MSES & MDSA Newsletter - September 2025 | Upcoming Annual General Meeting | The official meeting notice was be sent out as an event invitation via email on August 13, 2025 and a reminder sent on September 3, 2025. If you haven't seen it, check you inbox and junk/spam folders. If are unable to locate the invite or you'd like to update the email address we use to contact you, feel free to reach out to us via email. AGM: Tuesday September 23rd, 16:30 - 18:00 Guest presentations: Dr. Penny Ballem - update from PHSA Dr. Paris-Ann Ingledew - update from BC Cancer Dr. Alain Gagnon and Maximillian Besworth - Patient Portal update and October launch | Click the button below to download the calendar event, then open the download to save it to your calendar. Add AGM to Calendar | MSES & MDSA Feature Story | What happens when diversity of thought and passion for patient care meet powerful machines? Dive into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) in research, where innovation meets integrity. This feature explores how a dedicated working group at PHSA is crafting thoughtful guidelines to help researchers harness AI responsibly, and fostering collaboration, transparency, and trust across the community. | | “AI’s integration into healthcare will be transformative, much like past inventions such as the stethoscope or bloodwork. But true progress will only come when diverse voices work together, from ethics to IT, from clinicians to operations. I see our group as a meeting ground for these voices to come together.” – Dr. John-Jose Nunez, Psychiatrist, Associate Medical Director, Supportive Care, Chair, PHSA AI in Research Working Group Read more here to explore the future of AI in research at BC Cancer and the dedicated working group that’s helping to shape the use of new technology in research. | Peer Recognition in Action! | As a community of medical staff, you are improving wellness by sharing gratitude and coffee! To date: 144 Kudos submissions have been made, 62 this fiscal year so far; both senders and recipients have received a $5 coffee gift card and a message of gratitude. Since our last newsletter, these medical staff have been recognized for leading the way, providing excellent care to patients, and supporting and inspiring colleagues. - Dr. Susanne Carlisle, Dentist, Surrey
- Dr. Maria Verdurmen, General Practitioner Oncology, Kelowna
- Dr. Domino Bucarelli, General Practitioner Oncology, Kelowna
- Dr. Scott Tyldesley, Radiation Oncologist, Vancouver
- Dr. Jennifer Laidlaw, Psychiatrist, Surrey
- Kathleen McCaig, Nurse Practitioner, Kelowna
- Dr. Maryam Soleimani, Medical Oncologist, Vancouver
It only takes a few minutes to spread your gratitude, share a coffee, and bring a little positivity to a colleague's day. | Shared Care Committee Cancer Plan Project Update | There is some exciting work underway across the province in cancer care. We look forward to partnering with the project team at PHSA supporting the Cancer Care Initiative of the Shared Care Committee to highlight the projects in our newsletters over the next year. Tune in every month for more great details | What is the Shared Care Committee (SCC)? The Shared Care Committee (SCC) is a partnership between Doctors of BC and the BC government. Its mandate is to support and increase collaboration between family physicians and specialists in providing high-quality, integrated medical care to British Columbians. In the long term, Shared Care work helps build a collaborative infrastructure to support sustainable improvements for a coordinated health care system in BC. The SCC has provided funding to support physician leadership in innovative projects that advance BC’s 10-Year Cancer Action Plan and the SCC’s priority to enhance cancer care. The SCC, Ministry of Health (MoH), PHSA, and BC Cancer have collaborated to develop priorities and implement the Call for Proposals initiative. The SCC governs and partners with PHSA’s Medical Staff Quality team to provide centralized project management and quality improvement expertise. | Cancer Care Projects Expressions of Interest 15 innovative projects received Expression of Interest (EOI) funding to help the teams explore their ideas and develop a full project proposal. These EOIs were funded across five Health Authorities: VCH, FHA, PHSA, IHA, and ISLH. They focused on priorities such as pain and symptom management, improving diagnostic pathways, and transitions in care. | | Following the completion of the EOI phase, 14 full project proposals were submitted in July 2025. These proposals were reviewed by a Cancer-specific Advisory Committee, which includes a PHSA Oncologist, Rural GPO, Interim Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of BC Cancer, patient partners, representatives from BC Cancer Operations, and the MoH. The final decision on which projects will proceed is expected by September 30, 2025. Approved projects are anticipated to start in October 2025. Writing credit: Alice Watson, Portfolio Liaison, Shared Care & Strategic Initiatives at Doctors of BC | Regulation Updates: the HPOA | The new Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) with be in-force April 1, 2026. This new act will impact physicians across the province. Stay up to date on the work underway at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC to prepare for April 1 effective date for legislative changes and with the work of Doctor's of BC as they advocate for physicians in the process to establish the new regulatory structures that impact physicians in the new system. We encourage everyone to stay up to date and take opportunities to contribute your feedback and perspectives as you are able. | | - Read the most recent CPSBC Registrar's message (July/August 2025)
- Visit the dedicated HPOA page at Doctors of BC (note: some content is available only to members of DoBC)
| Doctors of BC Alternate Payment Physicians Issues Committee | Doctors of BC is seeking one (1) contracted specialist physician member for this committee. The APPIC is a standing committee of the Doctors of BC that engages with Alternate Payment physicians and advises on issues affecting physicians who receive a portion of their remuneration through salaries, service contracts and/or sessions. The APPIC provides input and recommendations on the mandate for negotiations and on the activities of joint Doctors of BC/Government Committees. All applicants must be a member in good standing of the Doctors of BC. Click here to find out more and apply | | Facility Engagement Funding: Turning ideas into action | Medical Staff Led Engagement Projects | 2025/26 Applications are now closed All funds allocated to support projects for this fiscal year have been distributed, no further applications for projects this year will be considered. We look forward to funded projects moving forward and to sharing project results with you as they come in. Accepting Applications for 2026/27 You can get a head start on project ideas for next year (beginning April 1, 2026). If you have an idea to engage medical staff or to improve the quality of patient care at your centre or across the province, let us know. You can receive up to $7500 in funding to use during our fiscal year (April 1 - March 31). Next deadline: November 15 for review and decision in December. Approved funding will be available April 1, 2026. Regular 2026/27 Application Deadlines: - February 15, 2026
- May 15, 2026
- August 15, 2026
- November 15, 2026
| If your project involves quality improvements, we can also connect you with a coach who can support your successful execution. If you're not sure whether your idea qualifies or how to get started on your proposal, we'd be happy to talk through it with you, send us an email to connect. If you're ready to go email your completed application to mses@bccancer.bc.ca | | Get Inspired! Past Engagement Projects | Tap into your colleagues across the province for inspiration See what other BC Cancer Medical Staff have done with recent project funding here. For a peak into the projects and learnings at other sites across BC check out the Site Engagement Activity Tracker (SEAT) Database from Facility Engagement | | Regional Funding Working for Medical Staff Priorities | MSES & MDSA sets aside Facility Engagement Funds to support your regional centre. Regional Representatives will be looking for ideas or topics of interest. Connect with your MDSA Regional Representative with your ideas for events. - Vancouver: Dr. Elisa Chan & Dr. Janine Davies
- Prince George: Dr. Allison Ye
- Surrey: Dr. Will Jiang & Dr. Elysha Vanderveer
- Abbotsford: Dr. Thao Nguyen
- Victoria: Dr. Zia Poonja & Dr. Sally Smith
- Kelowna: Dr. Angela Lin & Dr. Susan Ellard
- CON sites: Actively seeking a new representative, email us if you are interested in more information
| | What's Happening at BC Cancer & PHSA | Truth and Reconciliation invitations | PHSA is hosting two events this month to support learning and participation in truth and reconciliation work across the Health Authority. - Understanding thee eat with Siem Te Ta-in and k’ʷunəmɛn | Sept. 18, 2 – 3:30 p.m. Join a fireside chat centred on thee eat about Canada’s residential school system and the ongoing journey toward Truth and Reconciliation. Add the event to your calendar.
- RSVP to phsacomm@phsa.ca if you’d like to join in-person at 1333 W. Broadway.
- Please send any questions in advance to help shape the dialogue, or any reflections about your learning journey and how the Coast Salish teachings have helped guide you. Send to phsacomm@phsa.ca.
- Join a moment of silence across PHSA at 10 a.m. on Sept. 29: In the spirit of reconciliation, this is an invitation to settlers across PHSA, although everyone is welcome to participate. Download this calendar invite as a reminder that wherever you are working, between or during meetings, or when operationally feasible, to collectively hold a moment of silence to honour the children who never returned home and the survivors of Canada’s residential school system, their families and communities.
| In case you missed it: Cancer Action Plan Update | Share your thoughts Where have you seen BC Cancer prevention and screening in your community? Every milestone in BC’s 10-Year Cancer Action Plan is achieved thanks to the countless contributions of our care teams and support staff. How can we improve how we recognize this work? Talk to your Regional Rep or send us an email with your thoughts | The latest information: In case you missed it: | | As medical staff with privileges at BC Cancer including regional centres and community oncology network sites, you are a member of MSES & MDSA and receiving this bulletin. MSES is funded through Facility Engagement, a provincial initiative of the Specialist Services Committee. | | | | | |
