Saturday, May 30
Saturday is all about high-impact learning and practical insights. Dive into rapid-fire lectures covering the latest clinical updates, then engage in interactive Ask-Me-Anything sessions, which repeat so you can attend two different topics. Whether you’re seeking expert guidance on dermatology, pediatrics, women’s health, physiatry, and pain and addiction, this day is designed to equip rural clinicians with case-based strategies and real-world solutions tailored to rural practice.
7:00 AM - 8:10 AM Breakfast
-
⏰ Time: 8:30 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
8:10 am - The RCCbc will kick things off by opening the 2026 BC Rural Health Conference.
8:20 am - An Indigenous Welcome from a representative of the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation.
8:40 am - The JSC with deliver a feature presentation.
8:50 am - Dr. Tandi Wilkinson & Dr. Svetlana Hadiki will lead a short wellness activity before we dive into the first set of rapid-fire lectures.
8:55 AM - 10:15 AM Rapid-Fire Lectures
-
Speakers: Dr. Allison Gregory
🛠 Learning Objectives
Compare and select appropriate topical agents for the management of dermatitis.
Apply practical prescribing strategies for dermatitis affecting challenging sites.
-
Speaker: Dr. Nathalie Gamache
🛠 Learning Objectives
Identify evidence-based treatment options (hormonal and non-hormonal strategies) for hot flashes, sleep disturbance, and mood symptoms.
Select practical follow-up and patient self-management strategies to improve symptom control.
-
Speaker: Dr. Gurpreet (Garry) Palak
🛠 Learning Objectives
Determine when imaging is warranted in early low back pain, beyond the classic red flags.
Implement early management strategies to improve recovery based on clinical presentation.
Apply practical strategies to reduce progression from acute to chronic low back pain.
-
Speaker: Dr.Launette Rieb
🛠 Learning Objectives
Identify high-risk situations and prescribing pitfalls in patients with concurrent pain and addiction.
Implement pragmatic treatment strategies for acute and chronic pain that align with addiction-informed care.
Optimize follow-up and supports to improve outcomes and continuity of care.
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM Coffee Break & Poster Walk
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM Ask-Me-Anything Choose one)
-
Speaker: Dr. Danielle Olmstead
🩺 Ask Me Anything: Pediatrics
From toddlers to teens, this open Q&A session will explore everyday pediatric issues you regularly encounter in primary care. We’ll review practical approaches to common challenges concerns, including:
How to approach recurrent abdominal pain and GI complaints
Growth curve red flags: when to worry and what to do next
Asthma management tips that actually work in primary care
Recurrent infections: normal immune development or something more?
What to do when you suspect autism or developmental delay
Navigating vaccine concerns and safe prescribing for children
-
Speaker: Dr. Nathalie Gamache
🩺 Ask Me Anything: Women’s Health
This open Q&A session will focus on practical, everyday women’s health issues commonly seen in primary care. We’ll explore evidence-informed approaches and tackle your clinical questions on topics like:
When to investigate abnormal uterine bleeding and when to refer
Perimenopause: navigating symptoms during the transition
Hormone therapy: when, how, and what to prescribe
PCOS diagnosis, workup, and long-term management
Endometriosis: diagnosing and managing in community settings
Diagnosing and treating common vulvar skin conditions
-
Speaker: Dr. Allison Gregory
🩺 Ask Me Anything: Dermatology
Not every rash fits the textbook—and not every treatment works the first time. Join this open Q&A session to explore practical strategies for managing common skin concerns, along with a few tricky presentations that can challenge even experienced clinicians. Topics may include:
Acne and rosacea—what to do when treatments aren’t working
Sun damage, actinic keratoses, and when to worry about skin cancer
Prurigo nodularis—when to suspect it and how to manage it in primary care
Scalp conditions: dandruff, psoriasis, tinea, and beyond
Identifying and treating fungal vs. bacterial skin infections
-
Speaker: Dr. Gurpreet (Garry) Palak
🩺 Ask Me Anything: Physiatry
Do you have questions about physical medicine and rehabilitation? This is your chance to ask! We’ll cover common clinical scenarios and explore how to make physiatry work in your setting—especially in rural practice. Topics we might cover include:
Strategies for incorporating physiatry into your rural practice
How to decide between pain clinics, physiatry, and neurology referrals
Concussion rehab: What’s evidence – based and what’s not
Who and when to image in cases of radiculopathy
Spasticity management in rural settings: what’s realistic?
Physiatry and MSK ultrasound—what’s the scope and when is it useful
-
Speaker: Dr. Launette Rieb
🩺 Ask Me Anything: Pain and addiction
This session will provide case examples and open Q&A to explore practical strategies for managing patients dealing with concurrent chronic non – cancer pain and substance use disorders, with a focus on real – world scenarios. Topics may include:
Common neurochemistry and brain changes with pain and addiction
Interventions for mood and sleep, disrupted with both pain and addiction
Pharmacological and non–pharmacological strategies
Safety considerations and community resources
11:50 AM – 12:20 PM Ask-Me-Anything (Choose one)
-
Speaker: Dr. Danielle Olmstead
🩺 Ask Me Anything: Pediatrics
From toddlers to teens, this open Q&A session will explore everyday pediatric issues you regularly encounter in primary care. We’ll review practical approaches to common challenges concerns, including:
How to approach recurrent abdominal pain and GI complaints
Growth curve red flags: when to worry and what to do next
Asthma management tips that actually work in primary care
Recurrent infections: normal immune development or something more?
What to do when you suspect autism or developmental delay
Navigating vaccine concerns and safe prescribing for children
-
Speaker: Dr. Nathalie Gamache
🩺 Ask Me Anything: Women’s Health
This open Q&A session will focus on practical, everyday women’s health issues commonly seen in primary care. We’ll explore evidence-informed approaches and tackle your clinical questions on topics like:
When to investigate abnormal uterine bleeding and when to refer
Perimenopause: navigating symptoms during the transition
Hormone therapy: when, how, and what to prescribe
PCOS diagnosis, workup, and long-term management
Endometriosis: diagnosing and managing in community settings
Diagnosing and treating common vulvar skin conditions
-
Speaker: Dr. Allison Gregory
🩺 Ask Me Anything: Dermatology
Not every rash fits the textbook—and not every treatment works the first time. Join this open Q&A session to explore practical strategies for managing common skin concerns, along with a few tricky presentations that can challenge even experienced clinicians. Topics may include:
Acne and rosacea—what to do when treatments aren’t working
Sun damage, actinic keratoses, and when to worry about skin cancer
Prurigo nodularis—when to suspect it and how to manage it in primary care
Scalp conditions: dandruff, psoriasis, tinea, and beyond
Identifying and treating fungal vs. bacterial skin infections
-
Speaker: Dr. Gurpreet (Garry) Palak
🩺 Ask Me Anything: Physiatry
Do you have questions about physical medicine and rehabilitation? This is your chance to ask! We’ll cover common clinical scenarios and explore how to make physiatry work in your setting—especially in rural practice. Topics we might cover include:
Strategies for incorporating physiatry into your rural practice
How to decide between pain clinics, physiatry, and neurology referrals
Concussion rehab: What’s evidence – based and what’s not
Who and when to image in cases of radiculopathy
Spasticity management in rural settings: what’s realistic?
Physiatry and MSK ultrasound—what’s the scope and when is it useful
-
Speaker: Dr. Launette Rieb
🩺 Ask Me Anything: Pain and addiction
This session will provide case examples and open Q&A to explore practical strategies for managing patients dealing with concurrent chronic non – cancer pain and substance use disorders, with a focus on real – world scenarios. Topics may include:
Common neurochemistry and brain changes with pain and addiction
Interventions for mood and sleep, disrupted with both pain and addiction
Pharmacological and non–pharmacological strategies
Safety considerations and community resources
12:20 PM - 1:35 PM Lunch Break
-
Facilitated by UBC Rural Continuing Professional Development
You are not alone. Grab lunch and join us for a practical, friendly conversation focused on connection, community, and learning for rural physicians. We will help triage your learning needs, build a meaningful rural network, and make sense of the landscape of continuing professional development (CPD). The UBC Rural CPD Personal Learning Plan approach centers on supportive relationships, connecting you with people, networks, and learning opportunities that fit your practice context, learning goals, and stage of practice. All are welcome — drop-in seating.
-
Note: This breakout session runs concurrently with the rapid-fire lectures.
This focused breakout session offers practical insights in rural obstetrical and maternity care. Covering medication termination, perinatal loss support, and water birth safety, this session is ideal for health care professionals seeking to strengthen their confidence and competence in comprehensive maternity care.
1:40 PM – 1:50 PM: Welcome and Introductions
1:45 PM – 2:10 PM: Medication Termination for Beginners
Speaker: Dr. Sara Sandwith
Learning Objectives:
Describe the basics of medication termination.
Discuss considerations relevant to medication termination in rural primary care, including criteria for no-touch termination.
Identify available resources and supports for providers who are new to this work.
2:10 PM – 2:35 PM: Pregnancy and Infant Loss for Healthcare Workers
Speaker: Zoe Stratis, MPCC-P
Learning Objectives:
Identify language that supports psychological safety for bereaved parents and recognize phrases that may unintentionally cause harm.
Describe the most frequent concerns parents report about their healthcare experience following perinatal loss.
Differentiate between clinical “fixing” roles and grief-supportive, trauma-informed presence.
Apply basic psychological best practices for supporting acute and long-term grief in medical settings.
Recognize signs of vicarious grief and burnout in themselves and identify appropriate professional resources.
2:35 PM – 3:00 PM: Water Birth Wisdom
Speaker: Lindsay Wells, RM
Learning Objectives:
Describe the benefits of water birth.
Discuss selection criteria for water birth.
Apply practical tips for safe clinical care.
Identify resources that support best practice.
1:35 PM - 3:00 PM Plenary Rapid-Fire Lectures
1:35 PM - 1:40 PM Wellness Activity
-
Speaker: Dr. Devin Spooner
🛠 Learning Objectives:
Identify risk factors and key clinical features of hyperthermia, incorporating lessons learned from the BC heat dome to guide early recognition and management in the ED.
Treat hypothermia using the BC hypothermia protocol, including management of hypothermic cardiac arrest in the rural ED.
Stage frostbite injuries and determine appropriate treatment strategies, including indications for new therapies such as iloprost.
-
Speaker: Dr. Ian Schokking
🛠 Learning Objectives
Differentiate management priorities across early, mid, and advanced stages of dementia.
Evaluate the benefits and limitations of commonly used dementia medications at different stages of disease.
Identify practical resources and supports to assist patients and caregivers across the dementia care continuum.
-
Speaker: Dr. Erin Martin
🛠 Learning Objectives
Summarize current antibiotic guidelines for appendicitis management.
Review the clinical factors guiding non-operative management of appendicitis.
Discuss evidence-based antibiotic use in early and uncomplicated diverticulitis.
-
Speaker: Dr. Floyd Besserer
🛠 Learning Objectives
Coming soon
3:00 PM - 3:25 PM Social Break
-
Note: This breakout session runs concurrently with the rapid-fire lectures.
Facilitated by: Dr. Stuart Johnston
Transitioning out of clinical practice is a significant professional milestone that benefits from early and intentional planning. This session will outline practical steps physicians can take to ensure a smooth wind-down or closure of practice, while addressing common wellness and identity challenges that arise during this stage of career change. Participants will leave with strategies to support well-being throughout and beyond active practice.
Learning Objectives:
Identify key professional obligations associated with transitioning out of clinical practice.
Describe practical steps physicians can take throughout their career to support continuity of patient care during practice wind-down or closure.
Recognize common wellness and identity challenges associated with career transitions in medicine and identify strategies that reduce risk to physician well-being.
3:25 PM - 4:50 PM Plenary Rapid-Fire Lectures
-
Speaker: Dr. Virginia Robinson
🛠 Learning Objectives:
Recognize clinical scenarios where remote POCUS support via RTVS may add value.
Navigate the process for accessing real-time POCUS support through RTVS.
Incorporate practical lessons from the pilot project to improve confidence and efficiency in POCUS use.
-
Speaker: Dr. Kirsten Miller
🛠 Learning Objectives:
Review the recommended approach to newborn gastroesophageal reflux.
Recognize when intervention is indicated for neonatal jaundice.
Identify management strategies for GE reflux and jaundice in newborns.
-
Speaker: Dr. Élise Lavoie Lebel
🛠 Learning Objectives:
Recognize short femur and small head circumference as potential markers of fetal growth restriction.
Differentiate normal fetal variation from findings that warrant further evaluation.
Initiate appropriate follow-up imaging, monitoring, and referral for pregnancies with IUGR red flags.
-
Speaker: Dr. Tandi Wilkinson
🛠 Learning Objectives:
Recognize the presence of shame as a natural outcome of adverse outcomes in healthcare.
Recognize the ways shame may present itself.
Identify strategies to process this difficult experience.
-
Time: 4:45pm – 6:00pm
Location: Prince George Conference Centre
This is a private event by invitation. In addition to invited guests, all preceptors, students, and residents are welcome to attend.
Hosted by Rural Education Action Plan (REAP)
-
⏰ Time: 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
📍 Location: The Exploration Place Museum + Science Centre
💰 Fee: FREE
🚍 Transportation: Ongoing shuttle service provided to and from the Prince George Conference Centre.
🎉 Social Event Overview:
By popular demand, we’re returning to the Exploration Place Museum + Science Centre for this year’s signature evening social. Join colleagues for food and drinks in a unique setting, with time to explore the museum’s engaging galleries, providing a memorable backdrop for connection and conversation. The night will also include a celebration of the BC Rural Health Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to rural health care.✨ Enjoy an evening of connection, conversation, and discovery!