Dear NPSA Family of Colleagues,
On behalf of the North Pacific Surgical Association, it is our distinct pleasure to extend a warm welcome to all esteemed members, distinguished guests, and participants to our upcoming Annual Meeting, scheduled to take place on November 7-9, 2024, at the illustrious Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington. We extend our heartfelt invitation to all members, families, guests and sponsors whose contributions make these events special.
As President of the Association, alongside my colleague Program Chair Dr. Anjali Kumar, we are delighted to present an enriching and engaging program crafted to foster collaboration, exchange of knowledge, and advancement in the field of surgery.
It is my pleasure to introduce the news that we have contracted association manager Heather Roderick of Surgical Conference Solutions. Thank you to Harvey and Spire Management for their years of service. We also have a new Historian Dr. John Mayberry who will be excavating the archives and sure to inspire us to build off the past towards a fresh chapter.
Theme this year is “Sustainable Surgery: Exposition on the Environment” This theme encompasses the urgent need to integrate sustainability principles into surgical practices while emphasizing the importance of environmental responsibility within the operating room (OR). As we explore the quest for innovative strategies and practical solutions to minimize waste, reduce carbon footprint, and promote eco-friendly initiatives without compromising patient care or safety. It highlights the role of surgeons, healthcare professionals, and industry stakeholders in driving positive environmental change within the surgical community. By exploring socio-environmental topics such as longevity, resilience, efficiency of practice systems and the mitigation of delay.
We are especially thrilled to announce our guest speakers for this year’s event. Dr. Sharon Lum, a dear friend and respected colleague from Loma Linda University, will be gracing us with her expertise. Additionally, we are honored to welcome Mr. Peter Marbach, a renowned photographer and author of “Healing the Big River” whose insights promise to add a sustainability lens to our discussions.
The program will commence November 8th with welcoming festivities at Spokane’s Mobius Discovery Center at Riverfront Park, the site of the 1974 World’s Fair. It is especially poignant that we gather here, at the 50th anniversary of this fair. Spokane is, to date, the smallest city to host the World’s Fair. Mobius will offer us a delightful evening with family and friends, sure to bring out the child in each of us. The pinnacle of our event will undoubtedly be the Presidential Banquet, set to take place on the final evening in the enchanting Marie Antoinette Room at the Historic Davenport Hotel. We will toast our two nations and enjoy live music to set the mood for an unforgettable evening of celebration and fellowship.
We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the advancements in our field at the North Pacific Surgical Association Annual Meeting.
Warmest regards,
Dr. Tim Bax
President, North Pacific Surgical Association
Mrs. Deanna Bax
Local Arrangements Chair, North Pacific Surgical Association
Dr. Anjali Kumar
Program Chair, North Pacific Surgical Association
NPSA History
In the annals of medical history in the Pacific Northwest the foundations of medical meetings is the illustrious North Pacific Surgical Association. Born of collective ambition and shared expertise, its genesis sparkled in the city of Portland on that auspicious day of March 6, 1912. Yet, it was in the vibrant heart of Seattle, on the storied date of May 12 of the same year, where the symphony of organization reached its crescendo.
From those inaugural moments of unity and purpose, the NPSA has unfurled its banner of excellence that traverses the tapestry of the Pacific Northwest. With each passing year, this esteemed assembly rotates gracefully between the urban jewels of the region, enriching the medical landscape and forging bonds that stand as monuments to the relentless pursuit of surgical excellence.
NPSA Council
The office of President rotates through these caucus regions at the time when the annual meeting is in that area. NPSA’s council members represent the caucus regions as described in the bylaws.
President 2023 -2024
Timothy W. Bax, MD
Providence General and Specialty Surgery Spokane, WA
Trauma Medical Director for Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital
President Elect
Thomas Biehl, MD
Virginia Mason Hospital, Seattle, WA
Past President
Sam M. Wiseman BSc, MD, FRCSC, FACS
Professor, Richard J. Finley Scholar
Director of Research, Department of Surgery, Providence Health Care
Chair, Endocrine Tumor Group, Surgical Oncology Network
Active Staff, St. Paul’s Hospital & Mount St. Joseph’s Hospital
Consultant Surgical Oncologist, British Columbia Cancer Agency
Vancouver, B.C.
Secretary Treasurer
Flavio Rocha, MD, FACS, FSSO
Professor of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, School of Medicine
Hugh Hedinger and Georgeina Hedinger Chair of Surgical Oncology, Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, School of Medicine
Recorder
Laszlo N. Kiraly, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Professor of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery
Oregon Health and Sciences University School of Medicine
Second President Elect
Chad G. Ball
Clinical Professor of Surgery and Oncology, University of Calgary
Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Surgery and Evidence-Based Reviews in Surgery Program