial/bruce-mohr/.
Our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Mohr’s family and friends. He will be dearly missed.
Meet our 2023 Incoming Residents
June 30, 2023
The UBC Department of Emergency Medicine is honoured and excited to welcome an incredible group of new trainees to our RCPSC-EM Residency Program in July 2023.
Meet our 2023 Incoming Residents
June 30, 2023
The UBC Department of Emergency Medicine is honoured and excited to welcome an incredible group of new trainees to our RCPSC-EM Residency Program in July 2023.
Learn more about our incoming residents and why they are excited to pursue their emergency medicine training at UBC.
Jasmine Lam | Vancouver Island Site
“I am beyond excited to be returning home to BC to join the UBC Emergency Medicine family. The UBC EM program has so much to offer, but the people made this program my top choice. Our program director has a reputation for being kind, supportive, and accommodating, a reputation that he has lived up to. Moreover, the residents were incredibly open, welcoming, and engaging, something that has made my transition from Kingston to Victoria easier. It is an honour and a privilege to be continuing my training here in BC.”
Riley Reel | Vancouver Island Site
“I am absolutely thrilled to join the UBC Emergency Medicine family! Born and raised in BC, I could not imagine training anywhere else. During my EM electives at the UBC sites, the mentorship I received from preceptors and residents assured me that I will have the support to learn, grow, and thrive as an EM resident. Outside the emergency department, you’ll find me exploring the island, fostering my emotional attachment to the ocean, and pushing the limits of my max heart rate on Mount Doug.”
Julia Robertson | Interior Site
“Emergency medicine captivated me for numerous reasons. Most importantly, I often thoroughly enjoyed my shifts and left feeling like I had really made a difference! Moreover, when considering where to pursue training in EM, UBC interior really impressed me! Kelowna EM displayed a very supportive and energetic group. After conversing with the group since match day, I am thrilled to soon be part of this close-knit community – and to become an excellent and compassionate emergency doctor, alongside my two awesome co-residents. Bring on the adventure!”
Parker Nann | Fraser Site
“The ER offers breadth, pace, teamwork, and acuity. I am energized by this intense and collegial environment where I have been lucky to have found role models who have taught and mentored me throughout medical school at UBC. I am looking forward to continuing to be supported, challenged, and surprised on every shift in the ER.”
Remington Kandal | Vancouver Site
“I’m so excited to start my dream residency program in emergency medicine in Vancouver! During medical school, I was drawn to the amazing community within UBC EM, and I’m thrilled to learn here for the next five years.”
Amanda Mills | Vancouver Site
“I’m incredibly excited to train as an emergency physician at UBC. I’m counting down the days to July, excited to learn in such a warm and welcoming community.”
Chelsey Ju | Vancouver Site
“I remember discovering emergency medicine and feeling so fortunate to have found the perfect fit for what I was looking for in a career: the fast-paced and unpredictable work days, working with vulnerable populations, and being a part of a passionate workforce. During the CaRMS tour, UBC’s EM program and residents impressed me with their genuine interactions and commitment to having fun throughout their journey. I am incredibly stoked to join the Vancouver EM family and look forward to growing both personally and professionally over the next few years!”
Amneet (Amy) Dhillon | Vancouver Site
“I am beyond excited to join UBC’s Emergency Medicine program in Vancouver! Training alongside the most amazing staff and residents while living in one of the best cities in Canada is a dream come true.”
Hannah Minnabarriet | Fraser Site
“I cannot wait to begin learning from and connecting with the UBC emergency medicine community. I am from the Nlakapamux and Secwepemc Nations, and am deeply invested in Indigenous health equity. I look forward to combining my love of the hustle and bustle of the ED with my background in cultural safety for the next five years!”
Eleanor MacLean | Interior Site
“After completing both my undergraduate degree and medical school in Ontario, I’m over-the-moon excited to be returning to my home province for emergency medicine residency at the UBC Interior site! I’m looking forward to working with the awesome group of residents and staff in Kelowna, who have already gone above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Outside the hospital, catch me checking out the hiking, biking, skiing and wine tasting that the beautiful Okanagan has to offer!”
Emma Bedard | Interior Site
“Is this real life? I’m still in utter disbelief about getting to join the UBC emergency medicine program in the Interior! I’m seriously looking forward to learning from and working alongside a fun and passionate group in the ED at Kelowna General Hospital, and all the other sites.”
Danny Jomaa | Vancouver Site
“I am thrilled to be moving out to Vancouver to join the UBC Emergency Medicine program! The supportive and community-oriented nature of the program really shone throughout the application process, and I am excited to train alongside such an incredible group of residents and staff. I also look forward to exploring the restaurant scene and going on many hikes over the next five years!”
Katarina Zumwalt | Vancouver Island Site
“I am so thrilled to be joining the UBC Emergency Medicine group here in Victoria! The program and staff have been so welcoming, and I am excited to learn and work alongside such an amazing group.”
Bronwyn Delacruz | Vancouver Site
“I am very excited to begin my training as an emergency physician in Vancouver. As a transplant from Alberta, I look forward to learning and working with the diverse communities in BC, training with experts in the specialty I love, and to call the West Coast home.”
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Dr. Corinne Hohl promoted to professor with UBC Department of Emergency Medicine
June 29, 2023
Congratulations to Dr. Corinne Hohl for being promoted to the rank of professor, with grant tenure, with the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM).
Dr. Corinne Hohl promoted to professor with UBC Department of Emergency Medicine
June 29, 2023
Congratulations to Dr. Corinne Hohl for being promoted to the rank of professor, with grant tenure, with the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM). The appointment will take effect immediately.
“Like so much of what we do in emergency medicine, research is a team sport. This promotion is really a testament to my clinical colleagues who have embraced research and innovation as part of what we do to improve clinical care, and to the Department of Emergency Medicine which has provided the support required for academics to be able to succeed.” said Dr. Hohl.
Dr. Hohl has been with the department since 2006. Her research interests include emergency medicine, drug safety and effectiveness, adverse drug event surveillance, COVID-19 and pandemic preparedness.
With her team, Dr. Hohl developed ActionADE, innovative software that enables hospital pharmacies to connect with all community pharmacies in the province. This precedent-setting software helps reduce adverse drug events (ADEs), the harmful and unintended consequences of medication. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she became the Chair of the Canadian COVID-19 Emergency Department Rapid Response Network (CCEDRRN) which grew to become the largest research network in the history of Canadian Emergency Medicine.
In addition to her role with UBC, Dr. Hohl is an emergency physician at Vancouver General Hospital, a scientist at the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, and is a member of the Canadian Drug Safety and Effectiveness Research Network and the Canadian Network for Advanced Interdisciplinary Methods for Comparative Effectiveness Research.
Dr. Hohl is the recipient of the 2022 Ian Stiell Researcher of the Year Award from the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP) for her work with CCEDRRN during the pandemic to create the largest national research network in Emergency Medicine. In 2019, she was honoured with an Excellence in Early Career Mentorship Award by the UBC Faculty of Medicine for the guidance and support she has provided to trainees in Emergency Medicine and health research.
The University’s decision to promote a faculty member to the rank of professor is the product of a multi-leveled, rigorous review of performance by immediate colleagues and those within the larger University community. It represents one of the most important decisions made by the academic community at UBC as contributions to teaching, graduate supervision, service, and overall education leadership assist the University in meeting its vision as a globally influential university.
Congratulations to Dr. Hohl on her new appointment!
Dr. Jeffrey Brubacher promoted to professor with UBC Department of Emergency Medicine
June 28, 2023
Congratulations to Dr. Jeffrey Brubacher for being promoted to the rank of professor, with grant tenure, with the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM).
Dr. Jeffrey Brubacher promoted to professor with UBC Department of Emergency Medicine
June 28, 2023
Congratulations to Dr. Jeffrey Brubacher for being promoted to the rank of professor, with grant tenure, with the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM). The appointment will take effect immediately.
“I am honoured by this promotion. This was a very long process and I’m deeply grateful for the guidance and support I’ve received from my colleagues in the Department of Emergency Medicine at UBC. I look forward to supporting other researchers within the DEM and continuing my own research,” said Dr. Brubacher.
Dr. Brubacher has been with UBC since 1996 and the department since its inception. His research interests focus broadly on injury prevention with a special interest in road safety including drug impaired driving, traffic policy evaluation, road trauma outcome, active transport injuries and the association between road trauma and socio-economic factors.
Dr. Brubacher is principal investigator of a national study that monitors the prevalence of drug-impaired driving in 17 Canadian trauma centres. That study has been ongoing for over a decade and provided data that was used to evaluate the impact of cannabis legalization on road safety. In a paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Brubacher reported that the prevalence of injured drivers in British Columbia with high THC levels approximately doubled following cannabis legalization. To complement this observational research, his research group recently acquired a high-fidelity driving simulator which will be used to study driving outcomes in medical cannabis patients.
Dr. Brubacher is also PI on a prospective cohort study that is recruiting injured cyclists, pedestrians and micromobility users (e.g., e-scooters) from four BC emergency departments in order to study the circumstances of active transport injuries and their long-term outcomes. His research includes analyses of population-level auto-insurance, police and health datasets. These analyses include an evaluation of the impact of ICBC’s new “Enhanced Care Coverage” on return to work, an in-depth report on cycling and pedestrian injuries in British Columbia and an investigation of the risk of traffic injury, and severity of injuries, for disadvantaged peoples and places in British Columbia.
In addition to his new appointment as professor, Dr. Brubacher is also director of UBC’s Road Safety and Public Health Research Lab, emergency physician at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and director of the Emergency Medicine Research Program at VCHRI.
Dr. Brubacher received a Scholar Award from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research in 2011 and a Health Professional Investigator award in 2017.
The University’s decision to promote a faculty member to the rank of professor is the product of a multi-leveled, rigorous review of performance by immediate colleagues and those within the larger University community. It represents one of the most important decisions made by the academic community at UBC as contributions to teaching, graduate supervision, service, and overall education leadership assist the University in meeting its vision as a globally influential university.
Congratulations to Dr. Brubacher on his new appointment!
Dr. Mark McKinney recognized with PGME Faculty Award
June 27, 2023
Congratulations to Dr. Mark McKinney, Clinical Instructor, for being recognized for his outstanding service to postgraduate medical education with a PGME Faculty Award.
Dr. Mark McKinney recognized with PGME Faculty Award
June 27, 2023
Congratulations to Dr. Mark McKinney, Clinical Instructor with the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM), for being recognized for his outstanding service to postgraduate medical education (PGME) at UBC with a PGME Faculty Award.
“I really want to add value for our residents in whatever way I can, and I am always looking for ways that I can do better. This award is both humbling and motivating for me to keep improving. Our residents are incredibly professional, driven, and inspiring. I find it so rewarding to be a part of this community.”
– Dr. Mark McKinney
Dr. McKinney is currently finishing his first year of practice as an emergency physician at Vancouver General Hospital and UBC Hospital. He completed medical school at the University of Alberta, residency at the University of Ottawa, and completed a Master of Education this year through the University of Ottawa.
Dr. McKinney’s academic interests include education at many levels, including residency education, interprofessional education, and simulation. Of these areas, he finds residency education to be the most rewarding because of the opportunity to see residents grow.
Each year PGME recognizes the excellence of many of the faculty and staff involved in our programs who show dedication in program leadership, support of their program and their impact on education and learning in all facets of residency education.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. McKinney for receiving this award and thanking him for his ongoing commitment to postgraduate medical education at UBC.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. John Tallon
June 20, 2023
This special Faculty Spotlight highlights Dr. John Tallon, our outgoing Interim Co-Head of the Department.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. John Tallon
June 20, 2023
With the June 2023 UBC Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) Faculty Spotlight, we highlight our Interim Co-Head, Dr. John Tallon. As his term will end when a new Department Head is named in late 2023, this special edition shines a spotlight on his journey to emergency medicine. Thank you to Dr. Tallon for his contributions as co-head of the Department since 2021, and for his commitment to emergency medicine!
John Tallon, Co-Head (Interim) and Clinical Professor with UBC’s Department of Emergency Medicine.
Can you share a little bit about your educational background and journey, and how you got to where you are today?
My spouse Kathy and I have lived in BC since 2011, but our journey here has involved four provinces and two countries over 40 years. I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, where my father was doing his orthopedic residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and my mother was a very hardworking nurse who also raised six children. Our family eventually left Boston and settled in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario.
My undergrad was at the University of Waterloo (history and English) and I completed medical school at the University of Toronto. I also did a Masters in Community Health and Epidemiology at Dalhousie University much later in my career, and eventually went back to the University of Waterloo to complete my undergraduate bachelor’s degree, which was extremely satisfying. My last undergraduate course at the University of Waterloo was Irish History, which is our family heritage background. My grandfather, who spoke Gaelic, English, French and Mohawk, did a lot of general surgery work on the St. Regis Mohawk (Akwesasne) Reservation during the 1920s and 1930s, and in 1973 received the Order of Canada for this work.
Later in my career, I took the administrative practice route to become a Certified Canadian Physician Executive (CCPE). I would strongly recommend becoming certified through the Canadian Society of Physician Leaders for physician leadership development.
After graduating from medical school, I started a residency in surgical pathology at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. I was to continue in the General Pathology Residency Program in London, Ontario. While making the big family move to London, we suffered a tragic motor vehicle crash. Our 20-month old daughter was killed, our four-month old son was critically injured and my spouse was also injured.
After a long year of grieving, some recovery, and the lifelong effects of that tragedy, we left Ontario and started over in Calgary, Alberta. Two more beautiful daughters were born, and our son made a wonderful recovery from his major injuries during our time in Calgary.
What inspired you to work in emergency medicine?
I applied to the Royal College Emergency Medicine program and accepted a position in Calgary. This was after a year of doing rural emergency medicine locums, seeing an amazing amount of acute pathology and wanting more training. I was compelled to enter emergency medicine directly by the death of our daughter. I also had exceptional support and mentorship from family, colleagues, and friends to make the switch from pathology to emergency medicine and to make the transition from Ontario to Alberta.
What are you most proud of?
I developed an intense interest and passion in trauma care, trauma systems and injury control and prevention. I eventually became President of the Trauma Association of Canada (and I encourage all emergency physicians and nurses to join!). I think that injury control and prevention is hugely important, and I am proud of being involved in injury control throughout my career.
But I am most proud of my family and particularly my spouse. We have been through much together and we are more madly in love than ever.
What impact would you like to see your work have on patients, communities, and society at large?
Improving the Emergency Department patient care experience, and defining and improving the entire emergency medicine care mandate in this country. A few critical challenges include staff retention, violence in the ED, unacceptable waiting times for admitted patients or primary ED patients, optimization of comprehensive, timely and available primary care, addressing the opiate public health crisis and solving ED crowding.
What excites you most about your work?
Our jobs as emergency physicians are important; we see people when they are the most vulnerable, most isolated and lonely, and the most ill. Having been that patient in the ED many times, I am fully aware of how the smallest parts of the interactions with the healthcare providers and staff are hugely important and have lasting effects and memories.
I have also had the extraordinary experience of working administratively with Dr. Roy Purssell and the UBC DEM team over the last two and a half years. It has been a great learning experience with a very supportive and skilled team. As well, the adoption and implementation of principles and practices of equity, diversity and inclusion/belonging has been one of the most positive transformative changes I have seen in the practice of medicine in my career.
What is one piece of advice that you would give to current trainees?
Emergency medicine, indeed much of medicine, is a potentially moveable feast (to quote from the title of a Hemingway book). Although it can be tempting to join one ED group in one hospital or health authority and spend your entire career there, I would encourage you to try working in other places, other health authorities, other provinces and even countries. The experience is fantastic, with licensing becoming easier than it was in the past, and you will grow and experience new challenges, as will your family.
Finally (and I appreciate that it was one piece of advice, but nevertheless…) I would like all emergency medicine practitioners to stop (forever) using the term “ERP” to somehow refer to their own professional designation. There is no such term, no certification, no such training program anywhere in the world. There I have said it; I feel better.
Emergency medicine is also a team predicated paradigm, and I would encourage all emergency physicians to augment their team interaction and communication skills while pursuing medical leadership positions and becoming involved in administrative, research or educational opportunities.
When you’re not working, where can we find you?
With my two-year-old grandson who is a constant source of fascination, fun and love! Otherwise, given the right season and conditions, we could be found Nordic skate skiing on the dog-friendly trails of the Callaghan Valley.
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Congratulations to our 2023 Graduating Residents
June 14, 2023
Meet the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine’s 2023 graduating residents!
Congratulations to our 2023 Graduating Residents
June 14, 2023
The UBC Department of Emergency Medicine would like to congratulate our outgoing residents as they celebrate their achievements and look ahead to the next stage of their careers in emergency medicine! Meet our 2023 graduates and learn more about what’s next for them.
Brad Stebner
Hometown: Fort McMurray, Alberta
What inspired you to pursue emergency medicine?
The acuity and broad scope of practice is what initially drew me to emergency medicine but I stayed for the awesome people and team environment.
What is the most important thing you learned in the residency program?
The most important thing that I have learned is that emergency medicine is a lifelong learning opportunity. Even the brightest and most skilled physicians that I look up to are always trying to grow and learn from patients, cases, and each other. Staying humble and keeping a growth mindset will lead to a long and successful career.
What’s next for you?
I am excited to be staying in Kelowna as a staff physician and enjoying the Okanagan with my wife and four kids.
Holly Sherman
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
What inspired you to pursue emergency medicine?
I truly fell in love with emergency medicine’s fast pace, the ability to work in a team environment and the opportunity to truly make a difference in patients’ and families lives through their emergency department experience.
What is the most important thing you learned in the residency program?
In residency, you get out what you put in and there’s always a learning opportunity in every experience.
What’s next for you?
I will be continuing my emergency medicine journey at Vancouver General Hospital and BC Children’s Hospital. I am thrilled to be continuing my passions for both adult and pediatric emergency medicine in the community I grew up in.
Sean Patrick
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
What inspired you to pursue emergency medicine?
I enjoy the variety of the work, the people I work with, and the flexibility of the job.
What is the most important thing you learned in the residency program?
Stay grounded, and medicine isn’t everything.
What’s next for you?
I’ll be working full time in Lethbridge, Alberta and looking forward to having more time to pursue my interests outside of work.
Sean Nugent
Hometown: Duncan, British Columbia
What inspired you to pursue emergency medicine?
I was initially drawn to the fast-paced, team environment I think from my prior team sport experiences. The variety continues to keep me interested and constantly learning. I think also having mentors early on who were emergency medicine residents or staff helped me solidify that EM was for me.
What is the most important thing you learned in the residency program?
That your life priorities will shift many times throughout residency and that is okay. Some times you will have to sacrifice certain aspects to focus on others, but make sure to refocus on what you truly enjoy after that time.
What’s next for you?
Working full time in emergency medicine, and as a locum with the trauma service at Kelowna General Hospital.
Katie Maguire
Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba
What inspired you to pursue emergency medicine?
I was inspired to pursue emergency medicine by the excellent clinical physicians at the University of Manitoba.
What is the most important thing you learned in the residency program?
During residency, I loved learning to work with medical students and other residents, working as a team, and learning from one another.
What’s next for you?
I am so excited to start work as an emergency physician at the Royal Columbian Hospital, Eagle Ridge Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital.
Shari Li
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario
What inspired you to pursue emergency medicine?
When I started shadowing emerg docs in med school, I found that the time flew by and I felt at home among my people. I love that we get to work with a true cross-section of humanity and have unparalleled variety in the cases we see.
What is the most important thing you learned in the residency program?
We are all capable of growing in ways we didn’t know we could.
What’s next for you?
I’m stoked to start working at Vancouver General Hospital while also locuming at Royal Columbian Hospital and Lions Gate Hospital!
Kira Gossack-Keenan
Hometown: Chelsea, Quebec
What inspired you to pursue emergency medicine?
The variety of patient presentations. You’re always dealing with different issues and never know what the day might bring. Also really appreciate the flexibility of the work.
What is the most important thing you learned in the residency program?
So important to meet patients where they’re at and advocate for our more vulnerable patients. At the same time, we need to look after our own well being as well as that of our co-workers.
What’s next for you?
Finishing up geriatric emergency medicine fellowship, and will be working at Vancouver General Hospital’s Emergency Department.
Matt Douglas-Vail
Hometown: Meaford, Ontario
What inspired you to pursue emergency medicine?
The breadth and variety.
What is the most important thing you learned in the residency program?
To be the kind of doctor I hope my family would see in the emergency department.
What’s next for you?
Full-time staff position at Vancouver General Hospital, continuing to work in global health, spending time with my partner and family, and riding my bike.
Michelle Chuang
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
What inspired you to pursue emergency medicine?
The excitement, the variety, the impact, and most importantly, the connections and people.
What is the most important thing you learned in the residency program?
Stay grounded, and stay humble. There is so much to medicine, far more than a single person can ever know, and at the same time, there is so much more to life than just medicine.
What’s next for you?
Working at Royal Columbian Hospital amongst the amazing people who trained me, while concurrently finishing my second residency in anesthesia. Just a few more years and a Royal College pop quiz until I become one of few dual FRCPC Emergency Medicine and Anesthesia physicians in Canada.
Brandon Chau
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
What inspired you to pursue emergency medicine?
Honestly the people. You see the most incredible and resilient colleagues who know when to buckle down and focus, and when to relax and have fun both at work and at social events.
What is the most important thing you learned in the residency program?
Relax, it’ll all work out. Find a way to enjoy every step of residency because, like CaRMS, it might not always be fun but you’ll look fondly back on it someday.
What’s next for you?
Travel, get married, raise kids. You know, the good life.
Sam Brophy
Hometown: Victoria, British Columbia
What inspired you to pursue emergency medicine?
Before medical school, I worked as a paramedic with the BC Ambulance Service. Working this job helped me experience the privilege of supporting someone in their time of crisis and panic. I was inspired to pursue emergency medicine by the unique blend of adrenaline, challenge, and opportunity to make an immediate impact on people’s lives. The fast-paced nature of the field, the wide variety of cases encountered, and the ability to work as part of a dynamic team all drew me in.
What is the most important thing you learned in the residency program?
The UBC Emergency Medicine residency program had a clear focus on developing all aspects of what makes a great physician. The residency program taught me an incredible amount of medical knowledge, but also helped me to become a better colleague, teacher, and person. Having complete strangers put their faith and trust in you when they are at their most scared and vulnerable is an incredible honour that comes with immense responsibility. I believe the UBC EM residency has prepared me well to assume this responsibility.
What’s next for you?
Along with working as an emergency physician, I will be entering into a pain medicine fellowship, focusing on interventional procedures to help patients with chronic pain alleviate their symptoms. I look forward to finding innovative ways to share skills and knowledge between these two complex fields of medicine.
Brendan Arnold
Hometown: Campbell River, British Columbia
What inspired you to pursue emergency medicine?
I first became inspired to pursue emergency med during my MSI3 rotation in emergency medicine in Kelowna. I loved the acuity, the variety and directly working as part of health care professionals. My interest really took off when I did a rotation in LA County for surgical critical care, which had a heavy EM influence. I knew emergency medicine was the field for me.
What is the most important thing you learned in the residency program?
Of course, we learn all sorts of amazing medicine and technical procedures during residency, but I think the most important thing I learned in residency was how to better effectively lead and communicate within a team of health care professionals. I think it’s part of the job I enjoy the most now. I’ve also learned a ton about myself and I feel like I’m a much more confident and developed person since starting residency.
What’s next for you?
I’m staying in Vancouver and will be working at the same hospital I’ve been training at – the Royal Columbian Hospital! I will also be locuming for trauma at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and doing small locums in smaller towns up north and on the Island.
For more information about the UBC RCPSC-EM Residency Program, please visit our program website.
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Dr. Kevin Clark recognized with PGME Program Director Award
June 8, 2023
Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Clark, Provincial Program Director of the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) RCPSC-EM Residency Program, for being recognized for his outstanding service to postgraduate medical education (PGME) at UBC with a PGME Program Director Award.
Dr. Kevin Clark recognized with PGME Program Director Award
June 8, 2023
Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Clark, Provincial Program Director of the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) RCPSC-EM Residency Program, for being recognized for his outstanding service to postgraduate medical education (PGME) at UBC with a PGME Program Director Award.
“It is awards like this that show educators are valued. I feel that all the meetings, collaboration, programming and other new initiatives in our residency program over the last few years are paying off and this is one reflection of that hard work. I am so pleased and honoured to receive this great acknowledgment of my leadership.” – Dr. Kevin Clark
Dr. Clark has served as the Provincial Program Director of the residency program since 2019. In addition to this role, he is also a Clinical Associate Professor with the UBC DEM, Distributed Education Lead for UBC PGME, and is a trauma and emergency physician at Kelowna General Hospital. He has been with the DEM since completing his residency training in 2005.
Each year PGME recognizes the excellence of many of the faculty and staff involved in our programs who show dedication in program leadership, support of their program and their impact on education and learning in all facets of residency education.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Clark for receiving this award and thanking him for his ongoing commitment to residency education.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Jessica Moe
May 29, 2023
Meet Dr. Jessica Moe, Assistant Professor with UBC’s Department of Emergency Medicine.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Jessica Moe
May 29, 2023
JESSICA MOE
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Site:
Vancouver – Vancouver General Hospital
Jessica Moe, Assistant Professor with UBC’s Department of Emergency Medicine.
Can you share a little bit about your educational background and journey, and how you got to where you are today?
My first dream was to work with the United Nations. I studied international development, immunology, and international law. During an internship with the UN in Malawi, I had a formative experience shadowing UN physicians – they treated patients with compassion and courage despite few resources and supports. I decided to pursue medicine, and specifically emergency medicine, as a career that would allow me to have a positive impact at an individual level, and also to understand population health needs and to advocate for system improvements.
My current path as an academic clinician allows me to combine my passions for clinical medicine and population health. I obtained a Masters in Clinical Epidemiology, and I lead a research program focused on substance use, addictions, and overdose prevention from emergency departments. I am leading a multi-centre randomized controlled trial in which we are screening emergency department patients for opioid use disorder, and evaluating the comparative effectiveness of buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) microdosing and standard dosing inductions at enabling patients to be retained on treatment, and at preventing overdose and death.
What inspired you to work in emergency medicine?
I love that emergency medicine offers the opportunity to practise the breadth of clinical medicine, and to work with colleagues of all disciplines and specialties. I enjoy the challenge of treating undifferentiated patients from all walks of life, and the constant opportunity to learn. Furthermore, being at the frontlines of acute care provides us a unique understanding of system pressures and emerging health concerns, and an opportunity to advocate for patient and system needs.
What impact would you like to see your work have on patients, communities, and society at large?
The emergency room is a unique place: no other institution regularly sees people from the breadth of society, from neonates to elderly, diverse ethnicities, and all socioeconomic classes. Therefore, we have a unique opportunity to understand public health challenges (e.g., overdose, environmental stresses, pandemics), and to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions able to reach some of the most vulnerable people in society who are often missed by traditional public health approaches. I hope that my research provides a proof-of-principle that the emergency room is a critical node that can bring together clinical specialties, on-the-ground responders, and system-level decision makers to develop important solutions to societal issues of concern.
What excites you most about your work?
Every day and every patient is unique – our work is never boring! Having the opportunity to hear patient stories and to be a part of their care journey is a constant source of inspiration. In my academic work, I am constantly excited by the opportunity to collaborate with and to learn from colleagues across multiple disciplines, departments, and institutions, and to mentor the next generation of clinicians and scientists working at intersections of clinical, epidemiological, and public health work.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of the work that my team and I are doing to improve care for people who use substances, and those at risk for overdose in emergency departments – our work is advancing standard of care for some of the most at-risk patients who come through our doors. I am proud to be among clinical colleagues who provide exceptional and compassionate care to vulnerable patients every day, despite unprecedented strains on our workplace. I am proud of the impact we have had on individual patients; one woman I started on Suboxone told me: “before I met your team, I had no idea what help looked like.”
What is one piece of advice that you would give to current trainees?
Pursue your passions. Your career is a marathon, not a sprint – when making decisions, think about what will keep you excited and fulfilled for years and decades to come. Balance is important (and difficult sometimes!). Intentionally protect time for physical health and wellness, personal reflection, fun, family, and relationships.
When you’re not working, where can we find you?
Running, surfing, snowboarding, skiing, paddleboarding, biking, hiking, trying a new recipe, or exploring restaurants around the city!
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UBC emergency medicine researchers find virtual physician calls safely reduce in-person visits to the emergency department
May 23, 2023
UBC Department of Emergency Medicine researchers published a new study in CMAJ Open, showing that the addition of virtual physicians to British Columbia’s existing health information telephone service safely reduces the number of urgent in-person visits to provincial emergency departments.
UBC emergency medicine researchers find virtual physician calls safely reduce in-person visits to the emergency department
May 23, 2023
According to a new study by UBC Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) researchers, the addition of virtual physicians to British Columbia’s existing health information telephone service safely reduces the number of urgent in-person visits to provincial emergency departments (ED).
The study, published in CMAJ Open, examined health system use and outcomes of HealthLink BC 8-1-1 callers urgently triaged by a nurse and subsequently assessed by a virtual physician.
“We’ve seen how challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and family doctor shortage have put pressure on the province’s emergency departments in recent years,” said Dr. Kendall Ho, principal investigator, DEM professor and Digital Emergency Medicine Lead. “Partnering virtual physicians with nurses during 8-1-1 calls can ease the burden of in-person visits to the emergency department, while ensuring patients receive the care they need.”
The study identified that out of 5,937 8-1-1 callers who were seen by virtual physicians, only 26 per cent were advised to immediately go to the ED. The remaining callers were advised to seek less urgent care options, including seeking primary care within 24 hours (nine per cent), scheduling an appointment with a health care provider (30 per cent), and trying a home treatment (31 per cent).
Importantly, among patients who were advised by a virtual physician to undertake home treatment, fewer than three per cent were admitted to hospital within the following week and no patients died.
The study concludes that supplementing the 8-1-1 program with virtual physician assessments can assist patients and the health care system by safely avoiding in-person assessment for a large proportion of urgently triaged callers.
“Our hope is that with this service we can not only provide accurate and timely information to our patients about their health situations, but also help them achieve peace of mind to know the best way to manage their care so they don’t feel they are in danger,” added Dr. Ho.
British Columbia’s 8-1-1 telephone service, overseen by HealthLink BC, was established in 2008 to connect callers with health service navigators for health information, and nurses and allied health professionals for health care advice ranging from home management to immediate ED attendance.
Due to an increase in the volume and complexity of calls to 8-1-1 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, HealthLink BC, in collaboration with the Digital Emergency Unit in the Department of Emergency Medicine and the BC Emergency Medicine Network, added a service for consultation with a virtual physician in April 2020. The service, called HealthLink BC Emergency iDoctors in Assistance (HEiDi), allows 8-1-1 nurses to refer callers with urgent concerns for telephone or video assessment by off-site emergency physicians and family physicians, safely diverting patients from unnecessarily going to the ED.
Dr. Ho’s co-contributors include fellow DEM researchers Dr. Riyad Abu-Laban, Kurtis Stewart, Ross Duncan, Dr. Frank Scheuermeyer, Dr. Helen Novak Lauscher, Dr. Rina Chadha, Dr. Jim Christenson, Dr. Roy Purssell and Dr. John Tallon, in addition to partners from the UBC School of Population and Public Health, HealthLink BC, Health Research BC and the BC Emergency Medicine Network.
Wilderness and Mountain Medicine joins the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine as new interest group
May 19, 2023
The UBC Department of Emergency Medicine established the Wilderness/Mountain Medicine interest group in April 2023, which will act as a central clearinghouse for information and ideas about wilderness and mountain emergency medicine.
Wilderness and Mountain Medicine joins the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine as new interest group
May 19, 2023
The UBC Department of Emergency Medicine established the Wilderness/Mountain Medicine interest group in April 2023. The new interest group will act as a central clearinghouse for information and ideas about wilderness and mountain emergency medicine, serving as a space to foster research, opportunities and connections.
The group was created by six emergency physicians from across British Columbia who recognized an academic gap in this subset of emergency medicine.
A recent study of the epidemiology of emergency medical search and rescue incidents in the North Shore Mountains of Vancouver concluded that there is a need for evidence-based guidelines and core training competencies for mountain medical search and rescue.
“With this new interest group, we are working to bring B.C. and Canada up to speed with the rest of the world,” said Dr. Alec Ritchie, UBC DEM clinical professor and chair of the Wilderness and Mountain Medicine interest group. “There are divisions of wilderness and mountain medicine within emergency departments in many American and European medical schools, so it’s time for us to work on bringing best practices and attention to clinical guidelines to B.C.”
British Columbians are no strangers to wilderness and mountain recreation, and interest has continued to grow each year with population increases and social trends. However, with these increased numbers come an increased burden of injury and illness, which creates a greater need for providing medical care in environments that are often harsh and difficult to access.
Medical care can come from physicians who volunteer with various organizations, such as Search and Rescue, Ski Patrol, and Expedition Medical Teams.
According to the BC Search and Rescue Association, there were over 1,600 search and rescue calls across British Columbia in 2022 with more than 30 per cent of these calls requiring medical assistance. The busiest among the 78 search and rescue organizations in the province is North Shore Rescue, where 41 per cent of calls required medical assistance.
“These emergencies happen every day when people get injured or ill in the back country of B.C.,” said Dr. Ritchie. “Bringing more academic rigor to wilderness and mountain emergency medicine would influence training, funding and purchasing equipment so we can provide the best medical assistance to those who need our help.”
Dr. Ritchie’s co-members include fellow DEM faculty members Dr. Doug Brown, Dr. Anthony Chahal, Dr. Tom Green, Dr. Alana Hawley, and Dr. Carolyn Kelly-Smith.
“If there is anyone in B.C. who wants to get involved in wilderness and mountain medicine either through research, work or training, they currently have no central place to turn. This is a starting point where our group can support people to share ideas and receive mentorship,” added Dr. Ritchie.
Those active or interested in wilderness and mountain medicine are encouraged to contact the interest group to discuss research or mentorship opportunities or express interest in joining the group.
Applications now open for the 2023/24 clinical faculty mentorship program
May 19, 2023
Apply now to be a UBC Department of Emergency Medicine clinical faculty mentor or mentee!
Applications now open for the 2023/24 clinical faculty mentorship program
May 19, 2023
Dr. Richard Lee receives CAEP 2023 Emergency Physician of the Year Award
May 16, 2023
Congratulations to Dr. Richard Lee, UBC Department of Emergency Medicine Clinical Assistant Professor, for receiving a 2023 CAEP Emergency Physician of the Year Award.
Dr. Richard Lee receives CAEP 2023 Emergency Physician of the Year Award
May 16, 2023
Congratulations to Dr. Richard Lee for receiving a 2023 Emergency Physician of the Year Award from the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP).
Receiving this award is a tremendous honour and an excellent opportunity to reflect on the many supportive and inspiring individuals who have helped me achieve my goals thus far in my career. These remarkable sources of mentorship and motivation have served as role models in medicine, and I will continue to strive to emulate their admirable qualities and pay it forward.
– Dr. Richard Lee
Dr. Lee is an emergency physician based in Vancouver, BC and a Clinical Assistant Professor with the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine. He has a keen interest in aviation, adventure, and the great outdoors. As a certified flight surgeon with the Canadian Armed Forces, he has been deployed to Africa, Asia, and Central America. Recently, he returned from providing marathon medical support for an Antarctica expedition. When he’s not working in the Emergency Department, he can often be found exploring the British Columbian backcountry through hiking, skiing, and camping, or attempting to keep his dog Gunner from rolling around in the mud.
CAEP’s annual awards recognize excellence within emergency medicine, including advocacy, education, research and professional practice. Award recipients are nominated by their peers.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Lee for his outstanding achievement as a 2023 CAEP Emergency Physician of the Year.
