12 Doubling down 11 Residencies 14 Looking for a on a proven spread beyond rare liver disease treatment … in diapers

UBC MEDICINE

VOL 9 | NO 2 FALL 2013 THE MAGAZINE OF THE UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

How our physical and social CORPUS POROUS environment gets under our skin 04 12

07 FACULTY OF MEDICINE

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UBC MEDICINE VOL. 9 | NO. 2 FALL 2013 A publication of the University of ’s Faculty of Medicine, providing news and information for and about Message from the Vice Provost Health and Dean 03 faculty members, students, staff, alumni and friends. Focus on: Environmental Health Letters and suggestions are Building an airtight case 04 welcome. Contact Brian Kladko at [email protected] The graveyard shift 07 Address corrections: At the nexus of nature and nurture 08 [email protected] A recipe for understanding cancer 10

Residencies proliferate beyond Vancouver 11 Communications Director Brian Geary Doubling down on a proven treatment 12 Editor/Writer Blanket? Check. Car seat? Check. Poop colour chart? Huh? 14 Brian Kladko Contributing writers Investigations and breakthroughs 16 Anne McCulloch Daniel Presnell Thousands of shades of grey 18 Design UBC hosts a centre for compassionate care 20 Signals Design Group Inc. www.signals.ca An instructional video breaks out of the classroom 21 Online at http://med.ubc.ca/news/ Enhancing excellence: New arrivals to the Faculty of Medicine 22 ubc-medicine-magazine An unrestricted gift, from an unexpected source 24 An anesthesiology pioneer helps others pursue the research she could not 24 Young scholars take UBC to the world 25 From the executive suite, focusing on street-level challenges 25 A $35 million boost rewards long-term thinking in heart and stroke research 26

Medical alumni news 27 DEAN’S GREETING

UBC MEDICINE 3

Message from the Vice Provost Health and Dean

It may seem unexpected, but as an academic oncologist who cares The challenge is finding the operative factors amid hundreds of for women with gynaecological cancer, I’ve become an expert in different environmental variables. denial – not of the reality of disease, with which I’m all too familiar, Overcoming that challenge is essential if we are to become a but of its origins. healthier society. It’s a task ideally suited to academic health Perhaps I’m so focused on the present reality of therapeutic scientists, like the brilliant ones described in this issue of options that the fundamental “why” gets lost. Or, perhaps, I would UBC Medicine, because they have the training, the acumen, the rather not go there. Although there are no “sure outcomes” in caring discipline and hopefully the resources to discern the signals from for those persons affected by cancer, the causes of the disease are the noise. far murkier. It’s easier to attribute the clinical state of the woman It is slow, with some projects, like the BC Generations Project, sitting in front of me to the roulette wheel of misfortune – some unlikely to yield meaningful insights for decades. But knowing that arbitrary genetic mutations – than to ponder what they might have these efforts are underway, and the skills and dedication of those done or what they might have been exposed to that ultimately behind such efforts, I have no excuse to be in denial. Answers are brought them to seek care from the BC Cancer Agency. There must on the way. be a reason that these cells followed an aberrant pathway. We all suspect that actual environmental factors – whether it’s Gavin C.E. Stuart, MD, FRCSC lifestyle, pollutants, or our domestic and social circumstances Vice Provost Health, UBC – likely overwhelm sheer randomness as a cause of disease. Dean, Faculty of Medicine

Lttee r to the editor: As a general surgeon involved in teaching surgical and family is providing the best patient care of which we are capable? practice residents, I read the sentence “patient safety requires Ironically, far from evolving from the “sink or swim” approach of limited work hours” with disbelief. There is no doubt that this Dr. Stuart’s grandfather, we are in danger of completing the circle message has been driven home to the residents. As an example, our and returning to these very days. current family practice residents spend a grand total of six weeks The conversion of medical training from a patient-centred doing the surgical part of their rotation but are severely restricted in approach to an almost unionised shift system where the lifestyle of the number of hours they can work. Working past midnight is a thing the practitioner takes centre stage has been depressing to observe. of the past, and when “academic” and “clinic” days are subtracted, The day will come when we have to rely on these graduates for our their exposure to clinical medicine is clearly woefully inadequate. own health care – not an encouraging prospect. On this basis, it is impossible that the three “pre-eminent principles” quoted in the article could ever be met. Clinical skills Gordon McLauchlan are acquired by exposure to patients, but when residents are not Clinical Instructor, Department of Surgery “allowed” (their words, not mine) to work outside their allotted General Surgeon hours, how can this be compatible with our primary aim, which Nanaimo FUBCOCUS MEDICINE ON: 4 Environmental Health UBC MEDICINE 5

Denise Daley and Andrew Sandford are investigating whether exposure to smoking leaves marks on children’s genes. Photo credit: Martin Dee

Building an airtight case Do environmental factors cause or exacerbate asthma? UBC scientists search for evidence

Chris Carlsten’s lab is relegated to the basement of a research “To get regulations passed and tighten standards, we need annex at Vancouver General , and that’s probably just multiple layers of scientific evidence,” says Dr. Carlsten, as well. an Associate Professor of Medicine and the Astra-Zeneca Chair of Occupational and Environmental Lung Disease in the Division First of all, there is the dull rumble of a diesel generator that of Respiratory Medicine. “While epidemiological patterns and reverberates throughout the room whenever an experiment is correlations can be very convincing, opponents can dismiss them, running. Then there is the smell – unnoticed by some, but distinctly claiming there is ‘unmeasured confounding.’ But if you can show detectable by others – of exhaust. it experimentally, and it matches the epidemiology, you’re creating But most of all, there is the polycarbonate-enclosed chamber, a stronger case that is harder to deny.” about the size of a standard bathroom. In Dr. Carlsten’s Building a stronger case for environmental modifications – experiments, research subjects sit and exercise in the chamber for that is the ultimate goal of researchers exploring the molecular two hours, inhaling the diluted and aged exhaust that simulates and physiological forces underpinning asthma, which affects the air quality along highways in such places as Beijing or at busy eight per cent of ’s population, including 486,000 children. ports of British Columbia. Some, like Dr. Carlsten, aspire to influence public policy. This somewhat unnerving set-up, one of only five such Denise Daley, on the other hand, envisions changes in pollution labs in the world, is key to Dr. Carlsten’s mission: individual behaviour. to establish a definitive link between diesel exhaust and asthma, the intermittent constriction of the lungs that causes chest An Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Dr. Daley tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. is leading a five-year study exploring whether early life exposure to cigarette smoke alters the expression of certain genes, and Although there is ample epidemiological evidence that diesel whether that increases susceptibility to asthma. And her research exhaust exacerbates the disease among people who already have tools, like Dr. Carlsten’s, are relegated to the basement. it, Dr. Carlsten is using his lab to understand exactly how that happens. One theory he is testing is that diesel exhaust triggers Stored in industrial-sized freezers at St. Paul’s Hospital are oxidative stress – a chain reaction of harmful chemical reactions thousands of frost-covered vials, containing blood and blood that disrupt the normal functioning of cells, particularly their components donated by parents and children in British Columbia membranes and DNA. and Manitoba over a 15-year period. The donors also provided information about their health, and in the case of the parents, their Demonstrating such a physiological proof of damage, he believes, smoking habits. is the only way to get tougher policies enacted. He refers to it as “biological plausibility.” Dr. Daley and her collaborators will use those samples to look for a type of genetic alteration known as methylation, in which a compound of carbon and hydrogen latches onto a part of the DNA. That bonding can dampen the expression of individual

Chris Carlsten in the chamber that simulates levels of diesel exhaust in places like Beijing. Photo credit: Don Erhardt Continued on next page FUBCOCUS MEDICINE ON: 6 Environmental Health

Ryon Anas participates in an experiment in Chris Carlsten’s Air Pollution Exposure Laboratory. Photo credit: Don Erhardt

Continued from p. 5 genes, leading to significant changes in how cells develop “We’re not far from determining a child’s susceptibility,” she says. and function. “If we can identify what types of gene-environment interactions The connection between parents’ smoking and children’s asthma they are susceptible to, then, working with the parents, we might is already well established, but much like diesel exhaust, it’s be able to modify their environment.” a circumstantial case, based on statistics about patterns of Dr. Carlsten, while believing tobacco use has “no redeeming behaviour and illness. So even though smoking is a “risk factor” value” and therefore should be choked off as quickly as possible for asthma, it hasn’t proven to be a cause. through bans and taxes, has focused on what might seem a more Dr. Daley’s team is pursuing the hypothesis that exposure to smoke intractable problem. After all, diesel exhaust isn’t the product of causes changes in methylation patterns that, in turn, trigger a a bad habit, but the product of transportation – the lifeblood of cascade of reactions leading to childhood asthma, and possibly industrialized and developing economies. allergies as well. All the more reason, he believes, to find the proof of harm. Thus, In trying to prove that theory, they will try to identify where in the he maintains a steady stream of volunteers willing to spend a genome methylation takes place. Using powerful computers, couple of hours – usually several they will then search for patterns and correlations based on data times – in his Air Pollution about the donors – whether the parents smoked, whether the Exposure Laboratory. children were exposed to smoke in the womb or in early childhood, “At the end of the day, any effort and whether the children suffer from asthma or allergies. to change regulations about Once Dr. Daley has identified areas of methylation and correlations diesel exhaust will very likely be with smoking, asthma and allergies, her collaborator, Professor of challenged in court,” he says. “When Medicine Andrew Sandford, will seek to identify what those areas you have experimental studies, that changes the whole story of DNA instruct their host cells to do. Frozen vials of DNA being used to determine whether early life very powerfully. If the community “What is that mechanism?” Dr. Daley says. “If we know it, we might exposure to smoking affects believes you’ve demonstrated be able to intervene, depending on the child’s genetic profile.” gene expression. Photo credit: a mechanism by which harm is Brian Kladko Maybe that intervention would be a drug. More likely, it would be inflicted, the effort gains credibility.” a variety of recommendations for the parent that would counteract Dr. Carlsten has uncovered solid evidence of his oxidative stress or mute the effects of the turned-off gene – such as bringing a dog theory, by giving his subjects anti-oxidants before exposing into the home, or removing a dog from the home, depending on the them to exhaust. The result: their lungs don’t constrict as much child’s genotype. Other recommendations could touch on diet or as they do when not given antioxidants. He also has found that physical activity. exhaust exposure causes a rise in a type of micro-RNA that plays “We may have very targeted environmental solutions that may be a role in immunity (and thus inflammation), and has determined different, based on what your genes are,” says Dr. Daley, a Canada that anti-oxidants prevent that increase. Research Chair in Genetic Epidemiology of Common Complex While it’s reasonable to think that anti-oxidants might thus have Diseases and a Career Scholar of the Michael Smith Foundation potential as a preventive therapy for asthma, Dr. Carlsten would for Health Research. rather see the findings used to justify a requirement for diesel Of course, recommendations are only as good as the person who engines to produce fewer oxidizing particles. is supposed to follow them. Although warnings about smoking – “I’m not a big supporter of anything that seems like a treatment, and especially smoking while pregnant – have been enormously because that’s avoiding the fundamental problem,” he says. “It’s effective, some expectant mothers still do it. But if doctors can point much more important to me to validate the plausibility of what to a child’s genetic profile while conveying the need to take certain we’re seeing epidemiologically, so we can decrease air pollution steps, Dr. Daley believes the message might carry more weight. and protect the entire population.” UBC MEDICINE 7

Paramedic Renee MacCarron, one of the participants in a study that aims to reduce the risk of breast cancer in shift workers. Photo credit: Anne McCulloch

The graveyard shift

Renee MacCarron, a paramedic with BC Ambulance Service in “We know women are very concerned South Surrey, finishes a night shift at 7 a.m., heads home to get about their increased risk, but there her three children off to school, and crawls into bed. She falls are very few programs currently asleep immediately. available to help them,” says Dr. Gotay, who is the Canadian Cancer Society Three or four hours later, however, her brain – and her body – are Chair in Cancer Primary Prevention. going again. For a person on a normal schedule, it would be like “If our sleep intervention is beneficial, waking up at midnight to go grocery shopping and then helping the we’re hoping workplaces and unions kids with homework before leaving for work, again. Carolyn Gotay. may make this support available to Photo credit: Brian Kladko “I find shift work really takes its toll,” says MacCarron, 47, whose their workers.” schedule consists of two 12-hour day shifts, two 12-hour night During the study, participants complete a sleep program (in which shifts and four days off. “My short-term memory is particularly a “coach” provides advice for sleeping better), keep a diary to bad after night shifts. My children will ask me for permission to go chronicle the quality of their sleep, and wear a wristwatch-like to a friend’s house and then a couple of days later, they’re getting device that monitors their sleep efficiency and physical activity by ready to leave and I won’t remember the conversation. It happens measuring movement and sensing light. all the time.” “Sleep is a skill that takes practice,” MacCarron says. “I can’t Working night shifts for the past 25 years has not only left believe how much my sleep has improved just by using the MacCarron exhausted, it also has increased her risk of breast techniques I’ve learned. I’m more refreshed.” cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has identified shift work that disrupts sleeping patterns as a probable This is one of two studies funded by the Canadian Cancer Society cause of cancer. currently underway at the Cancer Prevention Centre, a partnership between the Canadian Cancer Society and UBC. The other study With the support of the Canadian Cancer Society, UBC researchers is evaluating the effectiveness of three workplace wellness are examining whether improved sleep habits can reduce the risk strategies to decrease employees’ cancer risk. of breast cancer in women who work night shifts, such as nurses, emergency dispatchers and casino workers. “We’re hoping the study of shift workers will give us further insight into the cancer risk, as well as how to help workplaces put “I love my job, but knowing it can potentially have a risk like that is preventative measures in place to reduce that risk and save lives,” disconcerting,” MacCarron says. “I was gung-ho to participate in says Barbara Kaminsky, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian a study that I hope can help future shift workers.” Cancer Society, BC & Yukon. “If we can do this, it would be another Led by Carolyn Gotay, a Professor in the School of Population and significant step forward in cancer prevention.” Public Health, the study is exploring the impact of a sleep program Anyone interested in participating in the study should contact on risk factors for breast cancer – not only diet and exercise, but the project manager Carola Muñoz at 604-822-1315, or email condition of their breast tissue (both density and changes to density [email protected]. More information on the over time), production of the hormones cortisol and melatonin, study can be found at http://cancerprevent.ca/shiftwork and levels of insulin, vitamin D, glucose and certain proteins. FUBCOCUS MEDICINE ON: 8 Environmental Health

A DNA molecule that has been “tagged” through methylation. Illustration: Christoph Bock/Max Planck Institute for Informatics

A t the nexus of nature and nurture

By now, the experiment is a familiar reference point – perhaps Michael Kobor, however, is not the least bit intimidated. the reference point – for the study of epigenetics, the science of “Whenever there is a challenge, I look at it as an opportunity,” says gene expression. Dr. Kobor, an Associate Professor of Medical Genetics and a Senior Like many experiments, it involved rats. But this one seemed to Scientist of the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics resonate with humans in a way that few others do. (CMMT). “We’re off to the races.” In brief: it compared the pups of nurturing mothers – those who Dr. Kobor, a native of the Black Forest region of Germany, concedes made their milk readily available, and spent a lot of time licking he is predisposed to optimism – whether it’s a genetic inheritance, their progeny – with the pups of those who were less attentive or something he developed through experience, is hard to say. But to their young. The pups of the less attentive mothers were more he has good reason to be confident. vulnerable to stress, and this difference corresponded to chemical For one, he has teamed up with McGill University Professor tags on certain genes. Michael Meaney, the scientist who designed those rat The findings electrified a whole segment of developmental experiments. Secondly, they have gained access to data about scientists by demonstrating how environmental conditions can hundreds of children from around the world, including information affect gene expression, and thus alter the trajectory of cells and about their upbringing and DNA-rich blood samples. And they have whole organisms. In other words, it showed how life circumstances secured a $1.5 million grant from the Brain Canada Foundation to can get “under the skin,” affecting behaviour through biological make sense of it all. mechanisms. Their project will be the first genome-wide examination of how But the implications for human development remain almost as childhood experience affects the human brain. murky as ever, impeded by the hard requirements for scientific Their focus is methylation, the bonding of a molecule made up of validation: large sample sizes, to establish correlations carbon and hydrogen to parts of the DNA. These compounds act with statistical confidence, and long timeframes, to allow as “dimmer switches” on genes, and thus play an enormous role environmental conditions to make their mark. UBC MEDICINE 9

A girl, in a specially equipped van, has her brain’s electrical activity monitored as part of the Gene Expression Collaborative for Kids Only (GECKO) Project, a UBC study co-led by Michael Kobor. Photo credit: Human Early Learning Partnership

in determining how cells behave. Whether methylation occurs, Dr. Kobor, the Director of Social Epigenetics at the Human Early and where on the DNA it takes place, is now believed to be heavily Learning Partnership (HELP). “Now we’re measuring half a million influenced by environmental conditions. marks in 192 people in five days. There has been a huge explosion In essence, Dr. Kobor and his collaborators are seeking the in our ability to do this. And because we do this better than many biological nexus, or nexuses, between nature (genes) and nurture people in the world, we’ve become a hub for social epigenetics.” (upbringing): whether certain adverse experiences, such as abuse, poverty or loneliness, leave lasting marks on the biology of the brain that lead to such maladies as depression, aggression or “Whatever we do addiction. around our children “There is a huge amount of very diverse but very high quality data about these children’s lives, and how they behave,” Dr. Kobor says. might leave an imprint “We can use cutting-edge technology to measure the methylation state of almost all of the 20,000 to 25,000 human genes. With that, on their genome, we should be able to establish that what is true in rats might be or more accurately, transferable to humans.” Michael Kobor. Photo credit: Dr. Kobor, however, is no expert in early childhood development. Angelique Crowther their epigenome.” Until recently, he was studying the epigenetics of yeast. But upon hearing Dr. Kobor describe his work at a Grand Rounds That UBC has become such a hub, and that Dr. Kobor finds presentation at the Child & Family Research Institute, Ron Barr, himself at the centre of it, is due largely to the late Clyde a Professor of , saw the potential for applying it to Hertzman, a Professor in the School of Population and Public children. Dr. Barr, who had studied the correlation between care- Health and Director of HELP who died suddenly in February giving and infant development, proposed that they go back to his 2013. Dr. Hertzman, who dedicated his career to demonstrating research subjects to get DNA samples. how early life experiences affect a child’s brain and social That is just one of about 45 cohorts that Dr. Kobor and his development, was quick to grasp the implications of Dr. Meaney’s collaborators will use over the next three years. Other cohorts rat experiments, and along with Dr. Barr, saw how Dr. Kobor’s include: Quebecois children raised by mothers who experienced expertise could take it further. depression and even physical abuse; a similar collection of “Clyde was a master of getting people together and getting them Singaporean mothers and children; U.S. children whose mothers excited about projects,” Dr. Kobor says. “All of this started with were tutored by nurses in proper parenting techniques; a group a $100,000 grant that HELP gave us six years ago.” of Wisconsin adolescents who have been followed, along If Dr. Kobor and his collaborators find that childhood experience with their parents, from birth; and a group of children whose does leave biochemical marks on the DNA of brain cells, and cognitive, emotional and physical traits (including their brains’ perhaps other organs, it might help identify which children are electrical activity) were assessed by UBC’s Human Early Learning most at-risk, and thus which children should be the highest Partnership, often in the back of a specially-equipped van. priority for prevention or intervention programs. But it also carries In all of these cases, the participants’ DNA will be analyzed by implications for individual behaviour. Dr. Kobor’s CMMT lab. The methylation of each donor’s DNA will “We should perhaps be aware that whatever we do around be matched with data about the donor’s life, and the search for our children might leave an imprint on their genome, or more commonalities will begin. accurately, their epigenome,” Dr. Kobor says. “It reminds us to be “When I was a graduate student, we were measuring two or three the best parents we can.” of these methylation marks in a few samples in a year,” says FOCUSUBC MEDICINE ON: 10 Environmental Health

John Spinelli. Photo credit: Brian Kladko

BC Generations began recruiting volunteers in 2009. In its quest to cast as wide a net as possible, Gallagher came up with the idea of temporary assessment centres – setting up shop for a month at a time in various communities (, Prince George, Victoria, Nanaimo, Kamloops, North Vancouver, and Abbotsford), buttressed by an intense publicity blitz exhorting people to stop by, fill out a questionnaire, be measured for height, weight, blood pressure, body fat and grip strength, and provide a sample of their blood and urine. The idea, unique to BC Generations, was “wildly successful,” Dr. Spinelli says, and was later emulated by its sister project in Alberta. “BC Generations certainly developed an innovative approach to Most good science takes time. John Spinelli, a cancer recruiting at the community level,” says Jacques Magnan, the epidemiologist, is on intimate terms with that hard truth. Senior Scientific Lead for the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow. His hard-won patience gives him the perfect disposition to serve “It makes so much sense. You’re asking people to volunteer their as leader of the BC Generations Project, an endeavour whose time, information about their lives, provide blood or urine, and you scientific payoff will likely come long after he retires. can’t expect someone in Prince George to come to Vancouver to BC Generations is the province’s contribution to a national data- do that.” gathering effort aimed at determining which genes, physiological Supplemented by people who signed up online or responded traits, behaviours and environmental exposures lead to cancer and to mass mailings, BC Generations recruited 30,000 volunteers other chronic diseases. But unlike most epidemiological studies, by 2012, with more than half of them – 16,000 – already having which look back in time at people who have developed cancer or been measured and given their blood and urine at one of the another disease, BC Generations is tracking people as they age. assessment centres. The national effort, called the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow, Dr. Spinelli and his team are now working on getting measurements encompasses five regional data-gathering efforts. The goal is to and samples from the other 14,000 volunteers, who registered amass a database of 300,000 Canadians between the ages of online or by responding to mass mailings. The BC Generations 35 and 69. team is urging them to visit their nearest LifeLabs to be assessed. The B.C. component was initially spearheaded by Clinical Professor “Eighty per cent of the people we’ve contacted have given us Richard Gallagher; when he retired in 2011, he handed the baton to samples, which is unheard-of in cohort studies,” Dr. Spinelli says. Dr. Spinelli, who, at 58, was also “I think it’s something about B.C. We have quite a motivated group motivated by scholarly altruism of participants. We have people coming to us asking, ‘Why haven’t – putting the pieces in place for you contacted me? I thought you were going to do more! I’m ready other researchers. to do whatever it takes!’” “This is really a labour of love,” Crucially, participants consent to provide access to their medical says Dr. Spinelli, a Professor records, not just prior to joining but going forward. That is the key to in the School of Population this project, because scientists will be able to look for clues in the and Public Health and information or samples they provided – their occupations, where Distinguished Scientist at the they lived, how much they exercised, and of course, their genetic BC Cancer Agency. “Why am makeup – to see which ones are predictors of their later health. I doing this? It’s not for my June Song of the BC Generations “You have to give people time to develop chronic diseases,” Project takes measurements of career. This study is for the Dr. Spinelli says. “But in five to 10 years, these data and samples LaDonna Fehr at a temporary future, the next generation of will be an invaluable resource to researchers in British Columbia, assessment centre in Prince George. health researchers.” Photo credit: BC Generations Project across Canada and around the world.” UBC MEDICINE 11 ed uc ati o n

L – R: Emergency medicine residents Margaret Zhang and Jess Paul at in ; internal medicine resident Andrew Kwasnica at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. Photo credits: Daniel Presnell, Lyle Staffford/Victoria Times Colonist

Residencies proliferate beyond Vancouver

As a child, Jess Paul spent many hours at BC Children’s Hospital, An Abbotsford native finds watching intently from the bedside as doctors and nurses cared for her brother. Amid the busy hospital wards and the herself training in a hospital unfortunate circumstances of family illness, the Abbotsford native began to imagine her future. closer to home; a long-time That future was realized in July, when she set out through the Vancouver Islander gets to stay labyrinthine halls of Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, on her way to see her first patient. in his hometown. She was embarking on the next stage of her training as a resident in emergency medicine. But Dr. Paul was also helping to usher in a of the learning experiences they need,” says Caroline Tyson, the new stage of UBC’s distributed education program. director of ’s Emergency Medicine residency program. Several new community-based residency programs opened their “Distributing that learning across sites is a way of dealing with doors this year. Besides the two emergency medicine residents the physical space constraints. Using the template that has been in Fraser Health (with two more added each year, for a total of 10 developed and proven effective at the core sites ensures that we by 2018), residents in emergency medicine and internal medicine will maintain those high standards in other locations. And, at the began their training in Victoria, which will lead to a total of 18 by same time, patients in Fraser Health have access to more doctors.” 2018. The expansion will continue next year, with two emergency The residency programs also allow newly-minted M.D.’s medicine residencies beginning in Kelowna. to pursue their post-graduate training closer to their roots. Though residents in emergency medicine and internal medicine Andrew Kwasnica, who grew up in Victoria and graduated from have been doing rotations in across the province, the the Island Medical Program in June, is remaining in the capital for launch of these new programs mark the first time their entire the next stage of his training, as an internal medicine resident at training will be spent in a community outside of Vancouver. Royal Jubilee Hospital. Such postgraduate programs are central to the Faculty of Dr. Kwasnica was drawn to working in a smaller hospital, thinking Medicine’s drive to increase the number of doctors in training, it will be easier to foster meaningful connections with mentors or and to place those trainees in communities where doctors are fellow trainees. But he also can’t imagine leaving Victoria. needed most. “I have family here, and my wife’s family is from here,” he says. “We “We feel it is important for our postgraduate residents to be have a child on the way, so it’s important for us to put down our exposed to the unique aspects of various communities across roots here. That’s why I wanted to stay here so badly. I’d be happy to B.C.,” says Roger Wong, Associate Dean of Postgraduate Medical never have to leave again.” Education. “We also feel that when doctors are trained in those Back at Royal Columbian in New Westminster, Dr. Paul is similarly communities there is an increased likelihood that they will choose gratified to be working so close to her hometown. to remain in those communities thereafter.” “When I go back to Abbotsford, and family and friends are talking “There’s a great need for more emergency , but we don’t about different things... they can picture where I am and where I’m have enough room at Vancouver General Hospital to give them all working,” she says. “That’s kind of special, to have that connection.” e c i rv e s

L – R: Shafique Pirani at a planning meeting with Bangladeshi health officials; children in a Dhaka slum.Ph oto credit: Lynn Staheli

Doubling down on a proven treatment

Upon hearing how Shafique Pirani aims to eradicate clubfoot in where high-level leaders are eager to incorporate the Ponseti Bangladesh, it’s tempting to assume he is a bit deluded by the method into their health care system. As is the case in Uganda and myth of the all-powerful doctor. other developing countries, clubfoot in Bangladesh is far more of a burden – for individuals, family members and society – than it is in And then you listen to him – speaking softly and melodically, in a country like Canada, because the main mode of transportation is gentle cadences punctuated by a nurturing, warm smile – and walking, and farming and manual labour are the main occupations. skepticism quickly morphs into hope. “The link between clubfoot and poverty is unmistakable, made And then you look at what he has already done, and hope visible by the fact that many of the beggars in Bangladesh have becomes belief. the condition,” Dr. Pirani says. A Clinical Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics who practices at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, Dr. Pirani has spent the past decade spreading the word about a non-surgical method of curing clubfoot, a condition in which a child is born with one or both feet turned inward and downward. Left untreated, clubfoot is a lifelong disability. The method, invented by the late Ignacio Ponseti of the University of Iowa, involves gently manipulating a baby’s foot, placing a cast on it, and then repeating the process over several weeks, so that the mainly cartilaginous bones are molded into the correct position. Night braces help maintain that position until the bones harden into place. With funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), he and Richard Mathias, a Professor in the School of Population and Public Health, worked with Uganda’s Shafique Pirani examines a child with clubfoot during a “train the trainer” Makerere University and Ministry of Health to create a network of session in Bangladesh. Photo credit: Lynn Staheli 40 clinics throughout the country, staffed by “orthopaedic officers” who can provide the Ponseti treatment. Over the course of the So Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and grant, 3,227 children were treated, and the clinics remain open to Development (the successor to CIDA), doubled down on Dr. Pirani, treat thousands more. awarding him $4.3 million to establish Sustainable Clubfoot Care Having laid the foundation in Uganda, Dr. Pirani and Dr. Mathias in Bangladesh (SCCB). have set their sights on Bangladesh, one of a handful of countries UBC MEDICINE 13 Se rv i c e

L – R: Children with foot deformities wait with their mothers to be assessed at a training session; Dr. Pirani demonstrates the Ponseti technique to Bangladeshi orthopaedic physicians. Photo credit: Lynn Staheli

Clubfoot in Bangladesh is far more of a burden – for individuals, family members and society – than it is in a country like Canada.

The Bangladesh project is markedly different from the one in To conduct a training session for the future master trainers, Uganda, where specially-trained paramedical workers were Dr. Pirani needed to quickly find some young patients to treat. trained to perform most parts of the Ponseti procedure. In “Our main point of contact in BRAC made a call, and from there Bangladesh, only orthopaedic physicians are allowed to do it. it went down the pyramid,” Dr. Pirani recalls. “Forty-eight hours But the country’s Ministry of Health is also committed to training later, we had 100 children come to the clinic, and 29 of them had thousands of health care workers – other physicians, nurses, and clubfoot. They knew who in a slum of 1.3 million people had a foot village- or neighborhood-based health outreach workers – to problem, and got them on a bus.” recognize the condition, explain to parents how it can be treated, At the training session, Dr. Pirani shared some of his own hard-won refer them to the appropriate clinic, and then follow up to ensure insights into the Ponseti treatment, including the effectiveness of the child wears a nighttime brace for four years after the casting keeping the child on the mother’s lap – and even letting the child to prevent relapse. breastfeed – during the manipulation and casting. Dr. Pirani and his team are using a train-the-trainer model, “This is an alien concept to orthopaedics, where the vast majority starting with the instruction of 50 orthopaedic “master trainers,” of procedures are done in the operating room,” Dr. Pirani says. “And who will take their new knowledge and skills to train fellow it’s even more so in a Muslim society, where public breastfeeding is orthopaedic surgeons, orthopaedic residents, paramedical not as common. But you have to make sure the child is relaxed.” institute instructors and nursing school instructors. While the More lessons are bound to follow – Dr. Pirani and Dr. Mathias are orthopedic physicians will provide treatment, the instructors will not only looking to effect change, but to conduct research that can orientate paramedical students and nursing students so they can be applied elsewhere. Some of the questions he wants to answer: identify and refer patients. The same orientation will also take What are the risk factors for not continuing the bracing? How can place with medical students, and for non-orthopaedic physicians diagnosis and referral be better integrated into primary care? What through professional societies. is the minimum duration of treatment for a successful outcome? The master trainers also will work with BRAC, a humanitarian And how can outcomes be better quantified? organization based in Bangladesh (and the largest non- “Once we show how feasible this approach is, and how much of governmental organization in the world), to orientate 50,000 an impact such a coordinated response can have, I expect more outreach workers – known as “Shasthya Shebikas” and “Shasthya countries will want to adopt it as well,” Dr. Pirani says. “And then, Kormis” – to identify children with clubfoot, refer them for we will be well on our way to hastening the demise of clubfoot, and treatment and follow up. the poverty and social isolation that comes with it.” Dr. Pirani got a glimpse of the power of BRAC’s network of SSs and SKs during a trip to Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, in June. abnormal abnormal abnormal

normal normal normal

Blanket? Check. Car Seat? Check. Poop colour chart? Huh?

The list of must-have items for parents of newborns has Known as a Kasai portoenterostomy (named for the Japanese remained pretty much the same for decades: sleepwear, blanket, surgeon who invented it), the procedure became widely available car seat, and of course, diapers and wipes. in the 1980s. But its effectiveness depends on when it’s done. If performed in the first two months of life, it has a 60 per cent to B.C. parents are now starting to have one more item included in 80 per cent chance of success; after three months, that success that list: an easy-reference card for examining the colour of their rate drops to 20 per cent. newborn’s stool. So detecting the condition quickly is the key to avoiding While parents may not welcome the reminder of how many diaper- a transplant. And that is a challenge. changings await them, the card – spearheaded by Clinical Professor of Pediatrics Rick Schreiber – may very well alert them to a rare, There is no blood test for biliary atresia. Jaundice (a yellow tinge to life-threatening condition that can only be corrected with surgery. the skin and eyes) is a symptom, but it’s often dismissed by parents – and doctors – because most cases of jaundice are temporary The condition, biliary atresia, is a blockage of the bile duct, the and clear up on their own. Moreover, most Canadian babies don’t main draining pipe for eliminating bile and other toxic substances have their first check-up until they are two months old. from the liver. Left untreated, it leads to liver failure within the first two years of life. “We – not just in Canada, but everywhere – were having too many late referrals,” Dr. Schreiber says. “It’s a rare disease, so most Most children with biliary atresia now survive. A liver transplant is doctors don’t see a single case in their whole careers. It’s like the last-ditch option, but carries all of the complications and risks looking for a yellow needle in a yellow haystack.” that any transplant procedure entails, compounded by the age of the patient. A safer and less costly procedure is a surgical bypass That is where poop comes in. that re-establishes flow from the liver to the bowel. UBC MEDICINE 15 Se rv i c e

Rick Schreiber. Photo credit: Brian Kladko

Biliary atresia causes a baby’s stool to be pale-coloured or chalk-white rather than the normal golden yellow or dark green. “We... were having too many late And a baby’s parents are the ones most likely to notice the referrals. It’s a rare disease, so abnormal colour. Dr. Schreiber, the Director of the B.C. Pediatric Liver Transplant most doctors don’t see a single Program, borrowed the idea of a colour card from Taiwan, which case in their whole careers. It’s pioneered it a decade ago; as a result, the country managed to detect nearly all cases of biliary atresia before 90 days. The like looking for a yellow needle in card contains photos of abnormal and normal infant feces and directions to check the colour of their baby’s stool every day. a yellow haystack.” Dr. Schreiber teamed up with fellow pediatric specialists, family — Rick Schreiber medicine researchers and health economists at academic medical centres across Canada, and obtained funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to conduct a pilot of the colour card program will reduce the need for liver transplantation and improve in B.C. (in Vancouver and Prince George) and Quebec. They tested the overall survival of these tiny patients.” various tactics in tandem with the cards – reminder cards mailed to parents, phone call reminders, letters to newborns’ family The card includes directions to contact Perinatal Services BC for doctors, phone calls to those doctors. follow-up if their newborn’s stool colour looks abnormal. (More information is available at http://bit.ly/biliary_atresia.) The most cost-effective strategy, they found, was simply providing the card to parents when Distribution of the cards to maternity hospitals the baby was discharged from hospital. Based began this summer, with the entire province on their calculations, a B.C.-wide program expected to be covered in the next year – the would save $5 million over a decade, and spare first province in Canada, and one of the only about 15 to 20 children and their families the jurisdictions in the world, to do so. The cards risk, pain and anxiety of a liver transplant also will be distributed to midwives, who will give during that period. the cards to their clients after delivery at clinics or the parents’ homes. After reviewing the results of the pilot study, Perinatal Services BC (an agency of the “Once we get things going here, we’ll look at rolling Provincial Health Services Authority) and it out in Quebec, and then, we hope, the rest of the its Oversight Council decided to make the country,” Dr. Schreiber says. cards a part of every newborn discharge He and his colleagues have also established a biliary procedure. atresia national registry to track every Canadian child “This initiative is a great example of how who has the condition; the disease is so rare that we’re leading health care innovation in provincial statistics are inadequate. A portion of the stool colour card that Kim Williams, “So we’ll be able to measure the effectiveness of a British Columbia,” says is now being distributed to parents of Provincial Executive Director of Perinatal newborns across B.C. colour card in one province, compared to a province Services BC. “Even something as simple that doesn’t have one,” he says. “We might also be and low-tech as the stool colour cards can make a significant able to detect if some provinces have better outcomes for the Kasai difference in the outcomes of newborns. This at-home screening procedure than others, and then try to pinpoint the reasons.” UBC MEDICINE 16 h rc ea s e r

Investigations & Breakthroughs

Photo credit: Rob Shaer

01 | A disturbing health single-room occupancy hotel tremendous appetites. And that with high levels of eEF2K were portrait of single-room tenants who participated in the might be a key to their undoing. “virtually bullet-proof” in the occupancy tenants study over an average of two Poul Sorensen, a Professor in face of caloric years. Other findings: starvation, Living in a single-room the Department of Pathology Dr. Sorensen occupancy hotel (SRO) is clearly >> 95 per cent were addicted and Laboratory Medicine, says. better than being homeless. to drugs, with almost two- used cell cultures, worm and But it’s still a life plagued by thirds of them users of mouse models, and studies The study – disease, drugs and death. injected drugs. of human brain tumours published to show that the activation in the In one of the first studies to >> Nearly half suffered from of a protein called eEF2K journal Cell – suggests that comprehensively document psychosis, and nearly half allows cancer cells to survive aggressive cancer cells might the health of people living in had a neurological disorder. severe nutrient starvation. be especially dependent on SROs in Vancouver’s Downtown >> 18 per cent were HIV-positive this enzyme to sustain their Eastside, UBC researchers and 70 per cent had been His investigation, in relentless proliferation. On the found they suffered from an exposed to Hepatitis C. collaboration with researchers other hand, normal cells, with average of three illnesses at at the University of Toronto, SROs, due to their low rents, their moderate caloric needs, the same time, and had a death McGill University and in the are a common alternative to can survive without it. rate nearly five times greater U.K., U.S. and Germany, was homelessness for low-income than the general population’s. based on a simple question: That points to the possibility individuals; in Vancouver, they How do tumour cells and of targeting eEF2K. Most Led by William Honer, provide shelter for about 3,000 healthy cells respond to the cancer treatments, including Head of the Department of people. Many but not all SROs challenge of caloric scarcity? radiation and chemotherapy, , the study conducted are sub-standard in terms of are indiscriminate, killing psychiatric assessments, health and safety, design, and, “We were surprised that only both cancerous and healthy neurological evaluations, brain when income is taken into certain rare tumour cells could cells. But a drug that inhibits scans and blood tests with 293 account, even affordability. survive such deprivation,” says Dr. Sorensen, a Senior Scientist production of eEF2K might kill “Housing is not health,” Dr. at the BC Cancer Agency. “We aggressive cancer cells and Honer told the Vancouver then set out to find the reason. leave normal cells unharmed. Sun. “We need to go beyond It’s because they had somehow Dr. Sorensen and his just putting a roof over learned to activate eEF2K.” colleagues, using technology people’s heads.” When he and postdoctoral at UBC and BCCA, are 02 | Could cancer cells be fellow Gabriel Leprivier put now searching libraries of starved into submission? mice expressing low levels of compounds in search of a drug eEF2K on a low-calorie diet, – either existing, or perhaps Cancer cells, because they large portions of their tumours yet-to-be-developed – that grow and divide much more began to rapidly wither. In does just that. rapidly than normal cells, have contrast, the tumours in mice William Honer. Photo credit: Brian Kladko 03 | Two doses of HPV vaccine “Reducing the number of can be as protective as three doses affects vaccine and administration costs as well as UBC researchers have found potentially improving uptake that girls who received rates,” the authors wrote. two doses of the human “There is a balance to be found papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine between the incremental had as good an immune value of an additional dose response to HPV-16 and HPV- on population effectiveness 18 infection as young women and the opportunity costs of who received three doses. using the resources required HPV infections cause nearly all for the extra dose in other cases of cervical cancer, which public health programs. This is the second-most commonly is especially the case for HPV diagnosed cancer in women vaccines at their present cost.” worldwide. The study, published in JAMA, lends more plausibility 04 | “Eye soccer” reveals to adopting reduced-dose possible cause for Neuroscience student Katie Lalonde demonstrates the video game used to measure the eye movements of schizophrenia schedules for the vaccine, schizophrenia symptoms 04 patients. Photo credit: Brian Kladko which would lower barriers to The eye movements of global implementation. schizophrenia patients playing The study included 830 a simple video game provide an Canadian females from 2007 intriguing explanation for some video camera tracked their eye “An impaired ability to generate to 2011. The resulting data are of their symptoms, including movements, participants would or interpret efference copies the first to show the durability difficulty with everyday tasks. call out whether it would hit or means the brain cannot correct of the immune response of In an experiment conducted by miss the line. an incomplete perception,” says young adolescent girls over Miriam Spering, an Assistant Dr. Spering, who conducted the a three-year period. The schizophrenia patients Professor of Ophthalmology performed significantly dot-tracking experiments as Nevertheless, more data on and Visual worse than a control group in a postdoctoral fellow at New the duration of protection Sciences, predicting hits and misses, and York University, and is now are needed before reduced- schizophrenia they were also not as good at conducting similar studies at dose schedules can be patients tracking the dot with their eyes. UBC. That would explain why recommended, says lead were asked But the impairment of their schizophrenia patients often co-investigator Simon to predict the eye movements alone was not have poor motion perception Dobson, a Clinical Associate trajectory of a severe enough to explain the and eye movements, leading Professor in the Department small dot that difference in their predictive them to bump into people of Pediatrics and Clinical appeared briefly on a monitor performance, according to the while walking or making it Investigator at the Child & as it moved toward a vertical results published in the Journal a challenge to cross a street. Family Research Institute. line. As an infrared-equipped of Neuroscience. So there was “But just as a person might, some kind of breakdown in through practice, improve their their ability to interpret what ability to predict the trajectory they saw. of a moving dot, a person The patients were having might be able to improve their trouble generating or ability to generate or use that using an “efference copy” – efference copy,” Dr. Spering says. a signal sent from the eye “My vision would be a mobile movement system in the brain device that patients could use indicating how much, and to practice that skill, so they in what direction, their eyes could more easily do common have moved. The efference tasks that involve motion copy helps validate visual perception, such as walking information from the eyes. along a crowded sidewalk.”

03 UBC MEDICINE 18 h rc ea s e r

Alex MacKay, Founding Director of the UBC MRI Research Centre (and frequent occupant of the machine). Photo credit: Don Erhardt

Thousands of shades of grey

The Canadian Olympic swim team has been inside it. Compulsive an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiology. “Just as gamblers have been inside it. Mostly, however, patients have a smartphone comes alive due to its apps, so does the MRI been inside it – people with a range of afflictions, including scanner. We are able to play with the physics and mathematics Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and multiple sclerosis. behind these things and understand what tissue changes do to the MRI signal.” The “it” is a hulking, humming, clanking machine in the basement of UBC Hospital – a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner, If such a technique is proven to be successful, it becomes part or MRI, that is the centrepiece of the UBC MRI Research Centre. of the portfolio of scans included by the manufacturer in their newer machines. This year, the centre marks its 10th year, and it’s busier than ever, with the scanner booked for a wide range of research projects Dr. Rauscher, for example, has developed a sensitive method of – especially those focused on the brain, because it captures improving image resolution by increasing the ratio of “signal” images of that organ’s soft tissue in far finer detail thanX -rays or (useful information) to “noise” (background or irrelevant computed tomography, and does so with greater ease and safety information). The signal-to-noise ratio is so high that it yields than positron emitted tomography (PET). more than just stunningly clear images; it also provides precise numbers that delineate the structure of tissue, such as lesions too The machine is so sought-after because it’s not your ordinary MRI. small to be visually discerned, and the concentrations of various A 3-Tesla scanner is twice as strong as clinical MRIs, producing biochemicals. a magnetic field 60,000 times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field. When used with contrast agents, the images can contain over “You can be a chemist, measuring the outcomes of reactions,” 100,000 shades of grey. It is one of only two in B.C.; the other was says Alex MacKay, the founding Director of the MRI Research installed last year at BC Children’s Hospital. Centre, and a Professor in the Department of Radiology and the Department of Physics and Astronomy. “But to do that, you have to understand the physical properties of the molecules Playing with physics and mathematics you’re measuring. And you have to understand the signal when But even as researchers exploit the machine for their own projects, the hydrogen atoms in your body are ‘flipped’ by the scanner’s the MRI Research Centre also has found ways to tease even more magnetic field. So you also have to be a physicist – or at least revealing data from the technology. have one at your side.” (Three of the centre’s faculty members “MRI scanners are relatively open hardware platforms, similar to are physicists, including Dr. MacKay and Dr. Rauscher.) smartphones,” says Alex Rauscher, a physicist at the centre and UBC MEDICINE 19 r e s ea rc h

L – R and below: Some of the brain images captured by the UBC MRI Research Centre’s 3-Tesla machine.

Measuring myelin A safer scan One of the most fruitful targets for the MRI Research Centre has Since MRI became widely available in the 1990s, PET has emerged been myelin, the electrical insulation layer surrounding neurons. as an even more sensitive imaging technique, and one that is Multiple sclerosis (MS) results from a breakdown of myelin – particularly useful in measuring physiological activity through the when it wears away, the brain’s electrical signaling slows down. use of tracers. But PET, like X-rays, produces ionizing radiation (it Dr. MacKay has developed a way of capturing images of myelin in knocks electrons from atoms), which damages DNA. MRI, on the living humans, by homing in on the water inside it. That technique other hand, doesn’t displace electrons, so the same person can be has helped make MRI a valuable tool for understanding MS’s scanned repeatedly – even daily. progression. Refinements of the technique are enabling MS Dr. MacKay, for instance. researchers, such as Tony Traboulsee, an Associate Professor of “I’ve logged hundreds of hours in the scanner, and there are no Neurology and Medical Director of the UBC Hospital MS Clinic, issues,” he says. “I used to be scanned once a week, often testing to determine if potential therapies can slow down de-myelination, the machine for things I’ve developed. I always wanted to be the or stimulate re-myelination. first one to be tested.” The centre was created with a grant from the Canada Foundation For that reason, Dr. MacKay is one of MRI’s most vocal boosters. for Innovation, which funded the 2003 purchase of the 3T scanner But like any technology, obsolescence is always an issue. – at the time, an almost experimental machine, made by Philips, The centre’s scanner lacks some of the innovations developed over the Dutch multinational electronics and engineering company. the past 10 years, such as more homogenous radiofrequency fields The centre later acquired another, even stronger MRI, a 7T, but and higher signal-to-noise ratios for even more precise images, it is much smaller, used mostly for scanning animal models of and more open designs that are more comfortable for patients. And various diseases. in three years, Philips will no longer be able to guarantee repairs. The centre’s 3T machine has become one of the busiest research So the centre is hoping magnets in the country, and has been used for 226 projects to secure a newer and counting. The technology has been particularly useful for 3T machine, with an researchers studying brain activity. estimated cost of between “When we think, we use oxygen, and that causes a change in the $4 million to $5 million. magnetic resonance signal in the area of the brain that we’re If the centre secures that using,” Dr. MacKay says. “So you can use the MRI scanner to make funding, perhaps through a map of the brain and see what areas of the brain are used for private philanthropy, it certain tasks.” would be housed in the Martin McKeown, a Professor in the Division of Neurology, soon-to-be-completed has used that capability to examine the brains of people with Djavad Mowfaghian Centre for Brain Health. The machine would Parkinson’s disease, which results from the loss of a crucial be located in a neuroimaging suite that also includes a PET biochemical neurotransmitter, dopamine. Dr. McKeown has used scanner and other machines particularly suited for brain scans. the MRI machine to learn how the brain copes with that loss, such “Having a state-of-the-art scanner within a few metres of as recruiting more brain regions or altering the neural pathways to complementary technologies would allow us to extract even complete tasks. He is also using MRI to assess novel treatments greater value from magnetic resonance technology,” Dr. MacKay for Parkinson’s disease, such as electrical stimulation of the brain. says. “We have gone so far in the past 10 years. That combination of hardware, software and expertise would open up so many more avenues for discovery.” UBC MEDICINE 20 NEWS

Norberto Bunagan assists a patient at the St. John Hospice, now open on UBC’s campus. PHOTO CREDITS: MARTIN DEE, BRIAN KLADKO

UBC HOSTS A CENTRE FOR COMPASSIONATE CARE

St. John Hospice opened in September on UBC’s Vancouver physicians, and there is so much we have yet to learn,” said campus, providing 14 bedrooms for individuals nearing the end Grady Meneilly, Professor and Head of the Department of of their lives – as well as a place to educate students about Medicine, who spoke at the hospice’s opening ceremony. “We hope palliative care, and to find ways to improve care for others. St. John Hospice will show future health care professionals that end-of-life care can be some of the most poignant, meaningful The facility, which provides communal living and dining space, work they will ever have a chance to do.” a family room, a garden courtyard and a quiet room for residents and their families, is the only free-standing academic hospice in The Order of St. John Palliative Care Foundation raised Canada. The Faculty of Medicine has research and educational approximately $5.4 million for the project, supplemented by space in the lower floor of the two-storey building, located across $1 million from the B.C. government. Vancouver Coastal Health from the UBC Botanical Garden. is providing $1.6 million in annual operational funding to support on-site care delivered by Providence Health Care. Hospice staff, in conjunction with the Faculty of Medicine, will use the most up-to-date evidence from current research to implement UBC donated the land and supported the planning process, best practices at St. John. In turn, new insights from research with two people – Stephen Owen, the former Vice President for conducted at the hospice will be disseminated to health care External, Legal and Community Relations, and David Hardwick, providers around the province, helping to improve the quality of the Special Advisor to the Dean for Space Planning and Utilization many British Columbians’ final days. – playing key roles in moving the project forward. The hospice also will help teach future health professionals about Within two weeks of its opening, all of the hospice’s patient rooms the special needs of those in palliative care. were filled. “Palliative care is still in its infancy in Canada. It’s still regarded with trepidation by many medical students and experienced

END-OF-LIFE CARE IN CANADA: >> In 2009, Canada had about 1.3 million people over 80 years old. >> The number of palliative care physicians in Canada In 2036, it is projected to have 3.3 million. (full- or part-time): over 200. >> In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, >> Of Canadians who die, 16 per cent to 30 per cent have access to patients with terminal lung cancer who began receiving or receive hospice palliative and end-of-life care. palliative care upon diagnosis were happier, more mobile and >> The Economist ranked Canada ninth in a “Quality of Death” in less pain as they neared death, and also lived three index in 2010. months longer. Source: Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association Scenes from “Faces of Palliative Care”: Clinical Professor Romayne Gallagher counsels a palliative care patient at Vancouver’s Marion Hospice; Hal Siden, Medical Director at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice and Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, examines an infant with a life-threatening brain tumour.

An instructional video breaks out of the classroom

Palliative care brings to mind hopelessness and helplessness, homes. And we wanted to emphasize the importance of and is often viewed with suspicion and fear by the general public symptom management.” – and even by some health care practitioners. When “Faces of Palliative Care” was shown two years later to Patricia Boston, determined to dispel students, health providers and some members of the public, initial that image, wound up reaching a far larger reviews were glowing, with many evaluations recommending audience than she ever imagined. that the film get wider exposure.E ncouraged by that reception, Dr. Boston and Nicolle took the film to the CBC. A Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Practice and the former The broadcaster’s reaction: Thumbs-up. Director of the Division of Palliative Care, But transforming “Faces of Palliative Care” from an instructional Dr. Boston decided that video would best video into a mainstream television documentary – complete with convey how thoroughly end-of-life care commercial breaks – required months of editing by Nicolle and has been transformed by new drugs and a collaborative, inter- the CBC. professional approach. “Most palliative care teaching does not speak to the heart, and doesn’t fully convey the interaction between providers and “We wanted to show the range of patients,” Dr. Boston says. care, from hospitals to hospices With a $123,526 grant from UBC’s Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund, she began collaborating with Doug Nicolle, to patients’ homes.” the Senior Media Producer for Providence Health Care, who became her co-producer and director. Together, they began — Patricia Boston looking for stories that would convey how much palliative care has evolved. The finished product had its television premiere inJ une, as part of the “Absolutely Vancouver” summer series of documentaries in They found willing patients and families, including a woman British Columbia. It was re-broadcast twice in early September, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and an 8-month-old with a also in B.C. The network plans to air the documentary nationally in brain tumour. They captured the activities of palliative care teams the coming months. at Vancouver General Hospital, , the Richmond Hospice and the Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. “This will expose so many more people to the principles of palliative care,” Dr. Boston says. “Medical education, rightly, is “We wanted actual portrayals of people’s experience to convey usually small-scale. At its largest, the audience is limited by the human truths that complement and perhaps even go beyond size of a lecture hall. I never imagined being able to reach so many what we might read in a book,” Dr. Boston says. “We wanted to people, and doing so in such a meaningful way.” show the range of care, from hospitals to hospices to patients’ enhancing excellence new arrivals to the faculty of medicine

Goal Developing new, more robust treatments for advanced Goal To engage UBC’s Okanagan campus and the Kelowna (metastatic) prostate cancer that far surpass the efficacies of community in efforts to decrease health disparities and improve the contemporary hormonal therapies. well-being of marginalized and diverse populations in B.C.’s Interior.

Ralph Buttyan Charlotte Jones

Ag e: 61 P osition: Professor, Department of Urologic Ag e: 63 P osition: Associate Professor, Division of Sciences; Senior Research Scientist, Vancouver Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Director Prostate Centre of Student Research, Southern Medical Program

Eu d cation: Bachelor of Science, D istinctions: Member of editorial Eu d cation: Bachelor’s degree, George Fodor Award for Prevention University of Pittsburgh; Ph.D, boards of Frontiers of Medicine, master’s degree and Ph.D and Control of Hypertension in Committee on Virology, University of Journal of Urology, Prostate, Journal of (Biochemistry and Experimental Canada; Stroke Services Distinction Chicago; post-doctoral fellow (Urology Cellular Biochemistry and Urological Surgery), McGill University; post- Award from Accreditation Canada; and Biochemistry), Roche Institute of Research; CapCure Foundation Award; doctoral fellowship (oncology Co-Chair, Calgary Cardiovascular Molecular Biology, New Jersey, and Edwin R. Beer Award for Distinguished research), Mayo Clinic, Minnesota; Network; Chair, Alberta Hypertension Columbia University. Research, New York Academy of MD and residency (endocrinology and Initiative and Calgary Rotary Flames Medicine; past President, Society of metabolism), University of Calgary. Centre of Excellence in Hypertension; Pr evious position: Professor, Basic Urological Research; member implemented nationwide community- Pathology and Urology, Columbia Pr evious position: Associate of Education Committee, American based project to reduce cardiovascular University; Senior Scientist, Ordway Professor, Departments of Medicine Urological Association. disease risk in Canadian South Asians. Research Institute, Albany, N.Y. and and Community Health Sciences, Adjunct Professor, Division of Urology, D id you know? A sci-fi fanatic, University of Calgary; Medical Director, D id you know? My health obsession Albany Medical College. I imagine myself as Riddick in Vascular Risk Reduction Clinic and has become a running joke among a hostile future world. Hypertension Cholesterol Centre, friends, colleagues and patients, Alberta Health Services. because I end up attending most meetings in my biking or running D istinctions: Associate Dean’s clothes, and usually carry a bucket Letter of Excellence for Small Group of veggies for sustenance. “Metastatic prostate cancer patients are typically treated with Teaching, University of Calgary; hormones that deplete testosterone or inactivate the cancer cell’s multiple Gold Star Letters for teaching testosterone-response protein. While these approaches acutely from University of Calgary Medical School Students Association; reduce symptomatic complications and increase survival, they remain palliative, as patients almost inevitably develop a more aggressive tumour that continues to advance. Moreover, hormone- treated prostate cancer patients suffer a considerable reduction “I’ve seen the excitement and energy in the eyes of seniors who in quality of life, since testosterone supports male physical were trained to take blood pressure on other seniors. I’ve seen vitality and a sense of well-being. More than 30 years of research Australian Aboriginal communities devastated after researchers has now led me to understand that hormone therapies can also wrapped up their randomized controlled trials and went home, change the developmental state of prostate cancer cells, allowing leaving inhabitants suddenly bereft of resources and support. their regression to a more “stem-like” cancer cell. This reverse- I’ve seen students’ fear and aversion to the elderly dissipate developmental process confers a plasticity that allows them to through the experience of working and learning with them. These re-differentiate, becoming less dependent on testosterone and experiences inspired me to learn from, and work with, community thus more resistant to hormonal treatments. My intent is to target members to improve their well-being. As Director of SMP student stemness-driven plasticity as a means of keeping the prostate research, I can combine my passion for working alongside cancer patient in a therapy-responsive state, and to even overcome communities while engaging students and faculty in learning the need for hormone therapies for this often-lethal disease.” and research. We are mobilizing inter-professional Wellness Action Teams for Community Health (WATCH-BC teams), made up of students and faculty members, to link curricular needs with community-identified public health needs.” UBC MEDICINE enhancing excellence newly 23 new arrivals to the faculty of medicine published

Community-Based Prevention: Reducing the Risk of Cancer and Chronic Disease Authors: David McLean, Professor, Department of Dermatology and Skin Science; Hans Krueger, Adjunct Professor, School of Population and Public Health; Sonia Lamont, Provincial Director, BC Goal To help create a happy, healthy, and fulfilled Division of Cancer Prevention Programs. Publisher: University of Toronto Press Emergency Medicine that provides the best emergency care of children anywhere in Canada. As communities, governments, and health organizations worldwide struggle to avoid being swamped by health care costs, not to mention the impact of suffering and poor quality of life, the only long-term, sustainable hope must be prevention. Garth Meckler The authors review representative experiences with community- based prevention educators, focusing on the coordination Ag e: 43 P osition: Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics; Head, Division of Emergency Medicine, that can be accomplished in local communities or broader Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital regions. They find that skilled staff, high-quality evaluation, and sustained investment are the fundamental elements of successful community-based prevention programs.

Eu d cation: Bachelor’s degree, D istinctions: Developed and Princeton University; M.D., Harvard received accreditation for first and Medical School; pediatrics residency, only pediatric emergency medicine Orbital Surgery: A Conceptual Approach University of Washington, Seattle; fellowship in Oregon; Chair, Pre- Authors: Jack Rootman, Professor, pediatric emergency medicine Hospital Education Committee for fellowship, Children’s Hospital Los Oregon Emergency Medical Services Department of Ophthalmology and Angeles, University of Southern for Children; helped establish Pacific Visual Sciences California; master’s in health services Northwest Pediatric Emergency Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins research, University of California Los Medicine Consortium; member, Angeles, School of Public Health. Scientific Review Committee, Pediatric Academic Societies; section editor, Pr evious position: Associate pediatric section, Tintinalli’s Emergency Professor, Fellowship Director and Medicine: A Comprehensive Study This new edition provides the reader with a clear description of Assistant Section Chief, Pediatric Guide; New England Pediatric Society the factors to consider when deciding on the proper approach to Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health & Prize; Joseph B. Bilderback Teaching Science University. lesions anywhere in and surrounding the orbit, the bony socket Award. that houses the eye. It offers a philosophy of approach to the D id you know? My retirement plan surgical management of diseases of the orbit, and it takes is to return to school for a Master of a decision-making approach to approaching orbital lesions. Fine Arts to indulge my love of poetry and photography.

The Malalignment Syndrome: Diagnosing and treating a common cause of acute “I moved from the U.S. to Canada to practise within a more just and and chronic pelvic, leg and back pain, equitable health care system, and because of the amazing faculty 2nd Edition members I had come to know through professional meetings. I am Authors: Wolf Schamberger, Clinical excited by the unique opportunity to provide outstanding local care Associate Professor, Division of to children, as well as help to elevate the care of children province- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, wide. I look forward to learning from those around me – colleagues, Department of Medicine mentors, nurses, staff and trainees – and helping to create Publisher: Elsevier an environment of camaraderie, enthusiasm, inquiry and sharing of knowledge.” Now in its second edition, this book provides a detailed description of the Malalignment Syndrome and how it can be identified and treated. It concentrates on the trunk, pelvis, spine, sacroiliac joint and legs, incorporating anatomy, biomechanics, stability issues, possible causes, examination and diagnostic techniques as well as a comprehensive treatment approach. Emphasis is also placed on the participation of the patient/athlete in the day-to day treatment process to achieve long-term results. L – R: Railroad entrepreneur Willard Kitchen, surrounded by colleagues; Judith Jardine, his granddaughter.

An unrestricted gift, from an unexpected source

Fewer UBC medical students will struggle financially and more The funds received by the Faculty will establish the Willard UBC medical researchers will be able to pursue cutting-edge Kitchen Memorial Fund, named for Jardine’s maternal grandfather, ideas, thanks to a $7.4 million bequest – the largest estate gift who amassed his fortune building railways in New Brunswick. to the Faculty of Medicine in its 63-year history, and the largest After moving with his family to Vancouver, Kitchen became a director unrestricted donation to the Faculty for students or research. of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, which later became BC Rail.

Judith Jardine, who died in 2006 at the age of 81, was the sole heir Although Ms. Jardine had no obvious connection to UBC’s medical to the wealth of the Kitchen/Jardine families of Vancouver. Through school, she was a triple alumnus of the university, earning a B.A. her will, she left part of her estate to the Faculty of Medicine. and M.A. in French, and a Bachelor of Library Science. “We are extremely grateful to Ms. Jardine for supporting medical The discretionary nature of the gift is particularly useful for the education and research at UBC,” says Gavin Stuart, Dean of Faculty’s research agenda, because it can support the kind of the Faculty of Medicine and UBC’s Vice Provost, Health. “Her cutting-edge investigations that are often deemed too risky for generosity will make an indelible difference in the lives of funding agencies. British Columbians through the training of future doctors and A portion of the bequest will be used to support research in the advancement of life-saving research.” Faculty of Medicine’s three priority areas – neuroscience and mental health, heart and lung, and cancer.

A pioneer determined to support others’ research

Jean Templeton Hugill always cut a Dr. MacLeod, the current Dr. Jean Templeton Hugill Chair in distinctive figure, not only for her bright Anaesthesia, and his predecessor, Ernest Puil, contributed to lipstick, colourful wardrobe and love of several research findings that have had a direct impact on patients cocker spaniels, but for her occupation – undergoing anesthesia. Dr. Puil collaborated with engineers to an anesthesiologist in 1950s Vancouver, develop a method of monitoring the depth of anesthesia, which is a time and place when the field was now in clinical use in France. Dr. MacLeod is helping to develop the overwhelmingly male. pain-relieving properties of a novel amino acid found in meteorites from Mars. As one of the first female anesthesiologists Jean Templeton Hugill. in western Canada, Dr. Hugill earned a A donor himself, Dr. MacLeod lowered his stipend and makes reputation for taking on difficult cases, becoming a key figure in annual donations so the Hugill endowments can support more developing obstetrical anesthesiology in British Columbia. graduate students. “To be a leader in anesthesia as a woman in those times was “Dr. Hugill put forth a mission to the Department to draw very tough,” says Bernard MacLeod, Associate Professor in the together anesthesiologists, pharmacologists and engineers Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, to do translational research, which they did and still do,” says who trained under Dr. Hugill. “She wanted to do basic research, Roanne Preston, the Head of the Department. “Through her but never had the opportunity.” philanthropy, Dr. Hugill is ensuring that her vision for progress in the field continues.” After a career devoted to improving anesthesiology from the bedside, Dr. Hugill was determined to support the research of others. Upon In more ways than one: Today, nearly half of UBC’s anesthesiology her death in 2012, Dr. Hugill left a $562,500 bequest to the Faculty residents are women. of Medicine, adding to the $500,000 gift she made in 1991 that was To support anesthesiology research, please contact Laura Ralph matched by the province to establish an endowed chair. at 604.827.4728. UBC MEDICINE 25 p

L – R: The Faculty of Medicine’s first hilanth faculty member, Sydney Friedman; mining executives Randy Smallwood and Chuck Jeannes. rop Photo credit: Martin Dee y

Young scholars From the executive suite, take UBC to the world focusing on street-level challenges The Faculty of Medicine has earned an international reputation over the past decade by extending its medical education program to all corners of British Columbia. Now its first faculty member, Glancing out their office windows near Burrard and Dunsmuir Sydney Friedman, has created a scholarship to broaden the streets in downtown Vancouver, mining executives Chuck school’s reach beyond provincial lines. Jeannes and Randy Smallwood are keenly aware of the problems a few blocks away in the Downtown Eastside – homelessness, “As connected as UBC has become, there is always room to learn hepatitis and HIV, mental illness and drug addiction. more from other parts of Canada and the world,” Dr. Friedman says. “I, along with my late wife and fellow medical educator, Constance, To help address these problems, their companies – Goldcorp Inc. always thought graduates should get some outside influence – and Silver Wheaton Corp. – are investing in research to test new it’s a big world out there. And maybe they don’t come back. It treatment options for chronic heroin addiction. doesn’t matter, because they are bringing UBC’s name outward. The companies are lead donors to the InnerChange Foundation, So she would have been pleased to know we are helping to make which partnered with the Faculty of Medicine and provided UBC better connected, and more recognized in the world of $998,077 for the Study to Assess Longer Term Opioid Medication academic medicine.” Effectiveness (SALOME) led by Michael Krausz, the The Constance Livingstone-Friedman and Sydney Friedman UBC-Providence Health Care BC Leadership Chair in Addiction Foundation has pledged $100,000 per year for five years for two to Research, and Eugenia Oviedo-Joekes, Assistant Professor in four health sciences graduate students and medical residents to the School of Population and Public Health. travel outside western Canada to work with international leaders “Our company’s investments in addiction and mental illness reflect in their field. As trainees learn new approaches and theories, they our vision to create a legacy of positive, lasting contributions in will simultaneously extend UBC’s influence and reputation around the communities where we do business,” says Jeannes, President the world. and Chief Executive Officer of Goldcorp and board member of “I subscribe to Science and Nature and I see references to UBC, so the InnerChange Foundation, a community organization helping we’re recognized,” says Dr. Friedman, who helped build the Faculty people suffering from mental health challenges and addiction. as Head of the Department of Anatomy from 1950 to 1981. “I’d like The only clinical trial of its kind in North America, SALOME is to see UBC become an even greater international school, and the testing whether the licensed pain medication hydromorphone Friedman Scholars will help lead the way.” (known by its commercial name, Dilaudid) can be used to wean “This is the most exciting program for graduate and post-graduate long-term street heroin users from their dependency on illicit learners I’ve seen yet,” says Peter Leung, Associate Dean, Graduate drugs, and increase the chances that they will enroll in treatment and Postdoctoral Education, who is overseeing the adjudication programs. Methadone, the most widely used drug to treat heroin process. “We’re seeing incredible levels of interest from students addiction, does not work for some severely addicted people. and residents, with a remarkable breadth of projects.” “We are committed to supporting our community’s most vulnerable The first Friedman Scholars will begin their placements in 2014. citizens,” says Smallwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Silver Wheaton. “The SALOME trial provides hope for a better “Dr. Friedman continues to show tremendous vision for the future future to those struggling with addiction, and we are extremely of our medical school,” says Gavin Stuart, Dean of the Faculty pleased to have the capacity to help, and honoured to have of Medicine and UBC’s Vice Provost, Health. “The Friedman the opportunity.” Scholars program will support our most outstanding scholars as they pursue well-rounded training in an increasingly globalized To support mental health and addictions research, please contact medical landscape.” Fatima Hassam at 604.822.8079. To support students, please contact the Development Office at 604.822.5664. UBC MEDICINE 26 y rop hilanth p

L – R: Andrew Krahn, Head of the Division of Cardiology; Yu Tian Wang, Professor of Neurology.

A $35 million boost FOR long-term thinking in heart and stroke research

When the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health opens “A lot of times researchers have to take a short-sighted approach at the end of this year, one of its many features will be a Stroke because we need to deliver outcomes quickly,” says Dr. Krahn, Clinical Trials Unit, where researchers from the Faculty of the Sauder Family and Heart and Stroke Foundation Chair in Medicine will be able to rapidly translate scientific discoveries Cardiology. “To think long-term and tackle high-risk projects, into better care for people who have suffered a stroke, or who are researchers need to know their viability does not depend on short- at risk for one. term results.”

The unit – long sought after by UBC stroke scientists – became Other Faculty researchers, including Lara Boyd, Tim Murphy, a reality thanks to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, William Jia, Brian MacVicar, Philip Teal and Karen Humphries, which donated $500,000 to the project. have also benefitted from Foundation support over the years. That gift continued a 60-year tradition of support from the Heart “My goal is to develop a continuous stream of innovative strategies and Stroke Foundation – a tradition the Foundation extended for stroke prevention and rehabilitation that can quickly be when it committed to providing $35 million to UBC over the integrated into clinical care, with particularly emphasis on the next decade. cognitive impairment that results as a consequence of stroke,” says Oscar Benavente, Professor of Neurology and Research The Foundation’s funding commitment – the largest single gift Director of the Cerebrovascular Health Program of Vancouver ever made to the Faculty of Medicine – is part of a $300 million Coastal Health. “The Foundation’s long-term investment will make national commitment to 19 institutions and hospitals across it much easier to ramp up a comprehensive research program Canada that were selected for the Foundation’s newly-formed focused on stroke prevention and recovery.” Research Leadership Circle. To support heart and stroke research, please contact “This new long-term research funding program gives UBC the Stephanie Huehn at 604.218.0275. stability to plan their research programs like never before, the ability to attract more of the world’s best researchers to Canada, and will foster greater collaboration among researchers,” says Diego Marchese, Chief Executive Officer, BC & Yukon for theH eart and Stroke Foundation. “It will accelerate progress to our goal of reducing Canadians’ rate of death from heart disease and stroke by 25 per cent by 2020.” UBC was chosen for the Research Leadership Circle based on its long history of ground-breaking achievements made with the Foundation’s support. Since 1957, the Foundation and its donors have given more than $100 million to UBC for research. The Foundation’s support was instrumental in the recruitment of two world-renowned researchers to the Faculty of Medicine – Yu Tian Wang, a Professor in the Division of Neurology who has advanced the understanding of brain injuries following stroke, and Andrew Krahn, the Head of the Division of Cardiology and an expert in cardiac arrhythmias. Oscar Benavente. FALl 2013: medical ALUMNI NEWS

President’s Report 28 – 29 Golf Event Highlights 35 Wallace Wilson Leadership Award 30 Event Highlights 35 Honorary Alumnus Award 31 – 32 Upcoming Events – Alumni Events 36 Silver Anniversary Award & MAA’s AGM 33 MUS & MSAC Report 37 Award, Achievements, & Activities 34 Congratulations to Class of 2013 38 – 39

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33 UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 28 “The MAA Golf Tournament for Alumni and Friends at the UBC Golf Course in June was another

MEDICAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD 2012-2013 resounding success with 112

President participating golfers enjoying Jack Burak, MD ‘76 President-Elect an afternoon and evening of Bob Cheyne, MD ‘77 Past-President relaxation, camaraderie and fun.” Marshall Dahl, MD ‘86 Treasurer Harvey Lui, MD ‘86 Island Medical Representative Ian Courtice, MD ‘84 Northern Medical Representative Donald MacRitchie, MD ‘70 Southern Medical Representative Tom Kinahan, MD ‘84 A Time to Reflect, Celebrate Michael Golbey, MD ‘80 Newsletter Editor and Express Gratitude Beverley Tamboline, MD ‘60 President’s Report Admissions Selection Committee Mark Schonfeld, MD ‘72 Admissions Policy Committee Marshall Dahl, MD ’86 Wilson Leadership Award. success with 112 participating Directors Dr. McPherson, a general golfers enjoying an afternoon Bruce Fleming, MD ‘78 Ron Warneboldt, MD ‘75 surgeon, served in the and evening of relaxation, Nick Carr, MD ‘83 Jim Cupples, MD ‘81 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) camaraderie and fun. Medical David W. Jones, MD ‘70 and rose to the prestigious alumni and guests re-established Advisors , MD ‘77 position of Major General, friendships and acquaintances David Hardwick, MD ‘57 Surgeon General, CAF in 1980. with colleagues, and most Charles Slonecker, DDS, PhD importantly, helped the MAA Ex-Officio Members The MAA also welcomed two Dean, Faculty of Medicine with its major fund-raising Dr. Gavin Stuart (Hon.) distinguished members of the event of the year. The proceeds MUS Representative UBC Faculty of Medicine Gurinder Grewal, MD ‘16 community as Honorary from this event are targeted to Alumni Relations Director supporting the activities of our Anne Campbell-Stone Medical Alumni. Dr. Shafique Alumni Relations Officer The UBC Medical Alumni Pirani was recognized for current medical students, not Kira Peterson Association (MAA) can his work as a pediatric only in Vancouver at the OBJECTIVES celebrate many successes orthopedic surgeon and William A. Webber Medical To support the Faculty of Medicine and its Student and Alumni Centre, programs directly and through advocacy in the past year, thanks for his humanitarian work with the public and government; to the tireless efforts and in developing nonsurgical but as importantly through the To ensure open communication among creation of similar centers at our alumni and between the alumni and the commitment of the Board treatments for clubfoot Faculty of Medicine; members, staff and many deformities. Dr. Aubrey three other distributed medical To encourage and support medical volunteers to ensure that Tingle, a pediatrician and program sites in BC. students and residents and their activities; immunologist, was honoured To organize and foster academic and social we maintain and continue The MAA is both celebrating activities for the alumni. to build a dynamic and for his numerous health and expressing gratitude for the research activities in BC and for The Medical Alumni News is published connected UBC Medicine efforts of Dean Gavin Stuart, semi-annually and this edition was community. his leadership in building the Dr. Oscar Casiro, Dr. David produced by the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Research Institute for Children’s We welcome your suggestions, ideas and Our AGM and Awards Hardwick, our past President opinions. Please send comments, articles and Women’s Health in BC. and letters to: presentations occurred in Dr. Marshall Dahl, and our Victoria Board representative, Beverley Tamboline, MD ’ May. The MAA honoured The MAA Golf Tournament 60 Alumni Affairs Faculty of Medicine Dr. Victor McPherson from the for Alumni and Friends at Dr. Ian Courtice, in assisting 2750 Heather Street Vancouver, BC V5Z 3M2 first UBC Medicine graduating the UBC Golf Course in with securing dedicated medical Ph: 604 875 4111 ext. 67741 June was another resounding student and alumni space in Fax: 604 875 5778 class of 1954 with the Wallace [email protected] ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE 29

the Coronation Annex at Royal medical graduates involved mentors and friends. Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. in ground-breaking research As physicians, we are so The MAA also acknowledges and clinical activities in their proud to be part of these the support of the Vancouver fields. “Tuum Est: Leading great traditions which foster Island Health Authority in Edge Medicine” was presented the spirit of our medical assisting us with providing to stimulate an educational and community. Daily, we give video-conferencing capabilities intellectual discussion in the back to our communities and and additional furniture for areas of Dementia and Stroke, patients. We show gratitude this MAA priority project. and featured some of our world for the privilege we hold The MAA is in its early class alumni from the classes as respected health care planning stages of creating of ’63, ’78, ’85 and ’96 in professionals, coordinating and similar medical student and addition to several other delivering the highest quality alumni spaces at the Prince experts affiliated with UBC. health care services to them. The MAA’s goal is to hold George and Kelowna medical Let’s continue to acknowledge an annual half-day high- school hospital campuses. The and celebrate the important quality CME event to bring MAA recognizes with gratitude work we do as physicians, by together alumni and students the financial contributions joining and supporting the in an interactive learning of many of our alumni to UBC MAA. Collectively we environment with its program ensure that we give back to can show that we care about recognized for CME study UBC’s Faculty of Medicine not only our patients and our credits by the College of Family and inspire our future communities where we practice, Physicians of Canada and the doctors by demonstrating our but also our students and Royal College of Physicians commitment to support them practicing colleagues. The MAA and Surgeons of Canada. in the early stages of their life- exists for our entire medical long medical journeys. As I reflect back on the many community. activities of the MAA during In keeping with the same Best wishes, the past year, the words theme, the MAA continues the Jack Burak, MD ’76 “celebrate” and “gratitude” UBC tradition of recognizing, President spring to my mind. We celebrating and honouring our UBC Medical Alumni Association celebrate our many outstanding UBC medical student graduates alumni and friends and at each spring’s Hooding acknowledge the key role a Ceremony by presenting each vibrant UBC MAA plays in graduate with a cedar shingle. supporting the UBC’s medical This tradition began in 1954. school. The MAA encourages We welcome each new graduate “ and inspires our medical As physicians, we are into the MAA as a full and students to continue the respected member of our so proud to be part of Faculty of Medicine’s traditions wonderful profession. of excellence as these great traditions Finally, as you read my report, leaders of medical care for our which foster the spirit of the MAA will have presented patients and as compassionate its inaugural CME event in and committed health care our medical community. early October, in Vancouver. professionals for our diverse Daily, we give back to This learning opportunity communities throughout BC. focused on cutting edge Our medical students regularly our communities and research, featuring and spot- express their gratitude to their patients.” lighting many of our UBC senior colleagues as educators, UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 30

L – R: J. Burak, MD’76; V. McPherson, MD’54; and A. Boggie, MD’54. photo credit: VARUN SARAN PHOTOGRAPHY

WALLA CE WILSON LEADERSHIP AWARD Victor McPherson, MD’54

After receiving his Fellowship, Following retirement, Victor is a thoroughly decent, The Wallace Wilson he served in a variety of Victor worked as a Surgical unassuming, kind man, who Leadership Award is given military surgical units such Consultant for the Ontario “rose through the ranks” to the in recognition of leadership as Zweibruchen, West Ministry of Health for ten years. top leadership position in the Germany as Chief of Surgery Canadian Medical Corps. in the field of medicine. Victor’s lifetime in medical for three years, followed by Today, we are here to school and the Army was not He has represented the medical similar appointments in recognize Victor McPherson, alone. He and his wife, June school and the University Ottawa and Kingston. a classmate and good friend. were married before entering of British Columbia in an Victor spent his professional All of these appointments were medical school. She and Victor outstanding way and the Class career in the special area of accompanied by promotions raised four children and she of 1954 is very proud of him. military medicine. and noted by his superiors, provided a comfortable family Well done Vic! His leadership achievements who indicated to Victor that environment wherever they they would like him to become were posted. Their children started in medical school, The speech presented by part of the Medical Corps have all had successful lives in where in first year he was Al Boggie, MD’54 at the Administration. In 1976 their chosen professions. June our class president and won MAA Annual General Meeting he became Deputy Surgeon passed away a few years ago, the Schinbein Scholarship in on May 9, 2013. anatomy. In second year he General and in 1980 he was but would certainly be proud won an award in Pharmacology appointed Surgeon General. of this event today. and on graduation he won the Dean’s Medal of Proficiency. Victor joined the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps as a member of their training program while in medical school. After graduation he served in a variety of posts in his early years, overseas and in Canada. His abilities were soon recognized by the Medical Corps, and he accepted their offer to specialize in his choice of Surgery at centres in Edmonton and Toronto. V. McPherson, MD’54 shows off his award V. McPherson, MD’54 with his daughter in MSAC’s He got his FRCS in 1963. as he takes his seat at the MAA AGM. courtyard. photo credit: VARUN SARAN PHOTOGRAPHY photo credit: VARUN SARAN PHOTOGRAPHY ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE 3 1

L – R: M. Dahl, MD’85; Dr. A. Tingle (Hon.); and J. Burak, MD’76. PHOTO CREDIT: VARUN SARAN PHOTOGRAPHY

HONORARY MEDICAL ALUMNUS AWARD Dr. Aubrey Tingle

the Canadian Academy of provincial funding to establish and societal excellence It is my pleasure to introduce Health Sciences. the Michael Smith Foundation in pediatric health. our newest member of the He came to UBC in 1974 and for Health Research and a We are actually the ones UBC Medical Alumni: has been a Professor in the founding member of the who are honoured here today Professor Emeritus Aubrey departments of Pediatrics and National Alliance of Provincial in being joined by such Tingle. Pathology as well as Assistant Health Research Organizations a distinguished person as (NAPHRO). The Honorary Medical Alumni Dean of Research. He was a new member of our Award recognizes a member of President and Chief Executive He also played a leadership Medical Alumni! the UBC Faculty of Medicine Officer of the Michael Smith role in building the Research community who has made a Foundation for Health Research Institute for Children’s & The speech presented by significant contribution as a and Associate Director of the Women’s Health at the Marshall Dahl, MD’86 at the committed clinician, teacher, Maternal, Infant, Child and Children’s & Women’s Health MAA Annual General Meeting mentor or administrator, Youth Research Network. Centre of British Columbia on May 9, 2013. thereby advancing the health His active research career and was its inaugural Executive and well-being of patients has been in the fields of Director. and society. Dr. Tingle has immunology of viral infection, He is currently on the Board remarkable achievements in autoimmune disease, immune of the Canadian Human all of these fields. deficiency disorders, research Immunology Network and on Dr. Tingle did his pre- administration, and strategic the Board of Alberta Innovates medical studies in Zoology planning. – Health Solutions. He also at the University of Alberta. He has held numerous visiting is currently serving on the (I think that this is a field professorships world-wide and Scientific Advisory Committees that made him particularly is the recipient of many awards of the CH.I.L.D Foundation skilled for managing university for service and achievement, and the Snyder Institute administrations.) including the Honorary of Infection and Immunity (in Calgary). He obtained his MD at the Doctor of Science Degree U of A and a PhD in from the University of Aubrey Tingle has a Alberta in 2010. Immunology from McGill distinguished ongoing career University. He completed Dr. Tingle was founding chair of clinical excellence and basic his Pediatric Fellowship in of the Coalition for Health science research that evolved Montreal and is a Fellow of the Research in BC, an ad hoc into a country-wide role in Royal College of Physicians group of research stakeholders creating, organizing, managing Dr. A. Tingle (Hon.) giving his that was responsible for acceptance speech at the MAA AGM. of Canada, the American and inspiring medical scientists PHOTO CREDIT: VARUN SARAN Academy of Pediatrics and of planning and obtaining the to work together for academic PHOTOGRAPHY UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 32

L – R: B. Masri, MD’88; Dr. S. Pirani (Hon.); and J. Burak, MD’76. photo credit: VARUN SARAN PHOTOGRAPHY

HONORARY MEDICAL ALUMNUS AWARD Dr. Shafique Pirani

out of his native Uganda, he This a life threatening disease He provided an affordable I first met Dr. Shafique Pirani completed his medical training in poor countries where you tool to treat clubfeet so that when I had just started my in the U.K. and moved to have to walk long distances those countries can sustain this residency at UBC. I always Vancouver to complete his to get food, water and work. treatment long after he is gone. orthopedic residency. He then Imagine having to walk over thought he was a UBC For this work, Dr. Pirani went on to become a pediatric three miles with clubfeet just graduate as he was so in received two Humanitarian orthopedic surgeon and enjoys to get clean water. Your feet are tune with the UBC program. of the Year Awards in 2012 working with children. throbbing with pain. You are But, when I looked into it, from the Pediatric Orthopedic alone, thirsty and hopeless. I learned he was a graduate I would like to introduce my Society of North America from Charing Cross Hospital daughter Sarah (age 13), who is Do you remember that baby and the American Academy Medical School in London, in the audience today to come with clubfeet? Fast forward of Orthopedic Surgeons. England. After being kicked up and continue with a very 20 years. He is now homeless, It is amazing what one person brief speech about Dr. Pirani starving and begging on the can do to change the world. before we present him with street... worse still he could Dr. Pirani did that with just this award: be dead. What would you do? an idea and a lot of personal Dr. Shafique Pirani decided “Picture this. You are a new sacrifice. That seed of an to help. mother in Uganda, Africa. You idea has been embraced by are holding your newborn baby. If you think that Dr. Pirani countries all over the world. What is the first thing you went to Uganda and performed Dr. Pirani has inspired me to notice? Not if your baby is a boy surgery, you’re absolutely wrong. do something to change the or a girl, but you see his feet. He gave Ugandans the gift that world. Every second that you His feet are crooked. keeps on giving: an education. live is never going to happen You wonder what is wrong It is like the saying, give a ever again. You can choose with him. You worry; will he man a fish, feed him for a day, what you want to do with ever be able to walk? teach a man how to fish, feed those seconds. This baby has something called him for life. So Dr. Pirani Dr. Pirani decided to take those clubfeet, which is a deformity taught the doctors and all the seconds of his life and give it to that boys have twice as often health officers in remote somebody else so they can live.” as girls. Clubfeet affects bones, villages to fix clubfeet safely muscles, tendons and blood and without surgery. Presented by Bas Masri, MD’88 vessels. The baby is born with From Uganda, Dr. Pirani and Sarah Masri at the MAA Top: Dr. S. Pirani (Hon.) as he shared its feet facing inward and so expanded the program to his acceptance speech. Bottom: Annual General Meeting deformed that the baby can’t neighbouring African countries Dr. S. Pirani (Hon.); S. Masri; and on May 9, 2013 B. Masri, MD’88 photo credits: walk on the soles of his feet. and further to Bangladesh. VARUN SARAN PHOTOGRAPHY ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE 33

SILVER ANNIVERSARY AWARD D R. CHRIS REILLY | CLASS OF 1988

Dr. Reilly has been a member surgeon, and he is recognized as taken over after Dr. Steve of the Department of being a member of the Scoliosis Tredwell retired. He has Orthopaedics at UBC since Research Society and the also led the Department of he started practice in 1995. Pediatric Orthopaedic Society Orthopaedics at BC Children’s He progressed through the of North America. Hospital as Department ranks to become an Associate Head for the past seven years. He has also led the Division of Professor with tenure. He has Pediatric Orthopaedics in the also distinguished himself as a Department of Orthopaedics Nomination submitted by world renowned pediatric spine C. Reilly, MD’88. for the past six years, having Bas Masri, MD’88

A Look at the MAA’s Annual General Meeting May 9, 2013 UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 34

B. Bentz, MD’61. photo credit: Karen Tregillas Photography L – R: Dr. M. Lawrence; E. Galloway, MD’10; C. Bachop. photo credit: Karen Tregillas Photography

AWAR DS, ACHIEVEMENTS, AND ACTIVITIES

The College of Physicians and This award, established in Victor Huckell, MD’69, was Surgeons of British Columbia 1986, confers the Association’s a recipient of a Clinical Faculty 2013 Award of Excellence in highest honour. Award for Career Excellence Medical Practice was presented CMA Honorary Membership in Clinical Teaching, Richard to Patrick Kinahan, MD’55 was accorded to Barrie Bentz, Crawford , MD’87, a recipient and Dr. Michael Myers (Hon.) MD’61 and Dr. Clive Duncan of a Clinical Faculty Award for at the president’s Annual dinner (Hon). BCMA elected officers Excellence in Clinical Teaching in Vancouver, May 29, 2013. installed for 2013/2014 were Bill and Maggie Watt, MD’97 A number of Alumni were Cavers, MD’77, President Elect, (IMP) a recipient of a Clinical Robert Krell, MD’65 honoured at the BCMA Trina Larsen Soles, MD’86, Faculty Award for Excellence in Annual Awards Ceremony, Chair, General Assembly Community Practice Teaching. He also received an award Emma Galloway, June 1, 2013. and Lloyd Oppel, MD’88, Afshin Khazei, MD’95, in November 2012 from MD’10, received the Dr. David Honorary Secretary Treasurer. received the Innovation Lessons and Legacies and M. Bachop Silver Medal in Charles Scudamore, MD’75, in CME/CPD Award, and the Holocaust Education General Medical practice and Foundation in Evanston, was a recipient of the Order Michael Nimmo, MD’95, Bill Cavers, MD’77 the Illinois, in recognition of his of British Columbia. The Order was a recipient of a UBC Dr. David M. Bachop Gold distinguished contributions of British Columbia recognizes Killam Teaching Prize. Medal for Distinguished to Holocaust education. accomplishments by British Medical Service. Mark On December 5, 2012, In October 2011, he was also Columbians who have made a Schonfeld, MD’72, was the Robert Krell, MD’65, was awarded the Hillel Lifetime difference in their communities recipient of the Dr. Don Rix awarded the Queen Elizabeth Achievement Award from and to the province. Award for Physician Leadership. II Diamond Jubilee Medal Boston University for bringing Brian Winsby, MD’69, was Several Alumni received awards in recognition of his efforts solace and understanding one of three recipients of the at the Faculty of Medicine as an outstanding human to generations of Holocaust BCMA Silver Medal of Service. Awards Reception held this fall. rights educator. Survivors. He is very dedicated.

Dr. C. Duncan (Hon.) (centre) photo credit: M. Schonfeld, MD’72 (centre) photo credit: L – R: L. Oppel, MD’88; T. Larsen-Soles, MD’86; W. Cavers, MD’77 Karen Tregillas Photography Karen Tregillas Photography with CMA President. photo credit: Karen Tregillas Photography ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE 35

Thank you to the UBC Medical Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament Sponsors

Presenting Partner >> Scotiabank

Diamond Sponsors >> Clinical Sleep Solutions Chuck Slonecker Prize winners: Dale Harris, Kevin Hunter, Jim Skip, >> KNV Chartered Accountants Kelly Golby.

Gold Sponsors >> BCMA >> MD Management EVENT HIGHLIGHTS >> UBC Alumni Association teams to start and finish their colleagues early as Silver Sponsors UBC Medical Alumni round of golf together. To the tournament will fill >> MedRay & Friends Golf Tournament top it off, over $18,000 was up quickly! >> Harper Grey LLP raised for the Medical Alumni June 20, 2013 Special thanks to Ron >> Sport Med/Paris Orthotics Association which will go to Warneboldt, MD’75, The UBC Medical Alumni >> LifeLabs BC support student programs. Bob Cheyne, MD’77, & Friends Golf Tournament >> David Mitchell Co. Ltd. The afternoon was spent David Jones, MD’70, was the most successful connecting with friends, Jim Lane, MD’73, Patty tournament to date, and in Bronze Sponsors colleagues, former classmates, Scrase from Scotiabank, no small measure was due to >> Guidelines and Protocols and teachers. Between holes Anne Campbell-Stone, and the generosity of the sponsors Advisory Committee (GPAC) golfers had the opportunity Kira Peterson for organizing and number of golfers that >> Don Docksteader to catch up with one another this year’s tournament. attended. >> DOCUdavit and engage in some friendly The success of this >> Bulmer Investment Group The tournament was held at competition banter. The day tournament is due to the >> RSRS Canada the University Golf Course went by quickly and was continued support of our >> King Lasik on June 20, 2013. The followed by a delicious dinner scattered rain showers didn’t sponsors. Thank you for your >> Pollock Clinics in the clubhouse and prizes keep golfers away; instead generous sponsorship and >> Mardon Insurance for the winners. they embraced the rain and contributions of prizes for >> Madaisky & Co. took to the course with smiles We had 118 players registered the golfers. The commitment >> London Drugs on their faces. With many this year and hope that a full you show to this tournament >> Schmunk Gatt Smith returning participants and field of 144 alumni and is greatly appreciated >> Morrey Auto Group some new alumni and friend friends will register for next and directly supports the >> False Creek golfers, the tournament year’s tournament on June 19, current and future medical Healthcare Centre featured a shot-gun start 2014. Registration will open community. which allowed all of the in early spring, so invite your UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 36 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

To ease the minds of the newest 2013 Hooding & Graduation alumni, the Faculty of Medicine Recent & Upcoming May 21, 2014 Alumni Affairs Office planned Class Reunions “Residents in a New Residence,” The tradition of giving a a welcome event in Ottawa ‘doctor’s shingle’ to UBC (July 15) and Toronto (July 17). Class of 1956 Class of 1988 Medicine graduates started in Ottawa’s event was hosted by September 6-7, 2013 October 4-6, 2013 1954 with the first graduating Location: Trail, BC Vancouver, BC Judy Chow, MD’80 and class. This was started by the Organizers: Dr. Louie Organizers: Dr. Steve David Burt, MD’80, while & Jean Simonetta Southerland and students and still exists today. Toronto’s event was hosted Dr. Chris Symonds In 1954, the 3rd year students by Ivor Fleming, MD’85 Rehab Class of ‘73 Reunion organized the shingles and gave September 7, 2013 Class of 1954 and Lenora Fleming. them to the 4th year students at Vancouver, BC May 2014 This event brought together the Medical Ball in the spring. Organizer: Sally Steeves Whistler, BC new graduates and alumni Organizers: Dr. Morton That practice went on for many Class of 2003 currently living in these areas. Dodek, Dr. Al Boggie and years but over time the shape September 21-22, 2013 It was an evening filled with Dr. Don Warner and design changed. Vancouver, BC great conversation, delicious Organizer: Dr. Jason Kason Class of 2004 Now the Medical Alumni food, and refreshing beverages Summer 2014 Class of 1983 Association produces the (on some great patios too!). Vancouver, BC September 27-29, 2013 shingles for each graduating It was a pleasure to have many Organizer: Dr. Aisha Manji Victoria, BC class as a gift to each student, of Medicine’s established alumni Organizers: Drs. Stan Class of 1984 welcoming each one as an there to meet and greet the & Chris Vuksic, Dr. Pat September 2014 alumnus and a member newest alumni, and let them in McAllister, Dr. Kelly Battershill, Victoria, BC of the association. on the hidden gems of the city. Dr. Mike Miles, Dr. Beth Watt Organizers: Dr. Ian Coutice This year Jack Burak, MD’76, If you are interested in hosting a Class of 1978 Class of 1959 Bob Cheyne, MD’77 and “Residents in a New Residence” October 4-6, 2013 September 12-14, 2014 Mark Schonfeld, MD’72 Vancouver, BC Painters Lodge, event in your city next summer Organizers: Dr. Liz Fendley, Campbell River, BC attended the Hooding to welcome the MD 2014’s Dr. Margaret Cottle, Dr. Bruce Organizers: Dr. Bob Gordon Ceremony on May 21, 2014 who will be starting their Fleming, Dr. Jim Boyle, & Dr. Stu Madill as representatives from the residencies there, contact & Dr. Tony Wilson Medical Alumni Association. [email protected] or After some inspiring words 604-875-4111 x67741. For more information on class reunions, please contact the from Dr. Burak, the three UBC Faculty of Medicine Alumni Affairs Office at marisa.moody@ alumni presented the shingles ubc.ca or 604-875-4111 x62031. to each graduating student as Student Orientation 2013 each walked across the stage. August 26, 2013 The hooding ceremony was Upcoming Alumni Events The class of 2017 was followed by the graduation welcomed by three alumni ceremony on May 22. Victoria Medical UBC Medical Alumni speakers, Gurdev Gill, MD’57, Society Dinner Association AGM Larry Burr, MD’64 and February 1, 2014 Date TBD Brianne Budlovsky, MD’12 Victoria, BC Residents in a New Residence at the Student Orientation UBC Medical Alumni July 15, 2013 – Ottawa, ON Vernon Hockey Tournament & Friends Golf Tournament in late August. July 17, 2013 – Toronto, ON March 1-2, 2014 June 19, 2014 This remarkable panel of University Golf Course Becoming a resident is often Spring Gala & doctors gave insight into the Alumni Reception exciting, but can bring along role of a physician in their Date TBD some stress. Add in a move community, the importance across the country and the of maintaining balance in Please go to http://alumni.med.ubc.ca/events/ whole process can become your life and what to expect for updated event information. a little daunting. in the future. ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE M SAC REPORT 37

The creative writing club has A Place for Medical Students been known to frequent the to Call Home darker corners of the Alumni Room, while guitarists, With classes on UBC’s violinists, pianists and poets Vancouver campus, at VGH, prepare their acts for the and in hospitals across the ever-popular Arts in Medicine , Vancouver- Coffeehouse that takes place based medical students need twice a year in Hardwick Hall. MUS REPORT a place to call home. The videoconferencing Medical Student and Alumni We need somewhere to capabilities of the MSAC mean Centre (MSAC). congregate, to consolidate, The beginning of the that it’s not only Vancouver to celebrate our interests. academic year is always an The event was created in students who benefit. Speakers’ We need a place to run into exciting and busy time for order to help strengthen series from interest friends who, in the maelstrom the Medical Undergraduate the relationship between groups such as Surgery and of medical school, we’ve Society (MUS) as we annually the BCMA and the MUS Family Medicine are well- neglected more than we should welcome a new class of by allowing the executives attended across all sites, along have. That place, for many keen students to the MD from each group to become with sessions on specific skills of us, is the William A. Undergraduate Program. acquainted early in the such as advocacy and global Webber Medical Student This year, we opened our doors academic year. We hope to health work. and Alumni Centre. to 288 new aspiring physicians continue collaborating with When I speak with friends the BCMA on the Meet and Sport is one highlight of in the Class of 2017 who will from other medical schools Greet event annually, and look the MSAC. Students take each be studying at one of four across Canada, many are forward to working closely advantage of the 24 hour distributed academic sites across lacking this social nucleus together in the future. access to the MSAC gym British Columbia (Kelowna, that makes UBC Medicine after a long shift on-call, or Prince George, Vancouver, The MUS is committed to as complete a program as it participate in the “Spartacus” and Victoria). ensuring that UBC medical is today. We, as students, group workouts. The MSAC This year also marks the first students receive an unparalleled would like to thank the downstairs is now home to both time in over three decades that educational experience. This, Medical Alumni Association expert and aspiring hip hop, UBC Medicine is the host of course, is only made possible for your ongoing support Bhangra, and break dancers, for the Canadian Federation by the continual support of our of this living space. not to mention an impressive of Medical Students (CFMS) alumni, UBC faculty and staff, array of martial artists. Annual General Meeting and our community members. Submitted by On behalf of over 1,000 And speaking of artists, (AGM). The AGM took place Connor Forbes, UBC Medicine medical students at UBC, the the MSAC brings out the in Vancouver from Sept. 20-22, Class of 2015 (VFMP) MUS would like to express our Renaissance man or woman 2013 and brought together utmost gratitude to all of the in many medical students! medical student colleagues from all over Canada to discuss individuals who contribute to issues relevant to medical enhancing our medical school students. The MUS was proud experience. to represent UBC at the AGM, and also to show off our Gurinder Grewal beautiful city to our colleagues President from across the country. Medical Undergraduate Society MD Candidate, Class of 2016 The MUS, in conjunction [email protected] with the BC Medical Association (BCMA), also co-hosted the inaugural BCMA/MUS Meet and Greet on September 9, 2013 at the UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 38

Part of the MD Graduating Class of 2013.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2013

Please join us in welcoming our newest graduates as they pursue their residency programs. On behalf of the UBC Medical Alumni Association, we are proud to welcome you as alumni and colleagues.

Bez Toosi Maria Anderson Emily Dong Theodore Jankowski Luvdeep Malhi Christopher Sarah Yager University of University of University University of University of Stephenson University of Anatomical British Columbia British Columbia of Calgary British Columbia British Columbia University of British Columbia Pathology British Columbia & General Azadeh Arjmandi Amrita Dosanjh Andrew Jervis Glen Manders Huei-Hsin Pathology University University of University University Taylor Swanson Clarice Yang Diagnostic of Calgary British Columbia of Calgary University of Radiology of Calgary University of Leslie Anderson British Columbia British Columbia Rafal Banas Robert Drapala Namrata Jhamb Quinn Mason University University of Nicolas Bilbey University of University of Dalhousie Aileen Tan Yao Nancy Yao of Manitoba British Columbia British Columbia University of British Columbia University University of Dalhousie Tyler Hickey British Columbia University Alma Bencivenga Dustin Falk Lorelei Johnson Saskatchewan University of Geoffrey McKee University University University of Ying Yao British Columbia William Guest University of Baldeep Toor of Alberta of Alberta British Columbia University University of British Columbia University of Amy Thommasen British Columbia of Alberta Tim Bowen-Roberts Tyler Falk Kurt Jordan British Columbia University Erika Mehl University of University of Dalhousie Donald Yung of Calgary Trenton Kellock British Columbia Dalhousie Everett Versteeg University of British Columbia University University University Memorial of Calgary British Columbia Carolyn Fletcher Glenn Keyes Stephen Breen University Jerusha Millar University of University of University of Bogardus Zavaglia Anesthesiology Teresa Liang of Calgary University of Newfoundland British Columbia British Columbia University University of British Columbia Navraj Singh Jessica Fong Anthony Villaruel of Ottawa British Columbia Megan Burns Kristen Kokotilo Chima University Adrienne University of Dalhousie University University of Pedro Lourenco of Ottawa of Alberta Montgomery British Columbia University of University British Columbia Beth Gallagher University of Dean Vrecko General Surgery British Columbia Elizabeth Kruithof Stacy Cabage- University of British Columbia University Kaitlin Duncan University of Kristin DeGirolamo University Andrew Van Sterling British Columbia of Calgary University of British Columbia Ariane Mundhenk University of of Ottawa der Westhuizen Pavel Glaze (nee Williams) British Columbia University of British Columbia Nancy Lambert Jane Wacker Christopher University of University of University of British Columbia Ringo Chan University of Amandeep Nixon-Giles British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia University (Anu) Ghuman University of Elyse Goldberg of Alberta William Lau Renee Nason Kara Warder University of British Columbia University University of University British Columbia Emergency Andy Chen of Toronto (nee Bloomfield) Marcio Penner British Columbia of Calgary Medicine University of University Nina He University of William of Alberta Queen’s University British Columbia British Columbia Chung-Lin Kathleen Newmarch Kelsey Innes Gooderham University University Johnny Lee Esther Warkentin Nazgol Seyednejad Kali Romano University of Jonathan Chi of Toronto of Calgary University of University of University of University of British Columbia University British Columbia of Alberta Erin Park British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia Andrei Karpov Shannon Grant / Anesthesiology Leanna Lee University University of Franklin Clarke University Ben Wasserman / Vancouver University of of Ottawa British Columbia McMaster of Calgary University / CMG Stream British Columbia Hematological University of Calgary Stuart Gray Andrew Provan Pathology Ryan Truant Jessica Paul Nicholas Leinweber University Corinne Coulter University of Samuel University of University of University of British Columbia of Calgary Wasswa-Kintu Krista Marcon British Columbia British Columbia McMaster British Columbia University Samantha Erin Rawstron University University of Margaret Zhang Kitt Turney Hage-Moussa Ryan Leo University of of Toronto British Columbia University of Deborah Curry Dalhousie University University British Columbia British Columbia Queen’s University of Calgary Katherine Wight Ida Molavi University of Calgary University of Laura Riley University Yue Dai Sheng Ping Lin Saskatchewan Freda Wong Judith Hammond University of of Calgary University of University of University University of British Columbia Sita Ollek Family British Columbia British Columbia Kathryn Wills of Ottawa Medicine British Columbia University of Rena Romain Memorial Bogdan Dascalu Bridget Henderson Kate MacDonald Saskatchewan Hardy Zietsman University of University of University of Blake Abawi University University of University of British Columbia Newfoundland British Columbia McMaster of Toronto British Columbia British Columbia University Andrew Delany Thomas Hong Jessica Macleod Bryden Russell Andrew Wong Travis Allen University of University Dalhousie University University of Dermatology University of British Columbia of Calgary University of Alberta British Columbia British Columbia Bahman Sotoodian Rodolfo Dominguez Robert Horan Heidi Mader Christine Sorial Diane Wu University Ian Anderson University University of University of University of University of Alberta Université Laval of Toronto Saskatchewan British Columbia British Columbia of Toronto ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE 39

Personalized ‘doctor shingles’ – gifts from the Andrew Delany, MD’13 celebrating with his parents Medical Alumni Association. outside Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

Lea Harper Karanvir Sall Bing Wei Wang Ruozhou Liu Annika Klopp University of University of University Internal University of University of Radiation British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia of Manitoba Medicine Oncology Anna Hayden Neal Shahidi Michael Ross Alison Lee Leslie Leung Angela Babuk University of University of McGill University University of University of Maryam Dosani University of British Columbia British Columbia Neurosurgery British Columbia British Columbia University of British Columbia British Columbia Amanda Israel Nicole Smith Serge Makarenko Rachel Li Karen Slater Peter Birks University University of University of Orthopedic University of University of Kim Paulson University of of Ottawa British Columbia British Columbia Surgery British Columbia British Columbia University of Alberta British Columbia Renee Janssen Lindsay McRae Elliott (Thomas) Lance Crook Jesse Bittman University of University Srinivas Raman Sprague Obstetrics & University Psychiatry University of British Columbia University of Ottawa University Gynecology of Manitoba of Toronto British Columbia Omid Kiamanesh of Alberta Trisha Patel Ashley Jewett Benjamin Jong University of Merry Gong University of University of Brian Buchan Amir Tashakkor University of British Columbia University of British Columbia British Columbia University University of British Columbia Urology of Toronto Hyein Kim British Columbia British Columbia Kathryn Potter Kristine Kennedy Western University Darcy Marr University University of Benjamin Bay Alastair Teale Eda Karacabeyli Goldis Chami University of of Calgary British Columbia University of Joseph Kim University of University of University of British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia University of British Columbia British Columbia Steven Rathgeber Jayson Krawchuk Saskatchewan Scott Westberg University of University of Trevor Haines Rui Chen Fergus To Joni Kooy University of British Columbia British Columbia University University of Gordon Kirkpatrick University of University Alberta of Alberta British Columbia University of British Columbia of Calgary Anamaria Kiran Massey British Columbia Richardson University Shifana Lalani Ian Wilson Stephen Taylor Alvin Cheung Kateryna Vostretsova University of of Toronto University of Andrew University University of University of University of British Columbia British Columbia Kwasnica Jody Morita British Columbia British Columbia of Ottawa British Columbia University of Henry Stringer University Nathan Wong Christa Lepik Christopher Cheung British Columbia Geoffrey Walton University of of Toronto McMaster University of University of British Columbia University of Chanel Kwok Otolaryngology University British Columbia British Columbia Gunpreet Singh British Columbia Queen’s University Carmen Tait University of Scott McCoach Oleksandr Kiley Cindrich Alyson Wong University of British Columbia Sally Lau University of (Alex) Butskiy University of University of British Columbia Vascular Surgery University of British Columbia University of Anush Zakaryan British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia Tracy Tan University of Dennis Jiang Emily Sandwith British Columbia Nikolas Desilet Dan Le Nicholas Woolnough Memorial University University University of University University of Queen’s University of Toronto of Calgary Newfoundland Katie Zhu of Alberta British Columbia Gannon Yu Pediatrics University Natalie Taha of Toronto Joseph Leung University Charmaine Wong Caylib Durand University University of of Calgary Arash Adjudani University of University of Alberta British Columbia University of British Columbia of Calgary Marko Yurkovich Samantha Wong British Columbia Public Health Margaret Eddy Marion MacKay- University of University of Breanna Clive & Preventative Memorial Dunn British Columbia Physical British Columbia Dalhousie Medicine (incl. University of University of Medicine & British Columbia Dimas Yusuf University Family Medicine) Newfoundland University of Jennifer Yam Rehabilitation Shawna Mann University of Daniel Heffner Blair Fulton British Columbia Michael Fazio University of British Columbia University of Tara Chan University of University of University British Columbia Fiona Young British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia of Alberta Neurology Memorial Kathryn Milne Sarah Foster Tristen Gilchrist University of Kaila Holtz University of University University of British Columbia Clark Funnell Newfoundland University of British Columbia University of of Alberta British Columbia Kyle Murphy British Columbia Jeff Gong Memorial Sara Jassemi University University of Anne Nguyen Ophthalmology University of Alberta Newfoundland University of of Calgary British Columbia Chai Lin Loren Gulbranson Krishna Poinen Jack Chou Gurpreet Khaira University University Sachiko Takahashi University University of Alberta of Calgary Western University of Ottawa of Calgary A PROVINCE-WIDE ENTERPRISE

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