Inside the winter 2010 issue Anesthesia Calls pg 4 & 5 People in the Crowd pg 8 Photobook: Manitobans at CAS pg 10 A PUBLICATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF Remembering Those We’ve Lost pg 11 ANESTHESIA & PERIOPERATIVE MEDICINE A Tribute to Dr. Douglas B.Craig BY DIANE R. BIEHL AND JOHN G WADE In September 2010, we said farewell to one would receive the necessary background to prepare of the founding members of the University of them for the Royal College specialty examinations. Manitoba Department of Anesthesia. Dr. Doug Doug was also the first anesthesia program director Craig was instrumental in creating and developing our to develop career counseling for residents. Each resident university department. It is a pleasure was interviewed twice a year to ensure that they were to chronicle at least some of his doing well in the program but also to help them plan for contributions here. their future careers. Particularly with the contacts at San In 1967-68 Doug was a resident Francisco, John and Doug were able to arrange additional in Anesthesia in the University of training in subspecialty areas for many residents. California Department of Anesthesia at In 1972-73, The Royal College established Anesthesia San Francisco. During this time he met as a “stand alone” specialty. Doug was actively involved John Wade and Joe Lee. He returned to in developing the first written examinations for Anesthesia McGill in 68 to complete his anesthesia and also served as an oral examiner for several years. As training and his Masters in Experimental the Royal College mandated that all anesthesia training Medicine. He received his Royal College must be the responsibility of the University, Doug was Certificate in Anesthesia in 1970. John responsible for integrating all the training at the various Wade as the new Anesthesia Department hospitals within the one university program. Head at the University of Manitoba was Because of Doug’s progressive and well- organized successful in recruiting Doug to Manitoba training program which put residency education first, in 1971 to become the Program Director he was able to attract several residents from other of the Department. programs. Examples include Rick Palahniuk, Ed Pavlin, Dr. Douglas B. Craig on the When Doug took over the residency training and Alison Froese. These individuals went on to have occasion of his retirement from program he, with the backing of John Wade, made careers in Anesthesia which involved teaching, research the University of Manitoba Department of Anesthesia some dramatic changes to the program. First of all, they and administration as well as excellent clinical expertise. decided that every Wednesday morning the department Doug was also cognizant of the looming barrier of would hold academic rounds from 0745-0845. This the “oral” examination in Anesthesia. In the early 1970s included the whole department as well as residents. This pass rates were sometimes only 50% of the residents meant of course that the surgical slate on Wednesdays taking the examination! Doug decided that this wasn’t Dr. Doug Craig was delayed for one hour. The Department of Surgery going to be the case at Manitoba. He instituted the was instrumental was initially unhappy with this decision, but within a “practice oral” for all senior residents. It was a grueling few years both Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology process, but once you completed the “Doug Craig in creating were holding their rounds Wednesday morning too. finishing school” the real oral exams were a piece of and developing Secondly, Doug thought that the residents needed to cake. Manitoba was the envy of other programs and in spend time presenting topics to each other to augment fact several programs sent residents to Manitoba for our university their practical training in the OR. This was scheduled special training and oral exam practice. department. for Wednesday morning from 0900 to 1200 hours. This In addition to establishing an excellent residency allowed the residents time for learning in the daytime- education program at Manitoba, Doug also served on an unheard of proposition before then! Doug developed the Royal College Accreditation Survey Teams from a series of topics to be discussed over a two year time 1986-1990 to assess other programs across the country. period so that residents at both junior and senior levels continued on page 3 A Word from the Department Head and Medical Director A Tribute to Dr. Douglas B.Craig continued from cover With the new academic year now in full swing, the Department Anesthesia, Health Sciences. It was important to create these new The four year specialty program was not Doug’s only interest. He Doug served on numerous committees with the is fully engaged in many important activities at the University. positions as the clinical scheduling has become increasingly complex initiated the one year program for anesthesia training for Family Medicine University and the Health Sciences Centre. He served as Of utmost importance is the upcoming accreditation of the Medical School at both the tertiary care sites, with increased integration of faculty residents. This program was first directed by Dr. Don Reimer and is still going Senior Vice-President, Medical of the Health Sciences by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) within community sites. The Associate Heads will have, amongst other strong today. Centre from 1988-90. and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME, the American responsibilities, primary responsibility for scheduling activities and work Education on a national level was also important to Doug. He was Doug became the Head of the Department of accreditation body). Many constituents have been working hard to make closely with Trevor in assuring this. actively involved in the establishment of refresher courses at the Canadian Anesthesia for the University and the Health Sciences this happen, and Dr Christodoulou has been one of the cornerstones of the The Annual Resident Research Symposium was held at Bergmann’s Anesthesiologists’ Society (CAS) annual meetings. He served on the scientific Centre from 1990-2000. He shepherded the Department University’s efforts, and the Department is indeed grateful to him for this. It is on Lombard on November 9th. Our Visiting Professor and judge was affairs committee from 1980-88 and the research advisory committee from through the tumultuous times of the establishment of through these types of efforts (that many of you are increasingly engaged in) Dr. Alan Merry from New Zealand. He is an international luminary in 1987-92. He was one of the founding members of ACUDA and served the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and all that that that at our profile as a “serious player” within the University continues to grow. the world of anesthesiology. I would like to thank all faculty, staff, and as the vice-president from 1991-92 and the President in 92-94. Doug’s entailed for the Department. While it was not an easy As part of the accreditation process, the medical students have students for attending this important function. Many residents, faculty contributions to the Society were officially recognized in 1993 when he time, Doug’s integrity, honesty and sense of fair play completed an extensive survey of their medical school experience. This and support staff worked hard on their research projects, and it meant was awarded the CAS gold medal for meritorious service. were always evident to the Department and the WRHA. has included an evaluation of all rotations, including the Anesthesiology a lot to them to have had a large audience supporting them. Within the CAS Doug also made another extremely important In 2001 Doug became a member of the Manitoba rotation. In general, the rotation has been well-received and relatively There are many other exciting opportunities and developments contribution. He became the Editor of the CAS journal from 1983-88. Doug Medical College Foundation and was president of the highly evaluated, but as with all of these, there are some opportunities in the Department that are beyond the space accorded to me in revamped the look and structure of the journal so that it became a much more Board from 2003-2009. During this time he still was for improvement. Our educational office is working with all concerned to this newsletter. If any faculty member is wanting to become more prominent journal in the world of anesthesia. He also was actively engaged actively involved in clinical anesthesia and participated address any weaknesses that were identified. involved with University of WRHA leadership/administrative/research/ with the International Anesthesia Research Society and was a member of the in many of the departmental activities. CACMS and LCME conducted a Mock Survey this past year. There educational activities, we would be delighted to assist you and create Board of Trustees from 1978 to 1996. He was the Chairman of this board from Doug Craig was a founding member of the were many deficiencies identified, but few were really surprises. Many of these opportunities. Please follow the ongoing events 1991-94 and a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Anesthesia University of Manitoba Department of Anesthesia the fixes have already been instituted and the School is confident that the by logging onto the Department webpage at and Analgesia from 1977-82. It was this latter experience that made him such and many of the established structures within the true accreditation in April 2011 will be successful. One of the important umanitoba.ca/faculties/medicine/anesthesia/. a great candidate to be the editor of the Canadian Journal. current department were initiated by Doug. The educational standards that had to be addressed in all Departments is an The APC updates While Doug was an excellent editor of the research submissions to the Department owes much to his insight, enthusiasm and improved student evaluation-feedback, as well as improved evaluation of are posted there and are a great source Journal, he had previously been involved actively in anesthesia research organizational skills.