Leadership Experiences and Philosophies

I am a surgeon, educator, and health system leader whose work is grounded in a simple belief: how we care for people and how we care for one another matters as much as what we do. Across clinical practice, education, and professional governance, my leadership has been shaped by the conviction that technical excellence is necessary, but never sufficient. Sustainable excellence in healthcare emerges in environments where trust is present, communication is clear, and people feel safe to speak up, learn, and grow.

My commitment to leadership and advocacy began early in my career. During residency, I served as President and Chief Negotiator for the Provincial Association of Internes and Residents of Saskatchewan, representing trainees in negotiations and advocating for fair working conditions, educational quality, and physician well being. At the same time, I served on the executive of the Canadian Association of Internes and Residents, gaining early national exposure to physician advocacy, policy development, and the power of collective voice. These formative experiences established a durable foundation for my leadership philosophy, one grounded in collaboration, principled negotiation, and service to the profession.

I currently serve as Head of the Department of Surgery at the University of British Columbia and hold the CN Woodward Chair in Surgery, while maintaining an active clinical practice in general and colorectal surgery at St. Paul’s Hospital. Provincially, I have had the privilege of serving as President of Doctors of BC, representing physicians across specialties and practice settings during a period of profound system strain and transformation. In parallel, I served as Chair of the Specialist Services Committee, working at the intersection of clinical care, policy, and resource allocation to support specialist physicians and improve care delivery across British Columbia.

My advocacy for surgeons has also included service as President of the General Surgeons of BC and leadership within the BC Surgical Society. These roles deepened my understanding of the diversity of surgical practice across urban, rural, and remote contexts and reinforced my belief that a united profession, grounded in shared purpose, mutual respect, and trust, is essential to delivering high quality patient care.

Nationally, I currently serve as Secretary and Treasurer of the Canadian Association of General Surgeons, the organization that unifies general surgeons across Canada. CAGS plays a central role in advocacy, education, research, and professional development, ensuring that the perspectives of surgeons practicing in varied settings inform national priorities. I also had the honour of serving as Chair of the Canadian Surgery Forum in 2022 and 2023, leading the first two in person national surgical meetings following the COVID pandemic. At a pivotal moment for the profession, these forums helped reconnect Canada’s surgical community, renew dialogue, and reaffirm a shared professional identity.

My commitment to shaping the future of surgery extends to medical education at a national level. I serve on multiple Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada educational committees, contributing to the governance of postgraduate medical education and the standards that guide surgical training across the country. Through this work, I engage in shaping curricula, assessment approaches, and learning environments that prepare future surgeons not only for technical excellence, but for adaptability, professionalism, and humane practice.

As an educator, I have served as Program Director of one of the most geographically distributed general surgery residency programs in the country. My teaching philosophy emphasizes deliberate practice, narrative feedback, progressive independence, and psychological safety. Education, at its core, is relational. Learners thrive when expectations are clear, feedback is thoughtful, and dignity is preserved.

Across every stage of my career, from resident advocacy to provincial and national leadership, my guiding principle has remained constant: people matter. When we design systems that support good clinical judgment, continuity of care, and physician well being, excellence follows naturally. I remain optimistic about the future of healthcare and medical education in Canada. With shared purpose, collaborative leadership, and kindness alongside rigor, we can build systems that serve both patients and professionals, and sustain meaning and joy in the work we are privileged to do.