Where did you grow up?
Calgary, Alberta.
How long have you worked at VGH?
I completed my fellowship in 2013 and then started working as an attending physician in 2015.
Why are you so passionate about ECMO?
How can you not be excited about a life-saving therapy we can institute at the bedside when all else fails! All joking aside, it’s an evolving technology that allows us to use every tool we have in our arsenal to give someone the best shot at survival when there are often no more options. In order for this to work it takes the concerted effort of a team from start to finish, and I am proud to say that the team — including the nurses, perfusionists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, dietitians at VGH — are the best I have ever worked with. It’s the reason we are able to continue to grow and excel in this program.
What do you like most about your job?
Making a real difference. I know the work we are collectively doing is important and significant. If someone is in ICU, it is undeniably the worst day of their life. It is such a privilege to be part of this time, where so little can mean so much. Time has become a currency, and at the end of the day, it is the most meaningful thing you can give someone.