About the MSA
Developed in 2016 by the Specialist Services Committee, Facility Engagement is a B.C.-wide initiative developed to enhance engagement and strengthen relationships between health-authorities and facility-based physicians. By empowering communication, relationships and collaboration between health authorities and facility-based physicians, the initiative hopes to improve medical staff working conditions and quality of patient care delivery. The SMH is committed to enacting the values and policies of Facility Engagement. The Medical Staff Association is dedicated to improving workplace conditions, patient care, and increasing engagement with Senior Leadership at Surrey Memorial Hospital.
Board Members
Dr Amoljeet Lail
President
Dr. Lail is an emergency room & MET physician at SMH. He originally trained at SMH as a Family Practice resident and he is proud to have worked here for 7 years.
He is looking forward to accomplishing the following during his term:
1. A strong focus on advocacy work for patients and our physician group;
2. Addressing physician burnout and any issues contributing to lower morale;
3. Improving interdepartmental collaboration; and
4. Encouraging and fostering an environment for increased engagement in physician projects (with FE funding).
Dr Sanjeev Vohra
Vice-President
Dr. Vohra received his Internal Medicine degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine NY (2000) and received his Geriatric Medicine degree from UBC (2006). He has been with SMH since 2006.
He is looking forward to championing “equality in healthcare” during his term. He enjoys working out and playing basketball.
Dr Joshua Song
Treasurer
Dr. Song is looking forward to supporting the executive and medical staff as treasurer for the MSA.
His hobbies outside of work include music and exercise.
Dr Claudine Storness-Bliss
Director at Large
Dr. Storness-Bliss is an obstetrician/gynecologist with special expertise in endometriosis, pelvic pain and complex laparoscopic surgery. She is a clinical associate professor at UBC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Specialties.
Dr. Storness-Bliss is the co-local Department Head at Surrey Memorial Hospital, the creator and medical director of the inter-disciplinary Chronic Pelvic Pain Clinic at the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgical Centre and Co-Director of the UBC Fraser Health Advance Training program in Minimally Invasive Pelvic Surgery and Complex Gynecological Conditions.
She is looking forward to engaging and uniting medical staff at SMH, through the MSA. When not engaged in work, you will find her cooking, spending time with her family or riding her motorcycle.
Dr Courtney Young
Director at Large
Dr. Young is a cardiologist with a special interest in quality improvement. She is the local Department Head of Cardiology at SMH. Her background includes a Masters of Science in healthcare quality at Queens University and, prior to entering medicine, she completed an MBA with a focus on strategic management in healthcare, and worked as a healthcare consultant and project manager. She has won numerous awards, including various scholarships in business school, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Professional Student Research Award and the Postgraduate Medical Publication Prize.
Her goal throughout her tenure is to bring about positive change throughout SMH as it goes through an expansion phase. Specifically, she aims to improve physician engagement and communication between physicians and Fraser Health leadership.
Vision of the MSA
The SMH MSA is the voice of the medical staff and effectively represents membership through proactive support, active engagement, wellness promotion, and enhanced professional development.
Mission of the MSA
- Be the credible organization that medical staff & administrators may rely on for support, information, and advice;
- Ensure the medical staff is heard, actively engaged, and effectively represented;
- Collaborate with FHA site administration on issues impacting the medical staff & patient care;
- Pursue opportunities for professional development and networking; and
- Support initiatives that promote continuous improvement, enhance quality, improve patient outcomes, and enrich the SMH/JPOCSC work environment
