New This Month
Celebrating National Physicians’ Day | May 1, 2026
Today we mark an important occasion—National Physicians’ Day. I am proud to recognize the extraordinary work our physicians do every day across the province. Through their expertise and dedication, they profoundly impact the lives of our young patients and their families.
Daily, I see firsthand, the compassion our physicians bring to their work: from putting a smile on a child’s face to making thoughtful, often difficult decisions under pressure. Their dedication, professionalism, and care are truly inspiring.
National Physicians’ Day is observed each year on May 1st, by the Canadian Medical Association and the Doctors of BC to honour physicians who form the backbone of our national health system. Across British Columbia, physicians are delivering exceptional patient care while advancing innovation through clinical excellence and research.
This year, our department is proud to spotlight five exceptional physicians who have gone above and beyond to uphold the highest standards of our profession and to ensure we continue to advance outstanding care for children and youth.
Link to our 2026 faculty spotlights
Learn more:
CMA marks National Physicians’ Day | CMA
https://www.cma.ca/about-us/press-room/cma-marks-national-physicians-day
Recognizing the work of the medical profession: CMA to celebrate National Physicians’ Day on May 1
https://www.cma.ca/latest-stories/recognizing-work-medical-profession-cma-celebrate-national-physicians-day-may-1
National Physicians Day: Thank a doctor today
https://www.doctorsofbc.ca/advocacy/2026/national-physicians-day-thank-doctor-today
Doctors of BC marks 125 years of advocacy on National Physicians’ Day
https://www.doctorsofbc.ca/advocacy/2025/doctors-bc-marks-125-years-advocacy-national-physicians-day
With gratitude,
Steven
Steven Paul Miller, MDCM FRCPC FRSC FCAHS (He, Him, His)
James and Annabel McCreary Chair in Pediatrics | Professor and Head, Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
Hudson Family Hospital Chair in Pediatric Medicine | Chief, Pediatric Medicine, BC Children’s Hospital
Image (clockwise):Drs. Eiko Waida, James Harris, Kevan Jacobson, Mavis Teasdale and Souvik Mitra.
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2026 Honorary Fellow Award | Dr. Steven Miller
Dr. Miller is the 2026 recipient of the Honorary Fellow Award from the Newborn Brain Society.
He was recognized for his exceptional contributions to neonatal neurology and neurocritical care, joining a distinguished legacy of Honorary Fellows whose work has advanced the field.
The Honorary Fellow Award, established in 2020, recognizes outstanding individuals who have achieved remarkable milestones in neonatal brain care. This prestigious honour reflects their unwavering commitment and significant contributions, which closely align with the core mission and values of the Newborn Brain Society.
Congratulations, Dr. Miller!
More:
Newborn Brain Society Announces 2026 Honorary Fellow Award Recipient: Dr. Steven Miller
https://newbornbrainsociety.org/newborn-brain-society-announces-2026-honorary-fellow-award-recipient-dr-steven-miller/
Newborn Brain Society, Quarterly Newsletter, April 2026 | Volume 19
https://files.constantcontact.com/502c902f801/7735e654-42c2-4794-aa77-a32f0d52c64a.pdf?rdr=true
THE RESILIENT BRAIN | FALL/WINTER 2024-25
https://brainhealth.pathways.med.ubc.ca/
Rethinking early-life brain injury
https://brainhealth.pathways.med.ubc.ca/feature-stories/rethinking-early-life-brain-injury/
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Top ten most-read articles of 2025 | New Canadian Consensus Statement on Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Congratulations to all the contributors to the New Canadian Consensus Statement on Eosinophilic Esophagitis.
A special shout out to Drs. Vishal Avinashi, Stephanie Erdle, and Edmond Chan from the Department of Pediatrics, “Recommendations for the diagnosis and management of eosinophilic esophagitis in adults and children in Canada: a Delphi consensus project,” was among the top ten most-read articles of 2025 in the Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, with a total of 2,896 views.
See: https://www.cag-acg.org/cgi/page.cgi/_zine.html/What_s_New/New_Canadian_Consensus_Statement_on_Eosinophilic_Esophagitis_Published_in_JCAG
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2026 Hudson Scholar Quality Improvement Day, May 8, 2026
The 2026 Hudson Scholar Quality Improvement Day, sponsored by the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, will be held in the Chan Auditorium at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute on May 8th.
We will have trainees from across the BCCH campus present their work to showcase the high caliber of quality improvement (QI) projects currently underway at BC Children’s Hospital.
We hope to see you there!
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2026 Lifetime Achievement Award in Pediatric Respirology | Dr. David Wensley
Congratulations Dr. David Wensley!
Dr. Wensley was awarded the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award in Pediatric Respirology from the Canadian Thoracic Society.
The Lifetime Achievement Award in Pediatric Respirology recognizes an individual for lifetime achievement in the field of pediatric respirology each year.
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2025/26 UBC Killam Teaching Prize | Drs. Quynh Doan and Angela Devlin
Congratulations to Drs. Quynh Doan and Angela Devlin!
Drs. Doan and Devlin were both awarded a 2025/26 Killam Teaching Prize from UBC.
The Killam Teaching Prize is awarded annually to faculty nominated by students, colleagues and alumni in recognition of excellence in teaching.
https://academic.ubc.ca/awards/killam-awards-fellowships/killam-teaching-prize
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2026 Pediatric Assembly Early-Career Outstanding Contributions Award | Dr. Lena Xiao
Congratulations to Dr. Lena Xiao!
Dr. Xiao is the recipient of the 2026 Pediatric Assembly Early-Career Outstanding Contributions Award.
This award recognizes the significant contribution of an individual in the area of clinical care, education, advocacy, research and/or other scholarly activity.
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2026 Till and McCulloch Lectureship Award | Dr. Kirk Schultz
Congratulations Dr. Kirk Schultz!
Dr. Schultz has been bestowed the 2026 Till and McCulloch Lectureship Award from Cell Therapy Transplant Canada.
The Till & McCulloch Lectureship Award is presented to a lecturer whose research and/or practice has advanced basic science in HCT/CT.
Dr. Schultz will be presenting “Using Biomarkers to Improve HSCT By Regenerating Immune Tolerance and Preventing Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease” during the 2026 Annual Conference during Symposium 7 on Saturday, May 2 at 8:45am.
More: https://www.cttcanada.org/news/721503/2026-Lectureship-Winners.htm
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Honouring Excellence on Administrative Professionals Day, April 22, 2026
On April 22, 2026, we are celebrating Administrative Professionals Day—a day dedicated to recognizing and appreciating the administrative professionals who support our department. This year, we are pleased to acknowledge two individuals who exemplify the professionalism and dedication that define this day: Ms. Anita Yau and Mr. Harjit Gill.
View our staff spotlights that highlight their contributions.
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Curiosity to Discovery: Research and Mentorship in our pediatric residency training program
Did you know that research is a core part of our Pediatric Residency Program?
R1 residents connect with mentors, explore ongoing research, and build projects that shape their training and future careers.
The sessions provide a direct contact with many Divisions in the Department of Pediatrics and allow R1 residents to know who to contact for research and other scholarly activities, and to meet potential mentors.
By the end of Block 12, R1 residents need to find a mentor, determine their research project during residency, and sign a Mentorship Agreement form with their mentor.
Visit our faculty showcase and learn more about our amazing research mentors and project supervisors: https://bit.ly/3OY5Mor
All about research in our Pediatric Residency Program: https://pediatrics.med.ubc.ca/research-passport/
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Lapu Lapu Day of Togetherness: One Year After the Tragedy
One year has passed since a devastating tragedy deeply impacted the Filipino community in Vancouver and touched people around the world, including members of our own Department of Pediatrics community.
Today, we pause to remember the lives lost, to acknowledge the grief that continues, and to stand with those who are still healing. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all who have been affected.
For those who feel ready to gather, this year’s Lapu Lapu Day event will be held on April 19 at the Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre and will be renamed Lapu Lapu Day of Togetherness. Memorial gatherings will follow on the one‑year anniversary weekend.
We recognize that this remembrance may bring forward difficult emotions. Please know that support is available, and that you are not alone.
Link to resources and full announcement
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Celebrate Research Day 2026!
The Department of Pediatrics Celebrate Research Day 2026 is our annual event showcasing the exceptional research achievements of our trainees over the past year.
Clinical research plays a vital role in academic medicine within a tertiary care teaching hospital. As one of the three core pillars of academic health centres—alongside education and clinical care—research is fundamental to the Department of Pediatrics’ mission to advance high‑quality, evidence‑based care.
Celebrate Research Day reflects our strong commitment to fostering scholarly inquiry and supporting trainee success. We gratefully acknowledge everyone who contributed to making this event possible, including the Pediatric Residency Research Committee, the Celebrate Research Day judges, and the many staff and faculty members who continue to champion trainee research.
Celebrate Research Day
Friday, April 10, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Chan Centre for Family Health Education
938 W 28th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4
Learn more about our 2026 judges and the faculty mentors who support trainee research below.
Vishal Avinashi MPH, BSc, MD
https://www.bcchr.ca/research/find-a-researcher/vishal-avinashi/
Orlee Guttman MD, FRCPC
https://bcchr.ca/GIdivision/our-team
Joseph Lam MD, FRCPC
https://www.bcchr.ca/research/find-a-researcher/joseph-lam/
Jacob Rozmus BSc, PhD, MD
https://www.bcchr.ca/research/find-a-researcher/jacob-rozmus/
Simone Nicol MD, FRCPC
https://pediatrics.med.ubc.ca/divisions-centres/gastroenterology-hepatology-nutrition/
Department of Pediatrics Faculty Mentor Showcase
https://vimeo.com/showcase/9077024
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Dr. Shazhan Amed Selected to Present at Innovation UBC’s 2026 Investor Showcase
Dr. Amed will be presenting at the Investor Showcase which is Innovation UBC’s flagship annual event, spotlighting high-potential UBC ventures raising Seed to Series A rounds. Twelve companies, selected by an external evaluation committee from Innovation UBC’s Venture Founder and HATCH Venture Builder programs, will present to a curated audience of investors and ecosystem stakeholders.
Event: Innovation UBC’s 2026 Investor Showcase
Date & Time: Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Doors open at 4:00 PM.
Location: UBC Robson Square Theatre (C300), 800 Robson St, Vancouver, BC
Registration: https://innovation.ubc.ca/events/2026-investor-showcase
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LEADERSHIP UPDATE: Dr. Sara Jassemi, Associate Program Director, Pediatrics Residency Program
We’re excited to welcome Dr. Sara Jassemi as our new Associate Program Director, joining the Pediatrics Residency Program on May 4! A respected clinician educator, mentor, and leader, Dr. Jassemi brings deep expertise in adolescent medicine, social pediatrics, and equity-focused medical education. She’ll be working alongside Program Director Dr. Melissa Chan to support our residents and program. Please join us in giving her a warm welcome!
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Mia Remington for her outstanding leadership and dedication as Program Director. Her steady guidance, advocacy, and commitment to resident education have left a lasting impact. We’re grateful for all she’s done and are glad she’ll continue her clinical work with the General Pediatrics CTU.
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LEADERSHIP UPDATE: Dr. Jared Rubenstein, Head and Medical Director of the Division of Palliative Medicine and Medical Director of Canuck Place Children’s Hospice
We’re delighted to welcome Dr. Jared Rubenstein as Clinical Associate Professor, UBC & BCCH; Head & Medical Director of the Division of Palliative Medicine; and Medical Director at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, effective April 1, 2026.
Dr. Rubenstein joins us from Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, where he has been a transformative leader in pediatric palliative care, education, and communication. His work in fellowship training, medical education, and global advocacy has impacted learners and clinicians worldwide.
Welcome, Dr. Rubenstein — we look forward to your vision and leadership!
A big thank‑you as well to Dr. Marie‑Claude Grégoire for her outstanding leadership as Interim Head and for her continued contributions to the Division.
We are grateful to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and Canuck Place Children’s Hospice for their continued partnership and support, which remains vital to advancing care.
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SIQIPS Team Earns Top Poster Award at International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare
Members of the SIQIPS Working Group—Drs. Mona Patel and Tiffany Wong—proudly presented the Department of Pediatrics’ Systems Innovation, Quality Improvement, and Patient Safety (SIQIPS) initiative at the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare on March 9, 2026. This project was developed by Drs. Mona Patel, Tiffany Wong and Sandesh Shivananda.
The SIQIPS Working Group by has a threefold mandate:
– provide structured format for documentation of physician’s SIQIPS scholarly activities.
– offer educational opportunities on how SIQIPS activities would be reviewed by a promotion committee for career advancement.
– ensure that applicants and promotion committee members have a shared understanding of qualified SIQIPS activities and the merit criteria.
We are excited to share that SIQIPS was awarded Top Poster in the “Change” stream—selected from more than 120 posters in the stream and over 400 posters overall, among more than 3,000 participants.
This achievement reflects the team’s creativity, leadership, and commitment to driving meaningful improvement in the recognition of academic productivity in the Quality Improvement sphere.
Congratulations all!
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Join the 2026 BC Rural Health Conference in Prince George!
The 2026 BC Rural Health Conference (BC RHC) will take place in Prince George, BC, from May 29 to 31, 2026.
This annual gathering goes beyond professional development—it’s about building connections and celebrating the spirit of rural healthcare. Connect with colleagues and leave the BC Rural Health Conference feeling enriched, empowered, and energized.
Organized by the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc), the conference is supported by a network led by rural physicians committed to improving health in communities across rural BC.
Drs. Danielle Olmstead and Kirsten Miller from the Department of Pediatrics will be presenting.
Registration and program details are available at: https://www.bcrhc.ca
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Honouring Innovation and Impact: Pediatric Researchers Recognized by YWCA BC | Drs. Shelina Babul & Mariana Brussoni
YWCA BC has announced the 97 nominees across 12 categories for the 2026 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards—and we are pleased to share that two of them are from the Department of Pediatrics!
In the Health & Wellness category, Dr. Shelina Babul has been honoured with a nomination. In the Research, Sciences & Technology category, Dr. Mariana Brussoni has also been recognized.
Dr. Shelina Babul is the Director of the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, specializing in sport and recreational injury research with a focus on concussion and traumatic brain injury. She created the Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) and also leads BC Children’s Hospital Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (BC CHIRPP). Dr. Babul is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and an Investigator with BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. Her work has been recognized with several awards, including honours from the Brain Injury Association of Canada, BC Hockey, and UBC’s Faculty of Medicine.
More: https://www.injuryresearch.bc.ca/about/our-team
Dr. Mariana Brussoni is a Professor in Pediatrics and the School of Population and Public Health at UBC, and the Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership. An investigator with the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit, she is also a founding member of Outdoor Play Canada. Her research examines child injury prevention, children’s risky play, and the design of equitable, outdoor play‑friendly environments. Widely published and featured internationally, she collaborates across education, health, and urban planning to support environments where all children can thrive.
More: https://earlylearning.ubc.ca/team/mariana-brussoni/
See the full list of nominees: https://ywcabc.org/women-distinction-awards
And, don’t forget to cast your vote!
Each YWCA Women of Distinction nominee is eligible to win the Connecting the Community Award. The recipient is selected by public vote, and the winner chooses a YWCA cause that is important to her, donating $10,000, courtesy of Scotiabank, to the YWCA program of her choice. Voting link: https://ywcabc.org/CCA-vote
Join us in celebrating these outstanding leaders whose work continues to make a powerful impact in our communities!
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Training the Next Generation: Dr. Shreya Moodley Featured in Pathways
The newest issue of Pathways is now out, and we are excited to share the feature on Dr. Shreya Moodley, a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Cardiology.
Did you know that every day, more than 5,000 learners—including medical and health professions students, resident doctors and researchers—train at over 145 sites in urban, rural, remote and Indigenous communities spanning an area comparable to Western Europe?
Explore the latest issue of Pathways: https://pathwaysmagazine.med.ubc.ca/training-the-doctors-health-professionals-and-scientists-of-the-future/
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Celebrating Canadian Women Physicians Day!
As we carry forward the spirit of International Women’s Day, we’re proud to recognize Canadian Women Physicians Day on March 11—marking the 1875 licensing of Dr. Jennie Trout, the first woman legally permitted to practice medicine in Canada.
Her determination opened doors for generations of women in medicine, and today we honour the immense impact of our women physician colleagues across our department and beyond.
To mark the day, we’re spotlighting two outstanding physicians from the department nominated by their peers for their excellence and dedication: Dr. Caron Strahlendorf and Dr. Kirsten Miller.
Learn more about each of these inspirational women! VIEW SPOTLIGHTS
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We respectfully acknowledge that we live, learn, and care on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
©2026 Department of Pediatrics. All rights reserved.
Contact: pedcomm@cw.bc.ca