Pulsimeter

In August Dr James C. Hogg, a researcher at Providence Health Care’s iCAPTURE Centre, was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada. Dr Hogg is one of the best-known pulmonary pathologists in the world. He has made major contributions to the understanding of lung disease and continues to pursue an active research program.

The iCAPTURE Centre, located at St. Paul’s, focuses on the complex genetic and environmental influences that determines susceptibility to diseases of the heart, lung, and vascular systems, particularly those involving inflammation or infection. In 2003 the Centre was renamed the James Hogg iCAPTURE Centre for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research in recognition of his immeasurable contribution to its success.

Dr Hogg earned his medical degree from the University of Manitoba in 1962 and a PhD in experimental medicine from McGill University in 1969. He completed residency training in anatomic pathology at the Massachusetts General Hospital and McGill.

In 1977, Dr Hogg was recruited to Vancouver by St. Paul’s Hospital and the University of British Columbia. The Pulmonary Research Laboratory he founded grew steadily over the years and gradually expanded in size and scope into the McDonald Research Laboratories. Under his direction, excellent researchers were recruited and the integration of the pulmonary and cardiovascular research groups lead to the formation of the iCAPTURE Centre in 2000.

Dr Hogg is currently an emeritus professor of pathology at UBC. He maintains an active research program focused on the inflammatory process in the lung with particular reference to the structure and function of the lungs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Order of Canada recognizes outstanding achievement and service in various fields of human endeavor. It is our country’s highest honor for lifetime achievement.

Field ambulance museum

The 12th Canadian Light Field Ambulance maintains a museum at 4050 West 4th Avenue in Vancouver. Any reader interested in arranging a tour should contact the curator, Lieutenant Colonel A.S. French at 604 734-0745, or Dr John Garry at 604 733-8789.

Multiple myeloma support group

The Greater Vancouver Multiple Myeloma Support Group meets on the third Saturday of each month at the Vancouver General Hospital, Jimmy Pattison Pavilion, 2nd Floor, Round Room, next to the cafeteria.

This group was formed just over a year ago to provide support and information to patients and their families who have been diagnosed with this little-known cancer.

One of the group’s goals is to initiate a campaign aimed at family physicians to promote an awareness of the symptoms and characteristics of multiple myeloma, which should lead to quicker diagnosis and treatment. The group will be participating in the Family Medicine Forum to be held in Vancouver in December.

One of the programs offered by the group is the mentor program. This program connects a patient currently undergoing treatment with a former patient who has completed treatment.

For more information on the support group, please contact Ms Francesca Plaster at fmplaster@shaw.ca or visit their web site at www.myelomavancouver.ca.

Docs On The Run to run again in 2006

This year online training for the Sun Run or for any run/walk in your community will start in January 2006. Stay tuned to Pulsimeter for updates.

—Ron Wilson, MD
Vancouver

BCMA’s privacy commitment to you

From time to time we receive complaints from members who are being solicited by insurance agents or other third parties, indicating that the BCMA has apparently supplied the agent with contact information about the member and implying that by doing so the BCMA is endorsing the agent.

We want to assure all members that maintaining your privacy is of utmost importance to the BCMA. We take pains to ensure that the only third parties receiving personal information about members on a regular basis are the Canadian Medical Association, with which we have a conjoint relationship, and medical societies and sections that a member has joined. In rare instances when it is important to communicate with members or get their opinions on a hot topic, we may engage the services of a third party, such as Ipsos Reid, to do telephone surveys. On these occasions, we notify members of our intent and only provide contact information to the surveying firm on a one-time-use basis, with a confidentiality agreement.

If you are approached by an insurance agent or other third party purporting to have obtained your contact information from the BCMA, be assured that this is not the case. We encourage you to question the agent about the source of his or her information. You may also wish to ask the agency to remove your name from their mailing list.

—Sandie Braid, CEBS
Assistant Director,
BCMA Benefits