Highlights from the Symposium on Anesthesia Care & Pain Medicine in Rural and Remote Regions of Canada
The symposium on Anesthesia Care & Pain Medicine in Rural and Remote Regions of Canada was very well attended. It was two days of rich discussion of vital information delivered from a diverse panel of expert leaders, specialists, and change-makers from across Canada and Australia. Our speakers spoke about their experience and the opportunities to help develop strategies to better support physician-led anesthesia care in Canada. Speakers and participants brought forth awareness to a wide range of topics and help to engage in insightful discussions, networking and collaborative opportunities to bring forward proactive recommendations and possible strategies to improve care for patients across Canada.
We share some highlights from the symposium:
The former Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, opened the event on day 1. To view her remarks, please click here to see the video.
Dean Trevor Young and Dr. David Tannenbaum, Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, shared key supporting messages about the symposium.
We received welcome remarks on day 2 of the symposium from Dr. Dolores McKeen, President of the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society.
We applaud all the Speakers, Co-Chairs and Emerging Scholars. Their leadership and commitment are what helped to make this symposium a success!
Participating Leaders
Alam Fahad
McCarroll, Kirk
Preston, Roanne
Bourgeault, Ivy
McCartney, Colin
Proulx, Migueal
Davidson, Taryn
McVicar, Jason
Raazi, Matten
DeBacker, Julian
Milkovich, Robert
Raheel, Hira
Enright, Angela
Mitchell, Rodney
Richardson, Lisa
Errett, Lee
Morris, Gary
Rourke, Jim
Falk, Ryan
Newbery, Sarah
Simkin, Sarah
Furstenburg, Dietrich
Ng, Elaine
Stewart, Aviva
Iglesias, Stuart
Ng, Victor
Swartz, Pip
Kamble, Vaibhav
Niazi, Ahtsham
Tannenbaum, David
Kim, James
Noorani, Alborz
Tromp, Margaret
Kirkpatrick, Roy
Orser, Beverley
Van der Linde, Enrich
Kotaska, Andrew
Otobo, Tarimobo
Wiegelmann, Julian
Kurrek, Matthew
Paulette, Lesley
Wilson, Ruth
McAlpine, John
We had seven engaging and interactive workshops with leaders and participants who shared their ideas and discussion that allowed for issues to be identified and proposed recommendations for action. This is only the start and we look forward to continuing the discussion. As said at the beginning of the symposium, the individuals gathered here are a “coalition of the willing“. We hope to keep the voices loud and clear as we make recommendations and strategize changes that reduce the barriers to access to anesthesia services for those living in rural and remote communities.
Workshop #1
Anesthesia workforce planning in urban and rural Canada
Workshop #2
Coaching networks, mentorship and educational opportunities
Workshop #3
Policy support for rural anesthesia and pain medicine
Workshop #4
Technology, virtual reality and distance coaching and learning
Workshop #5
Training and supporting rural generalists (Anesthesia, Obstetrics, Surgery)
Workshop #6
Rural and remote practice models of care in Canada including allied health professionals
Workshop #7
Policy through collaboration with national medical societies and government
We appreciate all who joined in the discussion and participated in the symposium on Anesthesia Care and Pain Medicine in rural and remote regions of Canada.
