News Archive

The Vancouer 2010 Olympics are finally here and the gargantuan effort of bringing the world to Vancouver could not have happened without the desire, dedication and drive of many individuals. Many of the faculty and staff of the Department of Emergency Medicine have contributed to a number of different aspects of the 2010 Olympic Games.

Torch Bearer

Dr. Roy Purssell, Acting Co-Head of the Department of Emergency Medicine was one of the torch bearers in the Whistler leg of the torch relay. He ran with other members of the BCMA dubbed the “BCMA Pacemakers” and led by Dr. Gavin Stuart, Dean, Faculty of Medicine.

I am very proud to have the opportunity to carry the Olympic Torch. The athletes in the Olympics make incredible sacrifices so they can perform at their best. Family members, friends, and coaches work tirelessly to support the athletes. Canadians are very proud of their athletes.

The Olympic torch relay is a way to honour the contributions of the athletes and contributions of many other Canadians. I feel I was chosen to carry the torch because of my work on initiatives to stop drunk driving. As an emergency physician at Vancouver General Hospital I see the carnage caused by drinking and driving firsthand. I chair the BCMA’s Emergency Medical Services Committee which has lobbied hard for legislative changes to combat drinking and driving. I have also completed research on solutions to stop drunk driving. Editorials about my research have been written in the Vancouver Sun and the Globe and Mail. In 2006, I received the MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) National Citizen of Distinction Award. My family is very excited that I will be carrying the torch. My wife, children and my 90 year old father are all planning to come to Whistler to see me carry the torch. – Dr. Roy Purssell

Medical Coverage

• Dr. Bruce Campana was a volunteer physician at the Olympic Village.
• Dr. Brighid Cassidy was a volunteer physician at the Olympic Village.
• Dr. Anthony Chahal was a volunteer physician. He was part of the snowboard venue athlete medical team at Cypress. He responded to injured snowboarders. Dr. Bob Chamberlain was the Director of the Vancouver Polyclinic. This venue situated in the Athlete’s Village provided therapy and acute treatment to all athlete’s and Olympic Family members. It had lab and imaging modalities including MRI, CT scan, and Ultrasound. Staffed by emergency physicians and specialists it was a state of the art acute care facility.
• Dr. Kevin Clark was a volunteer physician. He was part of the snowboard venue athlete medical team at Cypress, responding to injured snowboarders.
• Dr. Jeff Coleman was the Venue Medical Officer for Long Track Skating at the Richmond Olympic Oval. He was responsible for directing medical activities at this venue.
• Dr. William Cunningham was a volunteer physician at the Olympic Village.
• Dr. Mark Desouza was a volunteer physician at the Olympic Village.
• Dr. Annie Gareau was the Venue Medical Officer for the Whistler Creekside Venue where all the alpine ski races took place. She was responsible for all medical activities at the venue from the field of play (athletes on the courses), to all workforce volunteers and staff, media, the Olympic family, as well as some International Protected people. Dr. Gareau had a fantastic team of people working at the venue, which operated 24/7.
• Dr. Eric Grafstein was the Venue Medical Officer for Short Track Speed Skating at the Pacific Coliseum. He was responsible for directing medical care to the more than 100 skaters from 13 countries participating in this event.
• Dr. Tom Green, FPCP PGY4 was one of four spectator care physicians at the Cypress Freestyle and Snowboard venue. The spectator care workforce had one physician, one nurse, 4 ski patrollers and a team of paramedics at any one time. They were housed in a 40ft trailer near the old day lodge at Cypress. At Salt Lake and Torino the spectator care teams treated about 30 people per day, mostly for sprains and strains, cuts and scrapes.
• Dr. Sam Gutman was the Venue Medical Officer for the Main Media Center, Medical Director for Live City Vancouver, Yaletown and Downtown sites and Medical Consultant for Live City Surrey. As Medical Officer for the Main Media Center, Dr. Gutman was in charge of over 10,500 accredited media. The center opened on January 12 and opened 24 hours a day until the end of the Olympics and then 18 hours a day until the end of the Paralympics. At the Live City sites, Dr. Gutman and his team of residents and students worked clinically as well as gathering information for two research studies – The Mass Gathering Patient Registry and Alternate Communication Strategies in High Ambient Noise Environments.
• Dr. Devin Harris was a volunteer physician on the Stadium Opening and Closing Ceremonies for both the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics at the athlete/ceremonies level. He was also one of the physician site leaders for the LiveCity Vancouver Yaletown venue in David Lam Park.
• Dr. Garth Hunte was involved as a physician, athlete care for men’s hockey at Canada Hockey Place.
• Dr. Amy Louis, FRCP PGY4- Emergency Medicine was part of the medical team for the Live City events.
• Dr. Adam Lund was a volunteer physician on the Stadium Opening and Closing Ceremonies for both the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics at the athlete/ceremonies level. He was also one of the physician site leaders for the LiveCity Vancouver Yaletown venue in David Lam Park.
• Dr. Julian Marsden was the physician supervisor at the Olympic Village Polyclinics for both the Olympics and Paralympics.
• Dr. Don MacDonald was a volunteer physician at the Olympic Village.
• Dr. Jill McEwen was a volunteer physician at the Olympic Village.
• Dr. Gordon McInnes was a volunteer physician at the Olympic Village.
• Dr. Neil McLean was the medical coordinator for the Stadium Opening and Closing Ceremonies Committee. Dr. Andrew MacPherson was a volunteer physician at the Whistler site.
• Dr. Meita Moser was a volunteer physician at the Olympic Village.
• Dr. Nick Rose, FRCP PGY5- was a Physician, Athlete Care and was responsible for medical care of the athletes for both Ski-jump and Biathalon (both in and out of competition). Dr. Titus Yeung – PGY3 was working at Livecity.
• Dr. Gina Gill – PGY3 was working at Livecity.
• Dr. William Papenfus was working at Livecity.
• Dr. Stephan Samoyloff was a volunteer physician at the Olympic Village.
• Dr. Shahin Shirzad, FRCP PGY4-Emergency Medicine worked on the medical team.
• Dr. Eric Vu was a volunteer physician. He was part of the snowboard venue athlete medical team at Cypress and responded to injured snowboarders.
• Dr. Karen Wanger was a volunteer physician at the Olympic Village.
• Entertainment Dr. Meghan Grant, FRCP PGY-1 Emergency Medicine resident performed at the Opening Ceremonies. She was one of the rollerbladers in the show.
• Dr. Krystaleah Lindsay performed at the Opening Ceremonies. She was one of the speed skaters.
• Dr. Sean Wormsbecker, FRCP PGY-5 Emergency Medicine performed in the Closing Ceremonies.

Hosting

Sherry Rogers, Administrative Assistant at St. Paul’s Emergency Department, worked as an event host throughout the Olympics first at the Opening Ceremonies and then for Olympic Hockey at Canada Hockey Place and Britannia Centre.