Dr. Sawka appointed as medical director, perioperative services

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Andrew Sawka as medical director, perioperative services, Vancouver Acute Services, effective September 9, 2013.  In this role, Andrew will be responsible for the overall strategic planning, direction, goals and objectives of the VA Perioperative Program including quality assurance, budgets, policy development, educational planning and research.  He will work closely with the surgeon-in-chief, the Perioperative Services Department, and division heads, physicians, staff and other team members, including operations directors, to shape the direction of all facets of the Perioperative Program.   

In addition to this new role, Andrew is the clinical director of the Department of Anesthesia with responsibility for all aspects of scheduling anesthesia human resources to match the anesthesia service needs for the VGH and UBCH sites.  He has been an active member of the medical staff in the Department of Anesthesia at Vancouver Acute since 2002 and previously held the position of post grad fellowship director, Department of Anesthesia.

Please join me in welcoming Andrew to his new role.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Tom Ehlen for his leadership of the VA Perioperative Program over the past year. His ability to engage physicians and staff in order to move the program forward in a short time is very much appreciated by senior leadership.  As Tom embarks on a 12-month sabbatical from the Department of Gynecology, I wish him the very best and look forward to having him return as a member of our medical staff in the Fall of 2014.