Celebrating Excellence: Announcing the 2025 Orthopaedic Academic Excellence Award Recipients
We are delighted to announce the recipients of the Orthopaedic Academic Excellence Award (Ortho-AEA): Drs. Alex Hoffer, Lisa Howard, and Michael Bond. “This year’s applications showcased creativity, solid methodology, and a clear commitment to advancing patient-centered orthopaedic research. The Committee was inspired by the calibre and enthusiasm of our emerging investigators.” – Dr. Thomas Oxland, Associate Head, Academic, UBC Department of Orthopaedics and Professor of Orthopaedics and […]
UBC Ortho Legends Spotlight: Dr. Peter O’Brien
Dr. Peter O’Brien is a visionary trauma surgeon whose career has profoundly shaped the UBC Department of Orthopaedics and influenced orthopaedic practice across Canada and around the world. From his early days as a resident in 1977, to his decades of leadership in trauma surgery, education, and global health, Dr. O’Brien’s career reflects a legacy […]
A simple device takes the guesswork out of post-surgery flap monitoring
An interdisciplinary partnership finds an engineering solution to a clinical problem. “This work is a great example of a fruitful multidisciplinary collaboration, and the importance of leveraging both engineering and clinical expertise to solve real-world problems.” Dr. Babak Shadgan first met Dr. Donald Anderson as a patient. After a routine medical procedure, Dr. Anderson noticed that […]
Leading the Future of Spine Surgery: Dr. Nicolas Dea and VGH’s First Spine Robot
Earlier this year, Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) successfully treated its first patient using a revolutionary spine robot—one of the first in Canada. This robotic arm, made possible entirely through donor support, is transforming spinal surgery by enabling unparalleled precision and planning. At the center of this milestone is Dr. Nicolas Dea, Division Head of the […]
Dr. Kelly Lefaivre Inducted as a Fellow of the International Orthopaedic Trauma Association
Congratulations to Dr. Kelly Lefaivre, who has been appointed a Fellow of the International Orthopaedic Trauma Association by the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA). OTA is the premier association of orthopaedic surgeons and related specialists in North America, bringing together academic and clinical leaders in orthopaedic trauma to advance its mission of improving patient care for musculoskeletal injuries. A major OTA initiative is the International Orthopaedic Trauma Association (IOTA), which unites orthopaedic trauma […]