Alumni Review

APRIL 2010

CFMS Annual Review

s afirst-year medical studentin a class of 56 at MemorialUniversity of Newfoundland in 1992, I neverimagined the excitement and chal-lenges I would face in my profes-sional life! Encouraged by Dr. DavidKeegan (CFMS president 1994–95), I was elected as the CFMS Atlantic representative in 1993, which led to another executive posi-tion as vice-president education thefollowing year. The highlight of my time with the CFMS was my term aspresident in 1995–96. Little did Iknow that my experiences wouldprepare me for the challenges wait-ing in another CFMS — theCanadian Forces Medical Services. With financial considerations asthe prime motivator, I enrolled inthe Medical Officer Training Plan inthe summer of 1993. The adage “itseemed like a good idea at the time”has certainly proved to be accurate, which is a little surprising given Ihad no prior cadet or military expe-rience except my short stint withBeavers as a 7-year old!Since enrolling, I have had anamazing career in the CanadianForces. I have lived literally fromcoast to coast: from St. John’s toCalgary, Winnipeg to Goose Bay,Ottawa to Comox. My family evenhad a chance to live in Germany forabout two years. Each of these loca-tions has had some unique chal-lenges, but it’s been rewarding. What is perhaps the most mem-orable period has been my time withour Special Forces. I had the privi-lege of working with our elite from2000 to 2003, and I participated intraining and operations that weretruly amazing. Subsequently, I wassenior physician with CanadianSpecial Operations ForcesCommand from 2007 to 2009.

Take this responsibility seriously and useyour intellect andabilities to improvethe lot of thosearound you.

My time in Germany would be aclose second to this time with SpecialForces. In 2006, the CanadianForces unexpectedly began to takecasualties in Afghanistan at anunprecedented rate. I was tasked toliaise with the US hospital inLandstuhl and assist in the aeromed-ical evacuation of our injured toCanada. The strength and resolvethat these soldiers and their familiesdemonstrated during the most diffi-cult of circumstances was an inspira-tion to me and has changed my per-spective on life forever. “Don’t sweatthe small stuff” has been my mantraever since! As a student representative withinthe CFMS, I recall high-profile pre-sentations to the CMA and numerousother groups, which were far moreexciting than much of the “grunt” work like organizing meetings, com-pleting reports and laying the founda-tions for the organization. However,these skills have proven invaluable as Ihave progressed into the senior ranksof the Canadian Forces.I recall being quite anxiousabout public speaking as the CFMSVP Education, but repeated oppor-tunities have allowed me to honethese skills and become far morecomfortable in this realm.Communication skills are critical toa leader and this prepared me fornumerous live CBC interviews that I would later conduct in Germany toupdate Canadians on the recovery of our soldiers at Landstuhl RegionalMedical Centre.Managing clerkship with theresponsibilities of CFMS presidentensured that I managed time effec-tively. This skill has become incredi-bly useful as I currently balance my home life (with children aged 3, 6,and 8 years) with a busy career and apart-time emergency medicine prac-tice. My perfect wife Heather hasmade this much easier, so chooseyour partner wisely!There are a few lessons I havelearned from outstanding leaders within the Canadian Forces.“Perfect is the enemy of good and it

From CFMS to CFMS — lessons inleadership

Lieutenant-Colonel Nick Withers, MD, CCFPCFMS President 1995–96

will never be perfect.” It is difficult for many of us with obsessive-compulsive disorder —you know who you are — to accept less thanperfection. Unfortunately, we sometimes letform obstruct function and, consequently, we delay initiatives until they are perfect, buttoo late to be relevant. Sometimes we need toprovide the 90% solution accepting that thelast 10% will require disproportionate timeor resources. I did not learn this lesson untilrecently, so I likely drove the remainder of the CFMS executive crazy during my tenure.In my emergency medicine career, Isometimes fall back to the position of “Don’t just do something, stand there.”Particularly in the emergency department, we are very anxious to act and, indeed, thisis often required to save lives. However, wemust also recognize when it is in thepatient’s best interest for us to do less, be itinvasive procedures or expensive testing andinstead practise the art of medicine. Thiscannot always be appreciated while master-ing your skills as a medical student, but itbecomes very apparent as a community ER physician. As physicians (or physicians-to-be), wehave been afforded amazing opportunitiesand privilege. Regardless of your specialty orposition, you will be considered a leader inyour clinic, hospital or community. Takethis responsibility seriously and use yourintellect and abilities to improve the lot of those around you. If you eventually findyourself in an administrative position, Istrongly urge you to maintain a clinicalpractice so that you can truly provide clini-cal leadership to your organization.

Choose New Brunswick! Choose New Brunswick!

Be Successful inYour ProfessionAchieve balance inYour Lifewww.gnb.ca Keyword: physiciansBe Successful inYour ProfessionAchieve balance inYour Lifewww.gnb.ca Keyword: physiciansAyez du succès dans votre professionet un équilibre dans votre viewww.gnb.ca Mot-clé : médecinsAyez du succès dans votre professionet un équilibre dans votre viewww.gnb.ca Mot-clé : médecins

Choisissez leNouveau-Brunswick! Choisissez leNouveau-Brunswick!

ChoisissezleNouveau-Brunswick!

APRIL 2010

Alumni Review

APRIL 2010

CFMS Annual Review

Dr. Chris Pollock, Vice- President Finance 2005–2007

I can’t believe how quickly time is pass-ing. I’m already halfway through my 5-year residency here in BC! I’m eagerly counting down the months until my fiancée and I will be able to move back to Ottawa and start practising.

Dr. Paul Gross, CFMS Quebec Regional Rep, 2005–2006, McGill rep 2004–2006

I am originally from Montréal andreceived my medical degree fromMcGill University in 2007. I complet-ed a residency in family medicine at StPaul’s Hospital in Vancouver.Currently, I am doing a 3rd-year fel-lowship in international healththrough the Department of Family Practice at UBC. My professionalinterests include global health, aborig-inal health, tropical medicine, HIV,addictions medicine, palliative careand ecosystem health, particularly howit pertains to climate change. I will begoing to Malawi to work withDignitas International in March–April2010. My long time love, Carolyn,and I were married in April 2009 inMexico, just before H1N1 hit. We arehappily married and have no plans toleave Vancouver in the near future.

Allison Meiwald, Vice-PresidentCommunications 2005–2007

I’ve finally begun my last countdown!I’m officially closer to the end of my residency than the beginning — morethan two and a half years in and I’mpacing myself for the homestretch.Completing undergrad, medicalschool and residency is definitely amarathon and not a sprint. As youmove through each phase, it seemsthere are many markers that are anx-iously approached with a countdown:one week until the MCATs, 2 monthsuntil acceptance or rejection lettersare out, halfway through clerkship,only one more CaRMS interview, onehour to match time, four days untilI’m a resident and, now, only two anda half years and I’ll be a real doctor! Although nervousness accompa-nied all these points, excitement wasalso just bubbling under the surface. Asyou move farther along in residency,your level of independence increases.Little by little you realize that you mightactually be starting to figure things out. You’re finally used to being called “doc-tor” and having to “give orders.” Youonly have to think a therapy throughtwice instead of half a dozen timesbefore prescribing it. And this is exhila-rating! You are trusted, asked for youropinion, treated as a colleague.For me, that excitement is startingto grow. When I was a child, I wouldtape together strips of cardboard andmake loops out of them to make thema “chain” as my countdown to Santa.Each day in December, I would tearoff one loop. I’m so excited to be onthe down slope that I feel like makinga chain with just under 900 loops andtearing one every day from now until30 June 2012! It’s my last countdownand I can’t wait to get my career start-ed — to not second guess myself, tobe an attending, to have lots of med-ical students asking questions aboutmy specialty.I know that for an emergency room physician, there will always beday to day excitement, definitely some-thing worth counting down to. Now, if only I knew how many loops I need tostart my countdown to retirement.

Dr. André Bernard, President 2005–2006, Vice-President Finance 2004–2005, Vice- President International Programs and Partnerships 2002–2003

Greetings from England! My time with the CFMS still feels like yesterday and it excites me to see the organiza-tion growing and evolving as timepasses! As many of you know, I wasinvolved from 2002 to 2007, during atime of rapid and vibrant change forthe CFMS. As I reflect on it, we “grewup” significantly during that period.From maturing our policy stances toenhancing the sophistication of ourcommunications, representative andadvocacy efforts, the CFMS demon-strated confidence and widespreadcredibility among members, nationalpartners, the government and otherstakeholders. The CFMS of today hasbeen built on over 25 years of excep-tional work by exceptional people.This collective accomplishment issomething of which the medical stu-dents of Canada can be proud! Where have I been since my time with the CFMS? After my year as pres-ident, I matched to anesthesiology atDalhousie University. My formal orga-nizational involvement continued as Itook on the roles of treasurer and sub-sequently vice-president of theProfessional Association of Residentsin the Maritime Provinces (PARI-MP). I also spent two years on theBoard of Directors of CAIR, chairingits Advocacy and Policy Committee in2008–2009. As I write this, I’m in my fourthyear of residency, but have taken a hia-tus to do a master’s of science in healthpolicy, planning and financing at theLondon School of Economics and

Where they are now?