Sitting down to write this update presented an opportunity to reflect on the past year. We’ve had some amazing accomplishments as well as our share of challenges. It will not come as a surprise to hear that large institutions make decisions slowly and carefully—but often with gratifying results. A while ago, we surveyed our members to learn what your priorities for engagement were. For those who work at VGH, a … Read More
Vancouver Community physicians meet with VCH CEO
VPSA’s Vancouver Community members work in several different sites, providing care to some of our city’s most vulnerable citizens: patients often living in poverty with complex diagnoses including HIV, mental illness, and substance use issues. Many of them gathered June 6 at Three Bridges Community Health Centre to meet with VCH President and CEO Mary Ackenhusen. This was the first time a VPSA session was held at a Vancouver Community … Read More
Biking to work… what’s stopping you?
With summer and Bike to Work Week fast approaching, many VPSA members are getting back on their bikes and taking advantage of the VGH Cycling Centre to make that commute even easier. Hospitalist Dr. Rod Tukker cycles to work three to four times a week. “I store my bike in the centre and also use the great shower and locker facilities,” he said. “I once had a bike stolen from … Read More
Up for discussion: physician compensation models
With Michael Ducie as VPSA’s Breakfast with Leaders guest earlier this month, there was no doubt there would be frank discussion about physician compensation models. Ducie, who heads our health authority’s physician engagement and contract strategies portfolio, fielded a wide range of questions regarding VCH’s plans for innovative contracts. The session was facilitated by Dr. York Hsiang, VPSA’s new managing director. “We’re aware that physicians at high-functioning health care organizations … Read More
Introducing VPSA’s new managing director
Dr. York Hsiang has been appointed as the Vancouver Physician Staff Association’s managing director. Dr. Hsiang, a professor of vascular surgery at UBC and consultant surgeon at VGH, has spent his 37–year career with VCH and is acknowledged as an outstanding medical leader. Dr. Hsiang’s priorities are to engage as many of VPSA’s 1,900 members as possible and to ensure the physician voice is recognized and is impactful at the … Read More