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2007 MEETING
Dear Colleagues:
The program committee, chaired by Dr. Al Hayashi, has put together an excellent program encompassing many areas of surgical investigation and technique, from basic science to surgical care in community hospitals. Our Founders Lecturer will be Mr. Roger Motson, Professor of Surgery, Anglia Ruskin University. Mr Motson is known world wide for his work in colorectal and laparoscopic surgery. His presentations will include: “A Telescopic Voyage of Discovery” and “How to get laparoscopic colorectal surgery started – problems and solutions”. I look forward to what I know will be a stimulating and interesting visit with Professor Motson. The local arrangements committee, chaired by Dr. Rachel Barton, has organized an entertaining social program. On Friday night we have a performance by Vancouver TheatreSports League Comedy Improv that includes some audience participation (fear not, it is usually the local people they will terrorize, such as the president of the organization). They come highly recommended. On Saturday night, we have a very talented big band jazz ensemble with vocals that will dazzle the most discerning of ears. Please plan on staying for Saturday night, as I know you will regret it if you take a pass. The companion program features an unforgettable afternoon with David Feys. David is known across Canada for his abilities as a chef and raconteur. His radio and television appearances have been raved about and his food creations are beyond belief. This is something that should not be missed. In addition to the food, wine pairings and tastings will top off the event. If I weren’t giving the presidential address the same afternoon, I’m afraid I would be going to the companion program myself! I look forward to seeing you all at the Empress in November. Yours Sincerely
I would like to especially congratulate all of the surgical residents for their efforts in submitting abstracts to this prestigious meeting. Two thirds of the papers selected for presentation will be eligible for our resident’s competition. The enthusiastic contribution by our young surgeons will ensure the scientific program of the NPSA will always be of outstanding quality. The presentations are diverse and emphasize the true scope and breadth of talent of our membership. Notably there will be presentations from bariatric, colorectal, breast and pediatric subspecialty areas. All of the association’s 6 caucuses have presentations to deliver. Dr. Will Orrom, our association’s president has invited Professor Roger W Motson from the UK to be our distinguished guest. Mr. Motson will present both the Founders’ Lecture and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Lecture and preside over each session of the scientific program. Dr Orrom has arranged for an exceptional social program at the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel. While we can’t guarantee that the waiters will not spill water on our guests this year, we can ensure that everyone will have great fun and frolic throughout their stay. Victoria, the Garden City, is a year-round tourism destination that offers a friendly, safe haven for all visitors. The harbour is alive with the romance of an era when tall ships moored alongside the wharf. Our caucus welcomes you and your family for a memorable sojourn. Allen Hayashi MD DISTINGUISHED GUEST SPEAKER Roger Motson is Consultant Surgeon at Colchester General Hospital,
Essex and Professor of Surgery, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford,
Essex. His previous appointments include Senior Surgical Registrar,
The London Hospital, 1977-1984, Research Fellow at St. Marks Hospital
1977-1984, and Research Fellow at University of California, 1975-1976. LUNCH GUEST SPEAKER "KILLER WHALES AS SENTINELS OF GLOBAL
POLLUTION" Peter S. Ross, PhD SOCIAL PROGRAM Friday, November 9th A Taste of Vancouver Island with Chef David Feys
and Wine Connoisseur Britta Giese David’s Menu includes: 10:30 am -- depart Empress for Liquor Plus on Douglas St. Britta
Giese will greet you on arrival. 2:20 pm -- depart from Liquor Plus, Douglas St. 2:30 pm -- ETA at Empress This exclusive 4 hour programme includes deluxe charter coach
transfers, a 3 course gourmet cooking lesson and lunch, wine pairings
and gratuity. Sea Mill will handle all disbursements. Cost per person: $117.00 – signup on NPSA Registration
form 6:00 pm -- Allegro Con Trio flute, violin and cello trio performs
a nice mix of classical music through cocktails and dinner. Following dinner on Friday evening, we present the Vancouver TheatreSports® League,
a unique professional theatre organization dedicated to the growth
and exploration of exceptional improv-based work for the purpose
of challenging and inspiring the community. Boasting six International Improv Comedy Awards and starring in
several television specials, Vancouver TheatreSports® League
first opened their doors at the Back Alley Theatre, where they
consistently drew cult-like, capacity crowds. They continue to
wow audiences at the New Revue Stage on Granville Island performing
to more than 200,000 enthusiasts yearly, 4 nights a week, 52 weeks
a year. Vancouver TheatreSports® League brand of improvisation is
a highly theatrical fusion of the dramatic elements of comedy and
tragedy coupled with the enthusiasm and edge-of-your-seat excitement
of professional sport. Saturday, November 10th 12:00 pm -- Luncheon in the Crystal Ballroom Research Scientist, Dr. Peter S. Ross, with the Institute of Ocean
Sciences (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) in Sidney, British Columbia,
Canada, presents significant findings that affect life in the Pacific
Northwest and around the world. Killer Whales as Sentinels of Global Pollution The killer whales of the northeastern Pacific Ocean have the dubious
distinction of being among the most contaminated marine mammals
in the world. This disturbing observation can be explained by:
1) the persistence of a number of problematic chemicals in the
environment, 2) the high position that killer whales occupy in
the ocean food web, 3) the long life expectancy of killer whales
(up to 90 years), and 4) their inability to readily metabolize
these chemicals. Our toxicology research benefits from a unique
photo-identification catalogue that details the age, sex and feeding
ecology of virtually every killer whale that frequents British
Columbia’s coastal waters. This enables us to obtain small
biopsy samples from known individuals, and to evaluate the factors
affecting contaminant levels in free-ranging individuals. For example,
we found that males become increasingly contaminated with industrial
PCBs as they age, as they cannot metabolically eliminate these
chemicals. Females become less contaminated during reproductive
years, as they transfer fat-soluble PCBs to their offspring via
their fat-rich milk. Good news for the females, but bad news for
their nursing calves. The implications of the very high levels
of endocrine-disrupting chemicals are profound. PCBs have been
associated with reduced reproductive health, immunotoxicity, developmental
abnormalities and tumors in marine mammals in different parts of
the world. And while PCBs were banned over 30 years ago in North
America, they still present a health threat to those relying on
aquatic food webs. 6:30pm – The Light Jazz Quartet performs well-known standards
through cocktails and dinner. 9:00pm The Chris Millington Big Band Snapshots from The Butchart Gardens Show 2001 - 2006 |
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The Victoria Caucus warmly invites you and your partner to attend
the 94th Annual Meeting of the North Pacific Surgical Association
on November 9th and 10th, 2007. The Scientific presentations and
exhibitions are being held at the Victoria Conference Centre and
the social activities at the adjoining Fairmont Empress Hotel.
This year the Victoria caucus from British Columbia will graciously
host the NPSA meeting. I know you are as excited as we are to reunite
with colleagues and friends of our membership at this much celebrated
annual event. The Program committee has worked diligently to produce
an excellent program for the meeting. The many excellent submissions
have proved particularly challenging for the Program committee
to select 24 scientific papers. 
Roger
W. Motson, MS, FRCS
Peter S. Ross is a Research Scientist (marine mammal toxicologist)
at the Institute of Ocean Sciences (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
in Sidney, British Columbia, Canada. He is carrying out research
into the levels and patterns of environmental contaminants in marine
mammals and the effects of these on their health. He holds Adjunct
Professorships at Simon Fraser University and the University of
Victoria. He obtained his PhD from the University of Utrecht in
the Netherlands (1995), his MSc from Dalhousie University in Halifax,
Nova Scotia (1990), and his BSc (Honours) from Trent University
in Peterborough, Ontario (1985). He has published more than 80
international scientific articles and book chapters. His work on
captive and wild harbour seals has provided a foundation for understanding
the link between environmental contaminants, endocrine disruption,
the immune system and increased susceptibility to disease in marine
mammals. He published an article entitled “High PCB levels
in free-ranging Pacific killer whales”, which established
the southern resident killer whales of British Columbia and Washington
State as among the most contaminated marine mammals in the world,
and concludes that PCBs present a tangible health risk to these
symbols of the Pacific Ocean. He continues to carry out multidisciplinary
research into the effects of contaminants on the health of wildlife
and First Nations consumers of traditional seafoods, and uses marine
mammals as sentinels that help to elucidate contaminant pathways
in the environment.
