September 2025, Vol. 3 Ed. 3

President’s Message

We are also supporting professional growth and wellness through initiatives like BEACON and upcoming member events. Most importantly, we remain committed to transparency, communication, and advocacy—ensuring your voice is heard on key issues, from HPOA reforms to new patient discharge guidelines. Thank you for your ongoing engagement and support; together, we’re building a stronger, more connected medical staff community.

Our next MSA meeting will be on September 29th, 2025.

After-Hours Meal Reimbursement Program — Closed

Facility Engagement Project Intake — Second Call for Submissions

The deadline for this second round of applications is September 15th, 2025.

Each project can receive up to $10,000 in funding, with the possibility of additional support based on project progress and committee approval. Projects must be completed by March 1, 2026. For larger projects that are already underway and extend beyond this date, applications should only include the work and budget planned within this timeframe.

• Application Deadline: September 15th, 2025
• Project Review Period: September 16th – 30th, 2025
• Notification of Decisions: Early October 2025
• Project End Date: March 1, 2026

All project proposals will be reviewed at the end of September, with applicants notified of decisions in early October.

For more information and to access the application form, please visit: MSACW Project Application.

MSACW DEI Committee —
Potential Committee Interest and Priorities Survey

We recognize there are already many DEI initiatives across campus. Our goal is to complement and collaborate with these efforts, making sure the MSA’s work adds value, supports ongoing projects, and addresses any gaps—without duplicating efforts.

Thank you for taking a few moments to share your perspective and help guide this important work.

Access Update: New Proximity Sensor System for MSACW Lounge

Moving forward, lounge access will be linked directly to your Membee account—the same platform we use to manage MSACW memberships and dues. This update not only improves security but also makes the process smoother by connecting access permissions to your existing member profile!

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we roll out this upgraded access system.

Access Is Limited to Current, Dues-Paying Members
To be eligible for lounge access, your MSACW membership must be active and your dues must be paid.

Not sure about your status? You can check or register at msacw.ca or email engagement@msacw.ca for help with your account.

What You Need to Do

For Members Who Already Have a Membee Account:

1. Log in at: Member Profile Login.
2. Click “View Profile/Edit Profile” (at the bottom right of your profile page).
3. Review and complete the member information section, scroll down, then click Save.

• Employee Number (if applicable)
• Badge Number (required)
• Department/Group (required)

Profiles with missing or incorrect information—or unpaid dues—may not be granted lounge access.

For Members Without a Membee Account:

1. If you haven’t set up your Membee account yet, you’ll need to register and pay your dues before access can be granted. Use the link below and select “New Member” under the appropriate portal: MSACW Membership Sign Up.
2. After registering, follow the steps above to log in and complete your profile with the required access information.

RSVP: MSACW September Fitness Series — On-Site Yoga Classes

Important Information Before You Register:

• Please bring your own yoga mat. Mats will not be provided on-site.
• Each session is capped at 50 participants to maintain a comfortable space.
• Once full, registration will close—so we recommend registering early.
• Separate registration is required for each session. Only sign up for the date you plan to attend.
• If your plans change after registering, please notify us by emailing engagement@msacw.ca so we can offer the spot to another member.

How to RSVP:

Choose your preferred session and follow the appropriate link below to register:

Session 1 – Monday Afternoon

• Date: Monday, September 15, 2025
• Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
• Location: Shaughnessy Auditorium (On-site at Hospital Campus)
• RSVP for Session 1: RSVP Registration for Session 1

Session 2 – Thursday Evening

• Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
• Time: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Location: Shaughnessy Auditorium (On-site at Hospital Campus)
• RSVP for Session 2: RSVP Registration for Session 2

2025 MSACW Membership Dues Now Due

Membership in the MSA comes with a number of meaningful benefits, including:

• 24/7 access to the MSACW Lounge
• Invitations to MSA engagement events
• Eligibility to apply for MASES Facility Engagement Project funding
• A subscription to our monthly newsletter, The MSA Monitor
• Opportunities to serve on MSA committees that shape and support medical staff initiatives

To continue receiving these benefits in 2025, your membership dues must be paid—and your Membee account must be active.

Important: You Must Be Registered on Membee
Dues cannot be paid without an active Membee account. If you haven’t yet registered, you’ll need to do so before proceeding with payment. Membee is the platform we use to manage all MSACW memberships and dues. The Membee platform makes the process simple, with e-billing and automated reminders to help you stay on track.

2025 Annual Dues
(Same for both Active, Provisional and Associate Staff)

• $125.00 – Physicians & Dentists
• $75.00 – Midwives, Nurse Practitioners, and Clinical Scientists
• Please note: If you pay Medical Staff Dues at a different “primary” site, but also have privileges at BC Children’s and Women’s, your MSACW Dues are waived; please register by selecting the “MSA Dues Paid at a Different Site” option.

Why Do Your Dues Matter?
Due to new funding restrictions from Doctors of BC, we heavily rely on membership dues payments to fund our programs and services. Your prompt payment ensures that we can continue offering valuable initiatives, events, and resources to support our medical staff community. Please make sure your dues are paid on time to keep these benefits available to you and your colleagues.

Looking Ahead: 2026 Renewals
The Membee platform makes the process simple, with e-billing and automated reminders to help you stay on track. Membership renewals for the January 2026 membership year will open in December 2025. Stay tuned to your inbox and upcoming issues of The MSA Monitor for more information.

Connecting Over Lunch and Conversation

Help Us Choose the Caterer for the October MSACW Engagement Lunch!

We’re gearing up for our October Engagement Lunch, and this time, you get to help pick the caterer!

We want to hear what kind of food YOU want to enjoy while connecting with colleagues. Whether you’re craving comfort food, something healthy, or a taste of something new, your vote counts!

Here are the amazing local spots you can choose from:

• Sahel Persian Restaurant
• La Taqueria Pinche Taco Shop
• Tayybeh Syrian Restaurant
• Le Grotta del Formaggio
• Tasty Indian Bistro
• DD MAU – Vietnamese Banh Mi
• SuperBaba – Middle Eastern Cuisine
• Casereccio Foods Pasta Bar
• Disco Cheetah – Korean Bowls

Cast your vote and help make this lunch a delicious one! Take Our Catering Poll

Feel free to add any suggestions or comments in the survey—we love hearing from you. We can’t wait to see what you choose and look forward to sharing a great meal together!

Frontline Faculty Focus

Welcome to “Frontline Faculty Focus”, where we’ll briefly profile members of the MSA, including a few words about themselves. If you’d like to get your mug into the newsletter, please send us an email at engagement@msacw.ca.

Dr. James Chen

Pediatric Anesthesiologist

How long have you been at C&W?
I arrived here in 2007 after fleeing the USA, after a fortune-telling machine at the Pullyallup County Fair informed me about the events to come in the next 18 years. Luckily, the BC College overlooked my online MD degree from the Illinois Automotive Institute and immediately issued me a full license in 2014. At some point, I found myself sitting on a bunch of hospital committees, but I’m not sure why; people just kept inviting me to meetings. And now they put me in a rocking chair and some nice people feed me lunch once a month, and it’s great.

Tell us about a satisfying moment at work you’ve had recently.
I was in the OR, and Dr. Eric Weber looked over the drapes to ask to have the OR table lowered. I stood up, looked him in the eye and yelled, “That’s it, you’ve asked me to do that too many times! I didn’t spend six months of my life in a Yale residency to be asked to raise and lower OR tables all day!” And then I hauled off and punched him in the face across the drape—being careful not to contaminate his sterile gown, of course. And then my crossword fell off my lap, interrupting the reassuring rhythm of the pulse oximeter and waking me from a pleasant dream. But it was very satisfying while it lasted.

What’s a work frustration you wish you could solve with a snap of a finger?
I wish more MSA members would volunteer to create and be on MSA Committees for topics that interest them—the MSA needs your help! And the more ideas you share, the greater the chance of finding like-minded people on campus to share your enthusiasm.

What’s a secret skill you have that most people don’t know?
I took five years of Latin in high school and can confidently say that dulce est desipere in loco. Also, always remember to carpe diem, which of course means to seize the carp, especially when it’s on sale at the fishmonger.

Any hobbies you’d care to share?
I wouldn’t consider myself a beach person, but when the family’s on vacation, I do enjoy passing the time by building sandcastles. The kids roll their eyes, but have been known to join in (you’ve seen my ugly mug enough, so enjoy the photo from Mallorca).