As I embark upon the second year of my term as head, I am very pleased to introduce our new strategic plan, which will guide the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology over the next five years. The launch of this plan coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Faculty of Medicine and the 50th annual meeting of the D.A. Boyes Society, established by a group of gynaecologists and oncologists in recognition of the transformative contributions of our predecessor, Dr. David Boyes. It is a powerful moment, indeed.
At the same time, tremendous challenges are shaping the environments in which we operate. The health care system is in crisis across the country, with acute shortfalls in staffing and infrastructure impeding quality and access, and universities are battling structural funding pressures and related limitations on faculty growth and renewal capabilities. The field of obstetrics and gynecology is not exempt, further affected by systemic inequities that impact the provision of care of women and gender diverse individuals.
But amidst this backdrop, we look ahead with optimism to a future we are committed to improving, step by step, through excellent education, groundbreaking research, and compassionate care. As I look around at my colleagues, staff, students, and trainees, I am confident that, together, we will help establish a new paradigm in health care through our work in obstetrics and gynecology and our leadership in women’s health. Ours is an extraordinary and uniquely positioned team.
I initiated this planning process in part to assess our shared goals and priorities and in part to reconnect as a department after we all navigated the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a series of leadership working sessions, combined with conversations across the province, internal surveys, and a targeted scan of peer departments, we listened and learned through much of 2024, and have already begun to make changes based on your feedback. We challenged each other in defining not only what we aim to do and how we work, but also who we are. I am profoundly grateful for the contributions of so many in the creation of this strategic plan.
Recognizing the need for agility and autonomy in the university context, the plan purports to inspire and guide, rather than to prescribe. It also aims to chart the path forward for the department while at the same time acting as a guide for positive change in the health of women and gender diverse individuals.
It is a privilege to be part of the journey.
Deborah Money, CM, MD, FRCSC, FCAHS
Head, UBC Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology