November 2023 Pulse: Honoring the Journey

The purpose of Resident Doctors of BC is to support residents in fulfilling their education to become well-informed, prepared and professional physicians to enhance patient care.

MISSION STATEMENT

• To advocate for contractual matters

• To support members’ education and encourage excellence in the teaching environment

• To promote its members’ professional, personal and financial well-being

• To foster collegiality among its members throughout British Columbia

• To facilitate collaboration with the community and other professional groups

CONTACT US

Phone

604-876-7636 | 1-888-877-2722

Email info@residentdoctorsbc.ca

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350 - 1665 West Broadway

Vancouver, BC V6J 1X1

www.residentdoctorsbc.ca

CONTENTS

2 A Word From Our President

3 Board of Directors 2023/2024

9 Staff Spotlight: Interview with Mrs. Michelle Seymour

11 How to select an Insurance Advisor for you

13 What I Wish I Knew During Residency Part 1

29 Distributed Site: Victoria

A WORD

OUR PRESIDENT

Dear Resident Doctors of British Columbia members,

It is an honour to be writing to you as President of RDBC from the occupied and unceded territories of the əlilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam) Nations.

When I started residency, I did not anticipate that working with RDBC would become such a large and meaningful part of my residency career. I ran for the board in my first year of residency with the goal of learning about our Collective Agreement, becoming part of Collective Bargaining, and representing the voices of distributed residents. In my second term on the board, I had the privilege to join the executive and work as the Director of Labour and External Relations and the Lead resident on the negotiations committee. Invigorated by the Collective Bargaining process I was motivated to continue this work and stand here humbly as your President for the 2023/2024 academic year. I am joined by a dedicated executive and board of directors you can read about here, as well as a RDBC staff that are the fiercest advocates for resident wellness that I have seen.

My goals as president are to continue the incremental improvements started with the current collective agreement for resident financial wellness and protections of personal time and ensure RDBC works tirelessly to protect all language in the collective agreement that we have fought so hard for. To achieve these goals, we have several new and invigorated committees with PGME and our employer representative HEABC. These committees allow for direct communication with the actors that can right systematic overscheduling and programs not following the collective agreement. Further, we are working on standardizing scheduling processes across programs to ensure RDBC can act on improper schedules before they effect resident lives. To achieve this goal RDBC also needs help from the membership. Without knowledge of what injustices residents are facing we cannot act to right them. We encourage you to reach out about CA violations, whether they be about call scheduling, denial of post-call days or your third vacation request, or failure to provide adequate OH&S protections at the clinical sites. There are many avenues to speak out, including your Council of Program Representative found here, submitting your overscheduled call for payment, directly to RDBC staff at info@residentdoctorsbc.ca, or directly to myself at president@residentdoctorsbc.ca

Through this work we will ensure that our Collective Agreement is protected, and that we can achieve the best future agreement for our members. It has been a pleasure and honor to serve in this position on your behalf. Please do not hesitate to reach out in any capacity.

Dr. Harry Anzinger, MD President of Resident Doctors of BC

Dr. Harrison Anzinger, President | R3, Paediatrics

This will be Harry’s third term on the RDBC Board of Directors. As a RDBC Director, Harry plans to ensure new residents’ voices and concerns are heard, and will continue to explore different ways for distributed residents to feel integrated with the larger UBC medical community.

Dr. Soma Dalai, Immediate Past President | , Internal Medicine

Soma is a fourth-year resident in Infectious Diseases, currently completing her fellowship at Kingston, Ontario. Her priorities will be negotiating more humane working conditions for residents, improving occupational health and safety, and making sure residents feel supported in contract disputes.

Dr. Parker Nann, Director of Operations & Finance | R1, Emergency Medicine

Parker is a first-year Emergency Medicine resident based at Royal Columbian Hospital. Contrary to the EM stereotype, he does not engage with adrenaline sports outside of the ED (the on-shift thrills are more than enough). Instead, he enjoyes hosting cheese themed dinner parties and skiing in the winter. Parker has worked in and explored many parts of British Columbia and looks forward to to improving the working lives of residents across BC.

Dr. Adeeb Malas, Director of External & Labour Relations | R2, Psychiatry

Dr. Adeeb Malas is a second-year psychiatry resident who is excited to advocate on behalf of the entire resident body of BC, particularly underrepresented colleagues and out-of-province residents given the hardships associated with moving personal and professional lives!

Dr. Xuan Zhao, Director of Resident Affairs & Wellness | R3, Public Health

Xuan is a third-year resident in Public Health and Preventive Medicine. This will be Xuan’s first term on the RDBC Board of Directors. She also serves as the PHPM Wellness Co-lead and co-founded the UBC EnviroMed Club, which reflect her passions for resident safety, equity, & wellbeing and planetary health.

Dr. Adedolapo Abe, Director | R2, Family Medicine

Dolapo is a second-year resident in Family Medicine (St. Paul’s IMG). Working through an intersectional lens, she’s passionate about underserved populations and hopes to advocate for residents who fall in this precarious bracket through ideas-facilitation and brainstorming-solutions across varying spectrums for improving residents’ work-life-learning wellness.

Dr. Emma Prchal, Director | R2, Emergency Medicine

Emma is a second-year resident in Emergency Medicine based in Kelowna. This will be Emma’s first year on the RDBC Board of Directors. Last year, Emma was able to participate in the Governance and Health & Wellness Committees, and she’s looking forward to continuing to advocate for residents.

Dr. Gina Peck, Director | R2, Orthopedic Surgery

Gina is a second-year resident in Orthopedic Surgery. She was born in Ontario, raised in BC, and spent a number of years studying music in Baltimore, Maryland. Residency is difficult, and she is looking forward to advocating on behalf of her fellow co-residents.

Dr. Jennifer Labrie, Director | R2, Family Medicine

Jennifer is a second-year Family Medicine resident in UBC’s Coastal program. This will be Jennifer’s second term on the RDBC Board of Directors. She is looking forward to advocating for support for transition to practice preparation and securing adequate financial support for residents across BC .

Dr. Mansi Goswami, Director | R1, Family Medicine

Mansi is a first-year resident in Family Medicine (St. Paul’s IMG). This will be Mansi’s first term on the RDBC Board of Directors. She is committed to collaborating with board members, residents, and other organizations to build bridges, break down barriers, and help foster an inclusive healthcare system.

Dr. Maya de Vos, Director | R3, Anesthesiology

Maya is a third-year resident in anesthesiology. This will be Maya’s second term on the RDBC Board of Directors, but she has already been involved in advocating for students through the Medical Education Committee and Wellness Initiative Network. She is excited to engage with residents across BC and to work towards improving resident wellness, benefits, and leadership transparency.

Dr. Morgan Haines, Director | R3, Emergency Medicine

Morgan is a third-year Emergency Medicine resident. This will be Morgan’s second term on the RDBC Board of Directors. Originally from North Vancouver, Morgan can often be found getting lost in the forest or going for a hike with an over-thetop first aid kit. This will be his second year joining the RDBC Board and he is looking forward to working with the team to advocate for residents across the province.

Dr. Shikha Walia, Director | R3, Psychaitry

Shikha is a third-year psychiatry resident in Vancouver. This will be Shikha’s first term on the RDBC Board of Directors, but she has already been involved in advocating for residents through the RDBC Health and Wellness Committee. She is excited to engage with residents across BC and to work towards continuing to improve resident wellness and to advocate for residents across the distributed sites!

Dr. Zach Sagorin, Director | R3, General Surgery

Zach is a third-year resident in General Surgery. This will be Zach’s third year on the RDBC Board of Directors. A graduate of the UBC Faculty of Medicine, Zach enjoyed serving as the President of the UBC Medical Undergraduate Society and plans to bring the skills he learned to his term on the RDBC Board. His administrative interests include equity, finance, planetary health and education.

INTERNAL COMMITTEES

VOLUNTEER WITH RDBC

Resident Doctors of BC has a variety of committees residents are welcome to join, as well as project teams available throughout the year. We are looking to recruit members who are eager to leave their mark on the residency experience in BC. If there is a topic you are passionate about, let us know and we’ll be happy to accept your volunteer application. Visit our Volunteer page to sign up.

Ms. Lona Cunningham Executive Director

Ms. Elsie Wang Medical Undergraduate Society Representative

UPCOMING EVENTS

Month-Long Movember Contest & Fundraiser

December 6

RDBC Board Meeting

December 12 2023 Resident Innovation Fund Application Deadline

December 13

Christmas Market Social

February 5 - 9

Resident Doctors Appreciation Week

NOVEMBER, 2023

Mrs. Michelle Seymour, Senior Advisor Labour Relations and Member Services for RDBC

Hey Residents! This month we interviewed one of our Senior Labour Relations Advisor, Mrs. Michelle Seymour. We chatted about how the organization have changed since her first day, advice for new residents and her favourite activity to do outside of work.

Can you please give our residents some insight into your role here at RDBC? You hold the distinction of being our longest-standing member, with over 10 years of dedication to the organization.

My current role is Senior Advisor Labour Relations and Member Services. At work we all have an animal that reflects us in our role, or who we are as a person. Mine is the raccoon because I am always plotting in the background on the next move to make progress for residents. My role has evolved to be mostly strategic, preparing for and executing negotiations, essential services and occupational health and safety, but on a day to day you will find me supporting individual residents with issues relating to the Collective Agreement or training progress.

Take us back to the beginning of your journey with RDBC. We’re eager to hear about your early days with the company.

I started with the organization while in undergrad through the UBC Co-op program. While in the program you take semesters off from course work to gain work experience through paid roles in your industry.

At the time the organization was located next to the Post Office and my interview was the morning after the Stanley Cup riot. I was so distracted by the chaos of getting there, I left sure I didn’t get the job, and I’ve been here ever since.

Could you share a fascinating tidbit about RDBC’s history and its evolution over the years?

The organization has gone through two name changes; PARI-BC was the original name for the Professional Association of Residents and Interns of BC, we dropped the I in the 90s when that pathway went away. In 2015 we started the name change trend to Resident Doctors of BC, many other provinces followed and even the national organization.

The recent pay increases are the largest in my time with the organization, when I started, we went through three rounds of negotiations back-to-back where the employer would not consider any raise. As a result of this we had to get creative to find ways to address resident concerns. One of the core areas was call compensation; during this period all residents were paid $400 per month regardless of the amount of call they did. We created the per call system to increase equity for residents and again many other provinces followed our lead.

With your extensive interaction with numerous residents over the years, what advice would you offer to our new residents? Your insights from your interactions can serve as valuable guidance for those just beginning their journey with us.

Residency is hard, I have seen over 10 cohorts of family medicine complete their training and while we have made improvements in residency training in that time, it is still a challenging endeavour. There are plenty of platitudes about training, like you get out what you put into it, or pacing yourself “it’s a marathon not a sprint” that are fitting. I think the best advice I can give is you will be challenged, and you will fail at least once at something so call RDBC before it gets bigger than it needs to be.

What do you like to do when you are not working for RDBC?

When I am not corralling my two kids to clean their rooms or chauffeuring them to their activities, we like to go camping. I am also a forever student, currently I am pursuing a new OHS designation. I also have continued my pandemic hobby of cross stitch, which I am terrible at and have produced exactly one picture.

If you have any questions about the Collective Agreement, Labour Relations or OHS, please reach out to michelle@residentdoctorsbc.ca

HOW TO SELECT AN INSURANCE ADVISOR FOR YOU

Doctors of BC Insurance advisors play an important role in helping physicians choose the best insurance for their practice-style and assets. They also provide products to support physicians in the event of an accident, disability, or death.

There are two types of insurance advisors that a physician could interact with when choosing insurance: agents and brokers. An insurance agent is someone who represents one or more insurance companies and has been granted permission to sell their insurance products. Agents will not promote products other than those they have permission to sell. On the other hand, an insurance broker is someone who represents the client, or in this case, the physician. A broker will interact with insurers on behalf of

the physician to solicit the most appropriate insurance options. Doctors of BC Insurance Advisors are brokers – they have exclusive access to Doctors of BC association plans and individual plans available in the marketplace. They make recommendations based on the member’s needs.

Agents and brokers can be compensated in a multitude of ways. Most are commissioned. Choosing between a commissioned or non-commissioned advisor is critical when considering insurance options. Doctors of BC Insurance Advisors are unique in that they are salaried employees, with a mission to provide unbiased advice. Non-commissioned advisors do not receive bonuses or incentives for selling plans. Commissioned advisors are

typically compensated with a percentage of premium, so the more costly or higher volume a client purchases, the higher the commissions generated. Choosing a noncommissioned advisor means that the physician will never feel pressured to opt-in to unnecessary insurance plans or options.

Another important consideration is that non-commissioned insurance advisors are more freely to invest time in building long-term relationships with their clients. Non-commissioned advisors can take a personalized approach to understand the evolving needs of physicians and recommend products accordingly. By staying connected and responsive, noncommissioned advisors establish a partnership that remains beneficial and relevant throughout the physician’s career.

Finally, if you’re working with a noncommissioned insurance advisor, ask if they are associated with any for-profit organization. For example, do they get referral fees or bonuses if they refer you to other services? Ask if your advisor works with clients outside of their not-for-profit capacity. For example, do they have an independent commission based advising business on the side?

Shopping for insurance may seem like an overwhelming task but knowing that physicians have options when choosing an insurance advisor can make it easier to secure the best insurance to fit their needs. Doctors of BC employs 8 salaried, licensed insurance advisors across the province to serve members, including residents. Their mission is to provide every member with the right plans and the best advice to provide financial peace of mind. Schedule a free appointment at insurance@doctorsofbc.ca

WHAT I WISH I KNEW DURING RESIDENCY –PART 1

Financial Literarcy Counsel (FLC)

Improving your wellbeing this holiday season is a gift that will pay dividends as you make important decisions throughout your medical career. Our team asked Physicians who had completed their residency in recent years as well as residents completing soon for their insights and tips when it comes to their health and wellbeing.

When it comes to balancing work and life during residency…

“I wish I had tapped into the power of building periods of work and rest into my schedule. I learned to avoid procrastination during residency, but it was a slow process. I could have had much more time for myself had I been more effective in completing my non-clinical work tasks and set aside dedicated time to finish them, with a set deadline. Just finish it, whatever it is! There will then be time for other things instead of a protracted period of half-effective work and poor-quality downtime.”

- Anesthesiology Physician, completed residency in 2017

“Taking more time away from work fully (i.e., no phone, computers, etc.) actually resulted in higher quality learning and efficiency when I was working. I would ensure I had 30-60 minutes before bed, a minimum of 4 days a week (due to call schedules) for uninterrupted downtime.”

- Family Physician, completed residency in 2021

“I had some phases where I wanted to keep work and life completely separate, and others where I had coworkers on a certain rotation of similar age and interests when I wanted to keep them aligned. You don’t have to create a hard separation; it’s okay to be flexible and try to expand your personal network within a professional setting too, as sometimes only co-residents understand your exact circumstances.”

- R1 Family Medicine, completing residency in 2024

When it comes to communicating with your partner…

“Advocate for time with the partner outside of medicine with no medicine talk to ensure there was space for intimacy and intentional time and conversations. Ensuring that concerns and feelings are always communicated during this very difficult time and finding a way to balance the feelings of guilt due to the lack of time and ensuring free time is used effectively.”

- Family Physician, completed residency in 2021

“Constant communication is difficult, but the small, frequent check-ins are better than days without contact.”

- R1 Family Medicine, completing residency in 2024

When it comes to money and debt…

“I was quite conservative in my spending but still worried about my debt. I wish I had worried less. I was doing everything I could to avoid excessive debt and quickly settled

it once I started working. There wasn’t much more I could have done and the worrying was not productive. I did practice saving, setting aside a tiny amount into RRSPs every month. I think this helped to promote good habits and did contribute to managing anxiety about my debt.”

- Anesthesiology Physician, completed residency in 2017

“Do rural rotations! There are incredible student loan forgiveness programs when applied at the right time and can significantly reduce federal and provincial loans while also getting great learning and exposure. Do your best to reduce unnecessary expenses but also don’t be afraid to do little things for yourself +/spouse or family. Everyone is different with the stress tolerance for debt and what they deem as necessary.”

- R1 Family Medicine, completing residency in 2024

“As a renter, living with a roommate is the most financially significant decision I made in terms of maximizing savings and debt reduction. The rent will inevitably take >50% of your salary in Metro Vancouver, and there’s only so much cost-cutting you can do with food and entertainment in an effort to combat a large monthly rental bill before it becomes futile.”

- Family Physician, completed residency in 2021

In Part 2 of this article, we will share what Physicians wish they knew in Residency regarding self-care, earning money, as well as their biggest mistakes, and wins.

This holiday season take the time to prioritize your well-being, be kind to yourself, and nurture all aspects of your health, which also includes your financial wellness.

Remember to seek help if anything feels off to address any issues while they are still manageable. Your RDBC membership benefits comes with a myriad of health and wellness benefits, including 2 complimentary financial coaching sessions with Financial Literacy Counsel to help improve your financial wellness so that you may focus on caring for others. We also host the annual RDBC tax clinic to help you file your taxes and receive your tax refund.

Please feel free to reach out to Financial Literacy Counsel to book a financial coaching session using our QR code below, online form or contact us at 604.620.6630 or contact@flci.ca

ABOUT FINANCIAL LITERACY COUNSEL

Financial Literacy Counsel (FLC) is a boutique financial education and financial planning company committed to building a financially literate world of stronger families and communities. FLC began educating doctors in 2003 through the UBC Faculty of Medicine. FLC was contracted in 2011 by VCH Employee Wellness and in 2020 by Resident Doctors of BC to increase the financial literacy of doctors and healthcare professionals. Their programs are also delivered through UBC Transition into Practice, UBC Medicine CPD, BC Anesthesiologists’ Society, Burnaby Hospital Medical Staff Association, Vancouver Division of Family Practice, BC Doctors of Optometry, UBC Professional MBA, and Continuing Legal Education Society of BC (CLE-BC). Learn more about FLC by visiting www.financialliteracy.ca

Awards of Excellence 2024

Three awards are given each year to outstanding individuals in the field of medicine.

recipients receive:

Commemoration on a plaque at the Resident Doctors of BC office

A personal commemorative award

$1000 donation to the charity/charities of their choice

AWARD OF MERIT

The purpose of this award is to recognize a Resident whose outstanding achievements and/or leadership reflect the aims and objectives of Resident Doctors of BC. The award will be presented annually to a Resident who has shown outstanding initiative in any of the following areas:

• Resident health and well-being

• Promotion of the role of residents in the healthcare system

• Advocacy and representation of Residents leading to improved work or learning environments

RESIDENTS’ ADVOCATE AWARD

The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual who displays significant interest in issues of importance to Residents. The award will be presented annually to a person who advocates for the personal. professional or educational advancement of Residents.

DR. PATRICIA CLUGSTON MEMORIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

The purpose of this award is to recognize a physician clinical educator for his or her contributions to Residents’ medical education. The recipient will have created a safe learning environment that encourages self-inquiry, supports adult learning, and fosters within learners a desire to achieve their highest potential.

All nominations require a nominator, a letter of support, and contact information for two references.

Asking for Help from Afar: The Value of Peer-To-Peer Support in Rural and Remote Emergency Departments in British Columbia

Dr. Kassandra McFarlane, UBC Family Medicine PGY-1

Patients in isolated communities in Canada encounter difficulty accessing healthcare services.1 This inequity includes urgent and emergent care in rural and remote emergency departments (ED) in all provinces and territories.1 Many challenges exist for health care providers (HCPs) in these low-resource settings and such issues are prevalent throughout British Columbia (BC).

A lack of provider experience, education, or skillset is contributing to a decreasing number of physicians who are interested and confident in providing rural and remote emergency medical care and this is especially prevalent among some cohorts of recently trained physicians.2 In particular, more experienced physicians have noted reluctance among recent graduates to pursue work in a rural or remote ED without further training.2

Rural and remote physicians in BC face complex barriers to accessing higher levels of care for their patients as a result of patient transfer obstacles ranging from a lack of available staff to accompany patients, receiving-physicians refusing the transfer, a lack of transport vehicles, or hazardous weather and rugged geography.2 Difficulties in arranging transfer to higher levels of care can result in frustration for the rural provider and potentially create system-based risks for patient safety.2

As a result of the inherent problems rural and remote providers face in these low-resource settings, there is a greater risk of mental and emotional cost which contributes to burnout and career dissatisfaction3 and is potentially a contributing factor to historic recruitment and retention issues in these isolated EDs. It

is well-known that there is a disproportionate lack of health care providers in rural and remote BC communities4, which only furthers the healthcare inequities faced by the patients who reside within them.

One method of addressing the disparity in access to emergency medical care in these communities throughout BC has been by establishing a virtual peer-to-peer support platform for ED HCPs known as Real-Time Virtual Support (RTVS).4 This program, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, facilitates access to decision support in a virtual format using Zoom™ technology.5 Generally, this program aims to support on-site HCPs by employing a cohort of physicians with expertise in emergency medicine, as well as prior experience in similar environments, who serve as colleague-consultants to improve clinical decision making and provider confidence in these low-resource settings.4,5 In particular, RTVS has multiple resources available for HCPs, with two that are specific for urgent and emergent consults: Rural Urgent Doctors in-aid (RUDi) and Child Health Advice in Real-Time Electronically (CHARLiE).6 The goal of this technology is to enhance the availability and quality of health services throughout British Columbia by providing support for rural and remote communities.4

Additionally, the use of virtual peer-to-peer platforms can expedite access to patient transfer services by coordinating directly with patient transport organizations on behalf of the rural and remote HCP.4 Similarly, access to these virtual clinical support services can reduce avoidable utilization of patient-transfer services by providing patient management support that allows the on-site

provider to safely care for the patient in their local ED and thereby permits the patient to stay in their home community.7 As a result, there is a reduction in costs associated with contracting transfer services, and it also prevents an unnecessary dispersion of resources.7,8

By fostering a collegial, relationshipbased environment, virtual peer-to-peer platforms provide support to individuals in an otherwise isolating role, potentially contributing to both the positive recruitment and retention of HCPs in these regions.4 While this technology has been helpful in creating connection to valuable knowledge resources in many distributed communities, there are still those where a lack of internet infrastructure provides hurdles to implementation of these solutions.5 However, telephone assistance is offered within the RTVS framework and allows those without reliable internet to access its services9 thereby providing accessible options for providers and supporting relationships between professionals across the farthest reaches of the province.4

There is no doubt that, regardless of the implementation of this technology, challenges still remain in rural and remote emergency departments throughout the province. However, there is hope for the future as a more interconnected community of physicians and allied healthcare workers becomes empowered by access to a virtual network of supportive and knowledgeable colleagues. It is clear that teamwork and collegiality is the basis of a sustainable model for rural and remote emergency medicine in British Columbia.

REFERENCES

1. Wilson CR, Rourke J, Oandasan IF, Bosco C. Progress made on access to rural health care in Canada. Canadian

Family Physician. 2020 Jan 1;66(1):31-6. https://www.cfp.ca/ content/66/1/31.short

2. Wilkinson T, Bluman B. Rural Emergency Medicine Needs Assessment-British Columbia, Canada-2014-2015-Final Report. UBC Continuing Professional Development (UBC CPD).2015. https://ubccpd.ca/sites/ubccpd.ca/files/2015Report-Rural-EM-Needs-Assessment.pdf

3. Canadian Medical Association. 2022. “National Physician Health Survey 2021.” https://www.cma.ca/sites/default/ files/2022-08/NPHS_final_report_EN.pdf

4. Lauscher HN, Stewart K, Markham R, Pawlovich J, Mah J, Hunt M, Williams K, Christenson J, Graham S, Bepple K, Pritchard E. Real-time virtual supports improving health equity and access in British Columbia. InHealthcare Management Forum 2023 Sep (Vol. 36, No. 5, p. 285). SAGE Publications. https://journals.sagepub.com/ doi/10.1177/08404704231183177

5. Falk, W. 2021. The state of virtual care in Canada as of wave three of the COVID-19 pandemic: An early diagnostic and policy recommendations

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/ transparency/health-agreements/bilateral-agreement-pancanadian-virtual-care-priorities-covid-19/wave-three-earlydiagnostic-policy-recommendations.html

6. Emergency Care BC. Real Time Virtual Support – A network of information. 2023. https://emergencycarebc.ca/ rtvs/

7. University of British Columbia Digital Emergency Medicine. Real-time virtual support: year one evaluation report. 2021. https://www.bcemergencynetwork.ca/wpcontent/ uploads/2022/06/2021-07-09-RTVS-Year-1-EvaluationReport-v4.0.pdf

8. Ward MM, Carter KD, Ullrich F, Merchant KA, Natafgi N, Zhu X, Weigel P, Heppner S, Mohr NM. Averted transfers in rural emergency departments using telemedicine: rates and costs across six networks. Telemedicine and e-Health. 2021 May 1;27(5):481-7.

9. Rural Coordination Centre of British Columbia. Real-Time Virtual Support. 2023. https://rccbc.ca/initiatives/rtvs/

Game of Approximation

Dr. Austin Lam, UBC Psychiatry Research Track PGY-2

A poetic reflection on Gadamer’s ‘fusion of horizons’ in psychiatry.

Seated across in opposition

Shining forehead of the Other Alien – Alienist.

Throw with might

Grappling hook

Fastened and burrowed

Into the Other. Liliputian figure

Scaling the heights

Face of their Face

Entering doors of perception. Pupil’s cavern of light

Engulfs the One Who stands in awe

Dropped within. Vast interior

Of the Other – Realizing Merged, Möbius strip of Exteriority and interiority.

Ever closer Understanding

Only approximated “In the final analysis,” with Teasing distance.

Withholding certitude …

Fifty-one residents recognized for outstanding service and exceptional patient care

Last May, for the first time in the history of residency training in BC, a health authority and a medical staff association held an event at VGH to give thanks to residents as valued health-care professionals. The evening was the Vancouver Medical, Dental and Allied Staff Association’s (VMDAS) inaugural Resident Physicians Recognition & Appreciation Event. Fifty-one of the over 800 residents who work in Vancouver Acute were nominated by department and division leaders, medical staff members, and allied health and administrative staff for their outstanding contributions.

Each of the residents recognized for outstanding service and exceptional patient care received a certificate to acknowledge their contributions. The residents recognized in 2023 were:

Dr. Iyad Alshihry

Dr. Steven Bae

Dr. Lee Bauer

Dr. Adam Book

Dr. Christina Campbell

Dr. Emilie Chan

Dr. Taylor Crown

Dr. Dan Cusano

Dr. Soma Dalai

Dr. Meghan Dmitriew

Dr. Bo Gong

Dr. Travis Gordon

Dr. Simon Hasan

Dr. Angela Hu

Dr. Aro Kan

Dr. Jeff Kenzie

Dr. Sirim Kim

Dr. Naima Kotadia

Dr. Rebecca Kummen

Dr. Phil Leung

Dr. Gabby Levesque

Dr Alexander Levit

Dr. Duncan Maguire

Dr. Peter Mankowski

Dr. Miles Marchand

Dr. Heather McPhaden

Dr. Stephen Miazga

Dr. Devon Mitchell

Dr. Monica Mullin

Dr. James Nugent

Dr. Collin Pryma

Dr. Jacqueline Reid

Dr. Kiran Rikhraj

Dr. Michael Rizzuto

Dr. Leslie Scarffe

Dr. Emma Schon

Dr. Kevin Shopsowitz

Dr. Arsh Sidhu

Dr. Alexandra Silver

Dr. Sarah Simms

Dr. Gurmeet Sohi

Dr. Rebecca Spouge

Dr. Kimberly Stewart

Dr. Alison Sumner

Dr. L. Treanor

Dr. Alice Wang

Dr. Tracee Wee

Dr. Julie Wong

Dr. Eric Jiahua Zhao

Dr. Rebecca Zivanovic

“I received numerous text messages from friends and co-residents who attended the event, all positive. The event had ripple effects amongst the resident body, including those who may not have been acknowledged, but felt solidarity with the nominees,” said Resident Doctors of BC Immediate Past President Dr. Soma Dalai. “One person told me they were brought to tears that their staff both nominated them and attended the event. This was someone who had previously felt isolated and burnt out from their program. Being nominated made them feel recognized as a valued member of the VCH community.”

Drs. Sonia Butterworth and Ravi Sidhu, the assistant and associate deans at UBC Faculty of Medicine Postgraduate Medical

Education, had the opportunity to make remarks at event.

“This has been an exciting and energizing evening,” said Dr. Sidhu. “This is a powerful time of transition from being a student to, in a few years’ time, having people put their lives into your hands. It can be very stressful, and we appreciate the commitment by VCH leadership to make a difference and to recognize the role residents play.”

“This responsive leadership and leaning in comes at a time when people are struggling with clinical workloads,” added Dr. Butterworth. “It’s a privilege to work with residents—you are an inspiration, and you benefit our patients in many ways. It’s wonderful to be here to celebrate your outstanding contributions.”

“The evening was the first—and hopefully first of many—resident recognition events,” said VMDAS Immediate Past President Dr. Eric Yoshida, who spearheaded the idea.

VCH Senior Medical Director Dr. Vinay Dhingra was another advocate for physician resident recognition. He recalled his first rotation at VGH and emphasized that no one ever forgets the intensity of being a resident.

“There are many firsts to cherish, but also the exhaustion,” he said. “There are many emotional highs and lows and it’s important that we’re here today to recognize all aspects of care including high-level service, dedication, patient advocacy, professionalism, and collegiality. At the end of the day, patient care is a team effort and how well the team works together.”

VMDAS President Dr. Alison Harris echoed these thoughts, adding, “Thank you for your daily dedication to patient care and advocacy. Our teams wouldn’t function without our residents.” PHOTOS

Celebrating 10 years of enhancing the wellbeing of UBC resident doctors

Resident Wellness Office

October 4, 2023

This fall marks the 10th anniversary of the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Resident Wellness Office (RWO) and a decade of enhancing the well-being of UBC resident doctors who are training and providing care in communities across the province.

Dr. Ravi Sidhu

“Resident doctors spend countless hours serving British Columbians with compassion and skill,” says Dr. Ravi Sidhu, Associate Dean of Postgraduate Medical Education. “It’s our priority to make sure that they feel just as supported throughout their training so that they can continue providing excellent care.”

When the doors first opened in 2013, UBC’s RWO was one of the first of its kind in

Canada. Today, almost every medical school across the country has a wellness office dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of their residents.

Rebecca Turnbull

“The Resident Wellness Office helped create a culture shift, one that focuses on encouragement, support and understanding,” says Rebecca Turnbull, one of several resident wellness counsellors who has been with the office since its inception. “Residency can be challenging, and our office helps resident doctors feel seen, heard and supported so they can thrive throughout their training.”

Over the past decade, the RWO has provided more than 10,000 wellness

appointments by phone, in-person and virtually. It also offers workshops and specialized support groups, as well as peer and Indigenous Elder support.

Every RWO initiative has been carefully designed by integrating the diverse voices and needs of UBC residents themselves. This year, the office launched a new support group for residents living with ADHD.

“Looking ahead, our goal is to grow with residents to create meaningful change to the resident experience through research, needs assessment and ongoing education,” says Turnbull. “And a big part of that is to continue strengthening our programs and

services in terms of accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion.”

As the RWO continues to evolve, Turnbull says another important next step is to share their best practices more widely, helping improve the overall well-being of residents beyond our provincial borders.

It’s these successes that continue to inspire Dr. Roger Wong, Vice Dean of Education with the Faculty of Medicine, who founded the RWO 10 years ago.

“It’s truly amazing and rewarding to see how far the Resident Wellness Office has come,” he says. “The RWO is not only providing important services here at UBC, but is also helping to pave better pathways to wellness for others, meeting the needs of resident doctors and in turn the patients whom they serve.”

For more information, visit the UBC Resident Wellness Office’s website.

Dr. Roger Wong

The UBC PGME

Resident Wellness Office

Elder Support: Counselling & Elder Teachings

The RWO is now working in partnership with Elder Jean Wasegijig to offer Elder Support including Counselling sessions and Elder Teachings. Elder Jean is available on Mondays and Fridays both in person at Diamond Health Care Centre or virtually through Zoom. Elder Support is available to all residents with a priority to support the Indigenous Family Medicine Program and residents identifying as Indigenous.

Elder Jean Wasegijig

“

Good Medicine Woman”

If you would like to set an appointment to meet with Elder Jean either in person at DHCC or virtually, please email resident.wellness@ubc.ca

PLAN YOUR OWN SOCIAL

Have a party... on us!

Resident Doctors of BC wants to help you and your residency program plan a social event. We will sponsor up to $750 (up to $1,700 if two programs collaborate) towards your program social event.

Interested? Visit our website and look under ‘Initiatives‘!

Victoria, the capital city of the province of British Columbia, is situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, off the southwestern coast of British Columbia. It is known for its picturesque waterfront and a mild, coastal climate.

THINGS TO DO

The city’s location provides ample opportunities for outdoor activities, such as hiking, whale watching, and kayaking. The nearby Pacific Rim National Park Reserve offers breathtaking scenery.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Whale Watching Tours: Take a whale watching tour from the Inner Harbour to witness orcas, humpback whales, and other marine wildlife in their natural habitat.

Butchart Gardens: While not an adventure in the traditional sense, exploring the Butchart Gardens offers a peaceful outdoor experience amidst beautifully landscaped gardens.

Zip-lining at Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours: For thrill-seekers, Adrena LINE offers zip-lining experiences with panoramic views of the Sooke Hills. It’s an

exhilarating way to experience the region’s natural beauty.

Hiking in East Sooke Regional Park: East Sooke Regional Park offers a network of trails with breathtaking coastal views, lush forests, and diverse wildlife. The Coast Trail is particularly popular for its rugged scenery.

Cycling along the Galloping Goose Trail: The Galloping Goose Trail is a multi-use trail that spans from Victoria to Sooke. It’s ideal for cycling, jogging, or a leisurely walk, passing through urban areas and scenic landscapes.

FOOD AND DRINKS

• Fisherman’s Wharf: Located on the water’s edge, Fisherman’s Wharf is a picturesque area with floating homes, shops, and eateries. The Wharf offers a variety of seafood options, including fish and chips, seafood chowder, and freshly caught fish. The atmosphere is casual and provides a unique waterfront dining experience.

• Floyd’s Diner: Floyd’s Diner is a popular breakfast and brunch spot known for its quirky and eclectic decor. The menu features creative and hearty breakfast options, such as the famous Mahoney or

the Mo’s Benny. Portions are generous, and the atmosphere is lively, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

• Irish Times Pub: As the name suggests, Irish Times Pub offers an authentic Irish pub experience in the heart of Victoria. The pub features a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with traditional Irish decor. They serve a variety of Irish and pubstyle dishes, along with a selection of Irish beers and whiskeys.

• Dosa Paragon Wharf: Dosa Paragon Wharf is likely an extension of the wellknown Dosa Paragon restaurant, known for its South Indian cuisine. The menu may include a variety of dosas (thin, crispy rice crepes filled with various savory ingredients), curries, and other Indian dishes. South Indian cuisine is often characterized by its use of flavorful spices and unique combinations of ingredients.

CULTURAL & ARTS

Chinatown and Fan Tan Alley: Explore Victoria’s historic Chinatown, one of the oldest in North America. Visit Fan Tan Alley, the narrowest street in Canada, and discover unique shops and eateries.

Craigdarroch Castle: Explore the historic Craigdarroch Castle, a Victorian-era mansion with opulent architecture and period furnishings. It offers a glimpse into the city’s history.

Royal BC Museum: The Royal BC Museum showcases British Columbia’s natural and human history. It features immersive exhibits, including indigenous art, historical artifacts, and interactive displays.

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria: The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is home to an impressive collection of Canadian and Asian art. The gallery often hosts exhibitions, events, and educational programs.

To find out more about what Victoria offers, visit https://www.tourismvictoria.com/.