71st Annual St. Paul's Hospital Continuing Medical Education Conference for Primary Care

71st Annual St. Paul's Hospital Continuing Medical Education Conference for Primary Care takes place on 24–27 November 2026 at Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver. B2DB lists 70 speakers and 78 sessions announced so far.

The annual Continuing Medical Education conference for primary care offers an evidence-based review of practical information and new trends, including controversial topics relevant to clinicians practising in urban or rural areas. Its Main Lecture Series, available in person or virtually, covers Cardiology & Diabetes, Rheumatology & Sports Medicine & Pain, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Neurology, Therapeutics & Investigations, Brain & Behaviour, Paediatrics & Gynaecology, and Dermatology, alongside optional in-person learning sessions.

Key facts

Keynote speakers

• Robert Thirsk Former Canadian Space Agency Astronaut, Retired Engineer, and Physician

Speakers (70)

Compiled from the published agenda; speakers can claim and verify their own entry.

• Nirvair Levitt Treasurer, SPH CME Conference Organizing Committee
• Anthony Villaruel Member, SPH CME Conference Organizing Committee
• Colin Siu Member, SPH CME Conference Organizing Committee
• Fiona Petigara Member, SPH CME Conference Organizing Committee
• Kimberly Rutherford Member, SPH CME Conference Organizing Committee
• Clara Iturra Member, SPH CME Conference Organizing Committee
• Niloofer Baria Member, SPH CME Conference Organizing Committee
• Laura Knebel Member, SPH CME Conference Organizing Committee
• Debra Hamer Asst. Prof. (Psychiatry), Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Queen’s University
• Robert Thirsk Former Canadian Space Agency Astronaut, Retired Engineer, and Physician
• Anne Nguyen Clin. Instr. (Family Practice)
• James Tsui Assistant Professor and Radiation Oncologist at the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University Health Centre
• May Kazem Clin. Instr. (Medicine - Rheumatology)
• Nadia Khan Prof. (Medicine - General Internal)
• Oron Frenkel Clin. Asst. Prof. (Emergency Medicine)
• Alex Kuritzky Clin. Asst. Prof. (Dermatology & Skin Science)
• Allison Cinats Canadian & American Dual Board-Certified Dermatologist
• Chelsea Elwood Clin. Assoc. Prof. (Obstetrics & Gynaecology)
• Clarus Leung Clin. Asst. Prof. (Medicine - Respiratory)
• Danielle Murray Neurologist & Clinical Neurophysiologist
• Dawn Siciliano Genetic Counsellor
• Diya Shi Clin. Asst. Prof. (Medicine - Neurology)
• Don Sin Prof. (Medicine - Respiratory)
• Evan Kwong Clin. Asst. Prof. (Medicine - Physical & Rehabilitation)
• Graham Wong Clin. Prof. (Medicine - Cardiology)
• Gurbir Dhadwal Clin. Asst. Prof. (Dermatology & Skin Science)
• James Bergman Clin. Asst. Prof. (Dermatology & Skin Science)
• Janet Ip Clin. Instr. (Family Practice)
• Janet Kow Clin. Assoc. Prof. (Medicine - Geriatric)
• Jasmine Kler Clin. Instr. (Medicine - Community Internal)
• Jason Andrade Clin. Prof. (Medicine - Cardiology)
• Jia Hu Clin. Asst. Prof. (School of Population and Public Health)
• Jiwei Li Department Head, Family Medicine, Providence Health Care
• Joanne Yeung Clin. Instr. (Pediatrics)
• Kaila Holtz Clin. Asst. Prof. (Medicine - Physical & Rehabilitation)
• Kam Shojania Clin. Prof. (Medicine - Rheumatology)
• Keyvan Hadad Clin. Assoc. Prof. (Pediatrics)
• Krishnan Ramanathan Clin. Prof. (Medicine - Cardiology)
• Kun Huang Clin. Assoc. Prof. (Medicine - Rheumatology)
• Kyle Burns Clin. Asst. Prof. (Psychiatry)
• Launette Rieb Clin. Assoc. Prof. (Family Practice)
• Mafalda Musacchio Clin. Asst. Prof. (Psychiatry - Geriatric)
• Meena Dawar Clin. Prof. (School of Population & Public Health)
• Megan Kilvert Clin. Instr. (Pediatrics)
• Michael Luong Clin. Asst. Prof. (Medicine - Cardiology)
• Monica Li Clin. Assoc. Prof. (Dermatology & Skin Science)
• Natasha Lane Asst. Prof. (Medicine - Geriatric)
• Natasha Press Clin. Assoc. Prof. (Medicine - Infectious Diseases)
• Nathalie LeVasseur Clin. Assoc. Prof. (Medicine - Oncology)
• Navin Prasad Clin. Assoc. Prof. (Medicine - Sports and Exercise)
• Nicole Todd Clin. Prof. (Obstetrics & Gynaecology)
• Nikkie Randhawa Clin. Asst. Prof. (Medicine - Neurology)
• Parth Lodhia Clin. Asst. Prof. (Orthopaedics)
• Paxton Bach Clin. Asst. Prof. (Medicine - Social Division)
• Ric Arseneau Clin. Prof. (Medicine - General Internal)
• Robert Comey Clin. Instr. (Psychiatry)
• Rudy Chow Clin. Assoc. Prof. (Medicine - Cardiology)
• Sarvee Moosavi Clin. Asst. Prof. (Medicine - Gastroenterology)
• Sharon Selby Registered Clinical Counsellor
• Steve Wong Clin. Assoc. Prof. (Medicine - Community Internal)
• Tessa Chaworth-Musters Clin. Asst. Prof. (Medicine - General Internal)
• Tiffany Wong Clin. Assoc. Prof. (Pediatrics)
• Tinus Wasserfall Co-Chair, SPH CME Conference Organizing Committee
• Tym Frank Clin. Asst. Prof. (Orthopaedics)
• Victor Huckell Clin. Prof. (Medicine - Cardiology)
• Vincent Richer Clin. Asst. Prof. (Dermatology & Skin Science)
• Vincent Valdrez Clin. Asst. Prof. (Medicine - Undergraduate Education)
• Vishal Varshney Clin. Asst. Prof. (Anesthesia, Pharmacology and Therapeutics)
• Wendy Cook Clin. Assoc. Prof. (Medicine - Geriatric)
• Xwechtaal Dennis Joseph Elder - Squamish Nation, Squamish Nation

Agenda (78 sessions)

Day 1 — Monday 23 November 2026

• An Introduction to Practical Dermoscopy 08:00–17:00 · Optional Learning Sessions

Day 2 — Tuesday 24 November 2026

• Indigenous Welcome & Land Acknowledgement 08:15 · West Ballroom AB — Xwechtaal Dennis Joseph
• Opening Remarks 08:30 · West Ballroom AB — Jiwei Li, Tinus Wasserfall
• Hypertension - Combining Drugs - Yes, No, Maybe 08:45 · Cardiology & Diabetes — Krishnan Ramanathan
• Atrial Fibrillation - Primary Care Management 09:00 · Cardiology & Diabetes — Jason Andrade
• HFnrEF - Diagnosis and Management 09:15 · Cardiology & Diabetes — Michael Luong
• De-escalation Post MI and Medications 09:30 · Cardiology & Diabetes — Graham Wong
• Secrets to Achieving CAD Regression 10:00 · Cardiology & Diabetes — Victor Huckell
• Lp(a) - Research and New Treatment 10:15 · Cardiology & Diabetes
• Pericarditis Diagnosis and Management 10:25 · Cardiology & Diabetes — Rudy Chow
• Starting Insulin 11:05 · Cardiology & Diabetes
• Diabetes - Diet, Culture, FADS and Junk 11:20 · Cardiology & Diabetes
• GLP1 - Comprehensive Review of Uses in CKM 11:35 · Cardiology & Diabetes
• A Toolbox for Challenging Patient Encounters 12:30–13:30 · Optional Learning Sessions — Debra Hamer
• Approach This Joint Carefully - It Might Be Hot and Angry 13:30 · ‘No Pain, No Gain’ - Rheumatology, Sports Medicine & Pain — Niloofer Baria, Kam Shojania
• Lupus in Sheep’s Clothing - The Great Pretender 13:50 · ‘No Pain, No Gain’ - Rheumatology, Sports Medicine & Pain — Niloofer Baria, Kun Huang
• Common Upper Extremity Tendinopathies - “Pickleball Anyone?” 14:05 · ‘No Pain, No Gain’ - Rheumatology, Sports Medicine & Pain — Niloofer Baria, Tym Frank
• Low Dose Naltrexone for Pain Management 14:40 · ‘No Pain, No Gain’ - Rheumatology, Sports Medicine & Pain — Niloofer Baria, Ric Arseneau
• Discovering Novel Approaches for Chronic Pain Management 14:55 · ‘No Pain, No Gain’ - Rheumatology, Sports Medicine & Pain — Niloofer Baria, Vishal Varshney
• Sharp Relief - What’s the Point? The Ins and Outs of Trigger Point Injections 15:45 · ‘No Pain, No Gain’ - Rheumatology, Sports Medicine & Pain — Niloofer Baria, Kaila Holtz
• Hip Hip “Hoorouch” - An Approach to Hip Injuries 16:00 · ‘No Pain, No Gain’ - Rheumatology, Sports Medicine & Pain — Niloofer Baria, Parth Lodhia
• Tendon It Like Beckham - Can Achilles Heal His Tendon? Common Lower Extremity Tendinopathies 16:20 · ‘No Pain, No Gain’ - Rheumatology, Sports Medicine & Pain — Niloofer Baria, Navin Prasad

Day 3 — Wednesday 25 November 2026

• Three Articles That Changed My Practice in 2026 08:30 · Internal Medicine — Anthony Villaruel, Kimberly Rutherford, Steve Wong
• Post Viral Cough 08:50 · Internal Medicine — Anthony Villaruel, Kimberly Rutherford, Clarus Leung
• SLIT - Sublingual Immunotherapy 09:05 · Internal Medicine — Anthony Villaruel, Kimberly Rutherford, Joanne Yeung
• Updates - New Hepatitis B Treatment Guidelines 09:35 · Internal Medicine — Anthony Villaruel, Kimberly Rutherford, Natasha Press
• Review of Barrett's Esophagus for Primary Care 09:50 · Internal Medicine — Anthony Villaruel, Kimberly Rutherford, Sarvee Moosavi
• COPD 2026 Update 10:05 · Internal Medicine — Anthony Villaruel, Kimberly Rutherford, Don Sin
• The Health Impacts of Ultra-processed Foods 10:55 · Internal Medicine — Anthony Villaruel, Kimberly Rutherford, Jasmine Kler
• CKD - Who Needs Treatment, When, and What 11:10 · Internal Medicine — Anthony Villaruel, Kimberly Rutherford
• Updates on UTI Classification and Treatment 11:25 · Internal Medicine — Anthony Villaruel, Kimberly Rutherford
• Narrative Medicine 12:15–13:15 · Optional Learning Sessions — Debra Hamer
• Cultivating Compassion in Medico-Legal Stress 12:15–13:15 · Optional Learning Sessions
• Treatment of Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour in Persons with Dementia 13:30 · Geriatrics & Neurology — Colin Siu, Natasha Lane
• Care Based Management of BPSD 13:45 · Geriatrics & Neurology — Colin Siu, Mafalda Musacchio
• Five Drugs to Reconsider in the Elderly 14:00 · Geriatrics & Neurology — Colin Siu, Janet Kow
• Three Bells Not to Miss 14:30 · Geriatrics & Neurology — Colin Siu, Danielle Murray
• Breaking the Cycle - Managing Chronic Daily Headache 14:45 · Geriatrics & Neurology — Colin Siu, Nikkie Randhawa
• Essential vs. Parkinsonian - Mastering Tremor Assessment and Management 15:00 · Geriatrics & Neurology — Colin Siu, Diya Shi
• The Science of Aging Well - Practical Strategies for Primary Care 15:50 · Geriatrics & Neurology — Colin Siu, Wendy Cook
• To Treat or Not to Treat? Navigating the Major Dementia Subtypes 16:05 · Geriatrics & Neurology — Colin Siu
• Fit to Drive? A Primary Care Approach After Stroke 16:25 · Geriatrics & Neurology — Colin Siu, Evan Kwong

Day 4 — Thursday 26 November 2026

• Point of Care Ultrasound in the Office - Part 2 08:30 · Therapeutics & Investigations — Nirvair Levitt, Oron Frenkel
• Moral Injury and System Change - Case Examples 08:45 · Therapeutics & Investigations — Nirvair Levitt, Nadia Khan
• Q & A 09:00 · Therapeutics & Investigations — Nirvair Levitt, Nadia Khan, Oron Frenkel
• How to Incorporate AI for Meaningful Change 09:10 · Therapeutics & Investigations — Nirvair Levitt, James Tsui
• Planet Healthy Diets 09:30 · Therapeutics & Investigations — Nirvair Levitt, Anne Nguyen
• PSA Testing - A Paradigm Shift? 09:45 · Therapeutics & Investigations — Nirvair Levitt
• Osteoporosis Review 10:00 · Therapeutics & Investigations — Nirvair Levitt, May Kazem
• Q & A 10:15 · Therapeutics & Investigations — Nirvair Levitt, Anne Nguyen, James Tsui, May Kazem
• Pharmacogenetics in Primary Care 10:55 · Therapeutics & Investigations — Nirvair Levitt, Dawn Siciliano
• RSV Program for Adults and Children 11:10 · Therapeutics & Investigations — Nirvair Levitt, Meena Dawar
• Iron Infusions - Who, What, Where? 11:25 · Therapeutics & Investigations — Nirvair Levitt
• Traditional Thursday Luncheon featuring Robert Thirsk 12:15–13:30 · Vancouver Convention Centre West, Exhibition Hall A — Robert Thirsk
• PTSD and CPTSD - Navigating Diagnosis, Treatment, and Social Media Pitfalls 13:45 · Brain & Behaviour — Laura Knebel, Robert Comey
• Love Me, Love Me Not - Identifying Borderline Personality Disorder in Primary Care 14:05 · Brain & Behaviour — Laura Knebel, Kyle Burns
• Taking A Deeper Look at the Many Presentations of Anxiety in Kids and Teens 14:40 · Brain & Behaviour — Laura Knebel, Sharon Selby
• It's Not "All in Your Head": Somatic Symptom Disorder in Primary Care 15:00 · Brain & Behaviour — Laura Knebel, Debra Hamer
• Medico-Legal Pearls and Pitfalls for Family Physicians 15:55 · Brain & Behaviour — Laura Knebel
• GLP-1 Agonist and Substance Use Disorders - Current Applications and Future Horizons 16:15 · Brain & Behaviour — Laura Knebel, Paxton Bach
• Cannabis Use Disorder in Primary Care - A Case Based Approach 16:30 · Brain & Behaviour — Laura Knebel, Launette Rieb

Day 5 — Friday 27 November 2026

• Approach to Poor Weight Gain in School-Age Children 08:30 · Paediatrics & Gynaecology — Fiona Petigara, Megan Kilvert
• Well Child Visit - Identifying Autism Red Flags Across Development 08:45 · Paediatrics & Gynaecology — Fiona Petigara, Keyvan Hadad
• Infant Food Introduction and Allergy Risk 09:00 · Paediatrics & Gynaecology — Fiona Petigara, Tiffany Wong
• HPV Vaccination Updates 09:30 · Paediatrics & Gynaecology — Fiona Petigara, Jia Hu
• Opportunistic Salpingectomy for Ovarian Cancer Prevention 09:45 · Paediatrics & Gynaecology — Fiona Petigara
• Assessing and Managing Breast Cancer Risk 10:00 · Paediatrics & Gynaecology — Fiona Petigara, Nathalie LeVasseur
• Assessment and Management of Perimenopausal Bleeding 10:50 · Paediatrics & Gynaecology — Fiona Petigara, Nicole Todd
• Recurrent Vaginitis in Premenopausal Women 11:05 · Paediatrics & Gynaecology — Fiona Petigara, Chelsea Elwood
• Hypertension in Pregnancy - Implications for Long Term Cardiovascular Health 11:25 · Paediatrics & Gynaecology — Fiona Petigara, Tessa Chaworth-Musters
• Acne - Management and Treatment with Clinical Cases 13:30 · Dermatology — Clara Iturra, Alex Kuritzky
• Rosacea - Management Through Clinical Cases 13:50 · Dermatology — Clara Iturra, Vincent Richer
• Psoriasis - Case Management 14:10 · Dermatology — Clara Iturra, Gurbir Dhadwal
• Viral Exanthemas - When to Worry 14:45 · Dermatology — Clara Iturra, James Bergman
• Potpourri - Hemangiomas, Pyogenic Granulomas and Keloids 15:00 · Dermatology — Clara Iturra, Allison Cinats
• Melanocytic Lesions - Assessment and Management 15:15 · Dermatology — Clara Iturra, Janet Ip
• Dermatology in Skin of Colour 16:10 · Dermatology — Clara Iturra, Monica Li
• Androgenetic Hair Loss in Men and Women 16:30 · Dermatology — Clara Iturra, Vincent Valdrez

Organisers, sponsors and partners

Sponsors (3)

Scotiabank · Canadian Medical Association · MD Financial Management

Exhibitors (24)

Cardio Study · Ava Industries · Scotiabank · Arcutis Canada, Inc. · Bausch Health, Canada · Insulet Canada Corporation · Calian · Sandoz Canada · MEDFAR · Valneva · TELUS Health · Vancouver Coastal Health · WELLSTAR Technologies · Kye Pharmaceuticals · Duchesnay · Canadian Medical Association · GlaxoSmithKline · Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice · MD Financial Management · Elvium Life Sciences · Homewood Health · Eli Lilly Canada Inc. · Merck · Celltrion Healthcare Canada

Source: the published agenda. See how B2DB compiles its records.