10 Repairing the damage An instructor exposes students to the country he fled 2

18 Brain change Can a curriculum alter

kids’ neurons? 10VOL Nº 2014 FALL

20 Chuck Fipke’s passion for exploration First for diamonds, now MEDICINE for an Alzheimer’s cure THE MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA FACULTY OF MEDICINE

THE MEDICINE MAN

HOW UBC PUT JAMES CARD ON THE ROAD NORTH, TO A TOWN THAT DESPERATELY NEEDED HIM A centesimal 14 celebration

“IF YOU KEEP HATING, IT EATS AWAY AT YOU”

10 CONTENTS

01 Message from the Vice 16 Investigations + Breakthroughs Provost Health and Dean 18 Brain change: Can a curriculum Chuck Fipke’s 02 The Medicine Man: A distributed alter kids’ neurons? passion for education success story 20 Chuck Fipke’s passion for 20 exploration 06 “You Can’t Do That”: How exploration – first for diamonds, UBC’s innovation was emulated now for an Alzheimer’s cure across Canada, and overseas 22 A vision for the Downtown 08 Problem. Response. Outcomes. Eastside: Better eyesight 10 years of distributed medical 23 A donor finds inspiration across A donor finds education a crowded room inspiration, 10 Repairing the damage: An 24 Chew Wei and Tak Mak: Two 23 across a instructor exposes students to immigrants linked by their the country he fled crowded room contributions to Canadian health 13 Speech-language pathology 25 Medical Alumni News prepares for a big jump 14 A centesimal celebration: Midwifery and Genetic Counselling graduate their 100th students

UBC MEDICINE VOL. 10 | NO. 2 Fall 2014 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 Carrie West, Heather Amos Design Signals Design Group Inc. www.signals.ca Online at med.ubc.ca/ubc-medicine-magazine MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PROVOST HEALTH AND DEAN

Creating our system of distributed converted into true collaborative medical education and post-graduate partnerships. This requires a common training required painstaking commitment to a goal that is more planning, intense teamwork, and important than any single institution significant funding – all of it aimed or entity. toward attracting a more diverse, We have not only shown ourselves community-oriented array of capable of forging such partnerships; students, and encouraging them to we have begun to raise the stakes by pursue their careers in places where planning an academic health sciences they are most needed. network in B.C. Under such a system, Along the way, I’ve come to the questions and challenges that appreciate the importance of arise at clinical sites throughout the Every summer, my wife establishing, nurturing and province will become part of our Janet and I, along with our maintaining relationships. And there research enterprise, and the findings dogs, embark on a journey were many relationships – with two will be systematically disseminated to a different part of the ministries, three universities, six health to everyone in the network. To build province, checking in with authorities, scores of communities and such a network from scratch, based my far-flung network of thousands of clinical colleagues. on our pre-2004 landscape, would colleagues — educators, My appreciation of these have been a fool’s errand. Now, with researchers, students and relationships didn’t always come the partnerships that grew out of our staff. And every summer I easy. I remember spending way distributed education system, return with a story or two. too much time discussing future it seems like a natural next step in letterheads or logos with colleagues our evolution. at the University of Victoria. If I could In the meantime, let’s take a have done it over again, I would have moment to revel in what we have ’ve seen a bear steal a pig torso from suggested that we all take a walk already accomplished – a system that a barbeque in Port McNeil, gotten a around Victoria Harbour to talk about is far more attuned and responsive “flashing lights” police escort to the other things – anything other than the to the needs of the population. home of another faculty member in project at hand. We needed to build a Examples of our success abound, and I Fort St. John, been presented with a relationship, and discussions of font to chronicle all of them in these pages Chilliwack “prize pack” (a dozen cobs size are hardly a solid foundation for of UBC Medicine magazine would be of corn, a crate of blueberries and a doing that; decisions about details can impossible. So we’ve created a special fresh coho salmon), and been startled almost always wait. First, we had to website, www.bcmd10.med.ubc.ca, to find a pair of chickens strutting get to know and trust each other. that delves into the history and many around our hotel room in Stewart. That’s why I go on those annual dimensions of our achievement. In A decade ago, there really wasn’t pilgrimages throughout the province, these pages, meanwhile, we focus on much reason for the Dean of the UBC where I let people show me the local the story of one student, James Card, Faculty of Medicine to be in those issues and attractions. Most of my of the Northern Medical Program’s remote parts of the province, other time on that trip is spent listening, first graduating class, and his service than for pure leisure. But I needed because I have come to appreciate to one town, Mackenzie. to check in with members of our that you never learn anything with Spoiler alert: It’s a happy ending.  team – a team that is now, after 10 your mouth open. years, emerging from a remarkable, But I’ve also realized that whether Gavin C.E. Stuart, MD, FRCSC Vice Provost Health sometimes bumpy childhood, on its we are talking about education or Dean, Faculty of Medicine way to what I hope will be a sure-footed research, relationships themselves but continually innovating maturity. are insufficient unless they are

1 THE MEDICINE MAN

HOW UBC PUT JAMES CARD ON THE ROAD NORTH, TO A TOWN THAT DESPERATELY NEEDED HIM

James Card Photo by Tanya Peterson

UBC MEDICINE Fall 2014 2 COVER STORY

decade ago, Mackenzie – a mill town about the region’s chronic physician After earning his medical degree nestled in the Rocky Mountain Trench, shortage. in 2008, Dr. Card remained in Prince at the southern end of Williston Lake Then help arrived, in the person of a George for a two-year residency – seemed to have its health care needs quiet, young man named James Card. in family medicine – a program OA well in hand, with four physicians And then it kept on coming. established about a decade before tending patients at the hospital and the Northern Medical Program. By health centre. And then, in the words e grew up in Maple Ridge, 2010, he had become one of the first of Barbara Crook, the district’s health but felt more at home in B.C.’s fully-licensed physicians to emerge services administrator, “it all seemed H rugged back country than from UBC’s distributed education to melt away.” he did in the suburbs of the Lower program. (Residencies for other One by one, the doctors – all Mainland. Becoming a doctor wasn’t specialties typically take five years, so transplants from South Africa – packed in his plan, even after graduating from many of his classmates spent several up and left. A husband-and-wife team university. more years in training.) returned to their homeland; the other Instead, he took a job planting Dr. Card stayed in the North, two, perhaps feeling overburdened by trees in the north. And it was during without quite settling down. He the resulting workload, left for Alberta. one of those outings, not too far from pursued a variety of locums (temporary Crook scrambled to fill the gaps Mackenzie, that news came over the assignments) around the province, with physicians on the locum circuit. radio about the rally in Prince George. filling in for doctors on vacation or The best she could usually manage “That’s when the seed started to maternity leave. He spent most of his was getting a physician to stay for a set,” he recalls. “It was not something I time in Prince George, but also did year. Patients became accustomed had grown up wanting to do, but I saw stints in his hometown of Maple Ridge, to being treated by a new doctor the opportunity.” the bustling maternity ward of Surrey each time they visited, eliminating When the time came to act on his Memorial Hospital, and a small town much hope for continuity of care. At idea, the rally had borne fruit – in 2004, he knew well from his tree-planting one point, the 24-hour emergency UBC’s medical education program days: Mackenzie. room had to shut down for two days. began its expansion beyond the Lower “For people who like the outdoors, Supervisors at the town’s mills knew Mainland, taking root in Prince George Mackenzie is fantastic,” Dr. Card says. that if one of their employees had a and Victoria. By distributing doctor “Incredible lakes, hiking, boating, serious injury, the ambulance would training throughout the province, the fishing, skiing. And I enjoyed the type bypass the hospital and head straight thinking went, more doctors would be of work.” down Highway 97 to Prince George, a likely to practice medicine throughout When news of an opening there two-hour drive south. the province. surfaced, he and his wife Jessica It was a situation that had been He was accepted into the first agreed that it would be a nice change playing out, again and again, in the class of the Northern Medical of scenery during her upcoming small towns of northern British Program, created in partnership maternity leave. He took the job and Columbia – the very situation that with the University of Northern they bought a house there, figuring had prompted residents and civic British Columbia. He and his the investment ($85,000) could be leaders to stage a health care rally in classmates experienced the same recouped, more or less, if they chose Prince George in 2000, demanding curriculum as their fellow UBC to sell in a year; if not, they could that provincial leaders do something students in Vancouver and Victoria, make it a weekend retreat from what with many classes conducted by they figured would be their workaday videoconferencing. existence in Prince George.

JAMES CARD’S Continued on next page JOURNEY

1992–2004 2004 2008 2010

Works as a tree planter Enters inaugural Graduates from Completes family in northern B.C. class of the Northern Northern Medical medicine residency Medical Program. Program. in Prince George, and travels around B.C. as a locuming physician.

3 COVER STORY

No one thought Dr. Card’s arrival other positions were filled – tenuously Continued from in the summer of 2011 heralded a new – by yet another South African doctor preceding page chapter in Mackenzie’s health care and a series of locuming doctors. saga. Dr. Card himself, realizing what Dr. Card wrote to Northern Health, kind of workload he was assuming, laying out the case for a fourth figured this would be another tour of physician. Northern Health agreed. duty – do your time and get out. “If they had refused, I wouldn’t “Mackenzie is a community of have stayed beyond my year,” Dr. Card just under 5,000 residents, plus lots says. “When they agreed, that’s when I of transient workers, with a 24/7 started to get invested in the place.” something worth selling – besides the emergency room, hospital in-patients Dr. Card’s next step was filling that clean air, lack of crime, natural beauty and long-term care patients,” he new position, and perhaps even the and abundant recreation. says. “Our clinic usually sees over 60 position that was continually being “Here at the hospital and health patients a day, with another 15 a day in back-filled through locums. centre, we see everything that most emergency. To service that with three His first victory came easy: a former rural sites do, but we see a lot of it,” he physicians, you have to be on call every fellow resident from the Prince George says. “Every week we have an urgent third day, with the potential of being family medicine program who, as transfer out, for an acute heart attack up all night.” chance would have it, shared a name or serious trauma. It’s very interesting But soon after arriving, Dr. Card with the town – Colin MacKenzie. medicine for someone who is brand started to see this as more than just “I was basically bugging him new and wants to develop their skills, another assignment, and he began since the day I started working in or someone who wants to keep up trying to make a difference – because of Mackenzie,” Dr. Card says. their existing skills.” who he was before becoming a medical Then Dr. Card shifted into full- student, and who he became during his blown marketing mode, targeting r. Card’s hard sell began to medical education and residency. other residents in Prince George with yield results. He aroused the the zeal of a time-share salesman. D curiosity of Dan Penman, is timing, it turns out, was This was something that hadn’t a Vancouver native who earned his exquisite. been done before – as a resident, M.D. in the Vancouver Fraser Medical H Northern Health had he received brochures advertising Program and then became a family just instituted “alternate payment physician openings in rural or remote medicine resident in Prince George. plan” in Mackenzie, paying doctors areas of Saskatchewan and Ontario, “I came out for a couple of visits, and based on how many hours they but nothing closer to home. liked what I saw,” Dr. Penman says. work, instead of how many patients With financial support from the “This setting was ideal for me because they see (commonly known as district, he made postcards extolling there is no specialist back-up on site, “fee-for-service”). the Mackenzie experience, slipping so we’re doing a lot more emergency “It allows you to practice a much them into the mail slots of residents medicine, even internal medicine, as better style of medicine,” Dr. Card at University Hospital of Northern well as follow-up.” says. “You’re not trying to run the B.C. He gave lunchtime presentations Dr. Penman’s arrival came not turnstile to get your dollars up. You to that target audience, offering free a moment too soon, because the can focus on acute issues, and take food to anyone willing to sit through remaining South African physician time if need be.” his PowerPoint slides. He attended a left for Vancouver. Then, like a At such alternate payment plan rural medicine conference in Whistler pyramid scheme, Dr. Penman was sites, the Ministry of Health decides (courtesy of Mackenzie), to drum up roping in one of his former colleagues, how many doctors’ salaries it’s interest among attendees. Matt Robichaud. willing to pay. When Dr. Card arrived, And despite Mackenzie’s eight With his arrival, Mackenzie had the ministry had allocated three months of winter and temperatures a cohesive quartet of physicians. physicians to Mackenzie. The two of 30 below, Dr. Card thought he had

JAMES CARD’S 2011 2012 2013 2014 JOURNEY

Accepts physician position Persuades Northern Health to Dr. Penman recruits physician The group recruits at Mackenzie and District increase physician allotment Matt Robichaud to Mackenzie. physicians Ian and Hospital and Health Centre. to 4. Recruits physicians Colin The group then recruits Lindsay Dobson to Persuades UBC to include MacKenzie and Dan Penman physician Jyoti Seshia. Mackenzie. Mackenzie on rotations of to Mackenzie. medical students and family medicine residents. Top, L-R: “We’re all fishing buddies here,” where he could do a lot of emergency The Northern Medical Program was Mackenzie’s Dr. Penman says. “Sometimes we medicine,” Dr. Card said. responsible for setting James Card Morfee Lake; the Mackenzie Pulp joke that this is an extension of our down the road to Mackenzie. And Mill Corporation, residency, because it feels like that.” r. Card also convinced the the Prince George family medicine one of the town’s But it didn’t end there. As Dr. Card’s Faculty of Medicine to include residency program – which expanded major employers; a Mackenzie dad and wife headed back to work after her D Mackenzie on rotations of last year from 11 to 15 residents – daughters leave maternity leave, he wanted to cut back medical students and second-year provided Dr. Card with a crop of young the town’s ice rink; his hours. So they recruited Jyoti residents. Each resident conferred an physicians to bring along with him. the Mackenzie District Hospital Seshia, another Prince George family immediate benefit, in the form of an and Health Centre. medicine resident, who was willing to extra pair of hands to shoulder the ll of the communities Photos by: Tanya Peterson share Dr. Card’s slot. patient load. But both residents and in the North put some “James did an excellent job of medical students are part of Dr. Card’s “A of their money into promoting the community,” says long game – cultivating younger talent the medical program, because they Dr. Seshia, who earned her M.D. at in case another opening comes up, so believed that it would benefit them. the University of Manitoba. “He had Mackenzie won’t have to confront the And it’s benefiting us now, more than locumed around quite a bit, and had a desperate situation it faced just three ever,” said Stephanie Killam, who good sense of the work environment in years ago. ended her term as Mackenzie’s mayor different places. He reinforced that I “A medical student I had here from in November. “We’ve welcomed these would be well-supported. People back a couple of years ago talked with a doctors into our homes, and they’re each other up for second opinions or friend of hers about us, and that friend becoming part of our community.” they help with difficult cases, even if came up here for rotations during her Barbara Crook, who as Mackenzie’s they’re not officially working.” residency in Nanaimo,” Dr. Card says. health administrator for the past With Dr. Mackenzie and Dr. “Now she is coming up for locums. decade has been an up-close witness The recruitment Robichaud eventually deciding that So we can see that the depth of our to the town’s turbulent medical postcard that Dr. Card they, too, wanted to work part-time, strategy is starting to pay off.” fortunes, no longer fears that distributed to two more physicians arrived in In a broader sense, Mackenzie is ambulances will need to bypass the medical residents. November to fill the gap – the also seeing a payoff. town’s emergency room. husband-and-wife team of Ian and Like other towns in northern B.C., “I’m blessed every day I come to Lindsay Dobson, both it contributed to the Northern Medical work now, knowing my community is former UBC medical Programs Trust, which assists with covered,” Crook says. “We have a great students. travel and accommodation for medical, team here. Having Dr. Card as that “Ian was doing locums nursing and physiotherapy students as cornerstone of a physician brought a with us, and basically they do their rotations in the region. So lot of peace for all of us.”  saw a tight-knit group of the townspeople were vested – in a very physicians who support real sense – in distributed education. Daniel Presnell contributed to this story. each other, and a practice And what did they get in return?

24/7, 15 60 -30 11➔15

The Mackenzie The clinic usually sees Mackenzie’s The Prince George family medicine emergency room runs over 60 patients a day. eight months of residency program expanded last year 24/7 and sees about winter features from 11 to 15 residents. 15 patients a day. temperatures of 30 below. DID YOU KNOW? 5 “ CAN’T DO THAT”

When the UBC Faculty of Medicine – either basic science education or “Most people saw it as leap into the decided in 2002 to distribute medical clinical education, but not both. abyss, and figured we would fail,” says education by creating academically UBC was the first, along with the Joanna Bates, the Associate Dean, partnered four-year regional Université de Montréal, to take the Education at the time. “We were told campuses, the idea was untested. leap into delivering nearly the entire over and over again, ‘You can’t do that. Although regional campuses were medical school curriculum at regional What are you thinking?’” common across North America, they campuses. delivered only part of the curriculum

University of Toronto opened a campus in suburban Mississauga – not to remediate doctor shortages in an underserved 1 area, but to accommodate more students. Given their proximity Northern Ontario School to UofT’s main campus, students of Medicine was created in travel frequently between the 2005 by Lakehead University two sites, while also using in Thunder Bay and Laurentian videoconferencing to share University in Sudbury. Its 256 University of Western Ontario learning experiences. students are distributed between established a regional campus the two universities, 1,000 km in Windsor, two hours away, in apart. Like UBC, NOSM relies 2008. Western had already been 4 on videoconferencing to ensure running clerkships and residency 3 that students have equivalent programs through hospitals there experiences despite their when it opened the full-fledged geographic distance. regional campus in collaboration with the University of Windsor. 2 It now has close to 100 first- through third-year students.

McMaster University partnered Université de Montréal opened with local universities in a campus in the city of Trois- Kitchener and St. Catharine’s Rivières, 140 km away, the same to open regional campuses in year UBC opened its regional both towns in 2007 and 2008. campuses – but did it with Similar to UBC, the combined younger students. Students first 56 students spend a semester at attend a year-long foundational the main campus, then head to program at Université du Québec their respective campuses for the à Trois-Rivières, then transition next 3½ years. But McMaster’s to Montréal’s program, based at regional campuses are less than the local hospital. Its first cohort an hour’s drive from Hamilton, of 24 medical students graduated so students visit the main campus in 2009, a year after UBC; it for many of their learning now takes in 40 students experiences. a year.

UBC MEDICINE Fall 2014 6 COVER STORY

Learn more about UBC’s 10-year experience with distributed medical education – visit CAN’T DO THAT” www.bcmd10.med.ubc.ca.

Soon, however, the skepticism gave Faculty of Medicine had managed way to curiosity, and ultimately to to create equivalent educational emulation. Members of accreditation experiences across such great panels monitoring the Faculty’s distances. progress spread the word. UBC Ten years after UBC opened the became a frequent host to delegations first four-year regional medical from other medical schools – in campuses, the idea has taken hold Canada, the U.S., and Australia – who coast to coast and overseas. wanted to see first-hand how the

7 5 6

8 9 Sherbrooke University created a 24-student regional campus in Saguenay, an underserved rural area in northern Quebec in 2006. Before setting up its regional campus, the school sent faculty members to B.C. to find out more about UBC’s plans; thus began 8 9 an ongoing collaboration that continues to this day. University of Flinders looked to Wollongong University wanted UBC when it began considering a an admissions process to select regional campus in Darwin, 3,000 students who would ultimately km (and a whole continent) away practice medicine in the New Brunswick: Sherbrooke from Adelaide. The Northern underserved steel mill town south of University opened a 24-student Territory Medical Program Sydney. They adapted UBC’s Rural francophone campus at the opened in 2011 with 24 students and Remote Suitability Score, which University of Moncton in 2006. on the campus of Charles Darwin UBC created to select students for Four years later, Dalhousie University. the Northern and Island Medical University opened an anglophone Programs.  campus at the University of New Brunswick in St. John.

7 PROBLEM. RESPONSE. OUTCOMES. 10 YEARS OF DISTRIBUTED MEDICAL EDUCATION

THE PROBLEM

Over 7,000 people attend a health care rally in Prince George in 2000 to protest the state of health care and a major exodus of health professionals in northern B.C.

THE RESPONSE

The B.C. government and UBC join with the University of Victoria, the University of Northern B.C. and B.C.’s health authorities to expand enrollment and create regional 308 campuses throughout the province, 288 connected with cutting-edge information technology.

MD UNDERGRADUATE 128 134 PROGRAM ENTRY POSITIONS

POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL 2003 2013 TRAINING ENTRY POSITIONS

2004 2002 Northern Medical THE TIMELINE Program opens Expansion of MD in Prince George and residency training Learn more at and Island Medical announced www.bcmd10.med.ubc.ca Program opens in Victoria

UBC MEDICINE Fall 2014 8 COMMUNITY BENEFITS

Doctors are Hospitals with teaching facilities attract more likely more physicians, and the presence of to stay in learners raises the level of care. Education the areas and training isn’t limited to hospitals – a where they large amount of teaching takes place train. in physicians’ offices and clinics.

THE OUTCOMES The Queen Elizabeth Theatre 2,536 MEDICAL STUDENTS ADMITTED SINCE EXPANSION BEGAN IN 2004 That would almost fill the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver

of these are currently 1,481 practicing medicine

of these are 989 working in B.C.

THE FUTURE AN INCREASED NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS IN TRAINING

By 2020, over 300 physicians a year will be completing medical training and entering 300 practice in B.C.

2013 2012 2008 UBC accepts the Building on the First class of 2010 largest number of province-wide UBC’s expanded Southern Medical medical residents in expansion model, MD program Program opens provincial history, and UBC Physical Therapy graduates and in Kelowna its medical education launches Northern begins residencies program becomes and Rural Cohort the 5th largest in North America

9 EDUCATION

“IF YOU KEEP HATING, IT EATS AWAY AT YOU”

Faculty of Medicine instructor rule. He has returned several times, Dr. Huynh’s motivation for Hanh Huynh fled Vietnam not only for family reunions, but for organizing the elective in Vietnam was 34 years ago. Now he is extended stays to help the Christina his sense that medical students hunger introducing UBC medical Noble Children’s Foundation rescue for more hands-on clinical experience. students to his homeland street children, to train employees of a Vietnam, he says, is a good place to get through a clinical elective. French pharmaceutical company, and it: “Vietnamese doctors see so many even to start his own family. more cases a day,” he says. Now he is introducing his own He also saw the elective as a way students to the richness – and to help Vietnamese clinicians, who o one would begrudge Hanh Huynh challenges – of the life he left behind. hunger to practice their English and if he had chosen to turn his back on This year, he organized a month- have limited contact with native his native land. long elective for 11 fourth-year English speakers. Every year, he has He fled Vietnam in 1980, five students in Ho Chi Minh City responded to that yearning by spending N years after his father was sent (formerly Saigon), where they were a few weeks teaching problem-based to a “re-education camp” by the assigned to hospitals in their areas learning and disease prevention to communist regime. Sensing that of interest – infectious disease, faculty members at the Ho Chi Minh he might meet a similar fate or emergency medicine, anesthesiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy conscription into the army, he became obstetrics and gynaecology, surgery, (UMP) and the Ho Chi Minh City one of the 800,000 boat people who and nutrition. Nutrition Centre. embarked on harrowing journeys “I wanted to get more exposure Dr. Huynh’s willingness to aid his through pirate-infested waters to to diseases that are rarely seen in countrymen, and by extension, the refugee camps in the region. His own Vancouver, like malaria, leptospirosis, fortunes of the country, might be boat was besieged by pirates, but dengue fever, measles and tetanus,” surprising, considering this is the same he and his sister’s family made it to says Mike Benusic, who graduated country that he felt compelled to flee, Thailand before settling in Trail, B.C. in June and is now doing a residency imprisoned his father (who worked as By any measure, it was a wise in family medicine and public health a police officer before communist rule), move. After working at a smelting in Toronto. “But I think everyone and wouldn’t permit his wife and two plant in Trail, he earned a bachelor’s who signed up wanted to see how children to leave for several years. degree and then a double doctorate a health care system operates in a “I always look at the people,” he in neuroscience and pathology from low-resource setting.” explains. “I try to stay away from the UBC. He spent a year as a postdoctoral political domain and focus on the fellow in New York, working in the human side of it. I would never forgive Rockefeller University lab of a Nobel A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL myself if I didn’t share the things that Prize winner, and for the past dozen EXCHANGE I learn.” years, he has been an instructor in the Department of Pathology and Electives are a standard part of the Laboratory Medicine, teaching final year of a medical student’s immunology, cell biology, problem- education, and while most students based learning and diabetes to choose courses under the auspices medical students in Vancouver and of other medical schools or hospitals Prince George. in Canada or the U.S., about 20 per But Dr. Huynh, who is now a cent of this year’s cohort used the Canadian citizen, has hardly severed opportunity to learn about medical his ties with Vietnam, despite the care abroad. fact that it remains under communist

UBC MEDICINE Fall 2014 Hahn Huynh Photo by Martin Dee

Vietnamese refugees await rescue by a U.S. Navy vessel after spending eight days at sea. Photo PH2 Phil Eggman

OVERCOMING SUSPICIONS signed by Gavin Stuart, the Dean of “I felt like we had a bit of a family the Faculty of Medicine and UBC’s in Ho Chi Minh City that was looking Dr. Huynh’s willingness to move Vice Provost Health, and Vo Tan Son, out for us, and people with whom we forward wasn’t initially reciprocated the Dean of UMP. could have pretty frank conversations by the Vietnamese government, which Dr. Huynh used his professional about the culture, the war and the suspected him of being a spy. But he and family connections – including a health care system,” Dr. Benusic says. came to win the trust of officials, niece who is an ophthalmologist and a “I think we would have felt a little including Tran Diep Tuan, who brother who is an orthopaedic surgeon more isolated if it was just the 11 of us became UMP’s Vice President. In – to set up the placements, provide a living in the hotel and doing our own 2011, Dr. Tran asked Dr. Huynh to warm welcome and maximize clinical things in the hospital.” broach the idea of a collaboraton with experiences for the students. The potential for hands-on UBC; a year later, an agreement was learning with patients was realized

Continued on next page

11 WARDS OF TETANUS certainly humbling to realize how Continued from PATIENTS isolated you can be in your medical preceding page training. It demonstrated for me Andrew Hurlburt was taken aback the ridiculousness of the notion by the crowded conditions at one of of the Western-trained physician the country’s premier hospitals, the parachuting into foreign countries Hospital for Tropical Diseases, which and ‘fixing things.’” takes referrals from the southern half of the country. “The wards were definitely WAR, THEN REPAIR over-capacity by our standards,” he says. “There were usually four or five Dr. Huynh plans to continue organizing people to a room that would hold just the elective, and due to overwhelming one or two people in Canada. And demand, he and the UMP will expand there were only a few isolation rooms, it to 16 students in spring 2015. Several Top to bottom: so contagious people were often placed other students have reserved spots Hahn Huynh as a in rooms with other patients.” for subsequent years. In addition, Dr. factory worker in Trail; Mike Benusic Dr. Hurlburt also was surprised Huynh arranged a clinical placement examines a patient by the sheer number of people for a UBC dermatology resident. at the Hospital for suffering from tetanus, a relatively Meanwhile, he is facilitating Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City. unknown disease in Canada, thanks another possible contribution to his Photo PH2 Phil Eggman to vaccinations. Although Vietnam native land. has dramatically reduced the number He accompanied Michael Allard, of childhood cases through childhood the Head of the Department of vaccinations, it does not routinely Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, provide booster shots to adults. and officials of the Terry Fox Research Patients with tetanus would often Institute on a trip to Vietnam to by Robert Dale, who chose a surgery spend a month in the intensive care discuss modernizing the country’s rotation. Due to the language barrier unit, assisted by ventilators and under laboratories for diagnosing cancer. between him and patients, the doctors sedation to prevent full-body spasms. Dr. Huynh not only served as a decided the best place to spend his translator, but educated his fellow time was the operating room. Canadians about the country, the “Pretty much my entire elective “I WOULD NEVER FORGIVE culture and its medical system. was spent there,” says Dr. Dale, now a MYSELF IF I DIDN’T SHARE “When you hear his story, you just urology resident at UBC. “I would have THE THINGS THAT I shake your head in disbelief,” Dr. Allard my pick of cases to go to, and I was able LEARN.” — HANH HUYNH says. “His ability to get past that, and to watch – and participate in – a lot his dedication to helping Vietnam move of cases involving urology, including forward, is remarkable.” cystectomies [removal of all or part of Dr. Benusic, who also spent the Dr. Huynh views his efforts as part the bladder], prostate resections, and elective at the Hospital for Tropical of the natural order. He likens it to stone surgeries… When I was scrubbed Diseases, gained a better appreciation the immune system that he teaches to in, they would always offer to let me for the importance of physical exams first-year medical students. cut, suture and tie knots.” and taking a complete patient history, “In any war, whether it’s between The highlight for him was being since lab work and technology aren’t pathogens and our own tissues, or allowed to do a complete male as available there as they are in between opposing political groups, circumcision on an adult (after Canada. He also was impressed by the destruction will happen,” he says. some training). expertise displayed by Vietnamese “But part of the natural process, in “There were people watching over doctors, trainees and nurses with our bodies or in our societies, is repair. me, and if I had any questions, I could diseases that would challenge their I don’t preach Buddhism, but I live always stop and ask them,” he says. counterparts here. by its precepts, and one of them is, if “It was pretty straightforward, but I “We felt like first-year medical you keep hating, it eats away at you, would never be allowed to do that here students when dealing with some of emotionally and spiritually.”  at this point in my training.” these conditions,” he says. “It was

UBC MEDICINE Fall 2014 12 EDUCATION BIG JUMP COM I N G FOR FACULTY’S SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY PROGRAM

he University of British Columbia will be educating more speech-language therapists, thanks to a boost in provincial funding. T The number of first-year slots for a Master’s of Science in Speech- Language Pathology will grow from 23 to 36 – a 56 per cent increase – by 2016, an expansion intended to help the one in 10 people in British Columbia who have a speech or language disorder. The expansion of the program is intended to help alleviate the shortage of speech-language therapists in northern and rural B.C. The average wait in B.C. for infants or children to L-R: Minister of Advanced Education Amrik Virk and Minister of Children and Family Development Stephanie Cadieux speak with speech-language be assessed by a health authority-based pathology students Valerie Marshall, Michael Witten and Katrina Kwan. speech language therapist is four to Photo by Brian Kladko eight months. Speech-language pathologists diagnose and help treat a Students complete the program meet the growing demand for qualified variety of disorders, including: in 21 to 36 months, depending on speech-language pathologists.” ± Articulation problems their undergraduate preparation and The September announcement was (omitting, substituting or the students’ choice of graduating made by Minister Virk and Stephanie distorting speech sounds) requirements. The curriculum Cadieux, the Minister of Children and ± Stuttering includes graduate courses, five clinical Family Development. Joining them ± Voice problems externships in community settings and were Arvind Gupta, the President and (loudness, pitch, hoarseness) a final thesis, project or comprehensive Vice Chancellor of UBC; Kate Chase, ± Language delays and disorders, exam. Graduates primarily work the Member Services Councilor for the including difficulty expressing for B.C.’s school systems and health B.C. Association of Speech-Language and comprehending in oral and authorities, although many also work Pathologists and Audiologists and a non verbal contexts in non-governmental organizations UBC Clinical Assistant Professor; and ± Swallowing and feeding disorders, and in private practice. Christy Campbell, who has relied on sometimes resulting from The government of B.C. is providing speech-language therapists to help her Top: Research neurological impairments or $2.5 million in one-time funding for recover from a stroke. Associate Linda traumatic brain injury. the expansion, and another $932,000 “This funding will provide B.C. Rammage demonstrates in annual operating funds. with more professionals who can how laryngoscopy UBC’s speech-language pathology “Most of us take the ability to diagnose communications disorders, can be used to program, part of the Faculty of communicate for granted, but for the provide treatment, and collaborate examine vocal cords on student Medicine’s School of Audiology thousands of British Columbians who with educators, health care providers, Clara Liu; UBC and Speech Sciences, is the only have problems with speech, language or social workers, families and President Arvind one in the province and one of only swallowing, speech therapists provide caregivers,” said Gavin Stuart, Dean Gupta speaks at the announcement two in western Canada. Each year, a bridge to the rest of the world,” said of the Faculty of Medicine and UBC’s of the enrollment the program receives about 150 Amrik Virk, Minister of Advanced Vice Provost Health. “The Faculty of expansion. applications for the 23 currently Education. “Adding 13 spaces to the Medicine is eager to respond to this Photos by: Brian Kladko,  Kerry Blackadar available seats. training program at UBC will help very pressing public need.”

13 L-R: Midwifery graduate Angel Resendes, Genetic Counselling gradu- ate Serena Talcott Baughman. A CENTESIMAL Photos by Kelly Bergman, Rob Shaer CELEBRATION

Two of the Faculty of Baughman had more in common than A LONG WAIT FOR THE Medicine’s newest programs, their centesimal status. RIGHT MOMENT Midwifery and Genetic They were both thirty-something Counselling, each awarded working mothers who returned to Resendes, like most Canadians, didn’t their 100th diplomas this year. school long after most people have know what a midwife was when she settled into their careers; they chose met one for the first time, 16 years ago, very new health professions (at least while pregnant with her first child. new to the U.S. and Canada); and they “She helped me understand that his spring, Angel Resendes and were willing to re-locate to Vancouver there was more to becoming a mother Serena Talcott Baughman embarked from hundreds of kilometres away to than just giving birth, that it was a on two different careers in two very earn their degrees at UBC. spiritual journey,” she says. “It stayed different cities – Resendes as a For the 36-year-old Resendes, with me, and a couple of years later, I T midwife in Prince George, and that meant living apart from her two had a dream that I had followed her Baughman as a genetic counsellor daughters, who stayed in Prince George example – it was literally a calling.” in Portland, Oregon. while she took 10 months of classes. For But at that time, midwifery had But as they ascended the stage in the Baughman, it meant persuading her just become a regulated profession Chan Centre for Performing Arts to husband and her two daughters to leave in B.C., and and the province didn‘t receive their UBC diplomas in May, they Portland for two years. have a midwifery education program. shared a common distinction: Each was “It was one of the hardest things So Resendes chose to do the next the 100th graduate of their programs. I did in my entire life, being a closest thing. She earned a bachelor’s By virtue of the year they graduated long-distance mum,” Resendes says. degree in nursing from the University and their place in the alphabetical order “One of the things I had to tell myself of Northern British Columbia, then of graduates, Baughman and Resendes was, ‘This is creating a vision for held various jobs around Prince were walking milestones for two of them.’ It taught them lessons about George – working at health centres on the Faculty of Medicine’s newest and determination and courage and First Nations reserves, helping people smallest health professions programs: sacrifice, and about supporting each cope with mental health problems and Genetic Counselling (created in 1996), other when dreams come calling. In addictions, providing prenatal care, and Midwifery (created in 2002). a way, I was teaching my children by instruction and counseling to women As different as their careers and being away.” in challenging circumstances. destinations may be, Resendes and “As a nurse, I had a series of amazing experiences that gave me

UBC MEDICINE Fall 2014 14 EDUCATION

Angel Resendes examines one of her midwifery clients in Prince George. Photo by Kelly Bergman

more to offer women,” Resendes says. “Meanwhile, my daughters became older, and UBC’s program became firmly established. So I came back to my dream.” Resendes’s health care experience was so extensive that she was fast-tracked, entering in the second year of the four-year bachelor’s degree program. The UBC Midwifery Science had been her job for the past UBC’s two-year master’s program, program, eager to have Resendes decade – as a teacher of basic biology the closest one to Portland, is one of spend as much time learning the to Portland ninth-graders. The lab only four in Canada, and the largest. profession in the place where she will work, while socially isolating, was Considering the rapid advances in be practicing it, arranged for her to intellectually stimulating, and she genetics during the past two decades spend her third and fourth years in wanted to find a way of combining (the human genome’s rough draft Prince George. the excitement of science with the wasn’t announced until 2000, four “We make more home visits in the personal interactions that are a years after the program’s creation), North, because transportation is more natural part of teaching. the curriculum has been in a constant difficult,” Resendes says. “And many Her supervising researcher state of evolution. Students are now women’s partners are often away for suggested genetic counselling – a prepared for the possibility of genetic extended periods. So it was important new term to her, as it still is to most counselling specialties – in cancer, for to have my education sourced from people. But she quickly discovered example – that didn’t exist when the where I come from, to learn to deal that it had been listed as one of the program was first created. with those challenges.” “Top Ten New Careers” by U.S. News “Our graduates are still ready to Michelle Butler, who became the and World Report. do any job,” says Clinical Instructor Director of the Midwifery Program in Baughman soon discovered Tracey Oh, who leads the program January, has plans to expand on that what this new profession was all with Clinical Assistant Professor experience. This fall, eight second- about: helping people understand Jenna Scott. “We give them the tools year students moved to Victoria to the implications of a diagnosis or to adapt, because genetics is changing continue their studies. test results of genetic disorders. all the time.” “B.C., by allowing midwives to be Sometimes, counsellors advise parents Baughman is a testament to that the primary caregiver for women with – those with genetic conditions who preparation – the week before normal pregnancies, created a superb are considering having children, or graduation, she received two job offers model for how midwives function are expecting a child at risk of having in Portland. She accepted one of them, in the health care system,” says Dr. an inherited condition, or have a child at a fertility clinic where she advises Butler, who was recruited from born with an inherited condition. In patients about pre-implantation University College Dublin. “Now we other cases, counsellors help clients genetic screening and diagnosis, the must train the people to fill that role, make sense of their own diagnoses implications of having children at and train more of them in underserved or test results. Sometimes, genetic an advanced age, genetic screening areas, so students can see how counsellors work with an extended results and family histories, and rewarding it can be to fill that need.” family whose members might share a genetic causes of infertility. She will genetic trait. also help screen sperm and egg donors. She soon found herself taking “I’m helping a diverse patient A “TOP TEN” CAREER science courses at Portland State population, many of whom travel to University and Portland Community this clinic from all over the world, Michelle Butler, Serena Talcott Baughman’s path to College, shadowing genetic seeking help in starting a family,” Director of UBC’s genetic counselling began with a counsellors, and volunteering as a she says.  Midiwfery Program. summer stint at the Oregon National crisis counsellor – all pre-requisites Photo by Martin Dee Primate Research Centre in 2009. for a genetic counselling program.

15 INVESTIGATIONSRESEARCH + BREAKTHROUGHS

STRONGER DRUNK DRIVING LAW LEADS TO SAFER ROADS

o harsher penalties for drunk driving Under the changes that B.C. roadside blood-alcohol test or refuse reduce fatal crashes, hospital admis- imposed in 2010, drivers who get to be tested. D sions and ambulance calls? For Jeff caught for the first time with a blood Drawing on previous research, Brubacher, an emergency physician alcohol content (BAC) of .05% to .08% Dr. Brubacher and colleagues assert at Vancouver General Hospital, the have their driver’s license immediately that the changes to the law and question is hardly academic. suspended for three days and, at police accompanying enforcement and media So he and his colleagues do what discretion, may also have their vehicle coverage – and not other factors – academics do – they crunched the impounded for three days (instead of were responsible for the reduced rate numbers. the previous one-day suspension and of fatal crashes, hospital admissions In a study published in the no vehicle impoundment). and ambulance calls. American Journal of Public Health, They also must pay fees of “Our findings add to the growing Dr. Brubacher, the lead author and approximately $600, compared to evidence that the new laws, although an Associate Professor of Emergency no fine before. Drivers with a BAC controversial to some, were associated Medicine, reported that British higher than .08% have their licenses with marked improvements in road Columbia’s ratcheting up of penalties immediately suspended for 90 days and safety,” says Dr. Brubacher, who is also led to a 21 per cent decline in fatal their vehicle impounded for 30 days. a Scientist at the Centre for Clinical crashes, an 8 per cent decline in In the months after the heavier Epidemiology and Evaluation of the crash-related hospital admissions, and penalties took effect, many owners of Vancouver Coastal Health Research a 7.2 per cent decline in crash-related drinking establishments complained Institute, and Director of Vancouver ambulance calls. Based on those that the penalties for a BAC higher General Hospital’s Emergency statistics, there were an estimated 84 than .05% were hurting their Medicine Research Division. “We fewer fatal crashes, 308 fewer hospital business. The B.C. Civil Liberties hope that other jurisdictions will admissions and 2,553 fewer ambulance Association (BCCLA) also challenged follow B.C.’s lead in implementing calls for road trauma each year. the new rules in court, arguing that similar laws designed to deter The beneficial effects of the new the harsher penalties essentially dangerous driving.”  laws were due mostly to a reduction in criminalize drivers who fail a crashes related to drinking and driving. Jeff Brubacher

UBC MEDICINE Fall 2014 16 RESEARCH

A “BROKEN BARRIER” THEORY OF ALS

he firing of a motor neuron depends on is formed by certain proteins in the He speculates that VAP-B may be a its ability to compartmentalize itself. outer membrane linking up with crucial part of the internal barrier T Christopher Loewen, an Associate proteins in the inner membrane isolating the hot spot from the rest Professor in the Department of (the endoplasmic reticulum). of the dendrite. Without VAP-B, the Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The same principle applies to barrier between the hot spot and the discovered one biochemical recipe neurons. The branches of neurons, rest of the dendrite becomes porous, for such internal barriers – and in the known as dendrites, are primed to the glutamate signal leaks out, and the process, may have revealed a cause of receive signals from neurotransmitters; neuron won’t fire. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). effective nerve transmission depends on The next step for Dr. Loewen is to Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, concentrating the neurotransmitters, test that theory in animal models with ALS causes people to lose control of such as glutamate, on the spines that the VAP-B mutation. He and Associate their muscles. In most cases, they die protrude from dendrites. Professor Shernaz Bamji will examine three to five years after symptoms “If you don’t restrict the the hot spots of the specimens’ first appear. biochemistry to these hot spots on dendrites to see if signaling at those But Dr. Loewen’s findings, published the spines, it will break down in the points is degraded. Dr. Christopher Loewen in the journal Cell, weren’t based on tangles of dendrites,” says Dr. Loewen, neurons. Instead, he was using a a member of UBC’s Life Sciences much simpler organism: yeast. Institute and the Djavad Mowafaghian “IF WE FIND EVIDENCE A yeast cell reproduces by squeezing Centre for Brain Health. “It would be THAT SIGNALS AREN’T off some of its own material to create so diluted that it wouldn’t be able fire GETTING THROUGH, THEN an exact copy of itself. To prevent the the neuron.” WE WILL BE MUCH CLOSER unwanted mixing of material between One of the dozen mutations that lead TO UNDERSTANDING HOW “mother” and “daughter” during to ALS affects production of a protein THE VAP-B MUTATION division, the mother erects a barrier called VAP-B, which is very similar LEADS TO THE LOSS OF between itself and its daughter. to one of the linking proteins in yeast MUSCLE CONTROL IN ALS.” Dr. Loewen found that this barrier identified by Dr. Loewen. — CHRISTOPHER LOEWEN 

THE DARK SIDE OF ANTIBIOTICS to how they changed the bacterial ecosystem in the gut. any antibiotics, for all their therapeutic “This is the first step to power, don’t discriminate – they attack understanding which bacteria are M all kinds of microbes, even the ones we absolutely necessary to develop a need. So understanding how different healthy immune system later in life,” antibiotics affect those helpful bacteria says Dr. McNagny, a member of UBC’s is just as important as understanding Biomedical Research Centre. how they kill the harmful ones. Infants should be treated with Kelly McNagny, a Professor in the antibiotics when needed, Dr. McNagny Department of Medical Genetics, vancomycin and streptomycin, says, but he hopes these results will has found that receiving antibiotic on newborn mice. They found help pinpoint which bacteria make treatments early in life can increase that streptomycin increased later us less susceptible to disease. This susceptibility to specific diseases susceptibility to hypersensitivity could open up the possibility of using later on. pneumonitis – an allergic disease probiotics to boost helpful bacteria. In the study, published in the found in people with occupations “Probiotics could be the next big Journal of Allergy and Clinical such as farming, sausage-making, and trend in parenting, because once you Immunology, he and Brett Finlay, cleaning hot tubs. Vancoymycin, in know which bacteria prevent disease, Professor in the Department of contrast, had no effect. you can make sure that children get Kelly McNagny Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The difference in each antibiotic’s exposed to those beneficial bacteria,” tested the impact of two antibiotics, long-term effects can be attributed he says. 

17 RESEARCH

Above: A student at the Eaton Arrowsmith School does a tracing exercise with her left eye covered. Photo courtesy of Eaton Arrowsmith School

Lara Boyd explores whether and the answers sometime include Scores of parents, who pay $29,000 an unorthodox curriculum identifying the correct millennium. a year for a full-time slot at Eaton makes a neurological The school, based in rented Arrowsmith, believe in it. A handful difference in children. space on UBC’s campus, caters to of Canadian and U.S. private schools students with learning disabilities. have adopted the program for some Its curriculum amounts to physical of their students, and a second therapy for the brain. Eaton Arrowsmith school opened in t doesn’t take long to discern that the The founder, Howard Eaton, September in Redmond, Washington. Eaton Arrowsmith School takes a adopted the approach from the But this unconventional approach, distinctive approach to education. Arrowsmith Schools in Ontario, and the bold claims that underlie Most of the time, students work founded by Barbara Arrowsmith- it, have yet to be accepted by the I quietly by themselves, on what appear Young. Both Eaton and Arrowsmith- education establishment – something to be tedious tasks: tracing ornate, Young believe that children can that has nagged at Eaton since he unfamiliar letters from Chinese, Urdu overcome learning disabilities through founded the school in 2009. or Burmese, often while wearing eye specific cognitive exercises – if done Now, the Faculty of Medicine has patches; listening to recorded phrases, repeatedly, at increasing levels of begun an unprecedented effort to see if and repeating them from memory, difficulty, with ever-increasing speed those claims can be verified. word-for-word; looking at images of and accuracy. They assert that such a The effort is led by Lara Boyd, clocks that flash on their screens, and regimen re-wires children’s brains so an Associate Professor of Physical typing in the displayed time – except the that, after a couple of years, students Therapy and Canada Research Chair in clocks can have as many as 10 hands, can hold their own, even thrive, in the Neurobiology of Motor Learning. conventional schools.

UBC MEDICINE Fall 2014 18 L-R: Eaton Arrowsmith students perform the “clocks task”; an MRI of a child’s brain while performing that task. Photos courtesy of Eaton Arrowsmith School and Brain Behaviour Laboratory

Dr. Boyd’s specialty is recovery from she finds, because the results would thus enabling quicker responses stroke – specifically, how the brain have major implications for the field of by the brain. adapts to damage caused by a lack of neuroplasticity – the ability of the brain ± Do the students’ brains use less blood flow to the brain, and how it can to change, either at the cellular level or oxygen during the clocks task? This re-learn tasks, or even basic functions, through the remapping of its signaling would indicate that their brains in the process. pathways. have become more efficient. Dr. Boyd has a wealth of experience “In rehabilitation, we’ve been very imaging the brains of older people. She hot on plasticity,” says Dr. Boyd, a Dr. Boyd’s project will also put has never worked with children. member of the Djavad Mowafaghian the students through a battery of “I’m not in education,” she says. Centre for Brain Health. “Can we pump cognitive tests, assessing the students’ “But I can determine whether up the brain, make it stronger through short-term memory, attention levels someone’s brain has changed, and practice, so a person can achieve the and intellectual abilities, looking to what behavioural changes correlate same thing but in a different way? No see if any changes in brain tissue and with those changes. I was intrigued one in my field would question that. activity correlate with behaviour. by this project conceptually, and think But the notion of having enough brain it’s worth investigating.” matter to learn something is a very The project is being funded by private novel concept in education.” THE RESEARCH PROJECT donations, including $105,000 from Dr. Boyd will be one of the first IS BEING SUPPORTED Eaton and $107,527 from the family of scientists to try to answer this THROUGH DONATIONS, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (whose question in children, by examining the INCLUDING A $107,527 GIFT child attended the Eaton Arrowsmith brains and cognitive performance of FROM MICROSOFT CEO School in Vancouver and is now Eaton Arrowsmith students between SATYA NADELLA, WHOSE attending the one in Redmond). 9 and 17 years old, at two points DAUGHTER IS AN EATON But Dr. Boyd has made one thing in time, a year apart. She will also ARROWSMITH STUDENT. clear: She wants to publish whatever compare those results with a control group of learning-disabled students who are not in the school and are Eaton, whose own struggles with receiving assistance in public schools dyslexia as a UBC student led to a or other private schools. very public battle to be exempted Using magnetic resonance imaging from the university’s foreign language (MRI), she will be trying to answer requirement, is confident that the study these questions: will vindicate his schools’ approach. ± Do the cortices (the outermost If that happens, he hopes public schools layer of the brain) of Eaton would adopt it for students who need Arrrowsmith students become it, so parents won’t have to spend thicker? This would indicate $29,000 a year at his school. an increase in dendrites – the “We have kids working six hours branches of neurons that receive a day on cognitive exercises, for signals from other neurons. 10 months out of the year,” he says.

± Do the students have more myelin “I might be overly optimistic about surrounding their neurons? A it, but brain change is inevitable. The thicker amount of that insulating question is where, how and why, and Lara Boyd material allows impulses to travel how is the change benefiting kids’ more quickly through the neuron, academic and social lives?” 

19 PHILANTHROPY

huck Fipke expected nothing but the usual cheer and festivity at the A PASSION FOR Christmas party he held a few years ago for friends and business associates C in Kelowna. But that year’s gathering EXPLORATION was marred by some disturbing news from one of his guests, Brad Bennett. FIRST FOR DIAMONDS, NOW FOR Fipke, who has made his fortune AN ALZHEIMER’S CURE discovering diamonds in Canada, asked about his longtime friend, Brad’s father, Bill Bennett. He expected “CHUCK HAS GIVEN US Mowafaghian Centre for Brain to hear that the elder Bennett, the A VOICE” Health, where Brad Bennett publicly Premier of British Columbia from 1975 acknowledged his father’s illness for to 1986, was enjoying retirement after From that moment, Fipke resolved to the first time. a long and storied career in politics. follow through on that suggestion. The “My father, as you know, was a Instead, Bennett said his father had result: Three gifts, totaling $9.1 million, person of high intellect, great drive, fallen victim to Alzheimer’s disease. for Alzheimer’s research at UBC. and those qualities aren’t there Fipke was stunned. Not only was it Fipke gave $3 million to endow a anymore,” Bennett, the former Chair difficult for him to fathom that a man professorship dedicated to Alzheimer’s of UBC’s Board of Governors, told so vibrant and forceful was gradually research, now held by Haakon invited guests, reporters, television diminishing with dementia. He also Nygaard, a neurologist recruited from crews and photographers. “We, by realized why, several years before, the Yale School of Medicine. nature… are private individuals, who Bill Bennett himself had suggested He pledged $600,000 to outfit like to keep our private life our private that Fipke, a UBC alumnus, support Dr. Nygaard’s lab with cutting-edge life, and up to now we’ve chosen to

Above: Haakon Alzheimer’s research at his alma mater. equipment. And he committed another do that with respect to my father’s Nygaard explains “I was interested, and I was going to $5.5 million to support the purchase condition. the mechanisms do it, but this comes up and that comes of a machine that combines positron “But Chuck has given us a voice, of Alzheimer’s disease and his up,” Fipke says. “I was so disappointed emission tomography (PET) with and for very good reason. Hopefully research into in myself to have not donated when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) this donation and our presence here potential treat- I should have. I got to thinking about – the most novel and coveted brain today will inspire other families facing ments to Chuck Fipke, whose it, and thought, ‘Ronald Reagan got imaging technology available, capable the same situation to feel that it’s OK donation enabled it, Margaret Thatcher got it. Now of spotting subtle changes in brain to talk about it… to help find further Dr. Nygaard’s Bill Bennett.’ All these very smart chemistry and structure a decade or treatments and eventually a cure for appointment at UBC. people who mean so much to the more before symptoms appear. Alzheimer’s, all forms of dementia and Photo by Martin Dee world. We really need to solve this The gifts were announced at a related brain diseases.” problem – put an end to it.” ceremony in September at the Djavad

UBC MEDICINE Fall 2014 20 L-R: Bill Bennett NOT EASILY INTIMIDATED Vice Provost, Health. “Chuck, I’ve decline in metabolic activity in certain at a UBC event come to learn, is not easily intimidated parts of the brain. The trial will enroll in 1981; his son, Brad, at the A geologist, prospector and – not by competition from global 152 patients at as many as 20 sites, announcement entrepreneur, Fipke’s donation reflects corporations, not by the harshness including Vancouver. of Chuck Fipke’s his lifelong passion for exploration. of the Arctic climate and its rugged Dr. Nygaard, who will be seeing gifts; Haakon Nygaard After graduating from UBC with landscape, and certainly not by dementia patients at the Centre for interviewed by a bachelor’s degree in geology, he conventional wisdom. We probably Brain Health (a partnership with news crews in traveled the world for various mining need more Chuck Fipkes in our labs Vancouver Coastal Health), also his lab. companies, and opened his own lab and clinics.” plans to collect DNA samples of in Kelowna, becoming an expert on Instead, Fipke has enabled UBC cognitively healthy people over 100 “indicator minerals” that signal the to recruit Dr. Nygaard, one of North years old, searching for shared genetic presence of diamonds. America’s most promising young characteristics that might distinguish Later, he struck out on his own, neuroscientists, and a specialist in them from people who develop spending weeks near the Arctic Circle treating patients with Alzheimer’s. dementia. before finding high concentrations Dr. Nygaard spent the past decade In addition, Dr. Nygaard will of diamonds at Lac de Gras, in the at Yale – first as a neurology resident, continue work on a theory he Northwest Territories, in 1991. With then as a PhD student, and finally pursued in his Yale dissertation: that a corporate partner, he established as a faculty member. His interest in Alzheimer’s disease might result from the Ekati Mine, the first commercial Alzheimer’s disease was sparked as a neurological hyperactivity. Since diamond mine in North America medical student in Nebraska, during epilepsy is the most extreme form of – thus jump-starting the Canadian a rotation with a physician who saw such hyperactivity, he will study the diamond industry, which in 2011 many patients with the disease. potential of anti-convulsant drugs to accounted for 18 per cent of the world’s As a doctoral student, he studied delay or reverse Alzheimer’s disease. rough diamond production by value. connections between epilepsy and Most of all, Dr. Nygaard will “It’s no wonder that he chose to Alzheimer’s, and as a faculty member, be striving to speed the process devote some of his resources to a he was the founding Co-Director of of converting research findings challenge as formidable as Alzheimer’s Yale’s Memory Disorders Clinic. into treatments, especially now disease,” said Gavin Stuart, Dean of that pharmaceutical companies – the Faculty of Medicine and UBC’s discouraged by poor results in several RE-PURPOSING A large trials – are starting to retreat CANCER DRUG from the neurological realm, and Alzheimer’s in particular. He believes Dr. Nygaard, who arrived at UBC in that he and his colleagues will follow July, is off to a strong start. Fipke’s example. He will be co-leading an $11 million “Nobody believed Chuck when he study funded by the U.S. National insisted on the existence of diamonds Institutes of Health examining in Canada,” Dr. Nygaard said. “But whether saracatinib, a drug developed Chuck persevered, and as you know, for cancer, can curb the progression the rest is history… That’s very similar of Alzheimer’s disease. He and his to the situation we’re facing now with collaborators at Yale completed the Alzheimer’s disease… Here at UBC, the first phase in Connecticut in early words ‘giving up’ have not entered the 2014, demonstrating the drug’s conversation. In fact, in many ways, short-term safety. The next phase will I think we’re just getting started.”  aim to show, using PET, that the drug can arrest an Alzheimer’s-specific

21 A VISION FOR THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE: B ET TER EYE SIGHT

The patients who come to the Faculty the far part of a patient’s retina, and “Good eyesight is a determinant of Medicine’s eye clinic on East patients will not have to endure neck of health, like good teeth,” says Hastings Street have conditions rarely or back strain during an exam. And the P.A. Woodward‘s great-nephew encountered in the rest of Vancouver: clinic will be able to treat twice as many Kip Woodward, Chair of the foundation, T repeated eye trauma, damage from patients in the same amount of time. whose mission is improving the health HIV-related infections, venereal “These people are facing a lot of of British Columbians. “People like infections in the eyes, talc from challenges,” says David Maberley, David Maberley are real heroes.” injected cocaine blocking blood vessels. Head of the Department of With modern equipment, Such is the nature of ophthalmology in Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Dr. Maberley thinks he will be able the Downtown Eastside. who opened the clinic as a young to interest more of his colleagues in Compounding the challenge is the assistant professor. “If we can help donating their time at the clinic. outdated clinic’s equipment, with its them see clearly again, it makes a huge “I didn’t feel comfortable asking weak lighting, low magnification, and difference in their day-to-day lives.” colleagues to volunteer because it’s such uncomfortable examination chairs. On The late P.A. Woodward, also a difficult space to work in,” he says. top of that, the clinic can accommodate known as “Puggy” for his pugnacious “Once it becomes more functional, we’ll only one patient at a time. personality, was an early supporter be able to provide the level of care that Into this mix of pressing need and of the Faculty of Medicine, providing we’re used to giving all of our patients. limited resources stepped the Mr. and funds for the Woodward Biomedical So I’m hoping we can double the Top: A block Mrs. P.A. Woodward’s Foundation – Library and donating $3.5 million for number of days we’re open.” in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. the people behind the iconic rooftop the P.A. Woodward Health Sciences The expansion also will enable the Bottom: David “W” sign that remains a landmark for Centre that housed the library, clinic to become more of a teaching Maberley conducts the impoverished neighborhood. classrooms and the health care facility site, because medical students and an eye exam in the neighborhood clinic. The foundation, created by the that became UBC Hospital. ophthalmology residents will be able Photo by Rob Shaer proprietor of the department store that Since those days, the foundation’s to see patients in one room while once anchored the Downtown Eastside, focus has shifted from medical an instructor does the same in an donated $82,450 to replace the clinic’s education to medical care. The adjoining room. lone unwieldy slit lamp and sparsely Downtown Eastside Eye Clinic – which “Serving neglected populations padded exam chair. The gift will pay has been staffed almost entirely by should be just as much a priority for two new lamps and two new exam faculty members over its 14-year for opthalmologists as it is for other chairs with integrated instrument history – was a perfect way for the physicians,” Dr. Maberley says. “Now stands. foundation to connect its original we’ll be able to instill that principle Now, the clinic’s volunteer mission to its current one. early on.”  ophthalmologists will be able to see into

UBC MEDICINE Fall 2014 22 PHILANTHROPY

FROM ACROSS A CROWDED ROOM, A DONOR FINDS INSPIRATION

L-R: Irene Bettinger and Judith Maxwell Silverman Photo by Martin Dee

arlier this year, Irene Bettinger was diseases such as amytrophic lateral Assistant Professor in the Department looking for a good cause. sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. of Psychiatry. Her father, B.C. lumber mill owner “It was one of the best talks of the “What Dr. Cashman is doing at Paul Heller, had recently died at the Academy meeting,” she recalls. “This UBC would have excited both of them, E age of 101, just a year after her mother, scientist is in the forefront of the field, especially Lola – not only because she Edwina, passed away. She now found and he put forward his vision in such was a neurologist, but because she died herself looking for ways to put their a clear, convincing way. I came away of complications relating to Alzheimer’s estate to good use. from his talk excited.” disease,” Dr. Bettinger said on a recent “Philanthropy was very important From that not-so-chance encounter, visit to Vancouver. “The fact that this to my parents – it’s considered a Dr. Bettinger decided to donate work is going on at UBC, where they responsibility in the Jewish community $210,000 to fund a postdoctoral fellow were faculty members, made it the to take care of others,” she says. in Dr. Cashman’s lab – someone to help perfect way to honour them.” So Dr. Bettinger, a neurologist block the misfolding of proteins, so Appropriately, the Zeldowicz in Kansas City, Missouri, was in a they remain in their proper, non- fellowship will go to yet another female particularly receptive state of mind pathological shape. scientist, Judith Maxwell Silverman, when she traveled to Philadelphia for “We’re after actual cures for these who received her PhD from UBC in the annual meeting of the American protein-related diseases, and it’s a Immunology and Microbiology in 2010, Academy of Neurology, and heard a very, very expensive process requiring and shared the award for top graduating presentation by Neil Cashman, a UBC millions of dollars over the long term,” doctoral student in the Vancouver Professor of Neurology. says Dr. Cashman, a member of the Coastal Health Research Institute. His talk, “Prion-Like Diseases: Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Dr. Bettinger considers the job of The Future is Unfolding,” laid out his Health. “We greatly appreciate donors giving away money a privileged one investigation of misfolded proteins and like Dr. Bettinger, who contribute because she gets to choose projects their connection to neurodegenerative support over several years. It allows us that reflect her parents’ final wishes. to concentrate on the work, and that is She also has donated money for UBC absolutely invaluable.” fellowships in forestry and opera, Dr. Bettinger named the fellowship as well as robotics training for for two of her parents’ close friends, UBC urology residents and fellows. Ludmila and Henry Zeldowicz, who, (Her father died of bladder cancer.) like the Hellers, were Polish refugees “My mother loved people and my from the havoc of World War II. father loved education, so creating Ludmila, known as “Lola,” was a fellowships made perfect sense,” she Clinical Assistant Professor in UBC’s says. “Medicine, the arts, forestry,

L-R: Irene Bettinger with her Division of Neurology (and one of the and helping young people get a better parents, Edwina and Paul Heller. first female neurologists in British education – all these things they would Columbia) and Henry was a Clinical have loved.” 

23 PHILANTHROPY

TWO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS LINKED BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANADIAN HEALTH

hew Wei came to Vancouver late in his life, after retiring as a Hong Kong obstetrician and gynecologist. Tak Wah Mak made the same C journey in his youth – first to the U.S., then to Canada. But the two men had much more than their migration in common: They also contributed mightily to cancer research in their adopted homeland. Dr. Chew, based on his experience as a physician, grew determined to improve outcomes for people with cancer. After his death in 2009, his family and friends in Hong Kong and “Dr. Mak, as the first recipient of L-R: Chew Wei, Tak Mak. Photo credit for Dr. Mak: Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation Malaysia sought to honour his goals by the Dr. Chew Wei Memorial Prize donating $1.5 million to the Faculty of in Cancer Research, has created a Medicine for a prize in cancer research. fitting benchmark for this award, CTLA-4 on T-cells. Those findings Dr. Mak became an immunologist at unequivocally establishing its stature led to the development of ipilimumab, the University of Toronto, where in 1984 among the most prestigious scientific a drug that blocks CTLA-4, thus he discovered, along with U.S. scientist prizes in Canada,” says Howard enabling T-cells to proliferate and Mark Davis, the T-cell receptor – the Feldman, the Faculty of Medicine’s destroy melanoma cells. Meanwhile, component of those immune cells that Executive Associate Dean, Research. his technique for generating knockout enables them to detect and destroy Although the cancer-fighting mice – and sharing them with other bacteria and viruses. implications of Dr. Mak’s T-cell scientists – fostered tangential The two men became linked this receptor discovery were not discoveries by colleagues around year, when the inaugural Dr. Chew immediately apparent at the time, the world. Wei Memorial Prize in Cancer clinical researchers have in recent Dr. Mak has also explored the Research was bestowed upon Dr. Mak. years developed techniques for mechanisms of cell death, thus The prize will be given annually re-engineering the T-cell receptor providing clues about cancer cells’ to a Canadian physician or scientist gene to target certain cancers. potential vulnerabilities, and he has who has made a transformational, Such treatments, while still in the described how cancer cells can adapt internationally recognized experimental stage, have yielded their metabolism to avoid the body’s contribution to the fight against dramatic results in some patients, own defenses. cancer. It emphasizes researchers especially those with leukemia and Dr. Mak was honoured at a banquet whose achievements encompass the melanoma, in part because T-cells in June attended by the Faculty’s spectrum of health research, from the can be far more targeted than leadership, its top cancer researchers laboratory to clinical care to health surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or and family and friends of Dr. Chew. systems and public policy. hormone therapy. One of the attendees included Dr. Mak was chosen to receive the Since then, Dr. Mak pioneered another legacy of Dr. Chew’s mission – $50,000 prize by an international the development of genetically Professor of Pathology and Laboratory panel of scientists that provided engineered mice, also known as Medicine David Huntsman, who was recommendations to an advisory “knockout mice,” because one or more named the Dr. Chew Wei Memorial committee chaired by Gavin Stuart, of their genes have been inactivated. Professor of Gynecological Oncology Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Using this method, he demonstrated in 2012, thanks to a $3 million gift UBC’s Vice Provost, Health. the inhibitory effect of a protein called from Dr. Chew’s family and friends. 

UBC MEDICINE Fall 2014 24 FALL 2014: MEDICAL ALUMNI NEWS

President’s Report 26 Medical Alumni & Friends Wallace Wilson Leadership Award 27 Golf Tournament 33 Honorary Medical Alumni 28 – 30 Residents in a New Residence 34 Silver Anniversary Award 31 MUS/MSAC Report 35 A Look at the MAA’s Annual General Meeting 31 MD Class of 2014 List 36 – 37 Awards, Activities, Achievements 32

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33 UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 26

MEDICAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD 2014–2015 CONTINUING CONNECTIONS – CHALLENGING President THE FUTURE Bob Cheyne, MD’77 PRESIDENT’S REPORT President-Elect TBD Past-President challenging years as medical The Faculty Alumni Relations Jack Burak, MD’76 students lay solid foundations. Office initiated a new program, Treasurer Hamed Umedaly, MD’86 The academic learning is currently in its third year. Island Medical Representative imperative, but the ability to ‘Residents in a New Residence’ Ian Courtice, MD’84 Northern Medical Representative form and promote life-long intends to maintain and Donald MacRitchie, MD’70 connections to classmates and improve alumni connections. Southern Medical Representative Tom Kinahan, MD’84 staff is equally as important. Another alumni initiative is Michael Golbey, MD’80 Residencies and subsequent the CME event, “Tuum Est: Newsletter Editor Beverley Tamboline, MD’60 clinical practice, all which must Leading Edge Medicine,” which Admissions Selection Committee be balanced with personal took place in the fall of 2014. Mark Schonfeld, MD’72

Photo: vsaranphoto.com Photo: and family time, has its own Admissions Policy Committee There have been many activities Marshall Dahl, MD’86 challenges but rooted in these provided by the MAA during Directors challenges are the relationships Nick Carr, MD’83 As incoming president of the past year, which reflect Jim Cupples, MD’81 which are established with Bruce Fleming, MD’78 the UBC Medical Alumni both our association’s history David W. Jones, MD’70 colleagues and professional Harvey Lui, MD’86 Association, I look forward and its commitment to further staff. Our Alumni hope to Ron Warneboldt, MD’75 to the next two years, and the connectivity between Grover Wong, MD’92 promote this connectivity, and Advisors I feel privileged to have students and alumni. The UBC our activities are intended to Arun Garg, MD’77 this opportunity to work MAA encourages and inspires David Hardwick, MD’57 support our intentions. Charles Slonecker, DDS, PhD closely with our Board and medical students to continue Ex-Officio Members support staff. the traditions of excellence Dean, Faculty of Medicine Reflecting on the past year, Dr. Gavin Stuart (Hon.) The MAA has been most we were successful in our as compassionate, committed, Resident Representative future health care professionals Christopher Uy, MD’14 fortunate to have such a endeavours. During our AGM, MUS Representative deserving group of physicians which was held on May 8, 2014, in our diverse communities. As Taneille Johnson, MD’17 we discussed many of our practising physicians, we are Alumni Relations Director dedicated to our mandate of Anne Campbell-Stone supporting students from all the projects and formal reports, proud to be a part of this great Alumni Relations Officer but of most importance was tradition, and we are privileged Kira Davis UBC sites as well as maintaining connectivity with our Alumni. the honouring of the awards to to serve our patients. OBJECTIVES deserving physicians. To support the Faculty of Medicine and its During the past two years, our To conclude, I feel privileged programs directly and through advocacy to be the new president of with the public and government; past president, Dr. Jack Burak, At the Hooding Ceremony To ensure open communication among provided a charismatic and held May 20, 2014 at the the MAA and look forward to alumni and between the alumni and the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 251 meeting the challenges in a Faculty of Medicine; dedicated leadership. He was To encourage and support medical assisted by an equally dedicated medical students received their creative and innovative manner students and residents and their activities; and capable alumni staff who diplomas and the traditional while respecting the honoured To organize and foster academic and social traditions of this association. activities for the alumni. together not only kept the ship cedar shingle. Dr. Ian Courtice, Dr. Gordon Mackie and I were afloat, but directed it in many Best wishes, The Medical Alumni News is published present to shake hands with the semi-annually and this edition was challenging and progressive Robert (Bob) Cheyne, MD’77 produced by the UBC Faculty of Medicine. new graduates and to present President We welcome your suggestions, ideas and directions. We are greatly opinions. Please send comments, articles appreciative for their efforts the shingles. Dr. Courtice and UBC Medical Alumni Association and letters to: and accomplishments. Dr. Mackie were proud and Beverley Tamboline, MD’ 60 honoured to present the shingles Alumni Affairs Faculty of Medicine Medicine for each physician has 2750 Heather Street to their respective daughters. Vancouver, BC V5Z 4M2 its own journey: those fun and Ph: 604 875 4111 ext. 67741 Fax: 604 875 5778 [email protected] ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE 27

WALLACE WILSON LEADERSHIP AWARD LINDA VICKARS, MD’76

keen and dry sense of humour When thinking of those and her participation in our words – doctor, humanist Class’ infamous medical skits and educator – it is fitting nights, both as a performer and that Linda Vickars should as a witty script writer. receive the Wallace Wilson To surize Linda’s amazing Leadership Award. career, she grew up in East I, like everyone else here, Vancouver having proudly only wish that she could be ‘survived’ Killarney High here today. School, obtained her MD degree from UBC in 1976, and Linda and I were classmates. then completed a one-year In the last few weeks since internship in Internal Medicine her passing, I’ve thought a before moving to New Zealand lot about her. Who she was where she studied Critical Care J. Burak, MD’76 (left) presenting the Wallace Wilson Leadership Award in so many different roles – to Dr. G. Growe (right) who accepted it on behalf of L. Vickars, MD’76. Medicine, then travelled in Photo: vsaranphoto.com classmate, friend, colleague, southeast Asia and eventually doctor, teacher, researcher, returned to Vancouver in 1979. mentor. I’ve also thought about Inherited Bleeding Disorders Linda and Shelly Naiman Linda completed her residency the transitions we make in Program from Dr. Gerry Growe. travelled all seven continents of in Internal Medicine and then our lives since that first day of Linda was forced to retire in the world. Linda was a gourmet a Fellowship in Hematology, orientation in medical school. 2011 after being diagnosed with cook. She and Shelly loved cats, and obtained her RCPSC I remember meeting Linda in a malignant brain tumor. and named their last two cats certifications in both specialties first year. Linda was quiet, shy, “Eo” (eosinophil) and “Baso” in 1983 and 1984. Linda then Vera Frinton captured the deeply thoughtful, intelligent, (basophil), befitting names for practiced at Vancouver General essence of Linda in the and willing to learn and share cats of two hematologists. Hospital for three years before following passage which her experiences. I became relocating to St. Paul’s Hospital was published in the British Linda’s deepest concern was enthused about hematology in in 1987 to fill the vacancy left Columbia Medical Journal, Vol. always for Shelly’s welfare. years 3 and 4 simply by being by Dr. Penny Ballem. Linda 56, No. 8, October 2013: “Linda Sadly, Linda died in late April. around her and absorbing her practiced at St. Paul’s for 25 would arrive at the hospital by She and Shelly are truly unsung excitement as she talked about years. She was highly respected 7am to visit her patients, to sit heroes, having taught the next hematology. Linda represented, as a hematologist and received with them, reach out and touch generation of learners and even then, the medical expert, the Clinical Faculty Award for them, and talk with them as having made us all better doctors. collaborator, communicator, Career Excellence in Clinical long as they needed. She had and scholar long before the Teaching by the UBC Faculty of an extraordinary gentleness The speech presented by Jack CanMeds competencies were Medicine in 2008. about her. She would return Burak, MD’76 at the MAA developed and described. later, after a full office of similar In 2004, Linda moved laterally Annual General Meeting on As we progressed through caring and kindness, and make to focus on her passion for May 8, 2014. medical school, we all went evening rounds again, spending non-malignant disorders through so much – anxiety, time with each patient and and assumed the position Dr. Gerry Growe graciously stress, fear, joy, sadness, often getting home after 10pm.” of Medical Director of the accepted the Wallace Wilson laughter, parties, and fun. Linda Provincial Hemophilia and Leadership Award on behalf of handled it in stride with her Linda Vickars, MD’76. UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 28

HONORARY MEDICAL ALUMNUS AWARD DR. SHELDON NAIMAN

He has had an enormous impact For all of us who knew them, on the UBC Faculty of Medicine when you think of Linda, and the health care of British you automatically think of Columbians. We are honoured Shelly too. We are proud to to recognize Dr. Shelly Naiman recognize Dr. Shelly Naiman with the UBC Honorary this year with an Honorary Medical Alumnus Award. Medical Alumnus Award. Shelly graduated from the The Honorary Medical University of Toronto medical Alumnus Award recognizes a school in 1962. He interned in member of the UBC Faculty California, initially in neurology, L – R: S. Naiman (Hon.) and L. Vickars, MD’76 of Medicine community but later developed an interest who has made a significant in parturient women who contribution as a committed had developed disseminated clinician, teacher, mentor or intravascular coagulation (DIC) administrator. in the post-partum period. He returned to Canada and ended Dr. Naiman was the first up in Vancouver where he clinical hematologist in BC initially completed his Royal and sat on the first Canadian College certification in Internal examining board for clinical Medicine. Shelly taught and hematology. He was also the worked in the lab and did first Head of the Division of clinical medicine. Clinical Hematology in 1976. At that time, there were no As noted earlier, Shelly was effective treatments for adult appointed as the first Head of leukemia, and Dr. Naiman the newly-created Division of Clinical Hematology at J. Burak, MD’76 (left) presenting Dr. G. Growe (right) with wrote up the proposal for Dr. S. Naiman (Hon.)’s Honorary Medical Alumni certificate the bone marrow transplant UBC in 1976. In 1983, his good Photo: vsaranphoto.com program of B.C. The first friend, Dr. David Hardwick, transplant was done in 1980. enticed Shelly back to Hematopathology. lost on Shelly who notes that The speech presented by Though Dr. Naiman has been a having spent most of his career Jack Burak, MD’76 at the Shelly relocated to St. Paul’s noted clinician, teacher, mentor, looking at blood cells through MAA Annual General Meeting Hospital in 1996 to work with and administrator, I think that a microscope, he was felled by on May 8, 2014. Linda Vickars. They had “teacher” is one we all think of a blood clot and a hemorrhage. bought a house together in when we think of Shelly. He And this is typical of Shelly’s Dr. Gerry Growe graciously 1992 and married in 1997. Shelly won many medical students’ wit, sense of humour and his accepted the Honorary Medical fully retired in 2007 due to and residents’ teaching awards reputation as one who has never Alumnus Award on behalf of bilateral blindness caused by and his teaching has become been at a loss to tell a good joke. Dr. Sheldon Naiman as he was his legacy. Of note, he received thrombosis in one eye and a unable to attend the MAA the Cam Coady Award from the later retinal hemorrhage in the Annual General Meeting. BCMA in 2009. other eye. This irony was not ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE “John has held leadership roles 29 in the Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant/Hematology programs for the Vancouver General Hospital and Province of British Columbia. ”

HONORARY MEDICAL ALUMNUS AWARD DR. JOHN SHEPHERD

John received his medical I had the pleasure of degree from the University nominating Dr. John Shepherd of Calgary and came back to for an Honorary Medical Vancouver as a hematologist. Alumnus Award. John has held leadership roles in the Leukemia/Bone Marrow I met John when we were both Transplant/Hematology undergraduate students at programs for the Vancouver UBC. We were both interested General Hospital and the in genetics and immunology, Province of British Columbia. which is interesting because at He has also held the position that time, these areas of study of Senior Medical Director for were not very popular. Vancouver General Hospital and We spent much of our spare in that role he was responsible time with a group of about eight for quality in B.C.’s largest microbiology students who hospital (2002-2004). In 2004 were also interested in genetics Dr. Shepherd was the inaugural and immunology and would Vice President – Clinical Quality L – R: Dr. J. Shepherd (Hon.), D. Miller, MD’80 and J. Burak, MD’76 Photo: vsaranphoto.com often meet in the Wesbrook and Safety for Vancouver building, near the Student Coastal Health and in 2006 Union Building. his portfolio was expanded to include Health Service John hasn’t changed Networks, Clinical Quality and much since his time as an Safety (2004-2007). He has undergraduate student. He is had an amazing career with still just as caring and genuine Vancouver Coastal Health and as he was back then, but now, has been a wonderful colleague he is a hematologist who can even with people who are not in be proud of the amazing career his division. It has been a great that he has had. John has also pleasure to nominate John for been involved in bringing an Honorary Medical Alumnus many philanthropic donations Award and I cannot think of to hematology at UBC, he has someone more deserving. been a leader in terms of patient safety and patient quality of life The speech presented by Dianne and he really made a career of it The MAA awards and plaques on display at the AGM on May 8 long before being in hematology Miller, MD’80 at the MAA Photo: vsaranphoto.com was in vogue. Annual General Meeting on May 8, 2014. UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 30

HONORARY MEDICAL ALUMNUS AWARD DR. GRANGER AVERY

medical associations and the It is a great pleasure to government work together. He introduce an outstanding was also a national medical individual as our newest leader with the Canadian Honorary Medical Alumnus, Medical Association. Dr. Granger Avery. The third reason was really an I can think of at least three amalgamation of the two, as a reasons he deserves this award, champion for improvements each of which by themselves in rural health care. Granger would be enough, the first was involved at the medical being that Granger is a very association level, tirelessly good doctor. After completing making sure that the important his medical degree in London, challenges of rural health care UK, he moved to New Zealand were addressed – politically, for further training. He then provincially, and societally. He L – R: M. Dahl, MD’86, Dr. G. Avery (Hon.), and J. Burak, MD’76 Photo: vsaranphoto.com came to Port McNeill in took part in rural negotiations 1974 and has been there ever and continues today with many since. Many physicians have important jobs. come and gone from there, Granger has been recognized but Granger has remained with many other awards a constant figure, providing including the Fellowship of medical care for those in Port Rural and Remote Medicine of McNeil. He has looked after the Society of Rural Physicians the residents of Port McNeill, of Canada, the BCMA Silver served on medical committees Medal of Service award, the Dr. and has provided the best care Don Rix Award for Physician possible for many people. Leadership from BCMA and The second reason as to last year the Queen’s Diamond M. Dahl, MD’86 presenting one of the Honorary Medical Alumni why Granger is an Honorary Jubilee medal for services to awards to Dr. G. Avery (Hon.) Medical Alumnus is because rural medicine. Photo: vsaranphoto.com he is a medical leader. Granger He has been passionate, has been very active and effective, and a gentleman and inspirational and those who we are happy to have him join “Granger has been very active have worked with him at the us as an Honorary Medical and inspirational and those who provincial level know that Alumnus at UBC. well. He has been a part of have worked with him at the the BCMA (now, Doctors The speech presented by provincial level know that well.” of BC), including serving as Marshall Dahl, MD’86 at the Chair and President at a time MAA Annual General Meeting that was absolutely pivotal on May 8, 2014. for forming the way that ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE 31

SILVER ANNIVERSARY AWARD DR. CYNTHIA HORNER | CLASS OF 1989

the class of 1989. Tragically, overseas on peacekeeping families, made many friends and Drs. Ken Lim, Karen Nordahl, Cynthia passed away early in missions, written books, touched the lives of those we and Barry Fung from the her career, and we will never won research and teaching have served in our profession. know what achievements awards and practiced in all class of 1989 nominated In closing, I would think the she could have attained corners of this continent. Dr. Cynthia Horner spirit and promise of Cynthia personally, administratively, Many are leaders provincially, posthumously for the Silver lives on through the lives of academically, clinically, and/ nationally and internationally Anniversary Award. Their her classmates, and we all or in her community. I in their fields. Others have nomination letter was should be grateful for the would like to think the many volunteered for their churches, submitted by Dr. Lim: opportunities life has given us. accomplishments made by so schools, sports organizations I would like to nominate Dr. many members of our class and other endeavors with Cynthia Horner (posthumously) The award was presented at represent what Cynthia could thousands of volunteer hours for the Silver Anniversary the Class of 1989 reunion on have done had she had the to the betterment of their Award in order to acknowledge October 17-18. chance. Classmates have served communities. We have raised the many achievements of

A LOOK AT THE MAA’S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MAY 8, 2014

medical students. The annual excellent job of ensuring that On May 8, 2014 the UBC Medical Alumni and Friends the MAA increased its revenue Medical Alumni Association Golf Tournament had a good and more importantly, focused held its Annual General turnout and continues to on the financial sustainability Meeting. grow each year. In response of the MAA. This was his last to our alumni wanting more meeting as Treasurer and he The evening began with a membership benefits, the now joins the MAA Board of light reception where MAA MAA hosted “Tuum Est: Directors as a Director. Taking board members and alumni Leading Edge Medicine,” an his role as Treasurer will be gathered to celebrate another intellectually stimulating and Dr. Hamed Umedaly, MD’86. successful year. Finishing his two-year term clinically relevant morning J. Burak, MD’76 with his MAA Jack Burak, MD’76 led the which featured the topics as MAA President, Jack Burak, President certificate meeting and updated the dementia and stroke. The CME MD’76 moved to become Past Photo: vsaranphoto.com UBC medicine community event had positive feedback President with Bob Cheyne, with the MAA’s activities and and will continue to be an event MD’77 stepping into the role of achievements for 2013. The that the MAA will present President for 2014-2016. MAA had a record number of every year. The MAA would like to thank memberships over the past year The meeting concluded Harvey Lui, MD’86 and Jack and saw many contributions with the Treasurer’s Report Burak, MD’76 for all of their to MSAC’s Endowment Fund. and installation of the new hard work and dedication and Membership support enables President. Harvey Lui, MD’86 welcome Hamed Umedaly, the MAA to deliver service and has been the MAA’s Treasurer MD’86 and Bob Cheyne, MD’77 value for alumni and current for 12 years and has done an to their new positions. L – R: H. Lui, MD’86; M. Dahl, MD’86 and H. Umedaly, MD’86 Photo: vsaranphoto.com UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 32 Top row, L – R: A. Dharamsi, MD’14; A. Garg, MD’77; B. Cavers, MD’77; D. Etches, MD’74 Bottom row, L – R: L. Oppel, MD’88; M. Golbey, MD’80; M. VanAndel, MD’68; M. Myckatyn, MD’72 & Dr. L. Sent (Hon.); R. Love, MD’86 (Above photos: KarenTphoto.com) Dr. O. Casiro (Hon.) (Photo: vsaranphoto.com);

AWARDS, ACTIVITIES, ACHIEVEMENTS

Several alumni received awards Lectureship Award. Established Videsh Kapoor, MD’93 At the Doctors of BC 2014 at the Faculty of Medicine in 1981, the award honors Dr. received the UBC Global Annual Awards Ceremony, Awards Reception held in William Boyd, a great Canadian Citizenship Award at Morris VanAndel, MD’68, June. Ian MacDonald, MD’79 pathologist and the first Head this year’s UBC Alumni received the Dr. Cam Coady received a Clinical Faculty of the UBC Department of Achievement Awards. Award for Career Excellence Pathology and Laboratory Award and Duncan Etches, George Szasz, MD’55 is in Clinical Teaching, Peter Medicine. The award MD’74, Michael Golbey, interested in establishing a Doyle, MD’79, a Clinical recognizes the contribution MD’80, Michael Myckatyn, collection of literary works Faculty Award for Excellence of a senior CAP/ACP member MD’72 and Dr. Lorna Sent created by B.C. doctors, UBC in Clinical Teaching, and to Laboratory Medicine. (Hon.) were recipients of graduates practicing outside Simon Bicknell, MD’97, CMA Honorary Membership Arun Garg, MD’77 was of B.C. and medical students Laura Farrell, MD’02 and Awards. Alia Dharamsi, MD’14 recognized by the Canadian at UBC. The collection Scot Mountain, MD’98 was awarded with the Student Association of Physicians of would include items such as received a Clinical Faculty Advocate Award, one of the Indian Heritage (CAIPH) autobiographies, biographical Award for Excellence in Doctors of BC Change Maker with the CAIPH Lifetime works, novels, plays, short Community Practice Teaching. Awards. Award at the recent Canadian stories, historical works, Distinguished Achievement Bill Cavers, MD’77 was India Networking Initiative theater plays, poetry and essay Awards were accorded to installed as Doctors of BC (CINI) 2014 Conference. collections. The works may Winson Cheung, MD’03 President for 2014/2015 The award is in recognition have been commercially or (Overall Excellence – Early and Lloyd Oppel, MD’88 as of his work at CINI in 2010 privately published or still Career) and Raymond Chair, General Assembly. and CINI 2014. The award in manuscript form. If you Lam, MD’81, (Overall recognizes and celebrates would like to contribute your Dr. Vicki Bernstein (Hon.) Excellence – Senior Faculty). outstanding contributions work to this collection, or was recipient of a YWCA The Innovation in CME- by individuals who have led you know of an author who Metro Vancouver Women CPD Award went to Devin the South Asian community may be interested, e-mail of Distinction Award Harris, MD’ 98 and a UBC forward and paved the way the name of the author, the (Health and Wellness Killam Teaching Prize to for new industry talent. title of the work and the Category), June 3, 2014. Graham Wong, MD’95. author’s contact information John Richards, MD’60 College of Physicians and At the annual meeting of to [email protected]. After received a Lifetime Surgeons of BC Awards of the Canadian Association Dr. Szasz has assessed the Achievement Award at the Excellence were presented of Pathologists/Association interest level in creating such a meeting of the Canadian to Dr. Oscar Casiro (Hon.), Canadienne des Pathologistes collection he will seek funding Society of Cataract and Jean Hlady, MD’74 and (CAP/ACP) in Toronto, July to obtain and maintain the Refractive Surgery and the BC Robin Love, MD’86. 13, 2014, Mike Allard, MD’81 literary works and a location Society of Eye Physicians and received the William Boyd to house the collection. Surgeons, September 2014. ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE 33

L – R: S. Anderson, MD’84; L – R: Chuck Slonecker Best Ball L – R: Scotiabank Winning Senior Dr. J. Whelan; P. Chan, MD’88; winnning team – Dr. B. Turchen; team – S. Madill, MD’59; B. Gordon, J. Sidhu, MD’05 M. Schonfeld, MD’72; B. Fritz; MD’59; G. Morrison, MD’63; Dr. H. Buck Thank you to the MD’75, D. Bulmer UBC Medical Aumni & Friends EVENT HIGHLIGHTS Golf Tournament Sponsors

The afternoon was spent register a full field of 144 golfers, UBC Medical Alumni & connecting with friends, so invite your colleagues early Friends Golf Tournaent – colleagues, former classmates, as the tournament will fill up June 19, 2014 and teachers. The day went quickly! Registration will open by quickly and was followed in early spring. The UBC Medical Alumni Presenting Partner by a delicious dinner in the & Friends Golf Tournament Special thanks to Ron clubhouse and prizes for Scotiabank was the most successful Warneboldt, MD’75; Bob the winners. Many golfers Diamond Sponsors tournament to date, and in no Cheyne, MD’77; David Jones, participated in the raffle draw Bulmer Investment Group small measure was due to the MD’70; Jim Lane, MD’73; and silent auction which generosity of the sponsors and Brad Fritz, MD’ 75; Patty Clinical Sleep Solutions featured an iPad, Tiffany number of golfers that attended. Scrase and Susanne Kingshott jewelry, and hotel getaways. Gold Sponsors from Scotiabank and lastly, The tournament was held at the The money raised from Doctors of BC Anne Campbell-Stone and University Golf Course on June these activities and from the MD Management Kira Davis for organizing this 19, 2014. With many returning tournament as a whole totaled MNP LLP year’s tournament. participants and some new more than $23,000, and will Silver Sponsors alumni and friend golfers, the go to support MD student The success of this tournament Canadian Diagnostic tournament featured a shotgun programs at UBC. is due to the continued support David Mitchell Co. Ltd. start which allowed all of the of our sponsors. Thank you Mark your calendars for next Harper Grey LLP teams to start and finish their for your generous sponsorship year’s tournament on June round of golf together. New to and contributions of prizes for MedRay Imaging 18, 2015. The Medical Alumni the tournament this year was the golfers. The commitment Sport Med/Paris Orthotics Association encourages all that all teams participated in you show to this tournament is ZLC Financial alumni and friends of alumni the ‘best-ball’ format, allowing greatly appreciated and directly in the medical community Bronze Sponsors for beginner and experienced supports the current and future to register for the 2015 Aarm Dental Group golfers to play together. medical community. tournament. The goal will be to Area 3 Design Countrywide Communications DOCUdavit Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Chuck Slonecker Best Ball Best Ball 3rd Place Committee (GPAC) Tournament (1st Place) Matthew Antony Mardon Insurance Dr. Barry Turchen Bill Finlay Morrey Auto Group Winners Brad Fritz, MD’75 John McKinney Mark Schonfeld, MD’72 Michael Healey Pollock Clinics Don Bulmer Winning Senior Best Ball Team Oscar Host Best Ball 2nd Place Stew Madill, MD’59 RSRS Canada Dr. Rob Stenstrom Bob Gordon, MD’59 Speakeasy Solutions Dr. Eric Grafstein Gary Morrison, MD’63 Xtreme Threads Dr. Jim Christenson Dr. Harold Buck Dr. Grant Innes UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 34

L – R: M. Trotter, MD’85 & V. Chang, MD’98 at the Alumni and residents catching up and connecting Calary Residents in a New Residence event. over great food in Calgary.

RESIDENTS IN A NEW RESIDENCE

Calgary and Edmonton, conversation, delicious food, next summer to welcome This spring 97 per cent of it seemed fitting to throw refreshing beverages, and some the MD 2015’s who will be UBC’s 256 fourth-year MD them all a big welcome party great patios! starting their residencies there, when they arrived! The contact [email protected] or undergraduate class matched If you are interested in event, “Residents in a New 604‑875-4111 x67741. to postgraduate training hosting a “Residents in a New Residence,” brought together programs in the first round. Residence” event in your city UBC’s Postgraduate Medical new graduates and alumni Education Program accepted currently living in those cities. the largest number of entry- Many of UBC Medicine’s level postgraduate trainees established alumni were there in the history of UBC and to meet and greet our newest while many graduates were alumni and fill them in on the matched to programs in ins and outs of the city and British Columbia, many had medical community. the opportunity to begin Edmonton’s event kicked their medical careers in off the series on July 10, and other parts of Canada. was hosted by Gail Black, Summer rolled in and our MD’80 at MKT Fresh Food newest graduates set off to & Beer Market. Toronto’s event followed on July 16 at Welcome to Ottawa! Alumni and residents at Sidedoor Restaurant begin the next steps in their in the Byward Market. careers – residency. Beginning Rodney’s Oyster House with residency training coupled Ivor Fleming, MD’85 hosting with moving to a new city the evening. The next day, and meeting new people can July 17, the event was held be a bit overwhelming, to say in Ottawa with Judy Chow, the least, and the Faculty of MD’80 and David Burt, Medicine Alumni Relations MD’80 hosting the gathering unit wanted to show our at Sidedoor Restaurant in the newest alumni that they Byward Market. The series weren’t alone and that there are concluded in Calgary on July many UBC Medicine alumni 24 at Bar C Restaurant with living all over the country. hosts Jackson Wu, MD’93 and Vivana Chang, MD’98. Each With many new residents event was filled with great relocating to Toronto, Ottawa,

Rodney’s Oyster House was the perfect place to welcome Toronto’s newest UBC graduates. ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE 35

Hardwick Hall ready for 80 people, November 2013. Medical student Ellie Parton, MD’17 and her new husband Louis-Philippe Saumier (PhD candidate, UVic) celebrate in MSAC’s Hardwick Hall. Photo: Kendra Coupland – Love Tree Photography

MSAC REPORT

(for ages 1, 16, 40 and 80), bat/ everything so carefree and easy, MSAC employs two full-time Private Rentals at MSAC bar mitzvahs, anniversary which helped us to concentrate coordinators, Nancy Thompson parties, retirement receptions, on the things that were and Scott Walker, to assist with Reception rooms in the William wedding receptions, and important, like greeting guests, event planning and day-of- A. Webber Medical Student and seasonal events such as a making sure everyone was event details. Nancy and Scott Alumni Centre are available for Thanksgiving dinner. Event comfortable and meeting each have nearly 20 years of MSAC rent to medical students, UBC organizers call MSAC when other. The venue was perfect experience between them, and medical alumni, and UBC clinical guest lists grow too large for and we never imagined that they enjoy ensuring MSAC’s faculty when not scheduled for their homes, or when it is best things would proceed without private rental events proceed student meetings or Faculty to have people gather in a place any problems at all. Oscar and without problems. of Medicine events. UBC as central as the MSAC. I were grateful to have the medical alumni who are annual You can reach MSAC by email opportunity to use the facility subscribers to the UBC Medical Dr. Oscar Casiro (Hon.) rented at [email protected] , or by and proud to see how well the Alumni Association receive a the MSAC in June. His wife phoning 604-875-5522. space is utilized by all associated discount on the rental price. Malca writes: with the Faculty of Medicine. Submitted by Nancy Thompson In 2014, MSAC hosted private “… thank you for helping to Having the event at MSAC was events such as birthday parties make our out-of-town-guests very meaningful for us.” dinner such a success. You made

MUS REPORT

representing UBC’s four years this event annually. In addition, At the end of August, the of training and distributed sites, we’re looking forward to hosting UBC Medical Undergraduate traveled to Victoria to engage our second Dialogue Day and Society (MUS) welcomed with MLAs during our first further engaging medical a fresh cohort of medical annual “Dialogue Day.” The students across the province. MUS was proud and thankful students to our family. As Alumni, UBC faculty and to be able to send students to with last year, a new crop staff support is vital for over 30 meetings with MLAs of 288 students joined our the functioning of our and ministers. ranks of up-and-coming undergraduate society. The UBC physicians. The MUS looks forward to the community provides students Seventeen medical students represented UBC for the first This diverse and enthusiastic exciting year ahead. On October with exceptional medical annual Dialogue Day. group will be training at UBC’s 2nd, the MUS co-hosted their education and extra-curricular four distributed campuses in 2nd Annual Doctors of BC-MUS experiences. On behalf of the Taneille Johnson Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, “Meet and Greet” at the Medical over 1,000 medical students at President, Medical and Prince George. Student and Alumni Centre UBC, the MUS would like to Undergraduate Society (MSAC). This event helped thank these individuals who This past year, the MUS MD Candidate, Class of 2017 the incoming MUS Executive work tirelessly to ensure UBC was involved in a number of build productive working students receive a well-rounded exciting initiatives. On May relationships with the Doctors and world-class education. 5th, 17 medical students, of BC. We hope to continue UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS 36 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2014!

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.

Brian Baker Quinn Hamilton Julia Lin Sukhdeep Sidhu Andrew Wong University of University of University of Calgary University of University of Calgary Anatomical British Columbia Dermatology British Columbia British Columbia Chang (Nancy) Liu Fei James Xu Pathology Marius (Lawrence) Hella (Flora) Barnard Kristi Hansen University of Toronto Deanna Singh University of Toronto Kyra Berg Laurentiu Haiducu University of Western University University of James Liu Howard Yan University of University of British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia University of Rachell So University of Alberta British Columbia Andrew Battison University of Sean Herman British Columbia Jonathan Yang Jaspreet (Jessie) Dhillon University of University of British Columbia University of Alberta Supreet Maan University of Alberta British Columbia British Columbia Katelyn Sorenson University of Alberta Nan Yang Daniel Owen Emergency Natalia Beloukhina Aron Heroux University of Julie Man University of Calgary University of Baljeet Brar University of Calgary Memorial University British Columbia British Columbia University of University of Alberta Brian Yau Ashley Bowden of Newfoundland Kelsey Stearns British Columbia Rehana Manji University of Jessica Saunders University of University of Calgary University of Terri Hopkins University of British Columbia Anthony Bryson British Columbia British Columbia University of David Sung University of British Columbia Gordon Yip Jason Cassidy British Columbia University of Toronto British Columbia Curtis Manning University of Calgary McMaster University Farrah Issa Sharon Szeto Alia Dharamsi University of Calgary Christina Yong Josephine Chow University of Ottawa University of Calgary Anesthesia University of Toronto Gerren Martin University of Calgary University of Calgary Nicholas Jawanda Dillon Takata Richard Alexander Christopher Heyd University of Calgary Charlie Zhang Jackson Chu University of University of University of McMaster University British Columbia Andrea Miners University of Calgary British Columbia University of Alberta British Columbia Jonathan Lee University of Justin Jay Shuan Ta (Tom) Tang Kevin Zhou Joanne Bleackley University of Brittany Craigen British Columbia University of Ottawa University of University of University of Ottawa British Columbia University of Alberta British Columbia Katelyn Mueller British Columbia Hao Chen Rachel Lim Rachel (Rae) Dalzell University of Andrew Jeffery Brittany Tarras University of University of University of British Columbia Queen’s University Queen’s University British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia Kari Nishi General Surgery Christine Kang Elana Taub Amandeep Kaur Bajwa Rana Hamidizadeh Aalia Sachedina Peytra Davies University of University of Calgary University of Calgary University of Alberta University of University of University of British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia Diana Kang Sean Nixon Derek To Graeme Bock University of McMaster University Laura Kosakoski Benjamin Tuyp Tara Dawn University of Calgary University of Ottawa University of Calgary British Columbia University of University of Alberta Jessica Palmer Nicole Touhey Alexander Ednie Dalhousie University Edmond Li British Columbia Rachel Delacretaz- Sally Ke University of University of University of University of Kerry Walker Jaunich British Columbia British Columbia Jennifer Li Saskatchewan British Columbia University of University of Calgary Adam Pankalla Benjamin Trepanier University of Amy Kluftinger British Columbia Shannon Lockhart British Columbia Leanne DeLong University of University of Queen’s University University of Dalhousie University British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia Patricia Kousaie Paul Dickinson Tarnvir (Sonia) Paul Christopher Turski Disha Mehta Dalhousie University ENT University of University of University of Internal University of British Columbia Maria Kovalik British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia Harman Parhar Medicine Queen’s University Matthew Turton University of Matthew Dykstra Mallory Quinn Mohad Bardi University Craig Ross British Columbia University of Alberta Simran Kular University of Alberta University of of University of Ontario British Columbia Kevin Fairbairn University of Calgary Sari Raber British Columbia Broden Rutherglen University of Kathryn Kuss University of Jocelyn Unger Laura Budd McMaster University British Columbia British Columbia Northern Ontario Family Med University of University of Toronto Evan Shao British Columbia School of Medicine Dylan Falk Dueck Michael Rose Yu Chiao Peter Chen University of Integrated Shaun van Pel University of Cheuk Lam (Marco) Lau Dalhousie University University of British Columbia University of Emergency British Columbia University of Toronto Travis Routtu British Columbia Terri Sun Jacqueline MacKay British Columbia Erica Farnworth Adrian Le University of Lawrance Chow University of Dalhousie University Kevin Wade Queen’s University University of Toronto British Columbia University of British Columbia University of Katherine Santos British Columbia Heather Filek Rose Lee British Columbia University of Calgary Memorial University Northern Ontario Laura Fraser Tania Wall of Newfoundland School of Medicine Family Medicine Harpreet Ghuman Queen’s University University of British Columbia Clinical Roozbeh Ahmadi Josephine Lee Roveena Sequeira University of Uneza Waqar University of British Columbia University of Toronto Northern Ontario Justin Gill Research University of Alberta British Columbia School of Medicine University of Fellowship Aaron Gropper Michelle Lehmkuhl Kristina Williams British Columbia Jay Ching-Chieh Wang Michael (Luke) University of Ottawa University of Calgary John (Jack) Shaw Armstrong University of University of Gary Golds University of Toronto Jordan Hamilton Jasna Levi University of British Columbia British Columbia University of University of University of British Columbia Gavin Wilson Saskatchewan British Columbia British Columbia Warren Shenkenfelder University of Alberta University of British Columbia ALUMNI NEWS | UBC MEDICINE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2014! 3 7

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.

Jesse Greiner Katherine Shoults Devon Rasmussen Gilbert Lam Ho Man (Theresa) Lo University of University of University of Manitoba University of Ottawa Fraser – Greater British Columbia British Columbia Vancouver – Neurology Angel Pei Yi Shan Ravneet Sekhon Radiology Christopher Feehan University of Kathleen Eddy Mona Habibi Dylan Stanger University of University of Ottawa British Columbia University of University of University of British Columbia Dalhousie University British Columbia Jennifer Sibley British Columbia British Columbia Jennifer Rurak Gilat Grunau James Hayward University of Fraser – Greater Kevin Hamming Shananjit (Sonny) Joshua Lai University of University of British Columbia Vancouver – University of Thiara University of British Columbia Saskatchewan Elana Thau University of Saskatchewan University of British Columbia University of Toronto British Columbia Jeffrey Hu British Columbia Miriam Lermer University of Yiannis Himaras Krista Schultz University of Calvin Ka Wing Tong McMaster University British Columbia Ophthalmology Fraser – Greater British Columbia University of Emilie Mackie Vancouver – Kulveer Parhar British Columbia Gavin Docherty Andrew Hurlburt University of Plastic Surgery University of University of University of British Katie Tyzuk British Columbia Rebecca Hartley British Columbia British Columbia University of Columbia British Columbia University of David McVea University of Calgary Iva Jokic Nathan Plaa British Columbia Parampal (Paul) Grewal Karmen Jongewaard University of Tyler Omeis Vancouver Island – University of University of Alberta University of Aiza Waheed British Columbia University of University of British Columbia British Columbia University of Anne Nguyen Brett Poulis British Columbia British Columbia Paxton Smith British Columbia Hasandeep Kular University of University of Calgary Diana Song Bryan Chow McGill University University of Andrew Wilson British Columbia Timothy Ratzlaff University of Vancouver – British Columbia University of Christopher Uy Queen’s University British Columbia University of British Columbia University of British Columbia Helena Lee Saama Sabeti Sabbatical University of Ruobing Yang British Columbia Tian (Ty) Gee University of Ottawa James Macdonald British Columbia Queen’s University Vignan Yogendrakumar Vancouver – University of Ottawa Physical University of Geordie Linford Jonah Von Sychowski British Columbia Northern Ontario Victoria-University Medicine & School of Medicine of British Columbia Orthopedics Rehabilitation Ryan Patrick O’Neill Urology Sebastian Ko Vancouver – Sarah Courtice Robert Dale Alice Mai Neurosurgery University of University of University of University of Albert Isaacs British Columbia British Columbia University of British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia University of Calgary Gautamn Sarwal Jennifer Rozylo Raistlin Majere Language & Lawrence Kei Min-Han (Michael) University of Vancouver – Thomas De Los Reyes University of Judaic Studies University of Yang British Columbia University of University of British Columbia British Columbia Rebecca (Riki) Dayan University of Calgary British Columbia British Columbia Carolyn Maskens Jerusalem Natalja Tchajkova Tyler Varnals University of Toronto University of Manitoba Vancouver – University of Matthew Miles Pediatric Match Not Dalhousie University Obstetrics & British Columbia Masters of Neurology Specified Keigan More Gynecology Psychiatry Atlantis Minnings Health Sciences Lindsay Benoit Leeza Looned Chia Hsun Dalhousie University Smrita Grewal Victoria – University Daniel Barnes University of Calgary University of of British Columbia (Anthony) Lin Nathaniel Moulson British Columbia University of Toronto University of Natasha Berntsen Queen’s University James Harris British Columbia University of University of Allison Nakanishi Liam Stobart Saskatchewan University of British Columbia Public Health British Columbia Erica Chhoa Pediatrics Tom Kim Michael Benusic University of Farah Abdulsatar Queen’s University University of Toronto Michael Pascas British Columbia Western University University of Masters Dorothy Kuk Kristy Cho Saskatchewan in Clinical Vickie Chow University of Toronto University of University of Aaron Rizzardo Epidemiology British Columbia British Columbia Bradley Locke Radiation University of Tahara Bhate Danielle D’Aleo University of Oncology British Columbia University of Jennifer Cutting British Columbia University of Matthew Chan British Columbia University of Adrienne Roos British Columbia British Columbia Amanda Degenhardt University of University of Fraser – Greater British Columbia British Columbia Siddhartha Das Keira Dheensaw Vancouver – University of University of University of Adele Duimering Thomas Roston Mountain British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia University of Alberta University of British Columbia Medicine So Youn (Rachel) Kim Kristen Favel Sesath Hewapathirane Sylvia Ng Mika Hemphill University of University of Fraser – Greater University of Toronto Indeep Sekhon International British Columbia British Columbia Vancouver – University of Wanting (Tina) Zhang University of British Columbia Justin Mui Michelle Lai Western University University of University of British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia A PROVINCE-WIDE ENTERPRISE UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

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NORTHERN HEALTH AUTHORITY Dawson Creek

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University of British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver campus BC Cancer Agency University of British Columbia (UBC) Okanagan campus BC Children’s Hospital University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) in Prince George BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre University of Victoria (UVic) in Victoria Kelowna General Hospital Royal Columbian Hospital Royal Jubilee Hospital Affiliated Regional Centres St. Paul’s Hospital Surrey Memorial Hospital Abbotsford Regional/Chilliwack General Hospitals Vancouver General Hospital Ft. St. John General/Dawson Creek Hospitals Victoria General Hospital Lions Gate Hospital University Hospital of Northern BC Mills Memorial Hospital Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Richmond Hospital Community Education Facilities, Royal Inland Hospital Rural and Remote Distributed Sites St. Joseph’s General/Campbell River General /Cowichan District Hospitals Serving medical students and residents, Vernon Jubilee/Penticton Regional Hospitals student audiologists, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and/or midwives in the community

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