To all Canadian Pediatric Anesthesia Society Members and recent conference attendees,
After a wonderful CPAS conference in Montreal, I wanted to reach out to you all by ways of introduction to some, and gratitude to others. The latter first; Montreal 2026 represented a tectonic moment for our Society. After a decade of dedicated service to the Board and Society, we thank Dr. Jonathan Gamble for his graceful, humble, steady leadership and guidance as he finishes his term as ex-president. I will not say Jon will be missed because he will always be a member, colleague and friend, but this is a step into the new for Jon, for me and for CPAS. While we will always be blessed to draw on his wisdom, one can also appreciate a new generation beginning to stir. This was highlighted in Montreal not only by attendance but also by engagement and contribution. It was quite something to watch everyone in action and we are already hatching plans to harness your energy and skillsets for the next phase of CPAS.
Of course, I can go no further without offering huge congratulations and gratitude to Dr. Papu Nath for putting the 2026 Conference together and pulling it off with consummate skill. While anyone who was there knows what a great meeting Papu and his team created, there were so many tiny moving parts in the background that contributed to the same. This was a result of Papu’s work, not only last weekend but over the previous two years, and I / we are most grateful and incredibly proud of what was achieved in front of such a large engaged audience. Thank you, Papu.
I would also like to thank and congratulate Dr. Heng Gan and the Scientific Committee for a stellar job all round and for their contributions to creating and delivering the Montreal Program. In addition, I would like to welcome Dr. Sally Bird to the Board as Vice-President. I am delighted Sally has decided to join us and I feel really good about the next four years with Sally ‘on board’.
I always think one should leave a conference with a bullet-list of ideas, energised for work the following Monday, eager to try something different or begin something new. I made a pretty long list myself but in the current social climate of brevity and buzz-phrasing, the following were big take home messages for me, both as Society President and Sleepy Doc.
In no particular order:
For Everyone, Everyday:
- Normalize uncertainty and encourage conversations about courage
- From Safety to Courage, From Safe Space to Brave Space
- Sponsorship is the new Mentorship
For the Society as a whole … In my new capacity as President, I left Montreal with some pressing questions I absolutely intend to follow up on:
- Something is stirring, there is an energy and appetite to take big strides in the next few years
- Creating new opportunities to represent and amplify Education, EDI, Career Management and Personal Health
- How to grow our membership further and engage with those that missed out on a wonderful weekend in Montreal
For Those who Need it Most:
- Dr Duncan McLuckie presented some sobering numbers on donations to support the CPAS African Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship. A video message from our latest fellow, Dr. Betty
Nantongo (Uganda), brought home the value one person can bring to an under-resourced community. The fund is currently $17,500 short but judging by the local reaction to Duncan’s
presentation on the day, there is a significant appetite to further contribute and support this worthwhile Fellowship. CPAS has committed a further 2 years financing until 2028. I ask you
please email duncan.mcluckie@islandhealth.ca to discuss personal and/or collective
contributions
That’s a lot of promises for a guy a few weeks into his term, but I remain energised a full two weeks after. Before finishing, I have one query / request to those reading this message today: Can you forward this to someone who was not at Montreal 2026 who you know would have enjoyed it? Who is that person; is it a colleague who has been struggling of late? Is it a resident you think a future star? Might it even be a family, a hospital leader, or a family representative / advocate? Please help me start a conversation by sharing this letter and this link https://pediatricanesthesia.ca/. It’s good to talk.
Dr. Conor McDonnell, MD MB BCh BAO FCARCSI
CPAS Canadian Paediatric Anesthesia Society President