1.) Please share your most interesting case with a patient (please ensure no specific patient info.)
I have a patient with liver failure who is quite sick, in and out of hospital a lot, on her last admission she had gotten so bad she needed to be considered for a liver transplant. After talking to Vancouver, it turned out that ultimately, she wasn’t a candidate, and so I had to tell her we had done everything that we could for her. This was the moment that she understood that her lifestyle choices were making her sick, and she needed to turn her life around to be a candidate for a liver transplant in the future.
This patient is often admitted to hospital sick, so it was nice to witness her have a profound moment of. As physicians we often struggle to get patients to understand that they need to make lifestyle changes, so when they recognise it themselves it feels quite rewarding. I hope it turns out well for her.
2.) What is the best advice you were given during your time in school that has had a lasting impact on your practice?
I have one piece of advice that I tell my own residents, though I’m not always great at following it; its “learning how to say no.”
As physicians, the work opportunities for us are endless. While that’s great, it leads to a jam-packed schedule, not having enough breaks or time to look after ourselves, which is bad for our mental health.
I’m still learning how to find balance, and create boundaries, if I’m burnt out it is hard to care and give to others which is my primary role. I’m still learning how to prioritise my own physical and mental health.
3.) What are you doing currently/working on/interested in that is helping to impact our local medical community and/or local patients?
I have taken over Grand Rounds which is my main role with the MSA currently. I’ve always be passionate about continuing medical education, I’m very happy to continue that at Ridge Meadows, and I’m excited about some of the speakers have planned.
I’ve also recently started teaching residents and have interest in teaching as well.
I also work with the Division of Family Practice. I am part of the women’s health initiative so I’m overseeing a couple of projects right now, they are related to cervical cancer screening, women’s sexual health, and menopause. I also work at the Urgent and Primary Care centre in Maple Ridge, so I am well connected with available resources available for patients once they are discharged from hospital.
4.) What is some advice or wisdom you would like to share with your medical staff peers, or any new physicians joining our community?
Maple Ridge is a unique, tight knit, and well-connected community, which has a strong Division of family practice. We have a WhatsApp group with all our local family physicians and some hospital physicians where we help each other out. We also keep each other up to date with what’s going on in the community and at the hospital. I would encourage new physicians to come out to functions and get involved with the MSA and PES committees.