Family Medicine Residency Site: Abbotsford-Mission

“When the BC government declared the COVID-19 pandemic a public health emergency in March of 2020, Kelsi Jessamine and Dr. Doris Leung had to act quickly to continue supporting their clients—pet owners experiencing homelessness or who are vulnerably-housed in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES). The pair, who jointly run Community Veterinary Outreach’s (CVO) Vancouver program, had received a UBC Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) grant to offer a series of free ‘One Health’ veterinary clinics. The first event in late February had been a huge success. When the health order to stay at home came out, the second clinic was just days away.

‘It was just one of those things where, one day before the event, we thought, ‘we can’t do it’,’ said Doris, Regional Director of CVO in Vancouver. ‘The thing is, we had 80 pet owners signed up for that event, so we knew that people wanted to come—whether it was for flea control or grooming or pet food or pet supplies, or for seeing a nurse or a mental health support worker or a pharmacist—we knew there were a lot of people in need.'”

Learn more on Supporting pets and their people in the DTES: UBC-community partnership addresses public health needs while preparing future grads via UBC Community Engagement.

Who inspires you and why?

While I am constantly inspired by women in leadership positions, I am most inspired by families who have faced profound challenges, including grief and loss. They demonstrate incredible strength and grace, and the privilege of providing support through such experiences is what makes the practice of medicine truly meaningful.

Tell us about a project or endeavour that you’ve participated in that makes you proud:

The development of the Sustaining Pediatrics in Rural and Underserved Communities (SPRUCe) network, which I undertook with my colleague Dr. Jenny Retallack. SPRUCe aims to provide education, mentorship, locum and recruitment support for rural pediatricians. These physicians do amazing work with limited resources and limited time off and we hope SPRUCe’s initiatives make their professional lives easier.

Best advice for students:

Gain strength from your friends and loved ones; believe the positive feedback you receive because it is true; find mentors (more than one) who inspire you; model your practice after those you admire; and in the words of authors Emily and Amelia Nagoski, remember that “the cure for burnout is not self-care but it is all of us caring for each other.”

Excerpt from Beyond the Classroom: Clinical Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Kirsten Miller. Learn more about her here!

“A 28-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department after a motor vehicle collision. She has no clinically significant injuries other than a fractured radius. A urine drug screen is positive for opioids and marijuana. As part of a universal screening program, she undergoes testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and the results are positive. The patient is single and heterosexual, and she reports that she does not use injection drugs but occasionally trades sex for drugs. She has not been tested for HIV previously. Her other routine laboratory studies are normal except for mild lymphopenia. How would you further evaluate and treat this patient?”

Learn more here on HIV Infection: Screening, Diagnosis, & Treatment via NEJM.

“What is…”

Click here to answer.

Sending a big warm welcome to our new cohort of UBC Family Practice residents! A couple of times a month I like to play The Lancet: Picture Quiz and pair it with one of my favourite classical pieces. Come play along.

#TheLancet #PictureQuiz 

Congratulations to our Abbotsford-Mission Family Practice Preceptors and Residents on their program and site awards!

PETER GRANTHAM RESIDENT TEACHING AWARD: DR. CASEY HICKS
R1 recipients have been selected by their site leadership and have demonstrated interest and excellence in teaching. 

BCCFP BEST PRESENTATION AWARDS: DR. MONIKA WOJTERA
This award is offered by BC College of Family Physicians to each training site to best resident presenters of their scholar project at local Scholarship Days.  

SITE TEACHING AWARDS – RESIDENT SELECTED: DR. NADER ELMAYERGI & DR. THANH LUU
Selected by their resident cohort, this award recognizes preceptors/teachers who have demonstrated excellence in teaching. 

SITE MEDICAL EDUCATION AWARDS – PEER SELECTED: DR. THANH LUU
Chosen by their peers, these awards recognize faculty in their work as clinical or academic teachers, scholarly faculty, leaders, mentors or coaches.

COACH’S AWARD: DR. SOPHIA PARK, DR. ANDREA WONG, & DR. BRIAN DRIEDGER
This award acknowledges our Abbotsford-Mission Family Practice preceptors/residents who have demonstrated superior performance, accomplishment, and a commitment to teaching excellence.

“Henry also noted that deaths from COVID-19 have stayed relatively low even during the punishing third wave of the pandemic, which she said ‘reflects the ongoing durable protection from immunization.’

British Columbians aged 12 and over who have not yet been immunized can register in three ways:

• Online through the Get Vaccinated portal.
• By calling 1-833-838-2323. Translators are available in 140 languages.
• In person at any Service B.C. location.

The province is aiming to have most people receive their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine roughly eight weeks after their first.”

More on B.C. officials announce further reopening plans, with province set to enter Step 3 of its restart via CBC.

As we experience the unprecedented heatwave, please be aware of the following locations that are cooled and available for students, faculty and staff on our Vancouver campus today and tomorrow:

• AMS Nest — 6133 University Blvd 
• Irving K. Barber Learning Centre — 1961 East Mall 
• Thunderbird Stadium concourse and stands — 6288 Stadium Rd 
• Orchard Commons Open Kitchen — 6363 Agronomy Road, access via west doors off West Mall 
• Mercante — 6488 University Blvd. 

For any employees who are working remotely, but who wish to work within an air-conditioned space on campus, please discuss options with your manager. Please also note that working on campus is subject to COVID-19 safety plans, as well as the COVID-19 Campus Rules which can be found at https://srs.ubc.ca/covid-19/ubc-campus-rules-guidance-documents.

Managers with questions about specific situations should contact Safety and Risk Services (ready.ubc@ubc.ca) to discuss any concerns regarding safety regulations. Please contact the Facilities team for questions related to buildings, and your HR team for advice in situations where employees cannot attend the workplace or work remotely.

Advice for staying cool:

• Stay out of the sun as much as possible 
• Plan ahead for where you can spend time in a cool or air-conditioned place, and seek shade when outside 
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat, lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, and sunscreen 
• Avoid strenuous activity and exercise 
• Drink plenty of cool fluids such as water before you feel thirsty 
• Fill up your water bottle frequently at taps and drinking fountains 
• Dampen washcloths, hand towels with cold water to make a cool compress 

Recognizing symptoms and signs of heat-related illness and heat exhaustion:

• Extreme thirst 
• Dizziness 
• Confusion 
• Weakness 
• Fainting 
• Rapid breathing and heartbeat 
• Nausea and vomiting 

If you see someone suffering from too much heat, call 9-1-1 and help them cool off by applying water to their face and neck until emergency services arrive. You can also call 8-1-1 to speak to a nurse. Interpretation services are available on these phone numbers.

For additional information please visit https://srs.ubc.ca/hotweather.

Cooling centres open:
Municipalities and districts across the province have opened cooling centres for those who don’t have air conditioning. 

The City of Vancouver has several open at community centres across the city. 

The City of Abbotsford said its cooling centres would run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on days when the temperature exceeds 32 C or 30 C for consecutive days.  

These include: 

• Heritage Alliance Church at 3440 Mt. Lehman Road.
• Cascade Community Church at 35190 Delair Road.
• The Abbotsford, Clearbrook and Mount Lehman libraries. 
• The Reach Gallery Museum.  

On Sunday, the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations centre said it has opened several cooling centres across the region, including:

• Parkinson Activity Centre, Kelowna.
• Rutland Activity Centre, Kelowna.
• Lakeview Heights Baptist Church, West Kelowna. 
• Peachland Community Centre, Peachland.

More on B.C. heat wave shatters Canadian record for highest temperature ever recorded via CBC.