spring 2017
DOCTORS life + leisure
e Morrd a w a s! win
viva
Cuba! exploring the
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>>
Just for C
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DOCTORS life + leisure
contents
spring 2017
spring 2017 Publisher Linh T. Huynh
Editor Barb Sligl Art Direction BSS Creative
Contributing Editor Janet Gyenes
Editorial Assistant Adam Flint
Contributors Michael DeFreitas Janet Gyenes Sharon Matthews-Stevens Dr. Chris Pengilly Manfred Purtzki Dr. Kellen Silverthorn Barb Sligl Roberta Staley Mark Stevens Cover photo Barb Sligl Senior Account Executive Monique Nguyen Account Executives Janice Frome Wing-Yee Kwong Production Manager Ninh Hoang
CE Development Adam Flint
Sales, Classifieds and Advertising In Print Circulation Office 200 – 896 Cambie Street Vancouver, BC V6B 2P6 Canada Phone: 604-681-1811 Fax: 604-681-0456 Email: info@AdvertisingInPrint.com
Just For Canadian Doctors is published 4 times a year by Jamieson-Quinn Holdings Ltd. dba In Print Publications and distributed to Canadian doctors. Publication of advertisements and any opinions expressed do not constitute endorsement or assumption of liability for any claims made. The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright. None of the contents of the magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of In Print Publications.
clockwise from top left: barb Sligl (3)
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FEATURES
14 Viva Cuba Explore this storied island in a new way 34 Yukon gold Discover a bounty of wild beauty COLUMNS
DEPARTMENTS
8 photo prescription
5 spring mix 21 CME calendar 33 sudoku 38 small talk
Capture Utah’s geological formations
11 pay it forward Humanity as driving force
12 the thirsty doctor
Dr. Scott Forsyth
A new frontier in whisky
27 motoring American muscle…car
28 the wealthy doctor
Permanent life insurance
www.justforcanadiandoctors.com
29 doctor on a soapbox
Printed in Canada.
want to reach us? check out our website!
Pandora’s box of medicine
cover photo Circumnavigating Cuba on a cruise may just be the best way to get an overview of this relatively undiscovered country and Caribbean island (page 14).
Spring 2017 Just For Canadian doctors
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from the editor
style
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Just For Canadian doctors Spring 2017
when/
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where
s | ge ar…
> sum m
mix
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preO lym pi
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tour
dusk in the Brazilian wetlands. right Caim abound in Amazon ans rivers.
deep int O bRazi l ons with nat ural wonders
TOurISM
From the Am azon to the Pantanal, Sou th America’ s biggest cou ntry burge
award wins!
Any ideas, comments or questions? Reach us at feedback@InPrintPublications.com.
Riding pantane horses. iro
left
Hyacinth macaws perch
overhead.
Summer
2016 Just For can
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spread far below a surreal sightseeing flight over the world’s largest non-polar icefield (page 30). Each adventure is a version of a perfect day. Much like the days captured in past stories in this magazine, from Norway to Brazil (right), that have since received multiple awards from the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA)—including gold in sister publication Just for Canadian Dentists. Congratulations to contributors Lucas Aykroyd, Janet Gyenes and Barb Sligl for their writing and photography awards. Here’s to the magic of those perfect days encapsulated in their words and images.
what/
als | p lace
Using a blowgun in the rainfore st. right Sun over the rise pantana l.
aNDrE MaCE
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hat makes the “perfect day”? Everyone’s answer will be different, but the common note is some kind of transcendent experience, whether on the beach or amidst glaciers. And this magazine is about collecting and showcasing such special days, whether they take place in the South Pacific or far north. It could be a meander down the Grand Union Canal in England (page 5), a rather idyllic trip through forgotten countryside at a purposefully slow pace. Or it might take shape as a bliss-filled day somewhere in the Caribbean, on a circumnavigation of the island nation of Cuba (page 14). On dry land, the many shades of red in Utah beckon in the early-morning light, the start of a photographer’s dream day (page 8), while the remote reaches of Yukon
| fest iv
jungle fev er
Perfect days
Winners in the 2016 NATJA Awards include Lucas Aykroyd’s “Deep into Brazil” story (bronze), Barb Sligl’s “New Mexico cowboy” photo (finalist) and “Nordic cool” feature photo essay for the summer 2016 issue (bronze).
| food | drin k
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Doctors life + leisure
scandinavian
Into the fjord!
summer in Norway
sail aWaY God’s Island Ontario to
in
win $1,o00
towards any cME coURsE page 12 $50
+
visa Gift card page 37
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inside: Continuing mediCal eduCation Calendar where will you meet? s e at t l e / q u e e n s t o w n / c o p e n h a g e n / d o h a / o t tawa >>
what/when/where > spring
style | food | drink | festivals | places | getaways | gear…
mix
canal days
janet gyenes
water world England’s 220-km Grand Union Canal stretches from London to Birmingham, offering boaters a slower pace to explore, away from the madding crowds.
SLOW CRUISE
BOAT
trip!
Explore England’s Grand union canal by narrowboat
T
he red logo on a Virgin train is a smear of lipstick as it rushes past, its signature V publicizing its pedigree as it catapults passengers southward to the urban chaos of London. I’m standing on an ancient stone bridge curving above England’s Grand Union Canal, which idly flows below. The train is already an afterthought when I hear the low hum of a narrowboat gliding under the bridge on this early-September morning. >>
Narrowboat on the Grand Union Canal near Weedon Bec
Spring 2017 Just For Canadian doctors
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mix
spring
chill time
if you go
take the rural route
To learn more about England’s waterways or to hire a narrowboat, go to Canal & River Trust. canalrivertrust. org.uk
>>
Dew drops glisten on blue-black sloes and plump rose hips that frame the grassy towpath. The faint whiff of petrol lingers in the crisp morning air as the brightly painted boat drifts into the distance of this pastoral picture. It’s as moody and romantic as a John Constable painting. Stay-aboard narrowboats are available as vacation rentals throughout England, where more than 35,000 of these so-called barges cruise the canals and rivers. Painted with traditional motifs like roses and castles, the history of narrowboats dates back to the Industrial Revolution when horses tramped the towpaths (often led by children) getaway hauling the flat-bottomed boats filled with coal. I’m travelling on Fuzzy Duck (she’s 55-feet long and just shy of seven feet wide), on which the six of us (if you count Bill and Bella, two rescue greyhounds) continue our six-day journey north on the Grand Union Canal to Foxton Locks (we set off at Bugbrooke) on the Leicester Line, with a detour down the Welford Arm, before retracing the route back. This 220-km-long
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waterway begins at the Thames in London and wriggles to Birmingham, crossing 216 locks along the way. A speedy trip on one of these slow boats would take a dozen days. We tie up at the village Weedon Bec in Daventry, Northamptonshire, and poke around in an antiques shop brimming with curiosities such as loaf-like ceramic hot water bottles that were used to “iron” chilly sheets to warm up the bed. Back on the barge, we chat with other boaters as they glide by, steaming cups of tea in hand. Soon, it’s all hands on deck at the Whilton and Buckby flight of seven double locks. Two of us grab tire-iron-like windlasses, which serve as gate keys, and jump off the back of the narrowboat with Bill and Bella. Using the windlasses, we start cranking open the paddles to let water rush into the lock. Then we push open the heavy wooden lock beams to let Fuzzy Duck inside. After, we reverse this winding-and-pushing dance that we’ll repeat six more times. The narrowboat floats uphill at an unhurried pace. It’s a timeless trick and an idyllic way to explore the England countryside. — Janet Gyenes
janet gyenes
Narrowboat on the Leicester Line near Long Buckby clockwise from below right Cranking open a lock paddle, Foxton Locks; sloes, or blackthorn fruits, used in sloe gin; narrowboat in a staircase lock, Foxton Locks; Bill, the greyhound, frolics alongside the canal
artful elements
material World
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spring
mix
Light show
There’s more to these indulgent items than meets the eye Written + produced by Janet Gyenes
#hairgo a for himls
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a bag that gives back
peak oil “Designer Tom Dixon has always defied convention with his output of everyday objects that go beyond the quotidian, thanks to his clever interplay of shape, colour, material and light. His new Materialism collection is an exploration of intangibles. The Materialism Oil Candle seems to invite decor controversy as the vessel’s exterior recalls the lustre of blues, golds and purples created when a slick of oil catches the light. What could be more materialistic and perhaps polarizing than oil? Inside this iridescent cylinder (it’s deliberately mishapen) is 100% paraffin wax, deeply scented (it has 8% fragrance; industry standard is a paltry 1–3%) with essential oils such as tar, cedar and styrax. Is Dixon making a statement about the environment and oil? Only he knows for sure. From $180, The Modern Shop; themodernshop.com
shape shifters
HOPPED UP HAIR
ted ! c e p unex ent: tar elem
fashion forward There’s a rock-and-roll vibe to the hand-painted bags created by Michelle Zerillo-Sosa, owner and principal designer at Amore Bags. Emblazoned with inspirational words and phrases, the wearable art isn’t just arm candy with attitude; each of these one-of-a-kind gear bags has a back story. Originally vintage leather doctors bags’ Zerillo-Sosa has reclaimed, refurbished and redesigned these deeply personal pieces, giving each a new injection of life as a stylish staple. An impressive 30% of the proceeds benefit an organization that’s near and dear to Zerillo-Sosa’s heart: Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). “I’ve always known about the incredible work of Doctors Without Borders and was inspired to tie this great organization to my bags.” From $1,588, Amore Bags; amorebags.ca
editor’s
pick
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p h o t o p r e s c r i p t i o n m i c h a e l d e f r e i ta s Michael DeFreitas is an award-winning photographer who’s been published in a wide variety of travel publications. With his initials, MD, he’s been nicknamed “doc,” making his photography prescriptions apropos.
50 shades of red
In Utah’s tapestry of landscape, parks, dinosaur digs and Native American culture
Send photos and questions to our photography guru at feedback@ inprintpublications.com and your shot may be featured in a future issue!
destination photography
Apply your photography skills to the shooting situations and scenery of utah.
the perfect petroglyph
Native Americans etched petroglyphs on protected sandstone cliff walls. Years of erosion and corrosion have weathered the glyphs making them difficult to separate from the cliff face. You’ll get the best results by shooting them at a slight angle and using a polarizing filter on your lens. I used a medium telephoto lens (set at 65mm) a circular polarizer filter and recorded the scene at f11 and 1/200 second.
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if you go
For more info on Utah: visitutah.com
michael defreitas
T
he cold predawn breeze forced me to wear gloves as I set up my tripod and cameras at Bryce Point overlooking the breathtaking, five-kilometre-wide amphitheatre. About 30 minutes before sunrise the northern sky turned a beautiful pinkish yellow so I started shooting with my 14–24mm wide-angle zoom, set at about 20mm, and varied my shutter speeds from 5 seconds to 1/2 second as it got lighter. Then, just as the sun peeked over the amphitheatre’s eastern ridge, I switched to an 80–200mm zoom to isolate some of Bryce Canyon National Park’s more interesting hoodoo formations. I picked side-lit formations for emphasis and dramatic effect. When a carpenter-turned-preacher led his flock of followers into Utah’s inhospitable wilderness in 1847, most people thought he was mad. But Brigham Young, and the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints saw Utah as an opportunity for spiritual freedom, solitude and peace of mind. They prevailed and built a state around those beliefs, establishing one of America’s highest concentrations of public lands, including five of the country’s top national parks. As a photographer who’s travelled the globe, Utah’s sandstone formations are the most colourful and unique I’ve seen. Decades ago, at the start of my career, I took a workshop from a local photographer who said that Utah is a great confidence builder for new photographers because the natural beauty makes it really difficult to screw up an image. To this day the state remains one of my favourite photography destinations. Given Utah’s many shades of red, it’s best to shoot early morning and late afternoon. The exception to this is shooting in the steepsided valleys common in sandstone regions. I shot Bryce’s aptly named Wall Street canyon, with its tall ponderosa pines stretching out of the narrow canyon, in the late morning (the higher sun angle lit the canyon). Using a wide-angle zoom (set at 14mm) and 1/125 second, I shot up, placing the tree trunks at the corners of my frame as leading lines to pull the viewer’s gaze into the scene. Another great morning shot is the magnificent sandstone cliffs of Capitol
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photo prescription [continued]
Reef National Park. I happened to be there during a full moon so I picked a spot well back from the cliffs to include the lunar orb in my composition. I used a 300mm zoom lens to increase the size of the moon relative to the cliffs. Had I used a wide-angled lens it would have rendered the moon tiny. I needed all my depth of field to render the moon and cliffs sharp, so I shot at f22 and 1/125 second using an electronic shutter release and tripod to avoid camera shake. Rounding off the list of great morning-image locations are Monument Valley and Canyonlands National Parks. I framed the
on at Full mo Reef Capitol Park l Nationa
buttes before sunrise and used the park’s dirt road as a leading line into the frame. I recorded the scene with a medium telephoto lens at f8 and 2 seconds with exposure compensation set for +2/3 f-stops. For Mesa Arch in Canyonlands I went with f22 and 1/125 second to create a starburst effect of the sun peeking over the east valley ridge. I composed the scene with the arch running across the top of the frame and the sun at the left. The low light sweeping across the valley floor created a moon-like landscape. Utah is a pretty dry place, but I did manage to find a small picturesque waterfall in Calf Creek Recreation Area. The water cascades over a sandstone ledge into a small pool. I asked a friend to get into the cold water and keep perfectly still while I shot the scene at 1/2 second and f18 with a medium telephoto zoom (set at 60mm). The slow shutter speed produced a wispy wedding-veil-like stream of water and my shivering friend added scale to the falls. As my old workshop instructor said, it’s pretty hard to screw up Utah images. The main challenge is trying to show the breathtaking scale of things. Images of arches look ordinary until you place someone in the composition for scale. Two cases in point are Corona Arch near Moab and the Ear Of The Wind Arch in Monument Valley. After shooting both from numerous angles they still looked blah. It wasn’t until I incorporated someone into each scene that the size of the arches delivered awe. So, if you do just one thing while shooting in Utah, find a model to place amidst the topography. And go in May or September (although Utah is a year-round destination), when daytime temps are manageable and the sun’s lower angle emphasizes those 50 shades of red.
michael defreitas
Monument Valley at sunrise
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pay i t f o r w a r d
r o b e r ta s ta l e y
Roberta Staley is an award-winning magazine writer and the editor of the Canadian Chemical News, published by the Chemical Institute of Canada. She is also a magazine writing instructor at Douglas College and a graduate student at Simon Fraser University.
A paucity of hope
In hopeless times, one physician’s guiding force in medicine is the humanitarian aspect
courtesy of Dr. Tom Jagatic
A
physician treats pain, illness and injury. But when a patient has lost hope, how does a doctor treat this, perhaps most devastating, human malady? It was early 2016 and Dr. Tomislav Jagatic of Windsor, ON, was working with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in a sprawling refugee camp near the village of Idomeni, Greece on the border of the Balkan nation of Macedonia. The makeshift camp had sprung up after the European Union began closing borders in early 2016 to Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis fleeing their violent homelands. Originally intended to house 1,500 refugees, by the time Jagatic arrived 15,000 people were stranded in the camp, vulnerable to cold, rain and sickness, dependent upon the flimsy protection of tents or marquees, with no end in sight to their predicament. Jagatic recalls one Iraqi mother who brought in one of her three children: a four-year-old daughter in severe respiratory distress due to a serious infection. The mother, Jagatic says, was indifferent— emotionless—crushed by the weight of never-ending hardship as well as the loss of her husband, who was killed in the civil war. “The mother had a very flat effect—she wasn’t worried—she just couldn’t react. She was burned out,” Jagatic says. Jagatic recalls another patient, a Syrian woman with four children whose husband had also perished in that nation’s civil conflict. Her home had been bombed and identity papers, like her passport, destroyed. The woman had a heart condition and was paralyzed on the left side of her body by a stroke. Without identification papers, the border guards deployed along the Greek border refused to allow her to even apply for entrance into the EU. “She came into our clinic, saying, ‘I don’t know what to do. I’m stuck here. They won’t let me go,’” Jagatic says. “She’s the only remaining parent of this family—these four children—and they’re giving her all these hassles. There was just no desire to help this woman.” Jagatic has been working with MSF since 2012, not only in refugee camps in Europe but on missions in Africa, where he has provided medical aid to the victims
of war, those suffering HIV-AIDS, as well should someone be diagnosed with the as those stricken by Ebola during the disease. epidemic that swept West Africa more than Ensuring the health of the most a year ago. Even before attending medical vulnerable and poor—of nurturing hope school, Jagatic was determined to practise as well as treating injuries and illness—is humanitarian medicine. This drive, a way to ensure the wellbeing of in fact, influenced his decision all peoples, including those The to study medicine in Croatia, fortunate enough to have World Health where tuition is about one been born in the West, Organization’s tenet quarter what it is in Canada Jagatic says. “We are that everyone has the or the United States. (Jagatic “right to health” is Dr. holds dual Canadian and Tom Jagatic’s driving Croatian citizenship.) inspiration in his “The guiding force for work for MSF. me in medicine was the humanitarian aspect. I realized that if I was to go into debt from school—since the things I am interested in don’t pay that well—then I wouldn’t be able to undertake humanitarian missions until later on in life.” Jagatic points to the World Health Organization’s tenet that everyone has the “right to health” as his driving inspiration. “It just felt natural to devote my time to trying to reinforce that declaration,” says Jagatic, who currently works in the ER department of a hospital in Zagreb, Croatia until May, when he anticipates being sent on another MSF mission. Jagatic doesn’t know where he will be sent; despairing and dying people are to be found all over the globe. He recalls one of the most desperate situations he has ever been in: West Africa, where the Ebola outbreak killed more than 11,000 people over a 21-month period, from 2014-2016. Jagatic not only treated patients but trained physicians and healthcare workers at a new Ebola treatment centre in Guinea, ground zero for the outbreak. As a result of the training and support by Western destabilizing our society by marginalizing healthcare experts like Jagatic, West African people,” says Jagatic, who is scandalized governments today are better able to deal by the apathy of the EU as well as other with another Ebola crisis, should one occur, Western nations, whose closed-door he says. policies are perpetuating the refugee Altogether, Jagatic did three tours crisis. “We are destabilizing our society by of duty in West Africa during the Ebola marginalizing people, by not providing outbreak. As a result, Public Health Canada them with the proper access to healthcare and several Canadian hospitals called upon and education. In 15 to 20 years from Jagatic to help them create guidelines now we’re going to see the results of our and protocols for the medical system here inaction, which is very sad.” Spring 2017 Just For Canadian doctors
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the thirsty doctor janet gyenes Janet Gyenes is a magazine writer and editor who likes to dally in spirits, especially when discovering something like corenwyn jenever (a gin-like Dutch spirit)—straight or in cocktails like the “bramble.” Have a boozy idea or question? Send it to feedback@inprintpublications.com
A toast to Canadian whisky
“W
the Scots first brought to Canadian shores wasn’t the sometimes-peaty whisky. “It was rum,” says de Kergommeaux. He’s sharing this piece of Canadiana with a group of guests invited to sample the Lohin McKinnon single-malt whisky at Central City’s HQ in Surrey, BC. “Scots made rum in Nova Scotia, not whisky,” he continues. “They wanted booze they could drink right away.” Molasses was easy to come by on the coast, so it was rum that flowed freely in eastern Canada. When communities started cropping up in Ontario—away from the sea—molasses fell out of favour. Wheat became the gateway grain for Canada’s first batches of whisky. But it took 200 years “before there was any successful single-malt distillery here,” says de Kergommeaux. The first was Glenora Distillery in Cape Breton, NS, which has Sweet sip been producing Canadian single-malt whisky since Single-malt whisky is 1990. A young upstart now in the repertoire of on the global scale, it’s Canadian distilleries. Case helped cement Canadian in point: Lohin McKinnon whisky’s solid rep by by Central City racking up international Brewers. awards and paving the way for younger players, like Still Waters Distillery in Concord, ON, with its single-malt and 100% rye Stalk & Barrel whiskies and Lucky Bastard Distillers in Saskatoon, SK, which recently released a small batch whisky, not to mention a number of newcomers in BC contributing to the West Coast microdistillery boom. Central City’s brief history goes back to 2003, when it was solely brewing beer. The company has won the Canadian Brewery of the Year Award twice and is known for its flagship Red Racer series of craft beers, available coast to coast. Earlier, Lohin toured us through Central City’s 68,000-square-foot operations. Standing by a trio of gleaming copper Holstein stills, Lohin explained the kinship between beer and whisky, distilling the grain-to-glass processes. “Whisky is the closest cousin to beer. All you are doing is making a beer without hops.” Aging, of course, is essential. Canadian
hisky takes time,” says Davin de Kergommeaux. “They are doing it right.” It’s high praise from the author of Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert for Central City Brewers & Distillers’ just-launched Lohin McKinnon Single Malt Whisky (named for the awardwinning brewmaster Gary Lohin and head distiller, Stuart McKinnon). Age is a relative thing. Even the ripe age of 150, which Canada celebrates this year, is youthful compared to countries like Scotland whose history runs so deep that its national animal is, well, the unicorn. And while some might wonder about Scotland’s ties to mythical beasts, there’s no quarrel with its canniness for producing legendary spirits, especially whisky. But you might be surprised to learn that the liquid legacy
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law dictates that, to be called a whisky, the spirit must be aged in wood for a minimum of three years. In the barrel room we’re surrounded by casks bearing the stamps of madeira, Pedro Ximenez, Olorosa, Tokai, Sauternes and bourbon. Each cask imparts character to the whisky, not just from the wood but from the vestiges of what was originally inside. “Why, in Canada, would we ever think about making single-malt whisky?” asks de Kergommeaux before answering, “I’d say the Scots and Japanese have already perfected it.” He’s alluding to a dichotomy that perhaps favours patriotism over perfection, though both are purely subjective constructs. “We can do it our own way,” he says, adding, “Whisky in the US doesn’t taste like scotch.” Pride of place, particularly when it comes to ingredients, plays a big part in small-batch distilling. And it’s time for us to taste that character in four samples, each an expression of Lohin McKinnon whisky. We start by sipping the single-malt spirit now commercially available in BC and ON. Made with Canadian malted barley and BC water, it’s aged for three years in bourbon casks. Given its youth, it’s surprisingly smooth, featuring light fruit, with a little sherry in the background. The second sample is a limited-edition whisky that will be launched (only in BC) in June, in honour of Canada’s 150th. It’s about 70% rye and naturally more peppery. The single malt, with a mix of pale and chocolate malt aged in Sauternes casks gives our third sample an entirely opposite flavour: sweetness and pronounced chocolate notes. It’s a striking contrast from our final sample. Distilled in 2015, it doesn’t qualify as whisky, but it’s pleasantly peaty, and aged in bourbon casks. It brings home a bold statement de Kergommeaux made earlier: “This is not cowboy whisky. The most important thing is that the flavours are balanced. There are no sore thumbs sticking out.” The event offered an enlightening look inside Canada’s expanding portfolio of micro-distilleries. It’s not about challenging the players, whether in the UK, Asia or the US. Instead, these newcomers are distilling our country’s heritage in their own way.
central city brewers
Raise a glass to our country’s crop of small-batch distillers
R AR E C OC K CRAF TAIL TB S EE R
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Experience creations from top chefs, mixologists and brew masters at our unique event benefiting extraordinary children. Delectable treats expertly prepared by:
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HOPE should not be as rare as the diseases we treat. For tickets visit www.rarefinds.org
!viva Cuba!
travel the world
Looking over the rooftops of Trinidad below Street musicians in Havana opposite, top The grand old architecture and cars of Havana, by Parque Central opposite, bottom Watching the fortress of Morro Castle go by as the Celestyal Cruises ship leaves Havana
A cruise around this hot and oh-so-colourful island sails from port to port, city to beach, paladar to fort story
+ photography by Barb Sligl
travel the world Celestyal Cruises ship moored at María La Gorda below, from left Cristal cerveza at the Hotel Nacional; dancer at Tropicana cabaret club in Havana
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Just For Canadian doctors Spring 2017
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watch a woman in a flirty little skirt and tank top, dancing in flip-flops. She’s held tight against her partner. His hands are low on her hips and he sets a steady rhythm. He moves easily across the pavement in his slim pants and bright-red sneakers. Her skirt twirls as he spins her. I’m mesmerized. And blush when he turns and catches me staring. He grins and keeps dancing. Ah, Cuba. There’s something in the air here, in Havana on a hot afternoon in the shade under the palm trees of Parque Central. It makes me want to join the fray—the young couples, grannies, toothless men and toddlers, all enjoying the music and public dance floor surrounded by the gorgeous facades and faded glory of Old Colonial Havana. Feeling rather hot, I cool down with a daiquiri in its “birthplace” at nearby El Floridita (alongside a life-size statue of patron saint Ernest Hemingway), before meandering through the crumbling architecture, past fruit and cotton-candy vendors, kids playing soccer in the street, locals gossiping in the late-afternoon sun. I’m part of the scene, at least for a little while before passing security and re-boarding the cruise ship I came into Havana on. Starting in Montego Bay, Jamaica, the seven-day Celestyal Cruises circumnavigation of Cuba includes two days and one night in Havana, a stop in Santiago de Cuba (where Fidel Castro’s revolution began in 1953 at the Moncada Barracks), a beach day and then a tour inland to Trinidad from Cienfuegos. It’s a somewhat conflicted way to visit this stillstruggling country—to tour a port by day and then escape at night back to the shelter and comfort of a cruise ship. But with limited accommodations and amenities onshore, despite the slow shift out of hard-line communism, it’s also the easiest way to see the most of this country in a week’s time—from Havana’s gorgeous fervor to untouched strips of sand. And because there’s so much to take in on this island—seven UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Sites (including Old Havana), six UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, two UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites, more than 300 beaches—this cruise is like a bit of a primer on the country. In Santiago de Cuba, I learn about Velázquez. As in Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, the Spanish conquistador who came to the New World on Columbus’s second voyage. He “discovered” Santiago in 1515 and then conquered Cuba. The rather intimidating and impenetrable Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca (a UNESCO site), perched atop an outcrop overlooking the blue-blue Caribbean
Locals hanging out on the malecón in Havana right Walking in Old Havana below, clockwise from left Literature in Havana; dancers in Havana’s Parque Central; a classic Cuban “marriage” of coffee, rum and a cigar; ’50s-era car in Trinidad; the Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca in Santiago de Cuba
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Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca, near Santiago de Cuba above left Havana street scene above right El Floridita daiquiris below left Photo of Hemingway at one of his haunts, the Hotel Ambos Mundos in Havana below right A duo plays music at a paladar
seems to embody some of that brutal history. Built as a fortress against pirates, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is where a decisive battle took place during the Spanish-American War, served as a prison (with whispers of horrendas torturas) and is now home to tourists and red-tinged crabs scuttling over its moat. As I walk along its ramparts, I hear a group of women singing inside the old ruins, their voices accompanied by the wind blowing off the sea. Because in Cuba, everything comes back to music. On any given street, musicians strum and sing, ranging from strident to sultry to solemn. At the Santa Ifigenia cemetery (where Castro’s ashes have since been interred), our cruise group watches the changing of the guard to honour José Martí, another fighter for independence and so-called Shakespeare of Cuba (and far less controversial national hero). Everywhere there’s a tropical lushness juxtaposed with cosmopolitan old-world urbanity—from this cemetery to Havana’s Parque Central. This is a poor country with a rich culture. A land of dualities. Punctuated with signs and graffiti scrawled across walls, proclaiming “Unidos con la revolución.” Here, Soviet-era Moskvitch cars coast right alongside American Chevrolet BelAir convertibles. In Havana, I ride in one of those vehicles of a bygone era. My guide, Ray, drives an original Ford Model T—from 1914. His grandfather traded a 1948 Cadillac for it 50 years ago. It’s patched and polished with whatever means available and putts along with a charming rat-ta-tat, rat-ta-tat. Driving past Parque Central again, I see a group of men in crisp white uniforms gathering to stand at attention for some military event. There’s a strange nostalgia at play with such decorum and discipline butted up against the chaos and decay surrounding it. I think of those ordinary citizens grooving (not so ordinarily) under the same palm trees, as if thumbing their nose at the rigidity on display here now. Continuing on my Model-T tour of Havana, I see old Havana (with a bustling, non-touristy Chinatown) and block after block of colourful, crumbling facades and grand architecture long past its heyday. We coast by graffiti of the ubiquitous Che Guevera and then street art of a not-so-stoic hooded and kneeling man, perhaps a reference to prisoners of Gitmo or elsewhere. At the famous Hotel Nacional bar there are photos of world leaders who presumably have been to Cuba on some sort of state visit and stayed here…Vladimir Putin, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Bashar al-Assad (all a bit of a gut punch), alongside the more neutral faces of Charlie Rose and Matt Dillon. I try
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Year-round cruising to Cuba takes place with Celestyal Cruises from now until the end of December 2017. Weekly seven-day sailings depart every Friday from Montego Bay and every Monday from Havana. Along with three port stops, there’s a beach day at Punta Frances on the Isle of Youth. cuba.celestyalcruises.com
A local woman in Havana leans against one of the city’s many crumbling-yetcolourful walls Spring 2017 Just For Canadian doctors
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to cleanse some of the unpleasantness with a local cerveza and a walk along the hotel’s lovely grounds overlooking the sea. Dropped off back in the hub of Havana, my sampling of local beverages continues, this time Cuban coffee and rum, accompanied with a cigar. It’s called the perfect marriage. I have to agree, especially when sampled in the courtyard of the Palacio de la Artesania, amidst artists selling their wares and a quartet of singing women (because music follows wherever you are in Cuba). Later, at a paladar (El Zaguán, one of a growing number of privately owned and operated dining restaurants that have cropped up in recent years), there’s another live soundtrack during lunch, this time by two women strumming guitar in stilettos with heart-breaking aplomb. They’re gorgeous. And throughout my exploration-by-cruise skirting the island, I can’t help but stare at Cuban beauty—inner and outer. People unabashedly stare back. Some even ask for help. Sometimes money, but more often almost anything else. An old woman shows me a toonie and asks if I’ll take it back in exchange for pesos (CUC or Convertible Cuban Pesos, that is). One man asks if he can have the pen I’m writing my notes with. Another asks if I’ll buy some milk for his children in the store. When food rations are still a thing, money doesn’t mean as much. In Santiago I watch as people line up for guarapo (sugarcane juice). And I notice a woman in bright-green capris with a T-shirt hitched up to bare her midriff in the heat, showing off a lower-back tattoo. She’s utterly unselfconscious. But that’s Cuba. Everyone’s at ease in their skin. Communism has done nothing to tamp down the inherent sexiness of this place. People sit on stoops or the curb or lean against the ever-present ’50s-era cars parked in the streets. I could stroll along these streets indefinitely, taking everything in, observing locals, watching their interactions, peeking into open doorways and windows. I think of one of über-traveller Anthony Bourdain’s comments about some other far-flung destination, something akin to every door being a glance into another world. I feel that tenfold here. Every corner, stoop, curb, car is abuzz with life, and some tale to tell. Much like those dancers back in Havana’s central square, where young and old meet to simply move and groove, this island—despite, or in spite, of everything—brims with a bold, if disheveled, beauty. Everyone has a story—we all do—but Cubans have one with an especially deep and soulful rhythm, bumping and grinding with joy.
grand cayman / manchester / napa / kuala lumpur … | c a l e n d a r
cMe
A n intern ation a l guide to c ontinuing medical Education
spr ing 2017 + beyond
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Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, the island’s first new major resort in 10+ years. Recently opened, it’s the new go-to on Seven Mile Beach (seen here). seafireresortandspa.com
grand cayman has all the Caribbean musts—beach, snorkelling, marine life, sunsets…and enough food and drink to warrant an annual festival (CME events in Grand Cayman + beyond are highlighted in blue.)
sharon matthews-stevens
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nsconced beachside, on an alabaster swath of sand 1 guarded by elegant hotels, stretching 10 km along Grand Cayman’s west coast, nuzzled by waters so clear you can see starfish on the bottom, I wonder how I’m going to fill tomorrow. Right now, entertained by a perfect sunset (one of the Caribbean’s best), I don’t feel like doing anything, though tonight it’s fine dining at Abacus at Camana Bay (camanabay.com), a modern town centre boasting boutiques and other fine dining options beside the water. Wherever I dine, I’ll be sated: many consider the Cayman Islands the Caribbean’s culinary capital. It’s also home to the annual Cayman Cookout festival with renowned host, Chef Eric Ripert (plan for next year’s 10th annual fest now; @caymancookout). Tomorrow’s first stop, I decide, will be a helping of
history. Pedro St. James (pedrostjames.ky) 2 is both a refurbished 17th-century great house and host to an interpretive centre worthy of Disney World. I’ll stroll here by the sea amid stands of banana and mahogany trees, tour the outdoor kitchen and then explore the furnished house itself. Then maybe bond with nature. Welcome to the Cayman Turtle Centre (turtle.ky)—combination wildlife sanctuary, turtle hatchery and theme park—where I’ll learn about efforts to save the sea turtle, pet these huge animals and maybe even swim with them. Or maybe 5 I’ll just cross the road and swim with the dolphins at Dolphin Discovery. Or I’ll get really close to nature—and bond with the sea. Maybe book a catamaran tour to Stingray City (stingraycitytrips.com) 3 , snorkelling with those graceful creatures—or take a
side trip to Starfish Point where I stand in water up to my waist as the stingrays wheel and soar between my legs. Then it’s time for some R and R. Make for Rum Point (rumpointclub.com) 4 . Stake out a claim in the shade near a congregation of pastel-painted picnic tables; do frosty Caybrew beers at Wreck Bar, once rated among the world’s top-50 beach bars. Go for a swim in bathtubwarm waters. After some downtime, maybe I’ll take things up a notch: the Cayman Islands are considered among the world’s best dive destinations. I’ll take a lesson in the pool at the Westin Grand Cayman (westingrandcayman. com), then out on—or in—the water. Maybe I’ll dive Babylon or Ghost Mountain. We’ll stop en route back to our hotel and be mesmerized by the beauty and might of the Caribbean at Blow Holes 5 . Then, it’s home James, for ringside seats to another spectacular sunset 6 , the perfect finish to another perfect Grand Cayman day. — Mark Stevens To discover even more activities to round out a perfect stay here, go to visitcaymanislands.ca.
Spring 2017 Just For Canadian doctors
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Emergency Medicine
Diabetes
Cardiology
Anesthesia
Aesthetic Medicine
c Mcmee when calendar where
MORE CME Full-access CME calendar and destinations at justforcanadiandoctors.com/cme/
topic
sponsor
contact
website
Jun 17-18
Vancouver British Columbia
Botox And Dermal Filler Training
The Physician Skincare and Training Center
877-754-6782 See Ad Page 24
ptcenter.org
Aug 26-27
Boston Massachusetts
Management Of Facial Trauma Course
AO North America
800-769-1391
aona.org
Oct 21-22
Vancouver British Columbia
Botox And Dermal Filler Training
The Physician Skincare and Training Center
877-754-6782 See Ad Page 24
ptcenter.org
May 14-20
Southern Portugal
Controversies In Perioperative Medicine
North York General Hospital Department of Anesthesiology
800-801-6147
cyclecme.com
Jul 06-07
Baltimore Maryland
Practical Emergency Airway Management
Center for Emergency Medical Education
800-651-2363
ceme.org
Nov 13-17
Kauai Hawaii
2017 California Society Of Anesthesiologists (CSA) Fall Anesthesia Conference
California Society of Anesthesiologists
916-290-5830
csahq.org
Jan 24-27 2018
Grand Cayman Cayman Islands
2018 Anesthesia Camp, Grand Cayman
destinationCME
773-417-0075
destination cme.com
Apr 29May 02
Philadelphia Pennsylvania
18th Annual American Society Of Echocardiograph (ASC) eXAM/ReASCE Review Course
American Society Of Echocardiograph
919-861-5574
asecho.org
May 05-07
Houston Texas
2017 Southwest Valve Summit
Houston Methodist Institute for Academic Medicine
713-441-4971
houston methodist.org
May 19-20
Leiden Netherlands
2017 European Society For Vascular Surgery (ESVS) Spring Meeting: Basic & Translation Research In Vascular Surgery
ESVS Administration Office
011-49-407410-53877
esvs-springmeeting2017.eu
Apr 21-23
Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
9th Diabetes Complications Conference & Grand Rounds
011-60-3-7876National Diabetes Institute (NADI) Malaysia 1676
nadidiabetes. com.my
Jun 09-13
San Diego California
77th American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions
American Diabetes Association
800-232-3472
diabetes.org
Sep 11-15
Lisbon Spain
53rd Annual European Association For The Study Of Diabetes (EASD) Meeting
EASD Headquarters
011-49-211758-469
easd.org
Apr 10-14
Sarasota Florida
Pediatric Emergency Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach
American Medical Seminars
866-267-4263
americanmed icalseminars. com
Jun 07-09
Jackson Wyoming
Advanced Airway Course Yellowstone/Tetons
Center for Emergency Medical Education
800-651-2363
ceme.org
Jun 22-23
Ottawa Ontario
Emergency Department Targeted Ultrasound
Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians
800-463-1158
caep.ca
Dec 14-17
Miami Beach Florida
Topics In Emergency Medicine
Northwest Seminars
800-222-6927
northwestsemi nars.com
NYU Radiology CME Presents
36th Annual Head to Toe Imaging Conference December 18-22, 2017 • The New York Hilton Midtown • New York City
Earn over 40 AMA PRA Category I Credits www.med.nyu.edu/courses/cme/h2t17
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Just For Canadian doctors Spring 2017
MORE CME Full-access CME calendar and destinations at justforcanadiandoctors.com/cme/
Medicine
General & Family
Gastroenterology
Endocrinology
cme
calendar
cMe
when
where
topic
sponsor
contact
website
Apr 27-28
Montreal Quebec
2017 Bureau en Gros
Université de Montréal
514-343-6367
umontreal.ca
Jul 27-30
Boston Massachusetts
3rd World Congress On Thyroid Cancer
The Bayley Group
888-527-3434
thyroidworld congress.com
Sep 21-22
Stockholm Sweden
Pancreas Workshop: A Multidisciplinary Imaging Approach
European Society of Gastrointestinal & Abdominal Radiology Office
011-43-1-5358927
esgar.org
May 15
Manchester England
3rd Manchester Dysphagia/Transnasal Course
Manchester Royal Infirmary
011-44-776533-5891
phonosurgery course.com
May 18-20
Mallorca Spain
1st International Congress Of MicroImmunotherapy
MeGeMIT
katharina. krueger@ megemit.org
icomi2017.org
Aug 25-27
St. Louis Missouri
2017 American College Of Gastroenterology (ACG) Midwest Regional Postgraduate Course
American College of Gastroenterology
301-263-9000
gi.org
Mar 16-17
Manchester England
2017 Medicine: Royal College Of Physicians Annual Conference
Royal College Of Physicians London
011-44-203075-2389
rcplondon.ac.uk
Apr 24May 01
Netherlands & Belguim: Tulip Time River Cruise
Medical And Public Health Issues / Roundtrip Amsterdam On AMA Waterways
Professional Education Society
877-737-7005
pestravel.com
May 12
London England
Red Whale GP Update Course - London
Red Whale
011-44-118960-7077
gp-update.co.uk
May 16-20
Vancouver British Columbia
SPR 2017 Annual Meeting & Categorical Course: Pediatric Radiology, Radiology, CT, PET/ MRI, Neuroradiology, Cardiovascular Imaging, Interventional Radiology, Ultrasound, Thoracic Imaging, Oncology & Nuclear Medicine, Machine Learning And More
The Society of Pediatric Radiology (SPR)
703-648-0680
pedrad.org
Jun 06-07
Stavanger Norway
37 ºC – Life Science Technology Conference & Exhibition
37 ºC
011-47-940-10236
37degreescel sius.net
Jun 15-24
Cuba & Guatamala
Cuba & Guatemala 2017 Medical Conference
Unconventional Conventions
1800-633-131
uncon-conv. com
Jun 24
Washington DC
Hospitalist And Emergency Procedures Course
Hospital Procedures Consultants
805-339-0225
hospitalproce dures.org
Aug 25Sep 06
London to Lisbon Cruise with Honfleur & Bordeaux
Medical Symposium At Sea / Western Europe Cruise On The All-Inclusive Crystal Symphony
Professional Education Society
877-737-7005 See Ad Page 23
pestravel.com
Oct 19-31
India: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Ganges River Cruise
Dental & Medical Health And Well-Being Updates / 5-Night Oberoi Hotels & 7-Night Uniworld River Cruise
Professional Education Society
877-737-7005 See Ad Page 23
pestravel.com
Oct 31Nov 04
Napa California
2016 Update In Advanced Imaging
UC Davis Health System
916-734-5390
ucdmc.ucda vis.edu
CME/CE Cruise & Travel Seminars
Additional 2018 CME/CE Seminars • • • • •
UPCOMING PES CME/CE SEMINARS Western Europe Cruise on Crystal Symphony
London to Lisbon with Honfleur, St. Malo & three days in Bordeaux
August 25 – September 6, 2017
India’s Golden Triangle & The Sacred Ganges 5-Night Oberoi Hotels and 7-Night Uniworld River Cruise
7-Night aboard the luxury small ship m/s Paul Gauguin Cruises
November 4 – 11, 2017
Professional Education Society: quarter page CME section-Summer-2017.indd 1
www.PEStravel.com
Patagonia & Chilean Fjords Cruise on Ponant
14-Day five-star expedition from Ushuaia to Valparaiso
March 7 – 20, 2018
October 19 – 31, 2017
Tahiti Cruise Bora Bora & the Society Islands
For more details contact PES
British Isles on Crystal Serenity Portugal & Douro River Cruise Crystal River Cruise Peru & Machu Picchu Iceland and Alaska!
Historical Holy Lands Cruise on All-Inclusive Regent
Dubai to Rome with Jordan, Egypt, Israel, Cyprus & Greece
May 12 – June 1, 2018
1-877-737-7005
info@PEStravel.com
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Spring 2017 Just For Canadian doctors
Neurology
Mental Health
Infectious & Chronic Diseases
Internal Medicine
Hepatology
Geriatrics
c Mcmee when calendar where
MORE CME Full-access CME calendar and destinations at justforcanadiandoctors.com/cme/
topic
sponsor
contact
website
May 18-20
San Antonio Texas
2017 American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Annual Meeting
American Geriatrics Society
212-308-1414
americangeri atrics.org
Nov 02-04
Toronto Ontario
9th Canadian Conference On Dementia
University Health Network
416-597-3422
canadiancon ferenceonde mentia.com
May 12
Indianapolis Indiana
20th Annual Indiana University Gastroenterology/ Hepatology Update
Indiana University School of Medicine
317-274-0104
iu.edu
Dec 07-08
Madrid Spain
13th International Conference On Clinical Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Pulsus Meetings
702-508-5200
gastroenter ologysociety.org
Apr 13-15
Cancun Mexico
Neurology And Psychiatry For Primary Care
MCE Conferences
888-533-9031
mceconfer ences.com
Apr 19-22
Washington DC
2017 Society Of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) Annual Meeting
Society Of General Internal Medicine
800-822-3060
sgim.org
Jun 01-02
Quebec City Quebec
Les Petites Urgences en Cabinet
Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec
800-361-8499
fmoq.org
Ongoing Ends Jan 2018
Online
Adult Immunization In Primary Care - Influenza, Meningococcal And Food And Water Borne Travel Illnesses Update
mdBriefcase
416-488-5500
mdbriefcase. com
Apr 10-12
Washington DC
Influenza & Respiratory Vaccine Conference
Terrapinn
011-44-207092-1191
terrapinn.com
Apr 24-26
Bethesda Maryland
2017 Annual Conference On Vaccine Research
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
301-656-0003
nfid.org
Jul 10-12
Banff Alberta
Medical CBT Tools: Ten-Minute Techniques For Real Doctors
CBT Canada
877-466-8228
cbt.ca
Aug 18-19
Vancouver British Columbia
Medical CBT For Stress And Anxiety: Ten-Minute Techniques For Real Doctors
CBT Canada
877-466-8228
cbt.ca
Dec 16-23
Disney Caribbean Cruise
Medical CBT For Depression (And Happiness): Ten-Minute Techniques For Real Doctors
CBT Canada
877-466-8228 See Ad Page 20
cbt.ca
Dec 27-29
Disney World Grand Floridian
Medical CBT For Stress And Anxiety: Ten-Minute Techniques For Real Doctors
CBT Canada
877-466-8228 See Ad Page 20
cbt.ca
Jun 07-09
Strasbourg France
Microscopic & Endoscopic Approaches To The Skull Base
Institut de Recherche Contre les Cancers de l’Appareil Digestif Training Centre
011-33-3-88119107
ircad.fr
Jul 24-28
Colorado Springs Colorado
14th Annual Society Of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) Meeting
Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery
703-691-2272
snisonline.org
Nov 04-11
Tahiti and the Society Islands Cruise
Topics In Neurology For Primary Care Providers
Continuing Education, Inc./University at Sea
800-422-0711
continuingedu cation.net
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MORE CME Full-access CME calendar and destinations at justforcanadiandoctors.com/cme/
Primary Care
Pediatrics
Pathology
Oncology & Palliative Care
Obstetrics & Gynecology
cme
calendar
cMe
when
where
topic
sponsor
contact
website
May 17
Toronto Ontario
25th Annual New Developments In Prenatal Diagnosis And Medical Genetics
University of Toronto Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology & Mount Sinai Hospital
416-586-4800
mountsinai. on.ca/cme
May 18-19
Brussels Belgium
2017 Obstetric Anaesthesia
Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association
011-44-207631-8882
oaa-anaes.ac.uk
Oct 13-14
Singapore Singapore
2017 Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy & Surgery Society Focus Meeting
YRD Event Management
011-61-7-33682422
ages.com.au
Dec 09-10
Phoenix Arizona
Workshop On Surgical Anatomy Of The Pelvis & Procedures In Patients With Chronic Pelvic Pain
American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists
714-503-6200
aagl.org/phoenix2016
Dec 15-16
New York New York
23rd Annual Conference On Challenges In Gynecology
Symposia Medicus
800-327-3161
symposiamedi cus.org
Jan 20Feb 01 2018
Australia and New Zealand Cruise
Women’s Health And Healthcare Communications
Continuing Education, Inc./University at Sea
800-422-0711 See Ad Page 39
continuingedu cation.net
Ongoing
Online
Modernizing The Code Of Medical Ethics: Chapter 5 - Ethical Issues In Caring for Patients At The End Of Life
American Medical Association
800-621-8335
ama-assn.org
Apr 21-23
Prague Czech Republic
2017 European Focus On Myeloproliferative Neoplasms & Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Imedex
770-751-7332
imedex.com
Jul 16-21
Halifax Nova Scotia
Diagnostic Pathology Update
US & Canadian Academy of Pathology
706-733-7550
uscap.org/ cme-cal
Jan 16-18 2018
Rodney Bay St. Lucia
5th Caribbean Biomedical Research Days
International Stress & Behavior Society
240-899-9571
scribd.com
Ongoing
Multiple Cities Colombia
Capacity Building Internship For HIV/AIDS Orphanage (Volunteer Opportunity)
The Humanity Exchange
778-300-2466
thehumani tyexchange.org
Jul 06-09
Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
11th International Symposium On Pediatric Pain
My Meeting Partner by Anderes Fourdy
011-60-3-27884534
ispp2017.org
Aug 07-09
Austin Texas
Innovations In Neonatal Care Conference
Pediatrix Medical Group
See Website
innovation sconference. com
Oct 25-28
Grand Cayman Cayman Islands
33rd Annual Fall Conference On Pediatric Emergencies
Symposia Medicus
800-327-3161
symposiamedi cus.org
May 15-19
Maui Hawaii
Clinical Issues In Primary Care Conference
Continuing Education Company
800-327-4502
cmemeeting.org
Jul 13-16
Lake Buena Vista Florida
Headache Update 2017
Diamond Headache Clinic
312-867-9104 See Ad Page 20
dhc-fdn.org
Having a facial difference can create barriers to opportunities and aspirations. It affects over 1.5 Million Canadians. AboutFace promotes positive mental and emotional well-being of individuals with facial differences and their families through social & peer support, information and educational programs. We work to encourage, empower and educate. For more information on how you can get involved, visit www.aboutface.ca “It was the first time in my life that I met people who had facial differences, as I did. It was also one of the few times in which I walked into a room full of strangers and did not feel even the tiniest air of judgment.” -Samantha Loucks, 23
Spring 2017 Just For Canadian doctors
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sponsor
contact
website
Sep 18-28
Primary Care And Women’s Health: Key Topics And Core Strategies
Continuing Education, Inc./University at Sea
800-422-0711
continuingedu cation.net
Oct 08-18
Far East Cruise Conference
Topics In Preventive Medicine And Geriatrics For PCPs
Continuing Education, Inc./University at Sea
800-422-0711 See Ad Page 39
continuingedu cation.net
Nov 18
Chicago Illinois
Update In Headache 2017
Diamond Headache Clinic
312-867-9104 See Ad Page 20
dhc-fdn.org
Apr 20-23
Montreal Quebec
42nd Annual Meeting Of The Society For Sex Therapy & Research (SSTAR)
The Society For Sex Therapy & Research
847-647-8832
sstarnet.org
May 16-19
Athens Greece
2017 Association Of Psychology & Psychiatry For Adults & Children (APPAC) Annual International Conference
Association of Psychology & Psychiatry For Adults & Children
011-30-210620-3710
appac.gr
Oct 23-27
Charleston South Carolina
NYU’s Fall Radiology Symposium In Charleston
New York University Department of Radiology
212-263-3936 See Ad Page 22
med.nyu.edu
Dec 18-22
New York New York
36th Annual Head To Toe Imaging Conference
New York University Department of Radiology
212-263-3936 See Ad Page 22
med.nyu.edu
Feb 19-22 2018
Grand Cayman Cayman Islands
2018 Advanced Imaging In The Islands
Duke Radiology
919-684-7228
duke.edu
Apr 29
Houston Texas
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Hands-On Summit - Houston
American College of Chest Physicians
224-521-9800
chestnet.org
Sep 25-27
Chicago Illinois
3rd World Summit On Pediatric Cardiology & Pulmonology
Conference Series LLT
702-508-5201
pediatriccar diology.con ferenceseries. com
Sleep Issues
Oct 12-24
Brighton England
2017 Brighton Sleep: British Sleep Society (BSS) Biennial Scientific Meeting
British Sleep Society
011-44-154344-2156
sleepsociety. org.uk
Oct 26-29
Auckland New Zealand
2017 Sleep DownUnder
Australasian Sleep Association
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Cambridge Massachusetts
16th Cambridge / UCLA Course On Clinical Exercise Testing & Interpretation - A Practical Approach
Cambridge Postgraduate Medical Centre
011-44-122321-6376
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Jul 20-23
Toronto Ontario
American Orthopaedic Society For Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting
American Orthopaedic Society For Sports Medicine
847-292-4900
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Apr 08-12
Big Island Hawaii
2017 National Conference On Wilderness Medicine
Wilderness Medicine
844-945-3263
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Sep 03-23
Bali Indonesia
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Psychology
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Just For Canadian doctors Spring 2017
motoring
D r . k e l l e n s i lv e r t h o r n
Dr. Kellen Silverthorn is Just For Canadian Doctors’ automotive writer. He tries to keep one convertible and/or one track-day car in the family fleet.
The trump car Inaugurating the halcyon days anew
Ford Motor company
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s your loyal scribe, I knew something had to be done. A historic political event from this past November meant I needed to upgrade my American muscle-car knowledge. Hundreds of study hours later I’m now prepared for the “Trump Effect” on car enthusiasts. By the time you read this “The Donald” will have been inaugurated as “The Pres.” His campaign tagline, “Make America Great Again,” spoke to those Americans suffering disaffection from one or more of these modern realities: globalization, open borders, technological change, shifting social values, creeping nanny state…or all of the above. We all tend to look at the good ol’ days through rose-coloured glasses. Those most threatened by change are most susceptible to retrospective distortions. Cue those with less education, conservative values, bluecollar jobs and advancing age (I include Boomers in that age description). Trump’s election has each of those demographic groups of Americans feeling empowered and newly confident. So how do these social forces transpose onto the car enthusiasts’ world? Two words: muscle cars. Most living Americans would envisage their country’s best peace-time mojo as the 1950s and ‘60s. Today’s American car enthusiasts regard the mid-50s through 1970–71 as the golden age of muscle cars, when horsepower and acceleration were king. In their minds, what forces ended the muscle car’s golden age in the early ’70s? Meddling government regulators, greedy insurance companies and those tireless greenies. These are just a few of today’s scapegoats for Trumpites. Now ponder which demographics have kept the flame burning on muscle cars since that golden age…and meet those same groups who say, “Make America Great Again.” The hourly-wage-earning white males will invigorate today’s $10,000 to $100,000 collector muscle-car market. Today’s “selfmade” men who grew up in those same neighbourhoods will bid up the thousands of >$100,000 collector muscle cars.
Would you be surprised to learn that after 9/11 there was a surge in demand and pricing for collectible American muscle cars? That was a period of fear, anger and economic uncertainty for the above demographic groups. With early 2017 promising these same groups confidence, pride, bullishness and an inflationary fiscal policy—the new valuation surge could be more dramatic. Let’s just hope the banks have learned their lesson from 2007–09 and don’t pour credit-fuel onto this fire. (OK, but one can hope). In theory, a Canadian now entering the market of golden-age muscle should also benefit from the expected short-term increase in value of the US dollar relative to most other currencies. The muscle-car collector market is a multi-billion dollar hobby/business and [mustang] every such vehicle is AND THEN… essentially valued in Ford’s version of the US currency. American muscle car, Two schools of circa 1967—and in “Playboy” pink. thought exist on what examples to collect from this market. Purchase what you like and count on the rising tide to float all boats (or in this case, all American collector cars). Or, alternately, purchase the crème de la crème. During other collector muscle-car market advances these models have always outpaced the wider market. Given that horsepower was king in the golden era, there is one marquee engine from each of the Big Three that power the upper-crust collectibles: the Mopar 426 Hemi from Chrysler, the Big Block 427 Chevy from GM and the Ford FE 427. A documented original
“born with” engine is pivotal to valuation. With hundreds, or even millions, of dollars riding on a vehicle’s provenance, fraudulent cars and representations exist. Seek professional help before pulling the trigger on a purchase. Many of us may not like what Trump’s election [mustang] represents and promises, NOW…The 2017 but we can’t change the version of Ford’s classic American muscle car.
fact that it is upon us. On some fronts my curiosity is piqued by what trends the regime change will trigger. I may even elect to go along for some parts of the ride. Now if I could just find one of the 12 original 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ that were given the famous quasi-factory Royal Bobcat upgrades…
Spring 2017 Just For Canadian doctors
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t h e w e a lt h y d o c t o r M a n f r e d p u r t z k i Manfred Purtzki is the principal of Purtzki & Associates Chartered Accountants. You can reach him at manfred@purtzki.com.
A hard sell
Permanent insurance as a retirement vehicle
M
any insurance agents will try to sell you a permanent policy as a retirement vehicle. They’ll tell you that it’s a great forced-savings vehicle that grows tax-deferred like an RRSP, with the option of receiving the funds for retirement income tax-free. Sounds good, right? The concept sounds reasonable, too: a portion of the premium is invested in a tax-sheltered investment account inside the insurance policy. Rather than withdrawing the policy’s cash value, which is subject to tax, the insurance company makes an arrangement whereby the payments to you are funded from a bank loan that is secured by the policy. No interest needs to be paid on this loan during your lifetime, and upon death the bank loan, plus accumulated inter-
est, is paid off from the insurance proceeds. The lure of receiving risk-free, tax-free retirement income is hard to resist for even the most conservative investors. Consequently some will commit themselves to many years of substantial premium payments. The problem is that many policyholders become frustrated by the slow accumulation of the premium dollars inside the investment account. For many the projected cash value of the policy never materializes. With low-investment returns in recent years and the fact that a substantial portion of the premium is used to pay for the death benefit, many policyholders end up trying to get out of this policy. This is easier said than done, considering the very stiff surrender charges, usually applied during the first 10 years.
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Just For Canadian doctors Spring 2017
When you are contemplating taking out a permanent life policy, ask yourself: Do I need (not would I like to have) permanent life insurance coverage? Like many doctors, you need lots of coverage, but usually not past the end of your medical career. There are a small number of doctors who do need the long-term coverage, to pay for capital gains taxes so that the real estate can be transferred to the children without a fire sale, for instance, or to secure long-term funding for the care of a disabled child. Most, however, do not need permanent coverage. Life insurance, like any other insurance, is there to provide cash to cover a financial loss. Insurance is not an investment per se. This may seem obvious, but many people purchase a permanent policy to gain access to its tax shelter aspects without having any need for the death benefit. If you have no real need for life insurance coverage, paying premiums into such a policy is a waste of money as a large chunk of the premiums are used to fund the mortality charges. Take the case of Elsie, a 40-year-old doctor who’s been paying a $12,000 annual premium for a two-year-old $500,000 Universal Life policy. It turns out that this $12,000 premium is actually costing her $20,000 of before-tax cash flow. For the premium Elsie’s paying now, she could purchase a term life policy at a fraction of the cost and use the remainder to help pay for a rental condo she’s considering purchasing. Elsie is joining the ranks of many doctors who’ve regretted the purchase of a permanent insurance policy. Like them, Elsie wants to get out of the policy because, after paying two years of premiums, she realizes she doesn’t actually need any of the benefits the policy offers. She doesn’t anticipate she’ll leave a sizable estate that will attract substantial income taxes on death, nor is she keen to invest her retirement dollars in an insurance policy. One problem remains: she cannot draw out the investment value from the policy because of the substantial cash-surrender charges. The solution? She’ll use this policy as a term policy, by using the accumulated locked-in cash value to pay for future terminsurance premiums.
d o c t o r o n a s o a p b o x d r . c h r i s p e n g i l ly
Dr. Chris Pengilly is Just For Canadian Doctors’ current affairs columnist. Please send your comments to him via his website at drpeng.ca.
Pandora’s box
Evidence-based medicine and clinical practice guidelines
rockicon / noun project
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hen I began researching this essay I came across a surprising amount of conflicting information and a wide variety of opinions on evidence-based medicine and clinical practice guidelines. It’s a subject that presents many points to consider and hash out well into the future. To some, questioning evidence-basedmedicine is considered heresy against a deep-rooted belief, in spite of its relatively brief history. In 1987, Dr. David Eddie presented an informal yet powerful publication in which he proposed that medical teaching and medical care should be less empirical—that, rather, it should be based on scientific data. In other words, medicine should be more of a science than an art. This phenomenon became mainline in 1990 when his article was published in JAMA. He proposed medical decision-making should be based upon data (a.k.a. evidence) taken from meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews—in that order of strength. This evidence should then be used to create clinical practice guidelines (CPGs)—and these guidelines have two branches, one for bedside or office clinical decisions, and the other for deciding public health policies (and budgets). Since 1990 CPGs have increased exponentially. There are many sources of statistics concerning guidelines, and these vary considerably but they all reflect an exponential increase. For example, in 1980 PubMed had no guidelines, in 1990 it posted 100 and by 2012 there were 7,000. This is readily apparent by the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II)—a watch-dog think-tank supported by The Canadian Institutes of Health Research—listing 16 CPGs for neuropathic pain, 11 for hypertension, 18 for asthma, 20 for diabetes and 17 for vancomycin. Incidentally, AGREE II gave none of these a rating, based on quality/rigour, greater than 55 of a potential 100, and vancomycin came in at 20. (These figures are available at agreetrust.org.) Guidelines should be based on good, solid scientific evidence. They cannot be if approximately half of clinical trials fail to be
published, and studies with negative or non-significant results are twice as likely to be “lost.” Many CPGs are based on “expert” opinions by panels, often sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. This puts clinical practice guidelines at risk of being erroneous or, worse still, outright misleading. One example is with reference to tight glycaemic control (A1c 6.5% to 7%) in diabetes, despite the evidence of eight meta-analyses, four large clinical trials and two follow-up trials that there is no reduction in microvascular complications. A similar number of trials show comparable results with reference to macrovascular changes, and all cause mortality. In spite of this, tight glycaemic control is still advocated in 100% of CPGs. A further area of concern is the uncertainty of legal liability if CPGs are not followed. These have not been around long enough to establish case law precedent. The Canadian Medical Association, in its Handbook on Clinical Practice Guidelines, clearly states that guidelines should NOT be used as a legal resource in malpractice cases. Nonetheless the CMPA (Canadian Medical Protection Association) advises physicians to discuss with a colleague and/or specialist, and then the patient, any proposed divergence from guidelines; this must be meticulously documented including the rationale for this choice, the discussion and the patient’s express consent. Contradictory? Confusing? Yes, it is. Physicians will be navigating these uncertain waters for some time. Finally, there are the unexpected consequences of CPGs and evidence-based medicine. I have noticed in my recent peer assessments that younger physicians, when recording Pap tests, note that the speculum is passed, a specimen is taken—and that is it. I criticized them for not undertaking a bimanual examination until it was pointed out
that trials suggest that a routine bimanual pelvic examination does not uncover or affect any serious pelvic pathology. There’s a similar argument for breast examinations. The unfortunate consequence of this is that a physician who does not undertake enough normal pelvic examinations will have insufficient experience to confidently recognize an abnormal pelvic examination when this examination is clinically indicated. Furthermore, evidence is used to influence budgetary considerations. The evidence is that a Pap test examination under the age of 25 does not affect long-term cancer diagnosis or outcomes. I suggest that routine Pap tests for late teenage years and early 20s are a good opportunity to screen for sexually transmitted diseases, discuss and educate about safe sex and appropriate contraceptive options. This is not the primary purpose of the Pap test, but nonetheless one should take a broader look at the delivery of practical and useful medical care. Did Dr. Eddie open a Pandora’s box? There is certainly no closing it. I suggest that we step gingerly and use the contents carefully.
Questioning evidencebased medicine is considered heresy
Spring 2017 Just For Canadian doctors
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Spring 2017 Just For Canadian doctors
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travel at home
Flying over the St. Elias mountain range in Kluane National Park below left Things get lively at the annual Dawson City Music Festival below middle Terry Lee, “Toe Captain,” of the Sourtoe cocktail in Dawson City’s Downtown Bar below right On the Tatshenshini River
The blue waters of Kluane Lake right Whitehorse refers to the rapids of the Yukon River that look like wild white horses, as seen in this mural in the same-named city and capital of the territory
travel at home
High above Dawson City, atop the Midnight Dome below left Horseback riding near Whitehorse below right Robert Service’s cabin in Dawson City, where he wrote poetry like “The Spell of the Yukon”
the spell of the
yukon story
The Yukon Theatre aglow under the midnight sun in Whitehorse above “Dirty Northern Bastard” t-shirt from the Dirty Northern Public House, a popular Whitehorse watering hole
+
photogr aphy by
Barb Sligl
F
ar below me, and far beyond my line of sight, stretches the surreal, snaking strip of a snow-and-ice-choked glacier. Or what looks like an ice highway. It’s the Kaskawulsh Glacier. At some 25,000 square kilometres, its size is hard to take in, literally and figuratively. It curves around the jagged peaks of the St. Elias range in the southwestern reaches of the Yukon for more than 60 kilometres, at some points six kilometres wide where it converges from different arms—a gigantic, lacy fan dotted with blue glacial pools. I’m in a little bush plane (outfitted with skis for those occasions when the weather allows Captain Tom Bradley to actually land on the glacier) and struck dumb as we fly from the shores of oh-so-turquoise Kluane Lake into Kluane National Park towards Mt. Logan, Canada’s highest peak. I see the massif, its 5,959 metres just emerging above the clouds. As the plane soars and banks around this mountainous hinterland it’s as if I’m looking upon something undiscovered, wholly new. Often called Canada’s Himalayas, the St. Elias Mountains are some of the youngest and tallest with six peaks reaching higher than 5,000 metres. Part of the world’s largest tract of internationally protected land (made up of Kluane, Wrangell-St. Elias, Glacier Bay and Tatshenshini-Alsek parks in the US and Canada), it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And all the standout stats—most seismically active inland area in North America, biggest massif on Earth, largest non-polar icefield in the world, 200-plus glaciers—reinforce an underlining feeling I’ve been having throughout the Yukon. This place is all about superlatives. In Whitehorse, the capital, I sample what might be the cheekiest cocktail in one of the best-named bars: Half in the Bag (because, yes, it’s a gin-and-St. Germain mix served in a bag with a straw) at the Dirty Northern Bastard. In this public house— wood-panelled, antler-adorned, mummifiedcat-displaying (the petrified cat resides in the adjoining Miner’s Daughter restaurant and was found during a reno of the Dirty Northern)—I hang with a happily rowdy crew of locals and sample another nowhereelse drink: the Oldest Pussy. It involves rolling Just For Canadian doctors
35
travel at home
if you go
dice to see what shot of FLY Icefield Discovery is the only whisky I’ll get, from Oban flightseeing company allowed to land in to J&B. Kluane National Park. icefielddiscovery.com The vibe at the Dirty RAFT Be one of the few to go down the Tat with Northern is a nice warmTatshenshini Expediting. tatshenshiniyukon. up for my next stop, com PARTY The 39th Dawson City Music Dawson City, a mere (in Festival takes place this year on July Yukon perspective) six 21–23. dcmf.com MORE Discover the land of the midnight sun: hours away. This territory is travelyukon.com a vast place. It’s pointless to try see it in one visit, although with just a few main highways connecting a stray number of communities (there are less than 34,000 people living in the entire territory), it’s simple to criss-cross from Whitehorse to Dawson City and back to Whitehorse to get to Haines Junction and Kluane National Park. In Dawson, I continue the Yukon’s odd ode to drinking at the Downtown Hotel. This is the home of the Sourtoe cocktail, which is just what it sounds like: a human toe (donated by those who’ve lost their appendages to frostbite or otherwise) in Yukon Jack liqueur (“the black sheep of Canadian liquors”). As I down the stuff—under a sign that says, “man the feck up!”—the toe must touch my lips but not pass them (swallowing the toe would cost me $2,500). Done. I join the 66,836 others who’ve been “served” before me—a number that keeps growing. On the Icefield Certificate in hand, I join locals (who Discovery flightseeing tour, Mt. scoff at the touristy toe experience) for a Logan, Canada’s rousing set of music at a surprising number highest peak, of venues—the banks of the Yukon River, a rises above 1902 church, the ballroom of a Gold Rush-era clouds in Kluane building and a tent over a mucky lawn where National Park gumboots are in order. The Dawson City Music Festival is on and things are hopping, but this tiny town of less than 1,400 residents is always ahum, which I feel acutely in the Pit, a year-round dive of the most-entertaining kind, and after stumbling out into the midnight sun. I continue my pleasant hum back in the natural beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Kluane National Park and Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park, where I end my Yukon foray on the waters of the Tat as the Tatshenshini River is also known. It’s a wild ride, and my rafting guide, who goes by “Hot Rod,” tells me stories of nearby Million Dollar Falls, one of which claims the presence of that elusive gold nugget, still out there waiting to be found long after the great Klondike Gold Rush came and went. “I imagine all the treasure we’re floating over,” he says. And I think to myself that the real treasure surrounds us right now— from snowcapped peaks and frothy white waters to desiccated cats and toes, nuggets are hidden throughout the Yukon.
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Just For Canadian doctors
Dawson City facades above Blue-tinged ice crevasses in Kluane left Captain Tom Bradley below right Gold-nugget-adorned belt buckles
Inside the Dirty Northern Bastard bar in Whitehorse left Assortment of Dawson City Music Festival footwear
s m a l l ta l k
doctors share their picks dr. scott forsyth is a family physician…and so much more. As a resident in his final years of medical school he began taking photographs of the Rockies, and has since become an award-winning photographer (named “Photographic Artist of the Year” by the Professional Photographers Of Canada), indulging his love of wild landscapes as a photographic guide with tour companies like Adventure Canada. His most recent endeavour: running as the Calgary Heritage Candidate in the House of Commons to work alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. My name: Scott Forsyth I live, practise in: Calgary, AB
courtesy of Dr. scott forsyth; photo with PM: Adam Scott
My training: Science Degree B.Sc. Dalhousie University, Law Degree L.L.B. (1996) University of Calgary. Medical Degree M.D. University of Calgary (1999), Family Medicine Residency CCFP University of Alberta (2001) Why I was drawn to medicine: To learn practical skills that combine science with the art of communication. Chose family medicine because I like the diversity of being a generalist, along with the continuity of patient relationships, and finally the freedom to set my own schedule. This has enabled me to work part-time as photographic guide and instructor aboard expedition companies to remote regions such as the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Labrador Coastline and Haida Gwaii—with Adventure Canada and Maple Leaf Adventures. My last trip: September 2016, my fifth Arctic journey with Adventure Canada. Travelled through the Northwest Passage to the high Canadian Arctic and then down the western coast of Greenland. Most exotic place I’ve travelled to: Grise Fjord, the northernmost
exotic traveller :
Dr. Scott Forsyth, a.k.a. zodiac driver and photographic tour guide, in Disko Bay, Greenland
Canadian settlement on the southern coast of Ellesmere Island The best souvenir I’ve brought back from a trip: Muskox-hair hats, scarves and headbands. Incredibly warm yet extremely light. Best meal: “Country” food prepared and offered to us along our journeys in the Canadian Arctic by generous Inuit hosts, in Gjoa Haven and Grise Fjord. Place that I keep returning to: Tofino, Vancouver Island. The raw power of the open west coast along windswept beaches with house-sized waves crashing ashore in the winter. A surfer’s paradise—and in Canada. Just need a wetsuit! Can’t believe I’ve never been to: The Yukon!
On my list… [See Yukon story on page 34.] Dream vacation: Skiing in the Rockies in winter—and an occasional medical conference in Hawaii! If I could travel anywhere, I’d go to: St. John’s Newfoundland. I love the feeling of the city, the character of the streets and the friendliness of the people—it feels strangely familiar. My jet-lag cure: Stay up…sleep on the new schedule and get lots of fresh air and exercise. I always travel with: A few emergency medicines, especially while up in the Arctic or any remote location. Also, of course, my camera! Favourite city: At the moment I’m really enjoying business trips
Dr. Forsyth (right) with PM Justin Trudeau
to Ottawa. I always like being near the centre of things, and it happens to be full of good friends.
Favourite band/album or song: George Harrison, Here Comes The Sun
Favourite book: Fatal Passage, Ken McGoogan—the truth about the Franklin Expedition and the unsung incredible Canadian Arctic European Explorer John Rae.
Gadget or gear I could not do without: My solar-powered altimeter, compass, barometer and all-in-one waterproof watch.
Favourite film: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Last splurge: As above
Must-see TV: Marco Polo
Last purchase: Nikon D5 Camera Most-frequented store: Vistek and The Camera Store, or MEC
Spring 2017 Just For Canadian doctors
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s m a l l ta l k
doctors share their picks >
dr. scott forsyth
[continued from page 37]
award -winning photographer :
Arctic scenes, from icebergs to polar bears, photographed by Dr. Forsyth
My fridge is always stocked with: Maple syrup My guilty pleasure: Espresso and Oreo cookies Go-to exercise/sport: Walking the dog—English Cream Golden Retriever— otherwise biking, swimming Favourite spectator sport: Football Another Dr. Forsyth photo, taken in Torngat Mountains National Park, Labrador
Celebrity crush: Not any longer—I know they are all just human I’d want this with me if stranded on a desert island: Companion My secret to relaxing and relieving tension: Regular outdoor exercise, and time to create something lasting— learning an instrument A big challenge I’ve faced: Stepping up in the past year to be vice-chair of the board of directors for our Calgary West Central Primary Care Network.
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Just For Canadian doctors Spring 2017
This is a large not-for-profit health corporation partnering with Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services—456 physician members serving >300,000 patients, spanning >100 medical clinics in SW Calgary. One thing I’d change about myself: Would like to be able to speak a second language with natural fluency The word that best describes me: Determined I’m inspired by: Lauren Harris, the Group of Seven painter My motto: Just say yes— then figure it out afterwards A cause close to my heart: Canadian Geographic Challenge’s mission—to make Canada better known to Canadians and abroad On my must-do list: Witness Aurora Borealis in the Yukon If I wasn’t a doctor, I’d be: A science writer and artist
Dr. scott forsyth
I have too many: Emails
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Outstanding value for your time and resources Combine live, accredited CME and personal renewal time with family & friends Featured Destinations
Topics in Preventive Medicine and Geriatrics 21 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ 21 Contact Hours 10-Night Far East, from Hong Kong to Singapore Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas October 8 - 18, 2017
July 10, 2017 Primary Care and Geriatrics: Addressing Issues of Aging Patients - 2017 Update 14 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ 14 Contact Hours 11-Night Western Mediterranean from Rome Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Reflection August 10 , 2017 Essential Topics in Neurology: 2017 Update 14 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ 14 Contact Hours 9-Night Greek Isles from Venice Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Constellation September 29, 2017 Topics in Family Medicine: 2017 Update 14 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ 14 Contact Hours 10-Night Italy and Greek Isles from Rome Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Reflection October 14, 2017 Essential Primary Care - Update 2017 14 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ 14 Contact Hours 7- Night Hawaii Islands from Honolulu, Oahu Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America October 28, 2017 Pediatrics Update: Topics in Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases 14 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ 14 Contact Hours 7-Day Southern Caribbean from San Juan, Puerto Rico Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Summit Course Fees may vary based on number of hours offered. Please visit our web site for current fees and cancellation policies.
Selected Cruises listed here. See a complete Program Listing at www.ContinuingEducation.NET Accreditation: Continuing Education, Inc is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Designation: Continuing Education, Inc. designates these live educational activities for a maximum of 14-21 AMA PRA Category 1 credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Topics in Neurology for Primary Care Physicians 14 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ 14 Contact Hours 7-Night Tahiti and the Society Islands from Papeete, ms Paul Gauguin November 04 - 11, 2017
November 04, 2017 Topics in Neurology for Primary Care 14 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ 14 Contact Hours 7-Night Tahiti and the Society Islands from Papeete, Tahiti, Paul Gauguin’s ms Paul Gauguin December 30, 2017 Preventive & Personalized Medicine 14 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ 14 Contact Hours 7-Night Southern Caribbean from San Juan, Puerto Rico Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Summit January 20. 2018 Women’s Health & Healthcare Communications 21 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ 21 Contact Hours 12-Night Australia and New Zealand from from Sydney Holland America’s ms Noordam April 15, 2018 Topics in Critical Care & Pulmonary Medicine 14 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ 14 Contact Hours 11-Night Japanese Explorer from Tokyo, Japan Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Millennium May 28, 2018 Internal Medicine: Cardiology 16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ 16 Contact Hours 10-Night Iceland and Ireland from Dublin Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Eclipse August 4, 2018 Allergy and Immunology for PCPs 14 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ 14 Contact Hours 7-Night Hawaii Islands from Honolulu, Oahu Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America
Ask about our Guest Travels Free Program We can manage or joint provide/accredit your next association or group meeting Call 800-422-0711 or 727-526-1571 or visit www.ContinuingEducation.NET Florida Seller of Travel Reg. #14337