Rural Anesthesia Refresher Course
New Name, Same Course — with Expanded Community!
The FPA Refresher Course is now known as the Rural Anesthesia Refresher Course.
After many years as the Refresher Course for Family Practice Anesthesia, the program is evolving to reflect the changing landscape of rural anesthesia care. Beginning this year, the course will be known as the Rural Anesthesia Refresher Course, welcoming both family practice anesthetists and specialist anesthesiologists who provide anesthesia care in small and rural communities.
The course remains grounded in the practical, case-based learning that FPAs value while creating new opportunities for shared learning, collaboration, and the exchange of real-world experience among all physicians delivering rural anesthesia care.
Whether you're looking to gain new insights, refine your clinical skills, or expand your professional network, the Rural Anesthesia Refresher Course offers an opportunity to ensure you’re equipped to deliver the highest quality anesthesia care.
Can’t make it to Vancouver? Register for the virtual option with all plenary lectures being livestreamed and available on-demand after the event. Note that the hands-on workshops are only available to in-person attendees.
| Time | Presentation | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 5:00 p.m. | Registration Opens | Light Dinner Available Full evening session is livestreamed | ||
| Evening Session: Challenging Case Reviews | ||
• Analyze real-world cases from rural and community settings to identify key clinical challenges and decision-making considerations. • Compare management approaches to identify alternative strategies and best practices. • Reflect on clinical reasoning and communication during challenging or high-risk scenarios through peer and expert discussion. • Apply evidence-based strategies to improve perioperative care in similar cases within a rural practice setting. | ||
| 5:25 p.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks | |
| 5:30 p.m. | Case Presentation: Accidental Dural Puncture | Dr. Kirk McCarroll Dr. Roanne Preston |
| 6:15 p.m. | Case Presentation: Anterior Neck Mass Presenting with Respiratory Compromise | Dr. Jyoti Seshia |
| 7:00 p.m. | Case Presentation: Intraoperative Cardiac Arrest | Dr. Joy Hataley |
| 7:45 p.m. | End of Day One | ||
| Time | Presentation | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | Registration Opens | Breakfast Available Full morning session is livestreamed | ||
| 8:30 a.m. | FPA Journal Club Breakfast Meeting | |
| 9:15 a.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks | |
| 9:20 a.m. | Anesthesia Considerations for the Acute GI Bleed | Dr. Julian Barnbrook |
| 10:00 a.m. | Right Heart, Wrong Time: Managing Acute RV Failure in the OR and ICU | Dr. Gord Finlayson |
| 10:40 a.m. | Airway Trauma Management: Demystifying the Scary Sh*t | Dr. Mark Vu |
| 11:20 a.m. | Is There a Role for the Anesthesiologist in Mitigating Psychological Birth Trauma? | Dr. Roanne Preston |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch Break | ||
| 1:15–2:30 p.m. | Afternoon Workshop Rotation #1 — Choose one Workshops are for in-person registrants only | ||
| A1 | Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia for Hip Fracture Management | Dr. Trina Montemurro |
• Understand the indications, techniques and anatomical landmarks for the femoral nerve block, supra-inguinal fascia iliaca block (SIFI), and pericapsular nerve group block (PENG). • Evaluate the advantages and limitations of each block and recognize when one may be preferred over another. • Determine appropriate local anesthetic types and volumes for these blocks. | ||
| B1 | Pediatric Airway Lab: Mastering FONA in Children Under 8 | Dr. Chris Chin Dr. Peter Skippen |
• Describe current evidence and guideline changes related to front-of-neck access in children under 8. • Identify anatomical and procedural considerations unique to pediatric emergency surgical airway access. • Demonstrate and practise the key steps of pediatric FONA in a simulated setting. | ||
| C1 | Ventilator Optimization: Strategies for Managing Difficult Cases | Dr. Sandy Pitfield |
• Review intraoperative ventilator optimization strategies, with a focus on the difficult-to-ventilate patient. • Examine techniques for optimizing PEEP in patients with challenging ventilation needs. • Explore postoperative ventilation strategies to enhance recovery and reduce complications. | ||
| D1 | Pump It Up: A Practical Guide to TCI/TIVA in Community Practice | Dr. Alan Tung Dr. Clare Burlinson Dr. Dannielle Tinker |
• Describe the principles of target-controlled infusion pharmacokinetics to develop TIVA strategies for common clinical scenarios. • Review TCI pumps and EEG monitoring through simulation-based cases, including frailty, obesity and intraoperative awareness. • Interpret processed EEG data to assess anesthetic depth and guide intraoperative decision-making. | ||
| E1 | Awake Intubation for the Difficult Airway | Dr. Peter Rose Dr. Mark Vu |
• Review the principles, indications and contraindications of awake intubation. • Demonstrate and practise bronchoscopic intubation, hybrid bronchoscopic/video-laryngoscopic intubation, airway topicalization and nasopharyngoscopy. • Apply troubleshooting strategies to common challenges encountered during awake intubation. | ||
| 2:30 p.m. | 15-Minute Break | ||
| 2:45–4:00 p.m. | Afternoon Workshop Rotation #2 — Choose one | ||
| A2 | Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia for Hip Fracture Management | Repeats |
| B2 | Pediatric Airway Lab: Mastering FONA in Children Under 8 | Repeats |
| C2 | Ventilator Optimization: Strategies for Managing Difficult Cases | Repeats |
| D2 | Pump It Up: A Practical Guide to TCI/TIVA in Community Practice | Repeats |
| E2 | Awake Intubation for the Difficult Airway | Repeats |
| 4:00 p.m. | End of Day Two | ||
| 4:00–6:00 p.m. | Social Event — Connect with your peers at this casual networking social. Canapés, refreshments and an open bar are included. Tickets: $20. | |
| Time | Presentation | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Registration Opens | Breakfast Available Full morning session is livestreamed | ||
| Clinical Crossroads: Ask the Experts | ||
| Bring your questions and clinical dilemmas to this interactive session featuring experts in critical care, pediatrics and obstetrics. Each speaker will provide a concise overview of key issues before opening the floor for discussion, case-based questions and practical advice. | ||
| 8:30 a.m. | “Ask Me Anything” — Obstetrics | Dr. Anton Chau |
| 9:10 a.m. | “Ask Me Anything” — Pediatrics | Dr. Zoe Brown |
| 9:50 a.m. | “Ask Me Anything” — Critical Care | Dr. Don Burke |
| 10:30 a.m. | 10-Minute Break | ||
| 10:40 a.m. | Best Articles from the Anesthesia Literature: A Year in Review | Dr. Alana Flexman |
• Critically appraise the strengths and limitations of recent high-impact publications relevant to anesthesia. • Evaluate how new evidence aligns with or challenges current anesthesia practices and guidelines. • Integrate key findings from the recent literature into clinical practice. | ||
| 11:30 a.m. | Take-Home Points and Closing Remarks | ||
1133 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6E 3T3
Group Rate: Starting at $199 CAD/night + taxes
Reservation Deadline: October 29, 2026
We are excited to share that the Pinnacle Harbourfront is currently undergoing a guest room renovation. We anticipate that many guestrooms will be fully refreshed by this fall.
In-person: Up to 10.25 Mainpro+ / MOC Section 1 credits
Virtual: Up to 7.75 Mainpro+ / MOC Section 1 credits
The Division of Continuing Professional Development, University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine (UBC CPD) is fully accredited by the Continuing Medical Education Accreditation Committee (CACME) to provide CPD credits for physicians. This activity is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by UBC CPD. You may claim a maximum of 10.25 hours (credits are automatically calculated). This activity meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by UBC CPD for up to 10.25 Mainpro+® Certified Activity credits. Each physician should claim only those credits accrued through participation in the activity.