07 A nuclear medicine meltdown averted

12 Spirals, portfolios 1 and progress tests UBC launches renewed curriculum 11 NºVOL SUMMER 2015 16 Internal healing Aboriginal health education hits a milestone, gains momentum MEDICINE THE MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA FACULTY OF MEDICINE

PERSONALIZED PRESCRIPTIONS

UBC BRINGS GENOMICS TO PRIMARY CARE A ray of hope for sun-damaged 10 skin

A SURGE OF RESEARCH IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE

20 CONTENTS A shifting 03 Message from the Vice 16 Internal healing: Aboriginal landscape Provost Health and Dean health education hits milestone, in B.C.'s Interior and gains momentum 12 04 Personalized prescriptions: UBC brings genomics 18 The Faculty of Medicine’s to primary care newest faculty 07 A nuclear medicine 19 Incoming Dean Dermot meltdown averted Kelleher: A Q&A 10 Investigations + Breakthroughs 20 Removing the unknowns 12 Spirals, portfolios and progress from "unknown cause epilepsy" Meet the tests: MD program launches 21 The Taoist path incoming Dean renewed curriculum to better cardiology care 19 14 A shifting landscape: 21 A venture-capital approach Southern Medical Program to supporting science transforms health care 22 A research surge in B.C.’s Interior for people with Parkinson's 23 UBC sports medicine gets a new home 24 An evidence-based alternative to HappyApp 25 Medical Alumni News

UBC MEDICINE VOL. 11 | NO. 1 Summer 2015 A publication of the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine, providing news and information for and about faculty members, students, staff, alumni and friends. Letters and suggestions are welcome. Contact Brian Kladko at [email protected]. Address corrections: [email protected]

Editor/Writer Brian Kladko Contributing writers Kerry Blackadar, Warren Brock, Anne McCulloch Design Signals Design Group Inc. www.signals.ca Online at med.ubc.ca/ubc-medicine-magazine MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PROVOST HEALTH AND DEAN

we have staked our claim in some of successful but disparate initiatives, the newest frontiers of health research, making a whole that is greater than including epigenetics (see page 11), the sum of its parts. Making me even e-health (page 24) and medical prouder is the fact that this centre will imaging (page 7). Our faculty members fuse the fundamental missions of our are showing up regularly in the most medical school – education, research high-impact journals and winning and service. On top of all that, the some of Canada’s – and the world’s – centre reflects our foundational highest honours. goal of improving the health of the I’m particularly proud to have had a population we serve – in this case, a small part in three new components of population neglected far too long by the Faculty. The Djavad Mowafaghian medical schools and the health care am not fond of big farewells, prefer- Centre for Brain Health created a establishment. ring to look forward. So as I prepare new paradigm for academic medicine, I wasn’t a major player in any of to clean out my desk in the Dean’s bringing basic neuroscientists these developments. They depended Office and make way for my successor, under the same roof as neurologists, on the drive and determination I Dermot Kelleher, in September, psychiatrists, physical therapists, of their respective creators and I’m not inclined to engage in the and health system and population champions. And they couldn’t have customary round of speeches, tributes scientists, making tangible all of the been accomplished without strong or celebrations. past decade’s talk about translational partnerships with other institutions, Nevertheless, I can’t help but reflect research. The School of Population B.C.’s health authorities, and the on how the Faculty of Medicine has and Public Health brought together government and people of British evolved during the last dozen years. scattered researchers in such areas Columbia. But I attempted to ensure And I see a lot of differences. as epidemiology, applied ethics, that they had a “trellis upon which to We called ourselves a “provincial child development, occupational grow” and a “runway to take off.” I medical school” when I arrived in and environmental hygiene, and have encouraged them, enabled them, 2003, but to be honest, we were still health care systems and economics, and given them room to flourish, much a Vancouver-centric entity at that leveraging these pockets of expertise as my wife and I did with our children. time, and just beginning (under my into one of the university’s most I can’t take credit for what transpired, predecessor, John Cairns) to break out productive – and news-worthy – but I take pleasure in having been of that mold. Now, 11 years since the academic engines. The Centre for there at their creation, and having launch of our regionally-distributed Health Education Scholarship made helped them along. medical programs, the Faculty of UBC an international leader in a field Now it’s my successor’s turn to Medicine can authentically lay claim that has taken on greater import as steward a new set of projects, while to being a provincial medical school, medical schools, professional groups facing down the challenges that come with a footprint that extends to and policy-makers take a hard look at with being a medical school dean. But all corners of B.C. – both in terms how we train health professionals (see if I could leave him with one piece of of instructors, physical space and page 12). advice before handing him the keys, influence (see page 14). And the changes keep coming. Just it is this: Don’t be guided by what the The Faculty was already a Canadian last month, the Faculty announced Faculty of Medicine is, but what the leader in health research when I came two major gifts to its newest entity, the Faculty of Medicine could be.  on the scene. But it’s hard to deny that Centre for Excellence in Indigenous we have stepped up our research game Health (see page 16). Created a Gavin C.E. Stuart, MD, FRCSC Vice Provost Health over the past 12 years, especially in little more than a year ago as a unit Dean, Faculty of Medicine cancer genomics, cardiopulmonary within the School of Population and sciences, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and Public Health, the centre followed its mental health and neurosciences, and parent’s example by bringing together

3 COVER STORY

he act of prescribing a medication • 14 percent of particularly seems so simple, at least to a patient. vulnerable patients in Scotland The physician, after arriving at a were given high-risk prescriptions diagnosis, reaches for a pad, scribbles that should have been avoided, T a few lines, and utters a few words of according to a 2011 study. instruction and caution (something • A 2014 study in Ireland found that like “not on a full stomach”). Then it’s 35 per cent of the typical general off to the pharmacy. practitioner’s prescriptions for But consider these statistics: older people were “potentially • In 2008, UBC researchers inappropriate,” meaning the risks found that 7 per cent of visits to outweighed the benefits. Vancouver General Hospital’s An unnerving reality emerges emergency department were from these numbers: Prescribing due to harmful side effects of a medication is not as straightforward as prescribed drug or an incorrect patients might assume. Sometimes, the prescription, either in the type of drug prescribed is simply not effective. drug or the dosage. Sometimes, it’s even harmful.

UBCUBC MEDICINE MEDICINE Fall Fall 2014 2014 4 COVER STORY

So many factors come into play: not only the obvious ones, such as the patient’s age, weight and known allergies, but also other drugs the patient might be taking, and whether those drugs might react badly with each other. Then there is the latest evidence about each drug’s pros and cons, which are constantly being revised by drug companies, regulatory authorities and academic journals, but which are not easily synthesized for front-line physicians. And lastly, there is the “X factor” of a patient’s particular biological make-up – particularly their genes. A single mutation can spell the difference between a drug being useful, or being deadly. One mutation Martin Dawes on a gene called CYP2C19 causes Photo by Martin Dee rapid metabolizing of two commonly used anti-depressants, diminishing the drugs’ effectiveness; another mutation on that same gene could have Starting this summer, the Faculty Rarely is pharmacogenetic data the opposite effect – slowing down of Medicine will try to make that obtained from patients who don’t metabolization, thus heightening information more available – and more have a life-threatening disease, the risk of side effects. Another actionable. predominantly cancer. TreatGx is mutation causes codeine to be rapidly “TreatGx” uses a sampling of one of the first attempts at providing genetic data – culled from patients’ that information to primary care saliva samples – to try to reduce physicians, in a clinically useful "THIS IS WHERE THE harmful drug reactions in people manner, for more common illnesses. FUTURE OF MEDICINE IS with one of 10 common conditions, Three years in the making, GOING." including depression, hypertension, TreatGx was conceived and designed – BRUCE HOBSON, FAMILY high cholesterol, gout and asthma. by Martin Dawes, Head of UBC’s PHYSICIAN IN POWELL RIVER TreatGx uses specially-designed Department of Family Practice, software that considers the usual working with colleagues from UBC’s details about a patient: age, weight, Personalized Medicine Initiative, a converted to morphine, posing a blood pressure, allergies, other not-for-profit UBC spinoff. danger to babies drinking breast milk medical conditions, other drugs they “We’re automating the tasks that from women taking this common might be taking. It also includes can be automated,” Dr. Dawes says. over-the-counter drug. the latest reliable evidence about “All of the information that underpins More than 150 medications the safety and effectiveness of the medication choices is out there, but it’s approved by the U.S. Food and Drug more than 250 drugs involved in the impossible for physicians to hold it all Administration (FDA) now carry such treatment of those 10 conditions. in their heads. We’re trying to simplify pharmacogenomic warnings. But But layered on top of those inputs the process – and enhancing it with without knowing a patient’s genetic is genetic data about the patient in powerful genetic data that physicians, make-up, a doctor cannot act upon question – specifically, whether he or until recently, haven’t had at their them. she has any of the 33 variations, spread disposal.” across five genes, that might render a drug ineffective or even harmful.

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5 COVER STORY

The software, including the data That technological progress – not as undermining their autonomy, says Continued from about each patient’s genetic profile, just in sequencing people’s genomes, Bruce Hobson, who has worked preceding page is initially being provided to a dozen but in the explosion of information for 33 years as a family physician family physicians and pharmacists about the function of individual in Powell River. But if TreatGx’s around British Columbia to help genes, and the harnessing of computer recommendations are trustworthy, in their prescription decisions for hardware and software to produce current and easily accessible during 250 patients. If that three-month useful information – is a major patient visits, the tool could remove feasibility study goes smoothly, reason why some health researchers, much of the uncertainty surrounding TreatGx will be expanded to cover 26 including Pieter Cullis, Director of prescription decisions, he says. diseases, and will be marketed directly UBC’s Life Sciences Institute, are “This is where the future of to consumers. predicting the dawn of “personalized medicine is going,” says Dr. Hobson, TreatGx’s use of genetic information medicine.” a UBC Clinical Instructor who leads would not have been feasible 10 “An avalanche of molecular-level a B.C. group working to encourage or even five years ago, but rapidly analyses of the bits and pieces that physicians’ use of electronic medical improving technology has made make up you is coming online,” records and the sharing of that data to genetic sequencing dramatically faster Dr. Cullis, a Professor in the improve patient care. “Sometimes we and cheaper. The first sequencing Department of Biochemistry and feel very much alone when prescribing of the human genome, completed in Molecular Biology, wrote in his new drugs. Having the most information 2000, took 10 years and $3 billion. book, “The Personalized Medicine possible when making those decisions, Now it costs around $1,000 and Revolution” (Greystone). “Within so that each decision is what is best for takes a day or two. The analysis to be the next five years, increasingly the patient in front of me, is the way performed in TreatGx, limited to the comprehensive molecular tests will things need to go.”  33 specific sites on a person’s genome, be available that will tell you, with costs about $200. ever-improving accuracy, what is Top to bottom: The genotyping equipment used to analyze patients’ wrong with you.” samples; Hagit Katzov-Eckert, a member The TreatGx trial of the TreatGx team, prepares samples for is receiving funding analysis. Photos courtesy of GenomeBC. from Genome BC, the Rx&D Health Research Foundation (a consortium of Canadian pharmaceutical companies) and additional Right: Sample contributions from screenshots of the TreatGx software, pharmaceutical providing companies. It prescription will be operated guidance to physicians and and marketed by pharmacists. GenXys Health Care Photos courtesy of GenXys Systems, a UBC spin-off company, which will conduct the genetic testing of participants’ saliva samples at its lab in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences building. Some doctors might see TreatGx

UBC MEDICINE Summer 2015 6 RESEARCH

A NUCLEAR MEDICINE MELTDOWN –

n December 11, 2015, a new world record was achieved at the southern end of UBC’s campus by a big, blue, boxy machine. O The achievement – 37 quadrillion isotopes dancing on the surface of a metallic plate – wasn’t much to behold. In fact, it was invisible to the naked eye, amounting to only 6 millionths of a gram, and measurable only by the amount of gamma rays emanating from the plate. But to the Faculty of Medicine scientists who had been working on the project, those isotopes represented a goal they had been striving toward for five years. The particles were produced by a cyclotron, an SUV-sized device that accelerates hydrogen ions in a spiral, then strips away their electrons.

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7 RESEARCH

Right: Francois Benard, Paul Schaffer and Thomas Ruth examine the machinery that carries the isotope-producing proton beam. Photos courtesy of NSERC

The resulting protons are then Continued from channelled into a high-energy beam preceding page capable of modern-day alchemy, transforming one element into another. In this case, the proton beam hit a plate of molybdenum, converting some of it to technetium-99m – an isotope used for dozens of types of diagnostic procedures. The technetium-99m was nothing new; it has been used by radiologists for decades. But producing it with a cyclotron was still a novelty. And on that December day, the Faculty of Medicine and TRIUMF, Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics, proved that The prospect of Canada becoming it emits. The resulting images reveal a cyclotron could make enough dependent on a few aging overseas whether a cancer has spread to bones, reactors for most of its medical or how well blood is flowing to the imaging, and having to scramble heart or brain. COMPARED TO NUCLEAR whenever one of those plants shuts Supported by grants from the REACTORS, CYCLOTRONS down, spurred several members of National Sciences and Engineering ARE FAR SMALLER, MORE the Faculty of Medicine to pursue the Council of Canada, Natural Resources NUMEROUS, SAFER AND long-overlooked idea of producing Canada and the Canadian Institutes EASIER TO OPERATE. isotopes from cyclotrons. of Health Research, the team of UBC Compared to reactors, cyclotrons and TRIUMF scientists – including technetium to meet the daily needs of are far smaller, more numerous, safer Professors Francois Benard and all of British Columbia’s hospitals. and easier to operate. And they have Anna Celler and Assistant Professor And not a moment too soon. been used since the 1970s to make Paul Schaffer in the Department Currently, much of the technetium- another medical isotope, fluorine-18, of Radiology, and Thomas J. Ruth, based medical imaging in Canada for positron emission tomography an Adjunct Professor in the Division depends on a 57-year-old nuclear (PET) – a very sensitive imaging of Neurology – worked to modify power plant near Chalk River, Ont. technology, but also quite expensive. existing cyclotron technology, Beset by leaks, high maintenance Technetium is more of a workhorse overcoming various technical hurdles: costs and the challenge of disposing isotope, used for thousands of scans designing targets that wouldn’t melt of its radioactive waste, the federal in Canada each day – about 4 per when subjected to the high-energy government decided in 2009 to cease cent of Canadians get a diagnostic proton beam; securely removing medical isotope production there by examination with it each year. During the highly radioactive material next year. technetium’s six-hour existence, it from the cyclotron; and developing can be attached to carrier molecules efficient methods of separating and then tracked by the gamma rays

UBC MEDICINE Summer 2015 8 Left: Robotic arms are used to remove the radioactive isotopes from a metal cannister. Photos courtesy of NSERC

Many other countries are in the same situation as Canada, creating an obvious global market for this home-grown technology. A TRIUMF- affiliated company, Advanced Applied Physics Solutions Inc., is working toward licensing the technology. “The U.K, the U.S. and Japan have all expressed interest in what we’re doing,” says Dr. Ruth, a Senior Research Scientist at TRIUMF. “Smaller countries are particularly interested, because they don’t have nuclear plants, but they do have cyclotrons that could be used for this.” 

Top to bottom: A technetium cardiac scan showing perfusion (blood delivery), infarcts (dead tissue technetium-99m from the other isotopes, without any long-term caused by lack of blood) and cardiac elements on the metal plate. radioactive waste,” says Dr. Benard, function in one scan; a technetium The process of trial-and-error who is Scientific Director of functional bone scan displaying the uptake of a benign bone tumour in the pelvis. involved many re-thinks and imaging at the BC Cancer Agency. Photos courtesy of Lawson Health Research Institute adjustments, culminating with Dr. Benard expects to begin a December’s demonstration, which clinical trial in Vancouver and Ontario produced enough isotopes in six hours this summer to show that cyclotron- to enable about 500 scans – beating produced medical isotopes behave the the previous record almost four-fold. same as those from nuclear reactors. The team, which also included The trial will likely last about three scientists at Western University and months, involving 50 patients. If it’s a McMaster University, was awarded success, a cyclotron at TRIUMF would the 2014 NSERC Brockhouse Canada likely be put to use making medical Prize for Interdisciplinary Research isotopes for B.C. patients as soon as 2016. in Science and Engineering, which Canada has about 23 other honours collaborations between cyclotrons that could be adapted for scientists in engineering and the this technology, and several more are natural sciences. The project also expected to be put into operation in resulted in over a dozen scientific the next couple of years. publications, several provisional “We’ve proven the viability of patents and a training opportunity producing medical isotopes on for more than several dozen students, cyclotrons,” says Dr. Schaffer, who is postdoctoral fellows and engineers. TRIUMF’s head of nuclear medicine. “With this solution, we’ll be able “We’re now working with Health to make completely locally-grown Canada to put the solutions in place.”

9 INVESTIGATIONS + BREAKTHROUGHS

THE KEY TO SUN-INDUCED SKIN AGING: GRANZYME B

avid Granville has a ray of hope for those who want a deep, dark tan D without the long-term consequence of structural protein collagen – not After 20 weeks, the skin of mice wrinkles. And his discovery has poten- just skin, but blood vessels and lung lacking Granzyme B had aged much tial for treating problems far below the passages. less, and their collagen was more skin, and much more serious. A principal investigator in the intact, compared to a control group. His team of scientists at UBC Centre for Heart Lung Innovation viDA Therapeutics, a company and Providence Health Care of UBC and St. Paul’s Hospital, Dr. co-founded by Dr. Granville, is discovered the key to that aging Granville was investigating the role currently developing a Granzyme B process – a destructive enzyme called of Granzyme B in atherosclerosis, inhibitor based on technology licensed Granzyme B. Block that enzyme, and aneurysms and heart attacks. Immune from UBC. The company plans to test skin stays smooth, even after repeated cells use Granzyme B to destroy a topically applied drug on people exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. harmful pathogens, but Dr. Granville with discoid lupus erythematosus, The findings, published in also suspected it of contributing to an autoimmune disease worsened by Aging Cell, points the way for a the hardening and narrowing of blood sunlight that can lead to disfiguring drug that would block the activity vessels. facial scarring. (The musician Seal has of Granzyme B in certain places, He and his team bred mice without such a condition.) preventing the aging and deterioration Granzyme B, intending to examine If the drug proves effective in of tissues that depend on the their vasculature. Before they could preventing lupus-related skin lesions, that far, they couldn’t help but notice it has potential for preventing the the mice’s youthful-looking skin. normal, gradual aging of the skin, So he and postdoctoral fellow Leigh which is mostly caused by sun David Granville Parkinson put the mice in a custom- exposure. But the drug might also be built carousel that slowly turned under used for life-threatening conditions, UV lamps to mimic natural sunlight, such as aneurysms and chronic exposing them for three to four obstructive pulmonary disease, caused minutes, three times a week – enough by the breakdown of collagen and to cause redness, but not to burn. other proteins that provide structure to blood vessels and lung passages. 

UBC MEDICINE Summer 2015 10 RESEARCH

DIESEL EXHAUST CAUSES CHANGES "DEEP UNDER THE HOOD"

ust two hours of exposure to diesel 2,800 different points on people’s exhaust fumes can switch some genes DNA, affecting about 400 genes. In J on, while switching others off. some places on the genome, it led to That discovery, by Chris Carlsten, more methylation; in more places, it an Associate Professor in the Division decreased methylation. of Respiratory Medicine, resulted from Finding out how these changes in an experiment involving an unusual gene expression translate to health is the contraption: a booth — about the size next step for researchers. But this study of a standard bathroom — in which showed how vulnerable our genetic volunteers spend time breathing machinery can be to air pollution, and diluted and aged diesel exhaust. that changes are taking place even if Dr. Carlsten and his collaborators there are no obvious symptoms. examined how exhaust affects the “Usually when we look at the effects chemical “coating” that attaches to of air pollution, we measure things that many parts of a person’s DNA. That are clinically obvious – air flow, blood carbon-hydrogen coating, called pressure, heart rhythm,” Dr. Carlsten methylation, can silence or dampen says. “But asthma, higher blood pressure a gene, preventing it from producing or arrhythmia might just be the gradual a protein – sometimes to a person’s accumulation of epigenetic changes. So benefit, sometimes not. Methylation we’ve revealed a window into how these is one of several mechanisms for long-term problems arise. We’re looking Lung Disease, and an investigator controlling gene expression, known as at changes ‘deep under the hood.’ ” with the Vancouver Coastal Health Far right: Chris Carlsten in the epigenetics. The fact that DNA methylation Research Institute. booth he uses The study, published in Particle was affected after only two hours of “Any time you can show something to examine the and Fibre Toxicology, found that exposure has positive implications, happens that quickly,” he says, “it effects of diesel exhaust exposure. breathing diesel-tainted air (similar says Dr. Carlsten, the Canada Research means you can probably reverse it – Photo by Don Erhardt to conditions along a Beijing highway) Chair and AstraZeneca Chair in either through a therapy, a change in caused methylation changes at about Occupational and Environmental environment, or even diet.” 

A PHYSICIAN DOES AN ABOUT-FACE, BASED ON HER OWN RESEARCH

hroughout her medical career, pressure did not result in poorer justify a ‘less tight’ approach to blood Laura Magee has taken a restrained outcomes for babies before or after pressure control.” T approach to using blood pressure birth. At the same time, allowing the The study involved nearly 1,000 medication in her pregnant patients. mother’s blood pressure to be mildly pregnant women in 15 countries, half Then she up-ended her own beliefs. to moderately elevated in pregnancy of whom were assigned a lower blood Her research, published in the New led to more episodes of dangerously pressure target than the other half. England Journal of Medicine, showed elevated blood pressure that increase The number of babies who died or that treating a woman’s elevated blood the risk of stroke and death for the were admitted for prolonged newborn pressure during pregnancy is safer for mother during pregnancy. intensive care was similar between her, and safe for her baby. As a result “Before this study, I was a ‘less the two blood pressure control groups, of these findings, Dr. Magee and her tight’ controller,” says Dr. Magee, a while fetal growth was also similar. collaborators recommend normalizing Clinical Professor in the Department “Our trial showed that you should blood pressure in pregnant women. of Medicine and the Department of treat a mother’s high blood pressure The study addressed an age-old Obstetrics & Gynaecology. “I was in pregnancy,” says Dr. Magee, a belief that reducing elevated hoping that this approach physician at BC Women’s Hospital and blood pressure during would be better for the Health Centre and a scientist at the pregnancy – which occurs in baby, without increasing Child & Family Research Institute. 10 per cent of pregnancies – risks for the mother. “This reduces her risk without might lead to reduced growth However, I was wrong. As a increasing the risks for her baby.”  in the womb and worse responsible maternity care health at birth. provider, I can no longer But normalizing a pregnant women’s elevated blood

11 RESEARCH

“In the third and fourth years, we will return to the foundational SPIRALS, material they learned in the first two years,” says Dave Snadden, the PORTFOLIOS AND Executive Associate Dean, Education. “We will say, ‘Remember when you PROGRESS TESTS were learning X and we said it was really important, but you didn’t quite MD PROGRAM PREPARES TO LAUNCH know why at the time? Now we’ll show A RENEWED CURRICULUM you why.' And the students will have those ‘A-ha’ moments.” As with any curriculum revamp, new enhancements must be offset by sacrifices, because there is only so much time. In the renewed hen the UBC medical class of 2019 The path to becoming an MD should curriculum, students won’t cover arrives on campus in August, they will not be a passage through a succession a particular topic – such as health immediately have to take a multiple of seemingly disconnected learning advocacy, growth and development, W choice test. And probably all of them experiences, otherwise known as medical ethics, genetics and will fail it. “learn it and leave it.” genomics, diagnostic imaging, No, this will not be some cruel Rather, new knowledge should build or pharmacotherapy – in a single hazing for first-year students. Instead, upon what has gone before. Students concentrated dose. Instead, each topic it will be the first in a series of should appreciate the relevance of will be broken up, integrated and “progress tests” – one of several new each topic and its place in the wider distributed over the duration of the innovations being introduced as part body of knowledge. four years. of the Faculty of Medicine’s renewed “We used to sit students down “To do this developmentally, we medical curriculum. in big lecture halls and give them need a common road map, so each The progress tests, each one lots of information without helping instructor knows what every other covering the full range of material that them connect the dots,” says Maria instructor is doing,” says MD students are expected to master Hubinette, the Family Practice Course Sandra Jarvis-Selinger, who until over four years, will be given in Years Director in the Vancouver Fraser this spring was the Director of 1, 3 and 4 (and will be voluntary in Medical Program. “We’re trying to Curriculum for the MD program. “To Years 3 and 4). As the students make make those transitions smoother avoid repetition, instructors need their way toward their degree, their for students by organizing the to know what students have already performance on these exams – which information in a better way.” learned, and what students will be won’t count toward students’ grades – With that guiding principle, the learning later. There will have to be should improve. smaller blocks of material that have many more effective hand-offs.” “That first test won’t carry much dominated the medical curriculum With fewer blocks and more significance,” says Geoff Payne, the will morph into “spirals”: themes, integrated, wider-ranging courses, Director of Assessment in the MD systems and clinical experiences that there will be fewer but more Undergraduate Program. “But at recur across all four years. Material comprehensive written exams. subsequent points, we’ll be able to say, taught in the foundational sciences, Workplace-based assessments will ‘Here are the things you’re doing well, such as anatomy, histology, physiology continue, but there will be more of and here are areas where you’re not and genetics, will be resurrected them, and they will be expanded into doing so well – so either you need to throughout the four-year curriculum, Years 1 and 2, covering not just clinical pay more attention, or we need to do a at increasing levels of complexity, decision-making and differential better job of teaching it.’ ” while simulation exercises and diagnoses, but an ability to work in While the progress tests are low- immersion into clinical contexts will teams, communicate effectively and stakes, they speak to a fundamental be introduced right from the first year. think critically. principle of the renewed curriculum:

UBC MEDICINE Summer 2015 12 Above: Students Other features of the renewed • Capstone course: Year 4's in small and large classroom curriculum include: "Professional Medical Practice" will sessions. • Flexible and enhanced learning become will become “Transition to Photos by Rob Shaer (or "FLEX"): A set of three courses Postgraduate Education and Practice,” in Years 1, 2 and 3 in which students giving students a “boot camp”-like choose from an array of self-directed exposure to what they should expect scholarly pursuits – short courses, in residency. workshops, inter-professional experiences, chart reviews, research As these educational ideas are put projects, community service, or into practice, the curriculum designers something else devised by the student are prepared to make ongoing and approved by the instructor. The adjustments. Communication among activities can be in areas as varied as instructors, for example, will have to arts and humanities, biomedical and be robust enough to ensure that the foundational sciences, or global health. spirals live up to their promise. FLEX seeks to prepare graduates for “We’re going to learn a lot in the first roles as scholars, collaborators and few years of the renewed curriculum,” life-long learners, and to incorporate Dr. Snadden says. “With the last social accountability into their careers. curriculum renewal 15 years ago, it • Portfolios: Students will be took three to five years before we really expected to maintain collections of had it down. I expect we’ll be facing a self-reflective and analytical writing similar learning curve this time. That that demonstrate their abilities in makes people nervous. But it should fundamental but non-medical areas, also excite them, because it shows such as professionalism, collaboration, that we’re not operating on auto-pilot scholarship and health advocacy. The – we’ll be examining everything we’re portfolios will be especially important doing in real time, and responding to for assessing students in FLEX. what we see and hear from students, Top to bottom: Instructor Olusegun Oyedele teaches basic science to Rural family practice clerkship staff and faculty.”  • Southern Medical Program students; integration: This clinical assignment, a clinical skills session in the which has traditionally taken place Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program. in the summer between Years 2 and Photos by Darren Hull and Rob Shaer 3, will now be integrated into the rest of the clinical rotation schedule, with different students doing it at different times.

13 A SHIFTING LANDSCAPE

SOUTHERN MEDICAL PROGRAM Above: Clinical Assistant Professor Melissa Paquette (left) teaches medical TRANSFORMS HEALTH CARE student Kristin Morch in the pediatric unit at Royal Inland Hospital. IN B.C.’S INTERIOR Photo by Warren Brock

decade ago, the doctors of B.C.’s necessary to deliver clinical teaching more hospitals and teaching capacity Interior gave little thought to teaching, at Kelowna General Hospital. were essential for us to carry the day.” mostly because they didn’t have to: And as the SMP moved toward its The Southern Medical Program Other than a rural family medicine full capacity of 128 students, it would looked to the Interior’s regional A residency in Kelowna, and a smatter- need even more. hospitals to help fill its training needs. ing of electives in that city and a few The territory ahead was both Two hours to the north, in Kamloops, other towns, medical students and uncharted and even daunting. But Royal Inland Hospital was seen as residents seldom made an appearance. now, with the SMP having graduated an untapped resource of capable All that began to change in 2005, its first class in May, the contours teachers. Similar environments when the provincial government have emerged, with about 200 medical existed at Vernon Jubilee and announced that UBC’s medical students and residents becoming a Kootenay Boundary Regional education program – which by then common feature of the health care Hospitals. had already spread to northern B.C. landscape, spread over 216,000 square Formal rotations were piloted, and Vancouver Island – would also kilometres. evaluated, refined, and tailored to best plant stakes in the Interior. “We decided early on that we were fit the model of care. Within the Okanagan alone, over going to be a program of the Interior, “We listened to physicians and tried 100 family physicians were needed in its entirety,” says Allan Jones, the to create individualized educational to teach in the first two years of the Regional Associate Dean, Interior. models that would fit each Southern Medical Program (SMP). “Kelowna was going to be key, but department,” says Cheryl Holmes, Another 200 specialists would be a Clinical Associate Professor in the

UBC MEDICINE Summer 2015 14 EDUCATION Right: Clinical Assistant Professor Josh Williams (leaning over) leads a clinical skills session at Kelowna General Hospital. Photo by Darren Hull

Department of Medicine and the Site Leader for medical education at Kelowna General Hospital. “The enthusiasm was contagious, and gradually more and more physicians were brought into the fold.” In contrast to medical education in large urban centres, the teaching environment that emerged in the Interior was flatter, unencumbered by the hierarchical layers of major teaching hospitals. Students spent most of their time working one-on- one with attending physicians and had colleagues discovered – in some male student present. But through more face-time with patients. cases, to their surprise – that they coaching and greater familiarity, That informality and familiarity were taken in by the students’ Dr. Redelinghuys saw her patients also meant that students gained insatiable thirst for knowledge, their become more accommodating. more exposure to the offerings of the enthusiasm, and their eagerness to “My patients know that I teach Interior. Preceptors took students dive into new experiences. students, and the patients like it,” she out to dinner, to Kamloops Blazers “Many of the faculty discovered says. “As they hear me discuss their hockey games, or skiing at Sun Peaks, a love of teaching, and saw it as an cases with the students, they get to Below: Clinical says Gerhard Schumacher, a Clinical opportunity to give back,” he says. learn more about themselves and their Associate Professor Cheryl Assistant Professor in the Department “The students push them to stay medical conditions.” Holmes teaches of Family Practice who was the Site current with the latest developments The number of Interior physicians medical students Co-Leader for medical education in within their medical field.” teaching students and residents now and residents about critical Kamloops, until leaving this spring for The experience of Tanja surpasses 800, spanning 30 different care at Kelowna Kenya. Redelinghuys, a Vernon family communities. That network has General Hospital’s Such gestures were not physician, was typical. She tentatively enabled the expansion of postgraduate intensive care unit. Photo by Warren Brock obligatory attempts at hospitality, agreed to be a preceptor with the training in the Interior, with new Dr. Schumacher says. He and his rural family practice program family medicine residencies in in 2009. Her reservations were Kamloops and Kootenay Boundary, understandable: She hadn’t taught in and an emergency medicine residency Canada, and having been educated in Kelowna. and trained in South Africa, she Dr. Jones, the Regional Associate wasn’t completely familiar with Dean, hopes that the pioneering Canada’s medical training model. students of the Southern Medical “My biggest concern was knowing Program and the Interior’s residency enough to teach the students,” she programs have such positive says. “I learned to start slow, assess experiences that they return to (or the students to see what they know, remain in) the region – not only to work and go from there.” as physicians, but to teach students and When the Southern Medical residents who come after them. Program launched three years later, “We are creating a self-sustaining it brought first- and second-year culture of academic medicine, where medical students to her clinic on a one hadn’t existed before,” he says. weekly basis. Their constant presence “Creating a culture takes time, but I’m brought some challenges – for amazed by how much transformation example, persuading female patients has taken place already.”  to undergo sensitive exams with a

15 EDUCATION

INTERNAL HEALING

ABORIGINAL HEALTH health problems, and optimize the EDUCATION HITS A indigenous component of health MILESTONE, AND science curricula. But it has a more immediate goal: boosting GAINS MOMENTUM representation and retention of Aboriginal students in health professions, especially physicians, nurses, dentists and pharmacists, so indigenous communities can take a larger role in their own well-being. Based in the School of Population and Public Health, the centre is led by Martin Schechter, a Professor and former Director of the school, and Nadine Caron, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery and the first Aboriginal woman to earn a

Toma Timothy. medical degree from UBC. Photo by Kerry Blackadar The centre gained crucial momentum this June from two $1 million gifts: one from UBC oma Timothy’s journey to becoming gone to university before, so it was all Chancellor Lindsay Gordon and his an Aboriginal doctor was not exactly new to me,” he recalls. wife Elizabeth, and the other from straight. But looking back, there were From there, the road continued to Vancouver investment manager some clear turning points. twist and turn, but almost inevitably, Rudy North, his wife Patricia, their T The first one came when he was led him to an MD from UBC, earned in daughter Caroline and son, Rory. 11 or 12: an older cousin, Evan Adams, 2009. Dr. Timothy now works as one of “For too long, Canada’s indigenous who had left Powell River to attend three physicians at a family practice in peoples have been dependent on university, returned to their White Rock. outsiders for their health care,” reservation on the Sunshine Coast to A few others came before him, and Patricia North says. “We hope our share his experiences, including doing more have followed. But indigenous gift will enable Aboriginal patients genetic experiments with fruit flies. students are still under-represented to receive care from those who best A year or two later, one of his friends in health professional programs – an understand their needs – Aboriginal – a fellow member of the Sliammon imbalance widely viewed as a major health professionals.” Band – took her own life. From his grief, reason for the disparity between B.C.’s Elizabeth Gordon’s volunteer Dr. Timothy resolved “to do something Aboriginal people and the rest of the involvement in Vancouver’s for others who were suffering.” population on several health measures, Downtown Eastside led to her interest And then, a year or two later, an including life expectancy (75 years in indigenous health. opportunity came along that fused the compared to 81), youth suicide (3.0 per "I have worked there for several excitement of the first experience with 10,000 youths, compared to 0.7), and years and witnessed the homelessness, the determination that grew from the diabetes (8 per cent, compared to mental health problems and addiction second. He joined fellow Aboriginal 5.8 per cent). issues that affect many of its residents, teens for a week at UBC, learning Those continuing disparities explain a disproportionate number being about careers in health and the life why UBC created the Centre for Aboriginal,” she says. “This experience sciences, touring the anatomy lab, and Excellence in Indigenous Health. led us to search for ways to improve listening to lectures from professors. Quietly launched in early 2014, their health and well-being.” “It was my first exposure to the centre will foster research into Both gifts target the centre’s university – no one in my family had Aboriginal communities’ particular initiatives at recruiting and retaining

UBC MEDICINE Summer 2015 16 L-R: Co-Directors of the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health Martin Schechter and Nadine Caron; Donor Patricia North. Photos by Martin Dee

Aboriginal students, but also target we are, and how challenging it is to be at the University of Victoria. Her distinct needs. Nearly half of the away from our families and traditional first year there, she attended a Gordons’ gift will provide financial aid lands to finish medical school. So they pre-admission workshop organized by for Aboriginal students. The Norths try hard to create a ‘home away from UBC’s medical program, where one of are supporting the summer science home,’ through Aboriginal gatherings, the speakers was Dr. Adams. program (the same one attended by Dr. ceremonies and circles, which keeps us “I still had a lot of self-doubt at that Timothy), a mentoring program aimed grounded and balanced.” point,” she says. “But after attending the at Aboriginal high school students, Dr. Louie begins his residency workshops, and hearing Evan Adams and the creation of a new certificate this summer in the UBC Aboriginal describe his journey, I realized that program for aboriginal health. Family Practice Program, which aims becoming a doctor was a real possibility.” In an unintended coincidence, to prepare trainees for the particular With financial assistance from but one whose symbolism was needs of indigenous patients. three different scholarships, Parton hard to overlook, the gifts were "In my experience, some patients has completed her second year in the announced just as UBC’s Aboriginal can't even worry about their medical MD Admissions Program met its issues because they have other, unofficial benchmark, first set in more pressing concerns," says Dr. 2002: graduating 50 more Aboriginal Timothy, who has worked at the students by 2020. Kla-How-Eya Healing Place, a First The Faculty created the Nations clinic in Surrey, and whose Aboriginal admissions program after older cousin, Evan Adams, is now the realizing that boosting indigenous Chief Medical Officer of B.C.’s First representation in the MD program Nations Health Authority. “They required a more deliberate strategy. may be dealing with addiction issues, Until that point in the medical school’s familial issues, financial issues, or 41-year history, only 10 Aboriginal mental health issues. As an Aboriginal students – including Dr. Caron – had physician, I have an inherent earned medical degrees from UBC. understanding of those issues. That’s To achieve the “50 by 2020” goal, why it’s so important to encourage the Faculty set aside 5 per cent of its more Aboriginal youth to become MD seats for Aboriginal students physicians.” each year, based on the proportion of Ellie Parton, a member of Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program. Aboriginal people in B.C. But it also the Wei Wai Kum band of the She has continued to attend the MD Medical student provided advice and encouragement to Kwakwaka’wakw First Nation, is on pre-admission workshops, now as an Ellie Parton, a Aboriginal high school and university her way. Growing up in Campbell advisor to other Aboriginal students. member of the students considering a career in River, she never imagined herself And with two years to go before Wei Wai Kum band of the medicine, and mentoring to Aboriginal being a physician. Apart from a dental earning her degree, she is already Kwakwaka'wakw students who ultimately joined the hygienist, she never saw any members serving as an example to others. First Nation. medical program. of her community working as a health “One of my young cousins was Photo by Martin Dee In May, five Aboriginal students professional, and no one from her interviewed in the community received MDs from UBC – not only family had ever gone to university. On newsletter, and when they asked her hitting the magic number of 50, but top of that, she became a mother at 16. what she wanted to be when she grew surpassing it by four. But pre-natal visits to the doctor’s up, she said, ‘I want to be a doctor like “The Faculty of Medicine has office stirred in her an ambition to help my cousin Ellie,’ ” Parton says. “She is created a very supportive environment other women in need. Despite having facing a lot of challenges. But she sees for Aboriginal students,” says Kelsey to care for her baby, Parton returned me, and she is not letting her future be Louie, one of those five recent to school, and started on a new defined by her past or her present.”  graduates. “They understand that our path – focusing on her schoolwork, communities represent so much of who graduating high school and enrolling

17 NEWS THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE'S NEWEST FACULTY

“As a computational biologist, I Sara Mostafavi take advantage of recent advances Age: 34 in high-throughput sequencing Position: Assistant Professor, technologies to measure variations Department of Medical Genetics and in DNA, gene expression and protein Department of Statistics (Faculty of synthesis. By statistically integrating the data at these various levels, we can Science) Did you know? As a child and young model the impact of genetic variation Education: Bachelor’s degree from teen growing up in Tehran and skiing on molecular chemistry, cellular University of Toronto (computer the Alborz Mountains, my goal was to activity, and organismal health. In this science and life sciences); master’s become a professional downhill racer. way, we can get a better handle on the degree from Queen’s University When my family moved to southern relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to diseases like (computer science); PhD from Ontario, with its disappointingly small clinical depression and Alzheimer's University of Toronto (computer science). and flat ski slopes, I shifted my sights disease, and design more effective Previous position: Post-doctoral to science. Now that I’ve landed on the targeted and personalized treatments."  fellow, Stanford University (computer West Coast, I plan to rediscover that science). earlier passion of mine.

“I am a health geographer interested Trevor Dummer in how the environment—our Age: 47 communities and neighbourhoods— Position: Associate Professor, School influence our health. My current of Population and Public Health research focuses on cancer prevention Education: Bachelor’s degree through community knowledge translation. I am particularly interested from University of Hull (geography); Did you know? I am part of a in environmental exposures, such as master’s degree from University of team that holds a Guinness World arsenic and radon, and the relationship Edinburgh (geographical information Record for the world’s largest toenail between obesity (a major cancer risk) systems); PhD from University collection – we obtained clippings and the built environment. The Centre of Newcastle (environmental from 24,999 people to measure the of Excellence in Cancer Prevention provides an exciting opportunity to epidemiology). bio-accumulation of heavy metals. carry out collaborative cutting-edge Previous position: Associate research that can have an impact on Professor, Dalhousie University public health policy and practice.”  Department of Pediatrics.

Elizabeth Rideout “Male-female differences in disease Age: 34 incidence, progression and prognosis are widely recognized. I use fruit flies Position: Assistant Professor, to study how sex differences affect Department of Cellular and Physio- regulation of cellular metabolism. logical Sciences My research seeks to enhance our Education: Bachelor’s degree from understanding of male-female University of Toronto (biology and Did you know? My work with fruit differences in these fundamental cellular processes, providing insight forensic science); master’s degree flies can probably be traced back to my into the mechanisms that increase and PhD from University of Glasgow lifelong love of bugs. As a girl, I would the risk of disease in one sex and not (neurogenetics and behaviour). dig up worms and put them in the the other.”  Previous position: Postdoctoral “seats” of my Fisher-Price school bus, fellow, Southern Alberta Cancer giving them a ride around the house. Research Institute, University of To my parents’ credit, they didn’t mind Calgary. a bit – and even encouraged it.

UBC MEDICINE Summer 2015 18 NEW FACES MEET THE NEXT DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE

n September 1, Dermot Kelleher will become the next Dean of the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Kelleher was the Vice-President O Health and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London, and was simultaneously Dean of the Lee Kong Chian Medical School in Singapore. Before that, he was Head of the School of Medicine and Vice Provost for Medical Affairs at Trinity College, Dublin. Dr. Kelleher will succeed Gavin Stuart, who has been Dean of the Faculty of Medicine since 2003, and who also became Vice Provost, Health in 2009. During one of his visits to British Columbia before assuming his position, Dr. Kelleher answered a few questions academic, it became clear to me that I Nanyang Technological University that about his career, his life, and his interests. would pursue an academic career, too. created the first new undergraduate You started out as a dentistry Favourite movie? medical school in Singapore in over 100 student. What attracted you to “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” years. I became Dean of both schools, that, and why did you switch to (1969) is an old favourite, though I on two continents, simultaneously. medicine? haven’t seen it in 20 or 30 years. The school opened with a completely I left high school and enrolled for Your most memorable moment as new and innovative curriculum and a university at a young age – 16. I knew I a scientist? strong research agenda – we were able wanted to do something that involved Discovering that the protein kinase to recruit some superb international my hands, and wanted intellectual C beta enzyme is a key driver for scientists. stimulation. At Trinity College, the lymphocyte migration. You could Will it be a challenge to be a dental students shared classes for describe it as the sparkplug that starts medical school dean in an entirely the first two years with the medical the engine allowing white blood cells new health care system? students, and I quickly realized that to move throughout the body. Blocking I’ve already worked in two health my interests lay in the broader areas this kind of movement would enable us care systems, in Ireland and the of medicine, especially biochemistry to repress inflammation, in conditions U.K. – three if you count Singapore. and applied physiology. So I changed like inflammatory bowel disease, The Irish one is quite different from course in my third year. psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis. Britain’s National Health Service, and After becoming a physician, you How do you blow off steam? elements of it are much closer to the chose to stay in academia. Why? I go to the gym, I run, I cycle. I’m a Canadian system. But when I do walk During my medical school clerkship, keen fan of soccer both as a spectator into something that I didn’t anticipate I fell under the tutelage of Donald and a player; if anybody wants an old because of the structure of the system, Weir, the Head of the Department guy like me, I’d be delighted. You can I’ll rely on my colleagues here to guide of Medicine. His ward rounds were also expect to see me at Whitecaps me. I’ve already noticed how open the fantastic – every case was a puzzle, games! dialogue is between the health care he discussed all of the mechanisms What was your proudest providers here and the university, and underlying each case, and he accomplishment as Dean at I’m looking forward to engaging in it.  encouraged students to question and Imperial College? contribute to the rounds as equal Opening the Lee Kong Chian Read more: members. He became a mentor to Medical School in Singapore – an med.ubc.ca/meet-the-new-dean me, and since he was an out-and-out alliance between Imperial and the

19 PHILANTHROPY

ALVA FOUNDATION SUPPORTS

THE SEARCH FOR SEIZURE GENES

Matthew Farrer Photo by Martin Dee

hen Gavin Vadocz was three months analyzing portions of the genomes “This project fit nicely with old, his body was beset by twitching of young children with epilepsy of our criteria to fund research into and rapid eye movements. After being unknown cause. Genetic mutations risk factors in early childhood diagnosed with “unknown cause identified can reveal biochemical development,” says Graham Hallward, W epilepsy,” his mother prepared to abnormalities – and possible President of the Alva Foundation. “But administer a regimen of pills for the treatments. research can be a journey into the rest of Gavin’s childhood. “In genetic medicine, sometimes unknown. So we are very pleased with Then came some welcome news. A called precision medicine or the early patient results, and hope this genetic test had identified the source personalized medicine, our goals genetic testing can become standard of his seizures, a rare deficiency of a are to promote rapid innovation practice to treat all children with protein called GLUT1. The treatment and provide accurate, clinically epilepsy." is fairly simple: a high-fat diet. So meaningful results,” says The UBC study will incorporate instead of pills, he is now eating Matthew Farrer, the Canada an economic analysis, which could macadamia nuts and avocado. Excellence Research Chair in convince health policy-makers of “There isn’t a cure, but there is Neurogenetics and Translational the need for more routine genetic something I can do that works,” says Neuroscience at UBC and the Dr. sequencing of children with epilepsy, Gavin’s mother, Jennifer Vadocz. Donald Rix B.C. Leadership Chair in thus reducing the risk of potential Such a definitive diagnosis, Genetic Medicine. “We perform the long-term brain damage from seizures. unfortunately, eludes about half of the genome sequencing within a week, “Seizures are bad for the developing children with epilepsy. Children and so for some patients and families, our brain,” says Mary Connolly, Head of doctors struggle to combat epilepsy approach is much faster and lower in the Division of Pediatric Neurology of unknown cause with multiple heartache than the current standard and Director of the Epilepsy Program medications and expensive testing, of care.” at BC Children’s Hospital. “Some usually lasting for several years. Successes emerged in the first children outgrow them and bounce Now, with help from a $100,000 months of testing. Of the 50 children back, but others can develop autism gift from the Alva Foundation, an whose genomes were sequenced and intellectual impairment. Genetic interdisciplinary group in the Faculty by June, the cause of epilepsy was sequencing won’t help every child, but of Medicine has embarked on a identified in 13, and the results pointed it is a remarkable tool that will help us three-year strategy to identify genetic to changes in treatment for eight of quickly diagnose hundreds of children mutations that cause epilepsy. them. In one child, a mutation put her every year, stop the seizures, and let With sophisticated sequencing at high risk of liver damage, and by these kids be kids.”  technology in the Djavad changing the drug being used to treat

Gavin Vadocz Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health her seizures, her doctor was able to Photo by Jennifer Vadocz and expertise in genetics and genome spare that organ from harm. informatics, UBC researchers are

UBC MEDICINE Summer 2015 20 THE TAOIST PATH TO BETTER CARDIOLOGY CARE

estern Canada’s only Taoist temple and Secretary of the Evergreen who, after reflecting on Taoism, is easy to miss on a walk through Taoist Church of Canada and the suggested creating an endowment to Vancouver’s Chinatown. Perched on International Taoist Church of Canada, support three awards for residents the third-floor above a gift shop, the a registered charity. and clinical fellows in three areas: shrine, painted in vibrant gold and Each year, the Vancouver followers adult cardiology, pediatric cardiology W green, provides a quiet place for the of Taoism meet to consider how to and humanitarianism. Church leaders temple’s followers to light incense, use their philanthropic funds, which readily agreed, donating $95,000 to say prayers and shake cups of wooden come from church members or from endow those awards. sticks to find their fortunes. performing ceremonies at events such "Our training programs focus not only Followers of the ancient Chinese as dragon boat festivals. on technical skills but also promote an religion and philosophy describe it as This past year, the members wanted ethic of kindness and sympathy without a path guided by a clear set of values – to make a positive impact on people’s any form of prejudice,” Dr. Huckell says. compassion, moderation and humility, health today and in the future. “This belief dovetails beautifully with among others – leading toward a Church advisor Lawrence Wong, a the philosophy of Taoism." 

positive impact on nature and society. cardiologist, led them to UBC. Above: The Evergreen Taoist “Along the path, we do good deeds,” Dr. Wong contacted his mentor, Church of Canada. says Stephen Kwong, Director Clinical Professor Victor Huckell, Photo by Anne McCulloch A VENTURE-CAPITAL APPROACH TO SUPPORTING SCIENCE

heryl Wellington knew a few tricks negotiate discounts on the machines importantly, by her passion,” Heung of the trade when she set out to buy and service contracts. says. new equipment for her neuroscience The two men have nearly a century After three meetings with lab, thanks to strategic advice from of combined experience in real estate – Dr. Wellington, Heung and Hamilton C the business veterans supporting her Heung in the acquisition, development decided to donate $200,000 for new dementia research. and management of commercial real equipment in her lab in the Djavad Raymond Heung and Stanley estate and Hamilton as a Professor Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. Hamilton encouraged Dr. Wellington, at UBC’s Sauder School of Business. The Faculty of Medicine contributed a Professor of Pathology and Together, these philanthropists take a $50,000 and leveraged the Y. P. L-R: Cheryl Wellington, Stanley Laboratory Medicine, to contact the venture-capital approach to giving. Heung Foundation’s gift to secure an Hamilton and vendors shortly before year-end, “If the cause is justified and we additional $300,000 from another Raymond Heung. when sales quotas need to be met, and think we can make a difference, we B.C.-based foundation. Photo by Don Erhardt spend time and get engaged,” says “All of my equipment was 15 years old Heung, who established the Y.P. – they don’t even make parts for some Heung Foundation three years ago of it any more,” Dr. Wellington says. with his wife, Terry, to honour his late So far, Dr. Wellington has bought father. four new devices. Heung, the foundation's trustee, “We’ve essentially eliminated three and Hamilton, an advisory committee major bottlenecks in our analytical member, were attending a forum methods,” says Dr. Wellington, on Alzheimer’s disease when Dr. whose research focuses on risk Wellington first caught their attention. factors for dementia, including lipid “We were impressed by her metabolism, traumatic brain injury articulate presentation on a and cerebrovascular dysfunction. “A subject that can be quite difficult test that used to take three days now to understand, and perhaps more takes three hours.” 

21 PHILANTHROPY

A SURGE TOWARD NEW SOLUTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON’S

urt Gagel’s love of cycling began in boyhood, biking to school each day in Bremen, Germany. It continued into adulthood, on cycling tours through his native land and other parts of K Europe, and during rides around his adopted hometown of Vancouver. Even after the tremors of Parkinson’s made cycling too hazardous, he couldn’t stop pedalling, making do instead with a stationary bike. The “rides” in his Vancouver basement were hardly as exhilarating. But he soon came to appreciate them for a new reason – they seemed to reduce the shaking. The study is one of three Parkinson’s Parkinson’s Research Centre and the When Gagel shared this observation projects recently launched by donations Pacific Parkinson’s Research Institute with his neurologist at UBC’s Pacific channelled through the Pacific Chair. “UBC is one of the few places Parkinson’s Research Centre, Parkinson’s Research Institute (PPRI). with the collaborations that enable Jon Stoessl wasn’t surprised. “While we continue to seek that this ground-breaking research.” Dr. Stoessl, Head of the Division elusive cure, we also know that • The creation of a patient of Neurology, started investigating people live with Parkinson’s for many database that combines clinical and the effects of exercise more than two years and that there is no effective genetic information of Parkinson’s years ago. His preliminary research treatment to halt its progress,” says patients, and a systematic search for found that a bout of cycling releases Rod Scheuerman, Chairman of the correlations between both types of more dopamine (the neurotransmitter Pacific Parkinson’s Research Institute. data. The project will be led by Silke depleted by Parkinson’s) into the “Our donors have enabled the funding Cresswell, an Assistant Professor brains of patients who exercise of crucial projects that offer great of Neurology and the Marg Meikle regularly, compared to those who potential for relieving some of the Professor in Parkinson’s Research. don’t. Physical activity reduced the symptoms and enhancing their quality “As I get older, my perception is stiffness and slowness of movement, of life.” that Parkinson’s is everywhere,” says as well as the apathy commonly PPRI donors Ian and Rosemary Ian Mottershead, a retired business associated with the disease. Mottershead, of the Charros executive whose circle of family and “Dr. Stoessl told me the project was in Foundation, gave $1,303,498 for two friends includes several people with jeopardy due to a lack of public funding,” distinct projects at UBC: the disease. “My oldest friend from Gagel says. “So I decided to step forward • A study of non-invasive electrical high school was diagnosed with to fund this promising work.” brain stimulation as a potential Parkinson’s. This man has a PhD in With $3 million from Gagel, Dr. treatment. Researchers will determine physics from UBC. His career has been Stoessl and Matthew Sacheli, a PhD the precise rhythm of electrical stimuli in the field of satellite technology. student in the Graduate Program that improves motor performance, He was an athlete all of his life. in Neuroscience, have launched a apathy, tremor and balance, and will Traditional treatment has not worked. Above right: five-year study to determine whether try to tailor this treatment to individual The poor man gapes, he can no longer Graduate student exercise changes the brains of patients. feed himself, he falls a lot, he cannot Matthew Sacheli with a participant people with Parkinson’s, decreases “This field is very young, which speak audibly, he sleeps sitting up and in the study of the severity of symptoms, increases means there’s a lot of initial now needs 24-hour care. What a tragic exercise's effects physical and mental function, excitement. It also means this study is waste this is.”  on Parkinson's patients. improves well-being, and affects required to separate the hype from the Photo by Don Erhardt disease progression. reality,” says lead investigator Martin McKeown, Director of the Pacific

UBC MEDICINE Summer 2015 22 A NEW HOME FOR SPORTS MEDICINE, WITH HELP FROM A PIONEERING PHYSICIAN

ven before Canada’s first sports medi- Today, the sports medicine therapists that take cine clinic opened at UBC in 1979, its at UBC integrate IMS into the care place under founders noticed a connection between they provide to their diverse array of its sloping the repetitive strain injuries of athletes patients, from active individuals to roof with the and the obscure findings of a physician professional athletes. They also apply square cap. E with the Workers’ Compensation IMS in a novel way – to release and Notwith­ Board of British Columbia. relax the muscles of Olympic athletes standing Chan Gunn’s analysis of claimants so they can train hard day after day. its humble with lower back injury led him to a “IMS is a practice of medicine that’s trappings, Chan Gunn Photo by Martin Dee theory of neuropathic pain – a distinct based on real science. It’s an application the building type of pain caused by nerve damage – of the basic principles of human has become a and to develop an innovative pain- neurophysiology,” says Don McKenzie, landmark in sports medicine, where relief technique. Called intramuscular Director of the Division of Sports seminal studies on stress and overuse stimulation (IMS), it involves inserting Medicine. “But Dr. Gunn has had to injuries, innovative surgical techniques, a needle deep into muscle, causing it paddle upstream all the way.” novel physiotherapy approaches to to relax, thereby relieving pressure on The relationship between the injury (including IMS) and the use of the nerve causing a patient’s pain. sports medicine group and Dr. Gunn imaging in musculoskeletal medicine Dr. Gunn’s theory and treatment blossomed, leading to the creation of originated. It has hosted dignitaries encountered skeptics and cynics. So he an IMS training program, a research from the International Olympic was amazed to discover that he had a fund for students and an annual Committee, and Olympic athletes have loyal following at the medical school lecture at UBC, all funded by a been tested and treated there. in the city where he chose to build $1 million gift from Dr. Gunn and his But water leaks through the roof his career. By the late 1970s, Doug wife, Peggy. when it rains, and most classes are Clement, the co-founder of UBC’s “I think this activity will help build held, for lack of space, in the portable sports medicine group, was using an a stronger and stronger case for IMS trailers out back. early version of Gunn’s pain-relief as a routine clinical procedure,” Dr. “This building has a lot of history,” technique on athletes with chronic McKenzie says. Dr. McKenzie says. “But its due date Achilles tendon disorders. In recognition of UBC’s efforts to has passed. It’s time to go.” “A bit of luck, wasn’t it?” says Dr. investigate, apply and teach IMS, Dr. and Construction of the Chan Gunn Gunn, 84, a Malaysian-born physician Mrs. Gunn are now giving $5 million for Pavilion, next to the Doug Mitchell who completed his research and medical construction of a new 13,480-square- Thunderbird Sports Centre on training at Cambridge University and foot building – to be named the Chan Wesbrook Mall, is scheduled to start in immigrated to Canada in 1966. Gunn Pavilion – devoted to exercise and December 2015. sports medicine teaching, research and “Dr. Gunn’s relationship to UBC patient care. is no mere accident of geography. It “Having a connection to UBC is very actually speaks to the core tenets of important for teaching and research Dr. Gunn, and of UBC,” says Gavin into IMS,” Dr. Gunn says. “IMS will Stuart, Dean of the Faculty of have a permanent home to grow.” Medicine and UBC’s Vice Provost, Jack Taunton The new building is expected to open Health. “The innovative nature of IMS and Doug Clement, in 2017, enabling the clinic to leave naturally aligns with UBC’s embrace of co-founders the 50-year-old John Owen Pavilion, original, ground-breaking ideas. That of UBC‘s situated amid the athletic fields of relationship, and Dr. Gunn’s generosity, sports medicine group, outside UBC's campus. Affectionately known as enables UBC to continue the world’s the John Owen the “Pizza Hut” (due to its resemblance leading research and training in Pavilion in 1982, a to that restaurant chain’s distinctive exercise and sports medicine.”  year after moving into the facility. architecture), the aging building Photo courtesy of University doesn’t do justice to the world-class of British Columbia Archives teaching, research and patient care

23 PHILANTHROPY

AN EVIDENCE-BASED ALTERNATIVE TO HAPPYAPP

earching for an app to track your quo, because Canadians living with moods? Choices abound: Moody Me, brain disease deserve better. An app MoodPanda, HappyApp and Depres- helps take that to the patient level and sion Cure. gives meaningful information that S But professional-grade tools are physicians can use during treatment. scarce. UBC faculty members, sensing That’s why we wanted this project to a need, went to work. go forward.” The result is “MoodFx,” a new Launched to a standing-room only mobile-friendly web tool based on crowd at the annual meeting of the questionnaires that physicians use to Canadian Psychiatric Association track their patients with depression. in September 2014, MoodFx “Why not put the tools in the hands (www.moodfx.ca) uses validated of the patients themselves, so they questionnaires to assess a person’s can track how things are going?” depression, anxiety, cognition and says Raymond Lam, Professor in work performance, to determine the Department of Psychiatry, who whether a user should seek help. worked with UBC’s eHealth Strategy For people in treatment, MoodFx Office to develop the mobile-friendly provides reminders to check symptoms website. regularly and before appointments with their family doctor, psychiatrist or counsellor. MoodFx also charts THE WEBSITE the results over time so that patients USES VALIDATED can print or show their charts to QUESTIONNAIRES TO their health care provider from a ASSESS A PERSON‘S smartphone or tablet. Information is DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, stored anonymously and securely. really helped me to see progress, and COGNITION AND WORK The MoodFx web app can also send when there is a rough time, to be able PERFORMANCE. weekly tips for managing depression, to see visually that I can and will come anxiety and problems with cognition back around.” and work stress. “Lundbeck Canada recognized MoodFx was designed to help people “This tool is not only patient-friendly the immense impact and burden of not only track how they feel but also but also health professional-friendly,” depression on work functioning, and objectively evaluate their ability to says Kendall Ho, Professor in the the challenge for busy clinicians to function and work – a feature that Department of Emergency Medicine monitor symptoms and outcomes attracted a $150,000 contribution from and Director of the eHealth Strategy during treatment,” Dr. Lam says. “This Lundbeck Canada. Office. “It promotes patients and project uses mobile technology to “Depression affects the working-age health professionals as strong partners improve measurement-based care.”  population and places a huge burden in improving health, depression and on productivity, both business and anxiety in the workplace.” societal,” says Patrick Cashman, The site has registered more than To learn more about supporting President and General Manager of 500 users from across the country. In these Faculty of Medicine initiatives Lundbeck Canada, a Montreal-based a recent survey, close to 70 per cent of or any others, please visit giving. med.ubc.ca, or contact Hannah pharmaceutical company that respondents agreed or strongly agreed Hashimoto: 604-827-3699, specializes in brain diseases. “Our that MoodFx has been useful for them. or [email protected]. purpose is to challenge the status One user commented, “MoodFx has

UBC MEDICINE Summer 2015 24 W

SUMMER 2015: MEDICAL ALUMNI NEWS

President’s Report 26 MUS/MSAC Report 31 Island Medical Program 27 Student Event Highlights 32 Northern & Southern Medical Programs 28 Upcoming Events 32 Awards, Activities, Achievements 29 2015 MD Graduating Class 34 - 35 MD Alumni Membership Subscription 30

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32 UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 26

MEDICAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD 2014–2015 MEDICAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT’S REPORT President Bob Cheyne, MD’77 President-Elect TBD Past-President their ideas in an ever widening cent of its positions in the Jack Burak, MD’76 circle of collegiality has been first round. Treasurer Hamed Umedaly, MD’86 recognized and appreciated by Our board wishes to thank the Island Medical Representative all people associated with the Ian Courtice, MD’84 Faculty’s alumni staff for their Faculty of Medicine. Northern Medical Representative commitment to the MAA, in Donald MacRitchie, MD’70 Southern Medical Representative This year, the Faculty particular Anne Campbell- Tom Kinahan, MD’84 saw 291 medical students Stone, who stepped down as Michael Golbey, MD’80 Newsletter Editor graduate, all of whom were Alumni Relations Director in Beverley Tamboline, MD’60 deserving of being recognized March. Anne worked tirelessly Admissions Selection Committee Mark Schonfeld, MD’72 for successfully facing the for the past six years, and was Photo: vsaranphoto.com Photo: Admissions Policy Committee challenges that come with instrumental in the alumni’s Marshall Dahl, MD’86 mission to foster relationships Directors completing medical school and Nick Carr, MD’83 The UBC Faculty of Medicine the great honour that they have between the medical students, Jim Cupples, MD’81 Bruce Fleming, MD’78 continues to grow, although bestowed upon the profession. alumni, and the Faculty David W. Jones, MD’70 Harvey Lui, MD’86 by many standards, it is still The Hooding Ceremony, of Medicine. We are truly Ron Warneboldt, MD’75 considered young. It has which has become a Faculty indebted to Anne and wish Grover Wong, MD’92 Advisors diversified and matured of Medicine tradition, took her well in retirement. Kira Arun Garg, MD’77 in many directions. Now place at the Queen Elizabeth Davis, Alumni Relations Officer David Hardwick, MD’57 Charles Slonecker, DDS, PhD entering its 65th year, the Theater on May 19 and for the and Marisa Moody, Associate Ex-Officio Members landscape has expanded first time, included attendance Director of Alumni Relations, Dean, Faculty of Medicine Dr. Gavin Stuart (Hon.) dramatically. from all distributed sites as the will continue to engage and Resident Representative Southern Medical Program work with our alumni and Christopher Uy, MD’14 Much of the change must be saw its first class graduate. The the Faculty of Medicine, and MUS Representative credited to Dean Gavin Stuart, Taneille Johnson, MD’17 whose personal leadership and Medical Alumni Association we look forward to working Alumni Relations Officer with them more. Lastly, I Kira Davis team approach has altered the (MAA) continued its tradition landscape of medical education of presenting each graduate would like to acknowledge OBJECTIVES Chris Uy, MD’14 (Resident To support the Faculty of Medicine and its in B.C. We have become a very with the gift of a cedar shingle programs directly and through advocacy with with their name on it, followed Representative) and Taneille the public and government; progressive and comprehensive by the letters “MD.” On May 20, Johnson, MD’17 (MUS To ensure open communication among alumni medical school, striving to meet and between the alumni and the Faculty of the MD graduation ceremony Representative) for their Medicine; the needs of the patients in B.C. was held at the Chan Centre. contributions to the MAA. To encourage and support medical students The expansion and distribution and residents and their activities; of medical education sites On March 4, the fourth year Yours sincerely, To organize and foster academic and social around the province has been activities for the alumni. medical class received the B. Cheyne, MD’77 attributed to the inclusive result of their CaRMS matches. President The Medical Alumni News is published semi- collaboration between the The MAA was pleased to see annually and this edition was produced by the UBC Medical Alumni UBC Faculty of Medicine. We welcome your academic institutions and that in the first iteration, 274 Association suggestions, ideas and opinions. Please send health authorities. Dr. Stuart comments, articles and letters to: students were matched to has been instrumental in the Beverley Tamboline, MD’ residency programs and 40 per 60 Alumni Affairs Faculty of Medicine success of these developments cent of those will enter Family 2750 Heather Street Vancouver, BC V5Z 4M2 and achievements. His ability Medicine. UBC’s residency Ph: 604 875 4111 ext. 67741 to recognize the contributions programs have reached a Fax: 604 875 5778 [email protected] of others and to work with record high of filling 97 per ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE 27

ISLAND MEDICAL PROGRAM IAN COURTICE, MD’84 / MAA IMP REPRESENTATIVE

education in Winnipeg, but that the University of Victoria, baton was passed to Dr. Bruce Victoria and several other Dr. Casiro faced considerable Island Health and the clinical Wright, whose task is to ensure health care facilities on cynicism as to the probability faculty collaborated to provide that the next decade produces Vancouver Island are the of success in bringing top-notch academic and the same quality of students home of the Island Medical undergraduate medical clinical education for the who will remain on Vancouver Program (IMP), one of the education to Vancouver Island. IMP students. The cohesion Island to enter practice as two distributed sites created It was shown that many senior has been reinforced every fully-qualified specialists and by the UBC Faculty of residents were thriving in January when the Victoria family physicians. Even now, Medicine in 2004. Nanaimo. But could a small Medical Society and Island as some IMP graduates return group of medical students Health medical staff host a to the Island as newly-minted The IMP consisted of 24 really receive adequate welcome reception for the clinical faculty, we can see students for the first four undergraduate medical IMP students as they arrive them continue the tradition of cohorts and was expanded training in a place more known for their first (for many of supporting the IMP. to 32 students, which was for its high tea, Birkenstocks them) taste of “island life.” the number of students who and Cowichan sweaters? Advances in videoconference graduated from this program technology have enhanced in 2015, part of the 61st The clinical faculty, otherwise the efficacy of “distance graduating class of the UBC known as the practicing education” and enables the Faculty of Medicine. clinicians of Victoria and IMP students to participate “up the island,” have come The first decade of leadership effectively in Vancouver-based to embrace undergraduate for the IMP was provided by lectures and other educational medical training, proving that a persuasive and persistent opportunities. a medical program in Victoria individual, Dr. Oscar Casiro, a could be successful. This was Dr. Casiro astutely guided pediatrician by training who largely thanks to the cohesive the program through its graduated in Medicine in and often understated manner first decade and with his Argentina. He became a leader in which Dr. Casiro ensured retirement in June 2014, the in undergraduate medical

Approximately 200 Victoria and Vancouver Island community physicians Victoria Medical Society and the Medical Staff Association along with Island welcomed the IMP’s newest students at the Victoria Medical Society and Health and UBC Alumni co-sponsored the Student Welcome Reception. Medical Staff Association South Island’s Student Welcome Reception. L – R: D. MacRitchie, MD’70, Dr. D. Snadden (Hon.), and Dr. G. Stuart (Hon.) at the Bob UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS Ewert Memorial Lecture 28 Dean Gavin Stuart was presented with a Pulaski signed by the incoming NMP first year students to thank him for his years of leadership.

NORTHERN MEDICAL PROGRAM – DOUBLE THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR PRINCE GEORGE DONALD MACRITCHIE, MD’70 / MAA NMP REPRESENTATIVE

ultrasound, sports medicine moral right must supercede years as the leader of the UBC Over the past few months and family practice services. legal precedent. He indicated Faculty of Medicine. This the Prince George medical It was staffed by 80 volunteer that doctors, perhaps followed the presentation of community has hosted both physicians providing services even better than soldiers, a signed snow shovel by the the “polyclinic” for the 15 hours a day for the 17 days understand that human life is first NMP cohort 10 years Canada Winter Games in of the games. The majority of both priceless and cheap, in previously. February and Lt. General physicians were local, though every community and in every Honourable Roméo Dallaire some “groupie” docs travelled hospital. “Their war zones at the Dr. Bob Ewert from as far as Newfoundland are in the emergency wards Memorial Lecture in April. to participate in the and operating rooms of our excitement. local hospitals,” he said. It was From February 13 to March a spellbinding presentation 1, Prince George and its On April 11, the 11th Annual from a Canadian hero. 4,500 volunteers welcomed Dr. Bob Ewert Memorial 15,000 visitors and 2,400 Lecture attracted 1,000 Dr. Gavin Stuart hosted the competitors at the Canada patrons to raise funds for the Faculty of Medicine’s alumni Winter Games. Dr. Janet Northern Medical Programs table and Dr. Stuart was Ames coordinated medical Trust, which supports medical presented with a Pulaski (a services at the venues and the students in the North. The combination of an ax with “polyclinic” for athletes and guest speaker was Lt. General an adze in one head) signed Lt. General Honourable Roméo coaches at the Civic Centre. Honourable Roméo Dallaire, by the incoming Northern Dallaire was the guest speaker at the The “polyclinic” was a walk-in who articulated the need for Medical Program first-year Dr. Bob Ewert Memorial Lecture setup with physiotherapy, leaders to recognize that the students as a memento of his on April 11.

SOUTHERN MEDICAL PROGRAM

Guests spent the evening A huge milestone for the of family medicine, internal In late January, the connecting with students and SMP was reached this spring medicine and pediatrics. indulging in decadent food and as the program had its first Southern Medical Program Over 800 Interior-based wine from B.C. Thank you to class graduate. The inaugural (SMP) welcomed its newest health professionals are the many medical alumni who class of 32 students began cohort at a reception held involved in teaching medical reside in the Okanagan for their medical education in at the historic Laurel students and residents in 30 attending and supporting the September 2011 and they are Packing House. different communities in the SMP’s current students. Net now off to their residency This event not only welcomed SMP. These individuals play proceeds from the reception training. Many of the SMP’s new students, but also celebrated an integral role in educating are going toward creating a graduates will be completing the hard work and contributions the doctors of tomorrow and new bursary award for the their residencies in the areas of the SMP’s faculty, staff, and help ensure the success for Class of SMP 2018. program partners. this medical program. ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE 29

AWARDS, ACTIVITIES, ACHIEVEMENTS

set by these volunteers, whose each received a CAME representing departments of Angela Burleigh, MD’15, compassion and engagement Certificate of Merit Award at internal medicine at medical Benjamin Millar, MD’15, and are so much a part of our the Canadian Association of schools and teaching hospitals Jessica Nathan, MD’16, from Canadian character. Medical Education (CAME) in the United States and the Faculty of Medicine were Dr. Dharamsi’s volunteer work Annual General Meeting which Canada. His three year term among this year’s Wesbrook has taken her from Canuck was held in conjunction with will begin July 1, 2015. Scholars. This award is based Place Children’s Hospice the Canadian Conference on academic performance and in Vancouver, where she on Medical Education a demonstrated ability to serve, assisted children and their (CCME) in Vancouver on work with and lead others, both families in palliative care, April 26, 2015. This award on and/or off-campus. to rural Guatemala, where promotes, recognizes and she led a group of volunteers rewards faculty committed On February 11, Alia teaching oral hygiene. She to medical education in Dharamsi, MD’14 received is also the creator of We Are Canadian medical schools. one of the Governor General’s 2015, an educational initiative Caring Canadian Awards. Dr. Graydon Meneilly (Hon.) geared at a new generation of This award recognizes has been elected an APM global citizens committed to individuals who volunteer Council Member At-Large L – R: achieving the 2015 Millennium their time to help others and of the Alliance for Academic Alia Dharamsi, MD’14 Development Goals. to build a smarter and more Internal Medicine (AAIM), a Linlea Armstrong, MD’98 caring nation. The award also Linlea Armstrong, MD’98 consortium of five academically Cheryl Holmes, MD’84 highlights the fine example and Cheryl Holmes, MD’84 focused specialty organizations Dr. Graydon Meneilly (Hon.) UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 30

Your MAA membership goes towards supporting various activities for students and alumni in and around the UBC Medical Student & Alumni Centre.

UBC MEDICAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

Medical Program in Victoria. The MAA a “doctor’s shingle” for each member of As a member of the UBC Medical facilitates a wide range of professional, the MD graduating class, and the MAA’s Alumni Association (MAA), you have social and recreational connections for Annual Recognition Awards program. students across these sites and with access to invaluable opportunities for Sign up for membership today and keep alumni in B.C., Canada and worldwide. connecting with medical alumni across your membership current each year to be B.C., throughout Canada and around the Your membership and additional part of this influential network of peers. world, as well as for supporting the next donations support many initiatives that By making an additional donation you generation of medical students. the MAA is involved with throughout will support today’s medical students Please join today, and consider making an the year. These include the ongoing and our priority project: the continuing additional donation to support the work of operations of the William A. Webber development of social and recreational the association. Medical Student & Alumni Centre (MSAC) centres for students and alumni at each in Vancouver, the development of new program location. The UBC Faculty of Medicine—with over centres for medical students and alumni 5,000 MD alumni—is active at university Please complete the attached 2015 in Kelowna, Victoria and Prince George, and clinical campuses throughout B.C., membership subscription form or go to videoconferencing technology to connect including the Vancouver Fraser Medical www.startanevolution.ca/maa and help students and alumni across B.C., ensuring Program, the Northern Medical Program us to continue to build our community of the yearbook and the annual hooding in Prince George, the Southern Medical medical students and alumni. ceremony remain traditions, a gift of Program in Kelowna and the Island

UBC Medical Alumni Association 2015 Membership Subscription Please return this form to: UBC MediCAl AlUMni ASSoCiAtion William A. Webber Medical Student & Alumni Centre: 2750 Heather St., Vancouver, BC V5Z 4M2 First Name Last Name You can join or donate by phone at 604.875.4111 ext. 67741 or at www.startanevolution.ca/maa Please include in my subscription: Address Regular membership fee of $65 or Post-graduate resident at the reduced fee of $25 Donation Amount: $1,000 $500 $250 Other $ City Prov/State Postal/Zip Code totAl AMoUnt: $ (Your donation is tax deductible.) Preferred Payment: Email I have enclosed a cheque payable to the University of British Columbia. Please charge my: Visa MasterCard Amex Phone / CARd NuMBER exPiry DAte (MM / yy) Field of Practice 2015-16 MAA - Membership Misc NAME ON CARd SIgNAtuRE

donations will receive a tax receipt within four weeks. the information on this form is collected by the university of British Columbia to process your gift, maintain contact and keep you up-to-date with university information and events. the university abides by the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Charitable Business Number: 10816 1779 RR0001. ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE 31

MSAC REPORT

Alumni Centre Network own space with kitchens, the important MSAC spaces! MSAC – One quarter of the connects students from all couches and videoconference Of course, larger facilities at way there! four sites via videoconference. equipment. In due course, a distributed program sites will Students from Prince George, fourth MSAC space will open evolve over the years. March will mark the William Victoria and Kelowna meet in Kelowna. A. Webber Medical Student students at other programs in David F. Hardwick, MD’57 and Alumni Centre’s Silver Now we are one-quarter of videoconference rooms at their Anniversary. In 1990, 25 years the way there, but by the end hospitals. Only Vancouver has ago, Phase I of the MSAC was of 2015 we will have half of at present a dedicated MSAC officially opened. MSAC is on space. We’re one-quarter of land leased from Vancouver the way there, too. General Hospital for 100 years; hence, we’re one-quarter of Plans are under way to build the way there. dedicated MSAC rooms for medical students to open With the expansion of UBC in 2015 at the Royal Jubilee Medicine to three additional Hospital in Victoria, and in programs, MSAC facilities the future at the University will be created at three Hospital of Northern British other locations. Currently Columbia in Prince George. the Medical Student and MD’18 Distributed Class Council meet with Dr. Hardwick Students will have their and Anne Campbell-Stone.

MUS REPORT

medical students, representing the incoming MUS Executive medical education and This past academic year has all four years and all of the build productive working extra-curricular experiences. certainly been a busy one distributed sites, traveled relationships with the Doctors On behalf of the over 1,000 for UBC medical students. to Victoria to engage with of BC. We hope to continue medical students at UBC, the Notably, the majority of our MLAs during our first annual this event annually. In addition, MUS would like to thank these main student events took “Dialogue Day.” The MUS we’re looking forward to individuals who work tirelessly place this spring semester. was proud and thankful to be hosting our second Dialogue to ensure UBC students receive able to send students to over Day and further engaging a well-rounded and world-class This diverse and enthusiastic 30 meetings with MLAs and medical students across the education. group will be training at UBC’s ministers. province. four distributed campuses in Taneille Johnson, MD’17 Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, On October 2nd, the MUS Alumni, faculty and President, Medical and Prince George. co-hosted their 2nd Annual staff support is vital for Doctors of BC-MUS “Meet the functioning of our Undergraduate Society This past year, the MUS was and Greet” at the Medical undergraduate society. The involved in a number of exciting Student and Alumni Centre UBC community provides initiatives. On May 5th, 17 (MSAC). This event helped students with exceptional UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 32

STUDENT EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Dawn Cooper was the winner students in the class of 2017. McIntyre as Masters of 2015 Medical Ball of the William A. Webber The show took six months Ceremony, the evening flowed Teaching Award, chosen by of planning and preparation with high energy and creative The UBC Medical Ball students in all four years. before showcasing incredible humour from start to finish. (MedBall) is an annual Dr. Majid Doroudi was the student talent during its run Performances prominently spring tradition and a highly recipient of both the 2015 and February 19 to 28. The show featured students from all anticipated event for both 2017 Teaching Excellence was wildly successful with six years in individual and group students and faculty members. Award and Dr. Geoffrey Blair sold-out performances for an performances. Annual acts Every year, medical and dental received the 2016 Teaching audience of students, alumni, such as the bhangra and hip- students come together for a Excellence Award. and faculty. Over $3,000 was hop groups produced amazing formal evening of fine dining, raised for two local charities: dance performances while entertainment and dancing. This event would not have Operation Rainbow Canada the UBC Med/Dent Choir and Previously held at the Four been possible without the and the YMCA Healthy Heart Black and Blues Jazz bands Seasons hotel, this year’s event financial support from Haslett Program. came together again to show took place at the Sheraton Wall Financial and the Canadian their remarkable musical Centre and hosted over 400 Medical Association. Jen Clune, Ben Huang, Ben talents. Highlighting the guests. Chan, and Tiff Lam, evening, the graduating class of Erica Zallen & the MedBall The 2015 theme was Midnight 2015 MedPlay Producers, Class 2015 also produced a personal, Committee Circus and the crowd enjoyed of 2017 innovative and hilarious skit a stunning performance by for the audience based on the Inner Ring Circus, vintage story of Harry Potter. carnival games, and late-night 2nd Year Play: The Faculty Twenty-one years running, the cotton candy and popcorn. Spring Gala 2015 Meeting by Ken Jones annual Spring Gala continues The bartenders were kept On March 14th, students from MedPlay, an annual student- to bring together students, busy throughout the night the Faculties of Medicine and run theatrical production that family and alumni to showcase and guests enjoyed a carnival- Dentistry came together to takes place every spring at the and celebrate the artistry themed signature martini. A hold the 21st annual Spring Medical Student and Alumni within the student bodies of few lucky ticket purchasers Gala at the Chan Centre Centre, celebrated its 14th the UBC Faculties of Medicine also went home with fabulous for Performing Arts. This anniversary this year! The 2015 and Dentistry. With another raffle prizes including an iPad, production celebrates the production was “The Faculty successful performance this yoga pass, blood pressure set exceptional artistic skills and Meeting” by Ken Jones, a show year, we are already looking and restaurant gift certificates. passions of medical and dental that takes academic meetings forward to seeing next year’s After dinner, entertainment, students in the visual and to another level with its students come together to speeches and awards, students performing arts. eccentric characters and clever create an amazing show. flooded the dance floor puns. The show centers around This year’s gala featured an and enjoyed many hours of one character, Mr. Wright, who exciting array of acts, including Travis Musgrave, MD’15 and DJ-hosted dancing. seems to find himself trapped classical and contemporary Mary Shen, MD’16 Every year students nominate by the rules of rank and tenure. dance, comedic presentations, Spring Gala exceptional instructors for and a variety of incredible The production featured Teaching Excellence awards musical performances. With six students from both the and the William A. Webber fourth-year medical students first- and second-year classes teaching award. This year, Dr. Nicola Matthews and McKyla and was produced by four UBC MEDICAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Annual General Meeting and Awards Reception

The UBC Medical Alumni Association’s Annual General Meeting and Awards Reception took place on Thursday, May 14 at the Medical Student and Alumni Centre. The MAA recognized members of our medical community for their outstanding accomplishments and commitment to the medical profession. As well, it was a great opportunity to inform MAA members of the work that the association has done over the course of the past year, the plans for the future, and the relevance and importance of being an engaged member of the UBC Medical Alumni Association, Congratulations to the following individuals who were honoured that evening!

Wallace Wilson Leadership Award Honorary Medical Bruce Miller, MD’78 Alumnus/a Award John Webb, MD’82 Dr. Judith Hall Dr. Julio Montaner Silver Anniversary Award (Class of 1990) To be announced prior to the Class of 1990 reunion.

For more information, please contact [email protected] or 604-875-4111 x67741.

Upcoming MD Class Upcoming Reunions Events

Class of 1956 Class of 1990 MD Resident Orientation June 17, 2015 TBC July 7, 2015 Organizers: Class of 2005 Vancouver, BC Drs. Lee & Thais Kornder July 24-26, 2015 Residents in a New Residence – Edmonton Dr. Roger & Ms. Dawn Nelson Organizers: July 15, 2015 Dr. Irwin & Ms. Lois Stewart Dr. Yvette Lu Edmonton, AB Class of 1965 Dr. Brian Yang Residents in a New Residence – Calgary September 25-27, 2015 Aboriginal MD Reunion July 16, 2015 Organizers: September 18-20, 2015 Calgary, AB Dr. Noreen Rudd Organizers: Residents in a New Residence – Ottawa Dr. Lynn Beattie Dr. Arianna Watts July 21, 2015 Class of 1975 Dr. Mike Dumont Ottawa, ON June 13, 2015 Dr. Ben Matthew Residents in a New Residence – Toronto Organizers: Dr. Troy McLeod July 23, 2015 Dr. Ellen Wiebe Dr. Shannon Waters Toronto, ON Dr. Nasir Jaffer Mr. James Andrew Class of 1980 For more information on class June 19-21, 2015 reunions, please contact Organizers: the UBC Faculty of Medicine Dr. Marna Nelson Alumni Affairs Office at For more information regarding past or upcoming events, Dr. Alison Lipson [email protected] or please contact [email protected] or Dr. Ed Lerner 604-875-4111 x62031. 604-875-4111 x67741. UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 34 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2015!

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.

Cassandra Lucille Selina Jing Li Chris Or Julia Wei Durksen Alberta UBC UBC Anatomical Clinical Family Med UBC Carmen Li Jasmine Osiowy Elizabeth Weninger Pathology Research Integrated Gareth Evans UBC UBC Alberta Alisa Abozina Fellowship Emergency UBC Jaspreet Lidder Nam Phan Kasia Wieckowski UBC Lisa Heather Weger Kalen Leech-Porter Jessica Lauren Firus Alberta UBC Calgary Ellen (Shuo) Cai UBC Dalhousie Queen’s Victoria Lin Elizabeth Plant Ryan Wilson UBC James Jagjeet Western UBC UBC Shih-Yu Patricia Lan Singh Gill Vivian Liu Anita Rashidi Daniel Wong Alberta Toronto Dermatology Family Medicine Alberta UBC Dalhousie Yi Ariel Liu Jodie Greve Lantai Liu Jaclyn Rosenbaum Wilson Wong Angela Burleigh Maurice Agha UBC Calgary Alberta Western UBC UBC Toronto Sandy Lou Erica Elise Hack Max Boyang Gagandeep Singh Qiming Wu Michael Rebin Copley Kimberley Allan Toronto UBC Liu Saran Alberta UBC Alberta Xiao Zhu Rose Miriam UBC UBC Hans Wu Rebeca Pinca Anna Criselda O. Alberta Sun-Ing Hsu Jacky Lo Nicole Schuurman UBC UBC Aquino UBC UBC UBC UBC Ruby Yee Lee-Anna Huisman Celeste Loewe Marianne Catherine Dalhousie Melissa Aragon Anesthesia UBC NOSM Schwarz UBC Alvis Yu Jimmy Huynh Emergency Kelsey Louie UBC Edward Choi Elisa Assadi Calgary Calgary Calgary Kenneth Kin Kuen Chan UBC Heather Siemens UBC Lucy Jiang Reena Yu Calgary Wangjian Thomas Luo UBC Cassandra Michelle Alana Benes Calgary UBC Falk Jennifer Chao Alberta Ashley Smith UBC Chen Helen Jin Xiao Yuan NOSM UBC Laura Marie UBC Christabelle Bitgood Toronto Calgary Katrina Samara L. Skye Crawford MacKinnon Joshua Eun-Soo Song UBC Sahriar Kabir Jay Zhang Shelagh Genuis UBC UBC UBC Calgary Alberta UBC Joanne Boots Trisha Mackle Jessica Mazzarolo Justine Spencer Saskatchewan Tal Kaikov Alexiel Zhang Tim Ting Han Jen UBC UBC UBC UBC McMaster Ottawa Kalun Boudreau Thomas Merth Jane McGregor Johnny Su UBC Courtney Kent Zoe Zimmerman Xue Chen (Janny) Ke UBC UBC UBC UBC UBC Dalhousie Sarah Campos Benjamin Millar Jayden McIntyre Robert Sung Jeff Yizhou Zong Toronto Sharfaraz Khan Stefan Kojic UBC UBC NOSM Calgary UBC Saskatchewan Anthony F.C. Chan Kevin O’Riordan Allison McKnight Omesh Kumar Syal Calgary John Dongil Katarina Kojic UBC Queen’s UBC Sara Chater Kim UBC Chet Mecham Robert Albert Tower Trevor Richard UBC UBC General Victor Liu McMaster Skutezky NOSM UBC Sue Chen George Ko Pathology UBC UBC Catherine Merchant Richard Trawick UBC UBC Dmitry Mebel UBC UBC Pavandeep Gill Isabel Chen Jordan Matthew Calgary UBC Galen Montesano Sarah Nicole UCLA/Kaiser Koopmans UBC Truelson Thomas Prasloski ENT Permanente UBC UBC Barbara Krystyna Calgary Yu Ling (Vivian) Kali Kwong Karima Jiwa Mroczek Christopher Unger Jaime Sim Cheng UBC General Surgery Alberta UBC Calgary UBC Calgary Katrina Celeste Mirko Manojlovic Chelsea Lane Kristen Sokalski Candace Munro Melanie van Soeren Duncan Kolarski Samantha A. Alberta UBC MUN MUN UBC Toronto Chittick Benny Sibun Lee Alan Tung Western Travis Musgrave Jennifer Verhelst Jake Daniel Hiebert Dianne Valenzuela Alberta UBC UBC Alberta UBC UBC Jung Young Choi Hyup Lee UBC Matthew Ness Sanja Vukicevic Graeme Charles Hintz Michael Jacob Yong Calgary UBC UBC UBC UBC Kurt Douglas Frank Alison Leighton Deschner Taya O’Neill-Haugland Jeff (Yun Fan)Wang Cardiac Surgery UBC Jessica Holland UBC Alberta Michiko Maruyama UBC Toronto Alberta ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2015! 335 5

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.

Michael James Horkoff Vivian Monette Leung Adrian Peter Li-Hsuan Hsiao Donovan Duncan Anees Bahji Heejun (Tony) Kang Calgary NOSM van Stolk Saskatchewan Calgary Queen’s UBC Shiana Manoharan Molly Lin UBC Ryan Justin Li-Yun Stephanie Catherine Lindsay A. M. Dodd Adriel Lam UBC UBC Charles L. Walsh Fong Erdle UBC Queen’s Jordan Nostedt Keeva Chelsea UBC Western Toronto Joel Fox Nicole Perkes Alberta Lupton Darryl Wan Sarah Jill Mah Robynn Geier UBC Saskatchewan Ashley H. Shaw UBC UBC UBC UBC Alvin Bryan Keng Shamir Rai Alberta Amirali Mahpour Darrin Wiebe Adrienne Elizabeth L. Cynthia Toronto UBC MUN UBC McKercher Gunaratnam Danny Siwai Lee David Thomas Nicola Matthews Tae Won Yi UBC Alberta UBC UBC UBC UBC Megan O’Neill Bhupinder Singh Johal Internal John Li Stefano Tolhurst Luke McLaughlin Irene Yu Dalhousie UBC UBC UBC Medicine Alberta UBC Lawrence Jennifer Kalil Ken Little Jun Wang Alym Abdulla Matthew Michaleski Yat Yeung Woo Ottawa Toronto UBC UBC Saskatchewan UBC Trevor Kwok Christopher David Ahmad Abdullah Toronto Vesna Mihajlovic Masters of Taplin UBC UBC Joel Livingston Ottawa Health Sciences Remote and Elizabeth Marie Bagnall David Min Ophthalmology Western Alan Chi-Man Wai UBC UBC Khodadad Rasool Georgina Martin Toronto Rural Family Javaheri Rosanna Martens Jessica Katharine Belle Jonathan Mong Saskatchewan Cory R. Weissman Medicine UBC UBC UBC Toronto Julia Schneiderman Toronto Colten Wendel Laura Jane Hofer UBC Alexandra Bond Joshua Daniel Nero UBC Jaeyun Yoo Miller UBC Saskatchewan UBC Saskatchewan Irene Iljoo Chair Minju (Marianne) Neurology Songyang Simon Yu UBC Park Nathan Chan Smyth Plastic Surgery Toronto Alice Soohyun Chang Alberta Ophthalmology Toronto Hanyang Liu Rural Family UBC Research Steven Pi Laura Haley McMaster Medicine Angus Cherry UBC UBC Fellowship Graham James Grant Public Health Alexander W. Bowie UBC Mireille Siobhan Sherry Hu Majd Mustafa McLeod and Preventive MUN Harris Chou Potentier Dalhousie Toronto Manitoba Alberta UBC Medicine Jim Huang Damon Daheng Li Michael Stein UBC Amanda Cunningham Natasha Qureshi UBC Ottawa Sian Hsiang-Te Tsuei Calgary Calgary UBC Gabriel Krahn Orthopedic Aaron Van Slyke UBC Warren Fingrut Joel Samuels UBC Toronto UBC Surgery Obstetrics & Colleen Foster David James Sanders Amarpal Singh Radiation UBC UBC Gynecology Cheema Urology UBC Physical Oncology Omid Gerami Rebecca Schnurr- Heather Armstrong Connor Forbes Medicine & Wei Ning (Will) Jiang UBC Howsam (Mancell) Christopher W. Day UBC UBC UBC UBC Rehabilitation Calgary Paul Gosset Colin James Lundeen Sonja Murchison UBC Milena Mary Semproni Bobbi-Jean Alexandria Jillian Audrey Fairley Richard Ho UBC UBC Batchelor-Cordell UBC UBC UBC Elizabeth Hendren Jesse A Ory Saskatchewan Jack Zheng Toronto Keerat Sidhu Eva Marie Gusnowski McKyla McIntyre Dalhousie UBC Julianne Elizabeth Calgary Toronto Ottawa Mikameh (May) Busby Kazem David Alexander Spicer Philip Motyka UBC UBC UBC Calgary Roisin Bridget Mary Diana Lam Nazlee Tabarsi Radiology Dooley Pediatrics Queen’s UBC Western Robyn Buna Elizabeth Hai Yen Du Jensen Lau Amy Po Yu Tsai Psychiatry Ian Ferguson Calgary Dalhousie Alberta UBC Dalhousie Jennifer Carlisle Nicholas James Amanzo Ho Ryan LeBlanc Erica Tsang UBC Ainsworth UBC UBC UBC UBC A PROVINCE-WIDE ENTERPRISE UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

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