James Helman

James Diller Helman MD’s background includes a passion for education, leadership, research, professionalism, and clinical excellence. He has excelled as a residency program director for 16 of his 28 years of post‐graduate practice and served as a residency and fellowship educator his entire career. He established a new anesthesia residency and cardiac anesthesia program upon completion of his cardiac anesthesiology fellowship training at the University of California, San Francisco in 1991 and recently excelled as the anesthesiology residency program director the last 12 years at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.

Dr. Helman has been recognized for his leadership and mentorship skills while working with students (medical students, residents, and fellows) and faculty. He has been selected and served numerous leadership roles in both the military and civilian venues. He served in the US Army for 22 years and retired in 2005 at the rank of Colonel which included leadership roles in combat support hospitals, vice‐chair of an active duty anesthesiology department, and oversight of the healthcare for US Army reserve soldiers in Washington. In the academic healthcare community, he has served as vice‐chair of an anesthesiology department, as the section head for cardiac anesthesiology (22 years) and, as noted above, as anesthesiology residency program director. Additionally, he has been recognized by both his peers and students (residents and fellows) for his leadership, academic success, and clinical prowess with numerous awards to include six peer‐based awards and six faculty teaching awards.

Dr. Helman currently works and teaches with the faculty in the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre since his arrival in Toronto in November 2019.

Research Synopsis

My teaching philosophy includes understanding the uniqueness of each learner, the role of mentorship and modelling of behaviors, and the value of reflection and feedback by both the student and the teacher. I have used these principles in the education of medical students, residents, fellows, soldiers and middle school and high school students. As a board member, board president and advisor for a non‐profit organization, Salish Sea Expeditions (www.salish.org), I have witnessed and guided our current and future student‐leaders. Salish Sea Expeditions inspires youth (grades 5‐12) to connect with the marine environment through boat‐based scientific inquiry and hands‐on experiential learning, instilling curiosity, confidence, and critical thinking.

I have excelled as a residency program director for 16 of my 28 years of post‐graduate practice and served as a residency and fellowship educator my entire career. I established a new anesthesia residency and cardiac anesthesia program upon completion of my fellowship training in 1991 and recently excelled as the anesthesiology residency program director the last 12 years at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.

I look forward to sharing my experience, investigative interests, leadership and passion as a faculty member and department leader in the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. I propose that my focus on developing leadership competencies and collaborating with educator‐leaders in year one and cultivating leadership behaviors in clinicians in the second and third years with both student‐learners and University of Toronto faculty, with the use of relevant tools to guide their actions will yield outstanding current and future leaders in medicine.

Recent Publications

1. SJ Kaplan, HM Seabott, E Cunningham, JD Helman, RC Thirlby, KD Schenarts Resident Wellness and Social Support: Development and Cognitive Validation of a Resident Social Capital Assessment Tool. J Surg Educ. 2018 Mar ‐ Apr;75(2):313‐320, PMID: 29500143

2. A Dahl, C Hoaglan, JD Helman Posttranscatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Ventricular Septal Defect during Transfemoral Edwards SAPIEN Valve Implantation. Anesth Analg 2016; 6 (11):348‐351, PMID:27243581
3. M Kuppusamy, JD Helman, D. Low, et al. Intra‐operative Hemodynamic Changes Associated with Transhiatal and Transthoracic Esophagectomy. European Journal of Cardio‐thoracic Surgery. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2010;38:665‐668, PMID: 20615723

4. SB McDonald, E Jacobsohn , DJ Kopacz, S Desphande, JD Helman, FV Salinas, RA Hall. Parasternal block and local anesthetic infiltration with levobupivacaine after cardiac surgery with desflurane: The effect on postoperative pain,
pulmonary function, and extubation times. Anesth Analg 2005;100:25‐32, PMID: 15616047

5. DJ Kopacz, JD Helman, CE Nussbaum, JNK Hsiang, PC Nora, and HW Allen A Comparison of Epidural Levobupivacaine 0.5% With or Without Epinephrine for Lumbar Spine Surgery. Anesth Analg 2001; 93: 755‐760, PMID: 11524352

6. MF Mulroy, KL Larkin, PS Hodgson, JD Helman, et al: A Comparison of Spinal, Epidural, and General Anesthesia for Outpatient Knee Arthroscopy. Anesth and Analg 2000; 91: 860‐864, PMID: 11004038

7. JD Helman, et al: Risk of Ischemia in Patients Receiving Desflurane Versus Sufentanil: Sample Size and Clinical Significance. Anesthesiology 1993; 78: 397‐398, PMID: 8439040

8. M Hollenberg, DT Mangano, WS Browner; et al (JD Helman) Predictors of Postoperative Myocardial Ischemia in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery. JAMA. 1992;268(2):205‐209. PMID: 1535109

9. M Eisenberg, MJ London, J Leung, et al (JD Helman). Monitoring for Myocardial Ischemia During Noncardiac SurgeryA Technology Assessment of Transesophageal Echocardiography and 12‐Lead Electrocardiography
JAMA. 1992;268(2):210‐216. PMID: 1608139

10. JD Helman, et al:The Risk of Myocardial Ischemia in Patients Receiving Desflurane versus Sufentanil Anesthesia for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery. Anesthesiology 1992; 77: 47‐62, PMID: 1535185

Honours and Awards

Name: Named one of Seattle’s Top Doctors
Description:

2016 - Seattle Metropolitan Magazine

2013 - Seattle Metropolitan Magazine

2012 - Seattle Metropolitan Magazine

2010 - Seattle Metropolitan Magazine

2009 - Seattle Metropolitan Magazine

2005 - Seattle Metropolitan Magazine

Name: L. Donald Bridenbaugh MD Anesthesia Faculty Teaching Award
Description:

2001 - 2002 Anesthesiology Residency Program
Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington

1998-1999 Anesthesiology Residency Program                                                                 
Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington

Name: Attending Anesthesiologist of the Year Faculty Teaching Award
Description:

1992, 1993, 1995,1996 Anesthesiology Residency Program
Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington

Name: Resident's Research Essay Contest (Second place)
Description:

1991 American Society of Anesthesiologists Committee on Research 

Essay: "Desflurane Anesthesia and Myocardial Ischemia in High‐risk Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Surgery"

Name: Resident of the Year - Anesthesiology Residency
Description:

1989 Letterman Army Medical Center
San Francisco, California

Courses

Course Number:
Course Name: University of Toronto School of Medicine, Case based learning ‐ Cardiovascular and Respiratory Concepts and clinical applications