Message from the Department Head

Dear All

It has been a busy, if not hectic,  year and hence blogs have dropped off the completed section of the todo lists – my New Year resolution is to improve communictaion and I will write the blog more frequently!

I hope this message finds you all on the eve of what will be a restful and restorative holiday break.  This year has been packed with activity and accomplishments…I am just picking on a few as examples

• Postgraduate accreditation was a major piece of work and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who made this such a successful visit. There is work to be done but there were no surprises! The opportunity to visit so many of the teaching sites and see the residents and faculty was a highlight of the year for me.
• We welcome two new faculty – Joanie Sims Gould and Michelle Butler
• Michelle will be arriving in the new year to take up the position of Director of the Midwifery Program, while Joanie will be working at Hip Health.
• We welcomed the move Centre of Rural Health Research to our David Strangway Offices
• Oak Street Clinic moved to became the Broadway Family Practice Clinic and has so much more space to accommodate the 9 or so residents.
• The number of our clinical faculty has grown to over 1800
• The undergraduate program is changing with the third year rotation to happen over the whole year rather then just in the summer.
• Christie Newton, Maureen Ashe, Michael Koehle were promoted to Associate Professor
• Rob Lloyd-Smith was inducted to UBC Sports Hall of Fame; and Jack Taunton inducted to the BC Sports Hall of Fame

The list of activities and accomplishments is way too long for a blog and this really just demonstrates the amount and the quality of the work being undertaken.

Thank you for all your contributions, commitment and continued collaboration.

Best wishes to you and your family over the holiday. Meanwhile I shall share the winter weather with our family.

The dog seems to be the most happy with the recent snowfall.

Sincerely

Martin