2023 Symposium & Banquet
SPEAKERS
Dr. Hamish Hwang (Vernon General Surgery) “Collateral Damage: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the severity of emergency abdominal surgery at a regional hospital”
Dr. Alex Poole (Whitehorse General Surgery) “Modernizing Frostbite Care – The Yukon Experience”
GUEST SPEAKER: Aaron Volpatti, Former Vancouver Canuck and Washington Capitals player and burn survivor
2020 Symposium & Banquet
SPEAKERS
Dr. Andre Pickersgill
Mental Health – Let’s Talk! Getting comfortable with talking about mental health in and out of the office
Dr. Sean Patrick
In-flight Medical Emergencies
Dr. Donovan MacDonald
Teaching Strategies in the 21st Century
GUEST SPEAKER:
Hayley Wickenheiser – Olympic gold medalist, Hockey Hall of Famer, author and motivational speaker
Seven World Championships; Six Olympic appearances; Five Olympic medals; Four Olympic Gold Medals – Hayley Wickenheiser is a titan of sport and a leader both on and off the ice.
Most recently recognized by her peers by her induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame, her hockey IQ is highly respected in all areas of both the female and male game. She has played in or coached at four NHL development camps with the Philadelphia Flyers, the Edmonton Oilers and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the first woman in history to have done so. She also holds records for the most assists, points and goals for the Canadian Women’s National Team.
Hayley joined the Canadian Women’s National Team at just 15 years old and had a career spanning 23 years, retiring in 2017 to begin her pursuit of a career in medicine, which she is currently studying at the University of Calgary. She is a member of the Order of Canada, a member of the IOC Athlete’s Commission, a founder of The Canadian Tire Wickenheiser Female Hockey Festival, the Vice Chair of the Calgary 2026 Bid Committee, and most importantly, a mom to her grown son Noah.
2019 Symposium & Banquet
SPEAKERS
Dr. Mike Murphy
“HIV: With Your Support, The End is Near“
“Strategies to End the Epidemic: Test, Treat & Prevent“
Dr. Kevin Pistawka
“Heart Events and Hockey: Making Sure It’s Only The Puck That Drops“
GUEST SPEAKER: Guy Carbonneau
Drafted in the third round by Montreal in 1979, Guy Carbonneau would spend another year in junior and two years in the minors before making the roster of the legendary Canadiens. Part of that team’s rebuilding after an unusual gap between Cups, Carbonneau earned 47 points and was plus 18 in his rookie season. His two Cups in 13 seasons with Montreal directly resulted from his leadership and incredible two-way play. He single-handedly shut down Wayne Gretzky in the 1993 Stanley Cup finals. He won three Selke trophies before being traded to St. Louis. After only one season, he moved to the Dallas Stars, where he won a third cup in 1999. He spent five seasons in Texas but returned to Montreal, this time in the front office. After Bob Gainey became GM in 2003, he ensured that Carbonneau, his old wingman, was behind the bench. In 2006, he became Head Coach of his beloved Canadiens, a position he held until 2009.
Pictured: Maple Leaf Gardens, January 23, 1993
2016 Symposium & Banquet
Dr. Terry Curran – Investment Advisor specializing in Doctors’ and Dentists’ financial health using the “Neuro Approach Investment Strategy. Topic: “Why The Tortoise is so Wealthy”
Mr. Jeremy Griffiths, Critical Care Paramedic (UK) Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) in England
GUEST SPEAKER: Rudy Poeschek
Former NHL defenceman Rudy Poeschek’s NHL career was spent with New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning. Known as an enforcer, Rudy was never one to shy away from a good fight, but he has met his match in his off-ice battle to retain his memory. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is not what Rudy expected to get from his 12-year career in the NHL. He now fights with depression, anxiety and insomnia. Rudy is now part of a lawsuit against the NHL brought about by former players.
2015 Symposium & Banquet
SPEAKER: Dr. Richard Currie
Richard is a family and emergency physician from Salmon Arm, BC. He has spent over three years working overseas in medical relief and international development projects, primarily with Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders (MSF). This talk will examine some of the challenges and pitfalls of providing medical relief in remote and/or difficult parts of the developing world, using examples from Ethiopia, Ghana, Somalia, Tchad, and the Central African Republic. The primary objective of this talk is to solve all of the world’s problems while we simultaneously enjoy the open bar and gorge at the all-you-can-eat buffet.
GUEST SPEAKER: Josh Dueck
In 2004, Josh was in a life-changing freestyle skiing accident that left him as a T11 full paraplegic.
From his hospital bed with the long months of recovery ahead, it was the initial encouragement from his now-mentor Rick Hansen that helped Josh re-dedicate his life to freedom, adventure and helping those that could learn from his example.
By 2009, Josh was the Para-Alpine World Champion; he won a silver medal in Vancouver 2010 and an X Games gold medal in 2011.
Then, came the backflip.
After a year of planning and progression, Josh, his close friends and a film crew, lead by legendary industry director Mike Douglas, ventured into the Whistler backcountry to build a jump that would help safely land the first backflip on a sit- ski.
On a perfect bluebird day in February 2012, Josh hit the jump, soared upside down and landed in the soft-snow below.
It also landed Josh on the Ellen Degeneres Show.
In Sochi 2014, Josh’s story continued to inspire. On the 10th anniversary of his accident, he won a Paralympic silver medal for Canada. Days later, he won gold in the Super Combined to become Paralympic Champion and Canada’s Flag Bearer.
Like the backflip, his story has come full circle.
2014 Symposium & Banquet
SPEAKERS
Doctors of BC
Brief Update – Dr. W. Cunningham, President
Dr. Ghee Hwang, “General Surgery in Africa”
GUEST SPEAKER: Brian Trottier
Bryan Trottier was a modern-day player with old-fashioned attributes. At a time when specialists were beginning to take over from the all-round player, Trottier was a throwback. He was a defensively sound centerman with the vision and instincts of a pure scorer. Over an 18-year National Hockey League career, he led his teams to the Stanley Cup six times, including four consecutive titles with the New York Islanders in the early 1980s and two with the Pittsburg Penguins in the early 1990s. And his achievements went beyond team success. He was the winner of the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie, the Art Ross Trophy as top scorer and the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player. Trottier, at his retirement, was the league’s sixth-highest all-time scorer. Trottier retired following the Penguins’ second Cup victory and spent one year in the Islanders’ front office. But he was soon bored with his desk job and returned to the league as a player in 1993-94 at the age of 37. He played 41 games with the Penguins while acting as an assistant coach, a job he continued after finally hanging up his skates at the end of that season. Trottier remained with the Pens until 1997, at which time he took the coaching reigns of the Portland Pirates of the AHL. He returned to the NHL within a year, this time as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche. Bryan helped the Avs claim their second Stanley Cup championship in 2001, adding yet another ring to his already impressive haul. Bryan Trottier was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.
2013 Symposium & Banquet
SPEAKERS
Dr. Chris Andrews, MD, “Vaccine preventable diseases for the wanderer: Travel tips”
Dr. Dean Malish, MD, “Trauma Surgery in Kandahar”
GUEST SPEAKER: Liam MacGuire
Liam Maguire is regarded as the world’s number one NHL historian. He’s a three-time published author, including his most recent book, Next Goal Wins, released for Christmas 2012 (published by Random House, forward by Wayne Gretzky). Liam has appeared on every national radio and TV show in Canada, including Hockey Night in Canada and TSN’s Off the Record, where he has been a guest 41 times. He has worked with more than three dozen Hall-of-Fame players in 30+ years of performing, emceeing or hosting numerous hockey-related functions in Canada and the US. His live performances leave people shaking their heads at his incredible recall of NHL facts and anecdotes going back to 1917 and even back to the first years of the Stanley Cup, 1893. Come prepared to be entertained!
“The guy is a walking encyclopedia.” – Phil Esposito
“When Liam Maguire performs live it’s a display of hockey knowledge the likes of which I have never seen.“ – Bobby Orr
“Liam’s passion for hockey and his knowledge of the NHL are second to none” – Wayne Gretzky
2012 Symposium & Banquet
SPEAKERS
Dr. Gavin Smart, MD, CCFP (Dip. Sports Med.), “When the Bell is Rung — Concussion Update”
Dr. Terry Curran, MD, FRCP, National Financial Bank, “Navigating the Financial Road Ahead”
Trevor Linden played center and right wing with four different NHL teams: the Vancouver Canucks (in two stints), New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals. Before joining the NHL in 1988, Linden helped the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) win consecutive Memorial Cup championships. In addition to appearing in two NHL All-Star Games, Linden was a member of the 1998 Canadian Olympic team and participated in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Throughout his career, Linden has been recognized as a respected leader on and off the ice. He was named captain of the Canucks at the age of 21, making him one of the youngest captains in league history. While captaining the Canucks, Linden led the team to within a game of winning the Stanley Cup in 1994. It was during this time that he began to be called Captain Canuck. After 19 seasons in the NHL, Linden retired on June 11, 2008, twenty years to the day after he was drafted into the NHL. Linden’s jersey number 16 was retired by the Canucks on December 17, 2008, the second number retired by the team.
2011 Symposium & Banquet
SPEAKERS
Dr. Andrew Clarke – The Physician Health Program of BC, “Resilience; What is it? How do we get it?”
Dr. Jamie Appleby and colleagues, “Medicine North of the 53rd Latitude – Prince George Medical Basics”
GUEST SPEAKER: Sheldon Kennedy
Sheldon Kennedy skated for three teams in his eight-year NHL career and played for Canada’s gold-medal-winning team in the 1988 World Junior Hockey Championships. He is best known for his courageous decision to charge his minor-league hockey coach, Graham James, with sexual assault for the abuse he suffered over a five-year period while a teenager under Graham James’ care. Sheldon’s subsequent decision to go public with the charges rocked the hockey world and thrust him into the media spotlight, where he became an unofficial spokesperson for millions of sexual abuse survivors in North America. His life story was made into an award-winning television movie, and he has appeared on Oprah, ABC’s Nightline, W5 and The Fifth Estate. Through his work with Hockey Canada, the Canadian Red Cross and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Sheldon has converted his tragic personal circumstance into positive social change. Through Respect in Sport, Sheldon continues his crusade.”