Resident Doctors of BC has several internal committees which focus on specific needs of the association and residents. The initiatives of these committees are the responsibility of the Board. Some committees are solely populated by Board members while others are open to the full membership. To join an available committee please contact the committee chair.
Committees
Internal, Joint & External
Internal Committees
- Advocacy Committee
The Advocacy Committee was created to enable residents to confidently engage in advocacy. It is currently working on projects to advocate for residents externally to stakeholders and the public as well as internal projects to equip residents and facilitate independent advocacy projects by residents.2017-2018 Projects:
Resident Awareness Week 2018
Maintain a relationship with the provincial government, health authorities, the University of British Columbia and Doctors of BC and represent members to other external bodies as required
Facilitate adequate resident representation on appropriate committees within the university, the teaching hospitals, and the healthcare system as a whole
Engage in other targeted advocacy campaigns on behalf of Resident Doctors of BC as decided on by the committee and as approved by the Board of Directors
Advocate on behalf of patients to work toward improved population health by addressing the social determinants of health
Build advocacy capacity through training and experience for interested residents through participation in the committee
2017-2018 Committee:
Chair:Dr. Marcella Jones R1 – Family Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC Director)
Members:
Dr. David Kim R2 – Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC President)
Dr. Emily Stewart R2 – Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC Vice-President)
Dr. Charlie Walsh R3 – Internal Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC Director)
Dr. Chantal McFetridge R1 – Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC Official Observer)
Dr. Kate Mittermaier R1 – Anesthesiology (Resident Doctors of BC Official Observer)
Dr. Vincent Wong R1 – Family Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC Official Observer)
Dr. Jocelyn Andruko R1 – Emergency Medicine
Dr. Lacey Corbett R2 – Anesthesiology
Dr. Scott Hodgson R1 – Family Medicine
Dr. Aida Raissi R1 – Psychiatry
Dr. Aarondeep Shokar R1 – Family MedicineIf you are interested in joining a committee please contact Resident Doctors of BC.
Position Papers
- Awards Selection Committee
The Award Committee meets once per year to review the nominations for the annual Awards of Excellence. The committee is formed each year in December prior to award nominations opening in January. The committee consists of the President, Executive Director, an additional Director, and an additional member of Resident Doctors of BC. Individuals on the Selection Committee are not able to nominate or act as a reference.
- Communications Committee
The Communications Committee prepares communiques, press releases, and editorials/commentaries about relevant topics. Their goal is to increase communication between Resident Doctors of BC and its members as well as with external consumers such as the media and the general public.
2017-2018 Projects
Increase the profile of Resident Doctors of BC and residents
Prepare communiques, press releases, editorials, and commentaries on resident relevant topics
Gather member feedback on previous strategies/decisions, through consultation forums and meetings (face-to-face or electronic). Use both qualitative (focus groups) and quantitative research (online surveys, opinion polls)
Oversee the Resident Doctors of BC website and social media presence
Develop policies and strategies to address member apathy, and increase interest in events and initiatives
Provide information to the membership on the governance structure, board roles and current priorities
Provide information on Resident Doctors of BC activities and opportunities for involvement through available communication channels
2017-2018 Committee:
Chair: Dr. Geoff Frost R2 – Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Resident Doctors of BC Director of Communications)
Members:
Dr. Bolu Ogunwaji R5 – Dermatology (Resident Doctors of BC Official Observer)
Dr. Bryan Chow R4 – PsychiatryIf you are interested in joining a committee please contact Resident Doctors of BC.
- Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is made up of the executive members of the board and supported by the Executive Director. They discuss pertinent issues that arise relating to Resident Doctors of BC and resident issues between Board Meetings.
The Executive Committee membership is restricted to the Executive Members of the Board. If you would like to contact the Executive, please contact Resident Doctors of BC.
2017-2018 Committee:
Chair: Dr. David Kim R2 – Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC President)
Members:
Dr. Vishal Varshney R3 – Anesthesiology (Resident Doctors of BC Immediate Past President)
Dr. Emily Stewart R2 – Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC Vice-President)
Dr. Nicholas Monfries R2 – Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC Director of Finance)
Dr. Geoff Frost R2 – Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Resident Doctors of BC Director of Communications) - Finance Committee
This committee is populated by Board members and is responsible for developing guidelines for capital assets and funds. They also review financial statements and present the annual operating budget for the association.
The Finance Committee membership is restricted to the members listed. If you would like to contact the Finance Committee, please email Resident Doctors of BC.
2017 -2018 Committee:
Chair: Dr. Nicholas Monfries R2 – Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC Director of Finance)
Members:
Dr. David Kim R2 – Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC President)
Dr. Aleksandar Brezar R1 – Family Medicine [Rural Okanagan] (Resident Doctors of BC Director)
Dr. Adam Humble R2 – Anesthesiology (Resident Doctors of BC Director)
Dr. James Wang R2 – Pediatrics (Resident Doctors of BC Director)
Mr. Harry Gray (Resident Doctors of BC Executive Director) - Health & Wellness Committee
The purpose of this committee is to facilitate events of interest to residents and to increase member participation in events.
2017-2018 Committee Projects:
Propose social events to be sponsored/run by Resident Doctors of BC and continue successful events from previous years
Propose health and wellness events to be sponsored/run by Resident Doctors of BC and continue successful events from previous years
Source discounts for members
Source health and wellness resources and communicate them to the membership
Liaise with external stakeholders to determine partnership opportunities on issues of physician health and wellness
2017-2018 Committee:
Chair: Dr. Emily Stewart R2 – Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC Vice-President)
Members:
Dr. Adam Humble R2 – Anesthesiology (Resident Doctors of BC Director)
Dr. Fatima Allibhai R5 – Psychiatry (Resident Doctors of BC Official Observer)
Dr. Alanna Fleet R1 – Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Resident Doctors of BC Official Observer)
Dr. Kate Mittermaier R1 – Anesthesiology (Resident Doctors of BC Official Observer)
Dr. Julia Cory R1 – Anesthesiology
Dr. Pretty Verma R2 – Obstetrics & GynecologyIf you are interested in joining a committee please contact Resident Doctors of BC
- Labour Relations Committee
The role of this committee is to address matters pertaining to the Collective Agreement in between negotiations cycles
2017-2018 Committee Projects:
Conduct the Membership Survey in advance of the start of negotiations (shared with the Negotiations Committee, to be completed before negotiations begin)
Use the Membership Survey results to assist the Negotiations Committee with the development of negotiations priorities
Labour Relations Committee transitions to a job action committee for planning and executing a job action strategy during periods of but not limited to:
- Negotiations cycles
- When another health care union plans to go on strike or is on strike
- When the resident membership votes in favour of going on strike
2017-2018 Committee:
Chair: TBD
Members:
Dr. David Kim R2 – Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC President)
Dr. Vishal Varshney R5 – Anesthesiology (Resident Doctors of BC Immediate Past President)
Dr. Odion Kalaci R3 – Pediatrics (Resident Doctors of BC Director)
Mr. Harry Gray (Resident Doctors of BC Executive Director)The Labour Relations Committee membership is restricted to the members listed. If you would like to contact the Labour Relations Committee, please email Resident Doctors of BC.
- Negotiations Committee
The Negotiations Committee acts as the core Collective Agreement negotiation body for Resident Doctors of BC. They represent their fellow residents and advocate for members during negotiations by working with the organizations Chief Negotiator, Executive Director and liaising for the Board of Directors throughout the Collective bargaining process.
The Negotiations Committee is selected in advance of the expiration of the Collective Agreement by a selection committee chosen by the Board of Directors, and is active for the duration of negotiations.
Joint Committees
Resident Doctors of BC participates in these committees to work directly with stakeholders to focus on specific areas of interest for residents.
LOU Joint Committee
As part of the Letter of Understanding (LOU) between Resident Doctors of BC, HEABC and UBC a joint committee has been created to address issues affecting all parties from the Collective Agreement; this includes issues relating to Leaves of Absence, Stat Holidays, Vacation, Scheduling and Call Stipends.
It has two representatives from each party, which meets four times per year. Resident Doctors of BC has two resident representatives.
Dr. David Kim R2 – Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC President)
Dr. Odion Kalaci R3 – Pediatrics (Resident Doctors of BC Director)Ministry of Health Joint Task Force
The Joint Task Force created in partnership with Resident Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health will enhance bilateral relationships while engaging resident doctors across the province to provide perspective with regards to health policy, strategic direction, and human resource planning. There are resident members on the task force in addition to the organization’s President and Vice-President.
External Committees
Residents and Resident Doctors of BC are invited to participate in committees run by other organizations. Residents who fill these roles are required to provide Resident Doctors of BC with a written report of updates that impact residents in BC.
- College of Family Physicians of Canada
Section of Residents
The Section of Residents (SoR) consists of residents from across Canada’s 17 family medicine programs. The Section is represented by the SoR Council, a national committee composed of R1 and R2 representatives elected by each program to address issues relating to family medicine education from a resident’s perspective.Current Representatives:
Dr. Sarina Argentina, R2 Family Practice
Dr. Jason Chhina, R1 Family Practice - Doctors of BC
Board of Directors
Promotes a social, economic, and political climate in which members can provide the citizens of BC with the highest standard of health care while achieving maximum professional satisfaction and fair economic reward.Current Representative: Dr. David Kim, R2 Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC President)
Council of Health Economics and Policy
Under the guidance and approval of the Board of Directors, the Council on Health Economics and Policy shall direct the activities of Doctors of BC concerned with the assessment and formulation of policy options relating to the economics, organization and management of the health care system.Current Representative: Dr. Emily Stewart, R2 Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC Vice-President)
General Practice Service Committee (GPSC) Provincial Recruitment & Retention
The committee’s mandate has evolved to include a focus on province-wide, system-influencing initiatives undertaken in active partnership with representatives from organizations that influence the future of primary care: provincial and municipal governments, health authorities, educational and training institutions, professional medical associations, rural coordinators, and family doctors through divisions and the GPSC.Current Representative: Dr. Angela Pawluk, R2 Family Medicine
Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues
This is a standing committee of the Doctors of BC Board of Directors that advises on issues affecting rural medicine and the working conditions of those physicians practising in rural areas of BC. The committee, through the Doctors of BC Board, is responsible for providing direction for rural negotiations with government.Current Representative: Dr. Odion Kalaci, R3 Pediatrics (Resident Doctors of BC Director)
- Resident Doctors of Canada
Board of Directors
Resident Doctors of Canada (RDoC) is the national representative body of over 7,500 resident physicians in Canada. Resident Doctors of Canada works collaboratively with other national health organizations to continuously improve patient care and explore new approaches in the delivery of health care. Resident Doctors of Canada facilitates discussions amongst provincial house staff organizations (PHOs), achieving consensus on policy and advocacy issues of national interest. Resident Doctors of Canada also delivers improvement to the lives of residents in such areas as personal well-being, medical education quality, and professionalism.Current Representatives:
Dr. Daljeet Chahal, R2 Internal Medicine
Dr. Odion Kalaci, R3 Pediatrics (Resident Doctors of BC Director)
Dr. David Kim, R2 Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC President)Governance & Nominating Committee
The Governance & Nominating Committee (GNC) acts as a primary resource to the RDoC Board in the advancement of best practices in the area of governance practices and procedures of the Board.Current Representative:
Dr. David Kim, R2 Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC President)Practice Committee
The Practice Committee works to oversee the creation and realization of activities relating to Strategic Direction #1 “Training: to optimize the continuum of medical education,” and specifically to the goals of supporting the delivery of patient-centered care and seamless transitions from training into practice. Key areas of activity for this Committee include health human resources, career planning, entry disciplines, practice management and social accountability.Current representatives:
Dr. Vishal Varshney, R5 Anesthesiology (Resident Doctors of BC Immediate Past President)
Dr. Odion Kalaci, R3 Pediatrics (Resident Doctors of BC Director)
Dalijeet Chahal, R2 Internal MedicineRegional Networking Committee
The Resident Doctors of Canada Regional Networking Committee provides a forum for information exchange between PHO affiliates of RDoC and collaboration to advance regional initiatives. Areas of discussion may include, but are not limited to: negotiations support, contractual issues, co-ordination of RDoC Committee work with that of PHOs, or assistance to a PHO who requests aid. This committee will also work to enhance communications between RDoC and PHOs. The Regional Networking Committee is comprised of 9 members, including the seven PHO presidents or their designated Board member, plus the RDoC President and Vice-President.Current Representative:
Dr. David Kim, R2 Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC President)Resiliency Working Group
The Resiliency Working Group works on behalf of the RDoC Board of Directors to oversee the development, implementation and evaluation of the RDoC Resiliency Curriculum.Current Representatives:
Dr. David Kim, R2 Emergency Medicine (Resident Doctors of BC President)
Dr. Jesse Thompson, R2 Family Medicine
Dr. Conrad Tsang, R2 Public Health and Preventative MedicineTraining Committee
The Training Committee works on behalf of the RDoC Board of Directors to oversee the creation and realization of Resident Doctors’ activities relating to Strategic Direction #1 “Training: To optimize the continuum of medical education,” and specifically to the goals of contributing to and advocating on national curriculum development, accreditation, certification, licensure and examination policy and resident matching.Current Representatives:
Dr. Matthew Nicholson, R4 Internal Medicine
Dr. Alexandre Lefebvre, R4 AnesthesiologyWellness Committee
The Wellness Committee works on behalf of the RDoC Board of Directors to oversee the creation and realization of RDoC activities relating to Strategic Direction #2 – “Wellness: to enrich the experience of medical education as trainees, teachers, and clinicians to inspire a redefined work environment for resident physicians, promote a culture of respect, and to champion the good health of Canadian resident physicians in mind, body, and spirit.”Current Representative:
Dr. Jessica Dunkley, R3 DermatologyLiaisons
CMPA – Dr. Vishal Varshney, R5 Anesthesiology
Royal College Assessment Committee – Dr. Matthew Nicolson, R4 Internal Medicine
Royal College Credentials Committee – Dr. Alex Lefebvre, R4 Anesthesiology
Royal College RAC1 – Dr. Nathalie Levasseur, R4 Internal MedicineRDoC has a number of other committees and liaison positions that are seeking participants, for more information on opportunities, please contact Resident Doctors of Canada
- Society of General Practitioners of BC
Board of Directors
Residents have two observer positions on the Board of Directors at the Society of General Practitioners.Current Representatives:
Dr. Prasenjit Das, R1 Family Practice
Dr. Jaron Easterbrook, R2 Family Practice - UBC
Faculty Residency Committee
This Committee is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of educational standards of postgraduate training programs at the University of British Columbia. The committee reports to the Faculty Executive.Current representative:
Dr. Aleksandar Brezar, R1, Rural Okanagan Family Practice
Dr. Vincent Wong, R1 Family Medicine