Empowering Physician Leaders in Canadian Emergency Medicine: A Focus on Leading People, ED Operations, Health System Advocacy, and Personal Leadership Development

Caye Caulker, Belize

Sunday March 30 - Thursday April 3, 2025

Leaders in Canadian Emergency Medicine and those in the pipeline continue to face leading amazing people during very challenging times in the healthcare system. This workshop will offer leadership training and skill-building sessions tailored to the specific needs and experiences of physician leaders in emergency medicine.

This retreat is designed for formal and informal leaders in Canadian Emergency Medicine, including those in training, early career, mid-career, late career, and leader-emeritus positions. It encompasses leaders in various domains, such as administration, clinical practice, education, research, quality improvement, innovation, and other areas within the dynamic field of emergency medicine. Drawing on the success of a similar workshop held for Canadian Women Leaders in Emergency Medicine in January 2024, it was clear that having participants of all tenure was key to success.

Workshop Sessions include:

• The Healthy Leadership Mirror: Reflect, Grow, Lead
• Driving Innovation and Accountability in Emergency Care: From Frameworks to Results
• Dining with Purpose: Elevating Advocacy and Media Skills in Emergency Medicine
• The Calm in the Storm: Conflict Management for Emergency Medicine Leaders

By situating this workshop in an adventurous location, we create a retreat that offers respite from the challenges of busy leadership responsibilities. It provides an opportunity for participants to care for their well-being, nurture their souls, and restore their sanity while engaging in a supportive and empowering environment. 

Maximum Capacity of 26 EM physicians                                              This Meeting is Endorsed by CAEP 

If you are looking for the Women's Only Canadian Physician Leaders in EM Workshop, Please click here: Canadian Women Physician Leaders in EM Workshop - January 12 - 16, 2025

 

 

Course Director & Faculty Carolyn Snider MD MPH FRCPC (EM) Past Chief, Emergency Medicine, Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's Hospital		Faculty Rodrick Lim MD, FRCPC (Peds-EM) Site Chief, Paediatric ED, Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre
Faculty Judy Morris MD, FRCPC (EM), MSc. Présidente, AMUQ, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur, DMFMU, UMontréal		Faculty Doug Sinclair  MD, CCFP-EM, FRCPC (EM) Vice President, Medicine, Quality & Safety, IWK Health, Nova Scotia

Scientific Committee

Aimee Kernick MD, CCFP(EM),  President - CAEP,  Saanich Peninsula Hospital, BC

Elizabeth Shouldice MD, CCFP(EM),  Chair, Public Affairs - CAEP, Queensway Carleton Hospital, ON

 

$3195.00

Included in Course Fee:

• 4 Interactive Workshops led by Faculty
• Workshop Materials (including Workbook that you will use through the workshop)
• Welcome Social Event includes buffet dinner. (Sunday March 30)
• Light Breakfast + Late Brunch during morning Monday and Thursday Workshop Sessions 
• Hearty Snack at the beginning of Tuesday afternoon Workshop
• Dinner during Wednesday dinner session
• Coffee, Water and non-alcoholic beverages during Workshops
• Sunset Catamaran Cruise (Monday March 31)
• Group Networking Dinner  (Tuesday April 1)
• Closing Night Dinner (Thursday April 3)

** Any Alcoholic beverages must be paid for separately

Guests welcome at additional cost for the following events:

• Welcome Social Event  (Sunday March 30)
• Sunset Catamaran Cruise  (Monday March 31)
• Group Networking Dinner (Tuesday April 1
• Closing Night Dinner (Thursday April 3)

Optional Activities

NOTE: Sign-up for guests and optional activities will occur in the Fall of 2024

Tuesday, April 1 (prior to late afternoon Session)

• 8 - 2pm: Morning Scuba Diving (Must have at minimum your Open Water Certification - your card will be required. You can arrange to do a refresher prior)
  
• Other Activities TBD
• Many other activities don't need to be arranged ahead of time, or can be arranged when you are on the island. 
  (e.g. cycling around the island, renting a golf cart, exploring the north island, kite surfing, windsurfing, SUP, kayaking, feeding the tarpons etc.)

Wednesday, April 2

• Full Day Snorkeling on the Catarmaran - Hol Chan Marine Reserve - Some of the best snorkeling in the world - snorkel with schools of fish, nurse sharks, stingrays, eagle rays, turtles and if you are luck manatees. Dolphin-spotting from the Catamaran 
• Half Day Snorkeling - Caye Caulker Marine Reserve - For those who want to combine some adventure with downtime - Nurse Sharks, Stingrays.

Activities to consider before or after the workship:

• A few days on the mainland. Previous participants have enjoyed adventurous visits that include cave tubing, zip-lining, visits to Mayan ruins, and many other inland adventures.  Some have done this as a full day trip from Caye Caulker
  
• Scuba Diving.  Belize is world-renowned for it's scuba diving. The Blue Hole (and especially the two dives after it), Turneffe Atoll and many local dives are well worth staying for a few days for those who are certified.  You can consider doing your certifications on the island as well. Highly recommended dive shops include: Scuba Sensation, Blue Water Divers and Sunrise Scuba. 

*Guests are welcome to sign up for these social events, additional charges will apply. 

 

You will receive the following information as part of your registration confirmation

The workshop will be held on the island of Caye Caulker in Belize. The workshop will be held February 9 - 13, 2024; The workshop continues on the 13th and includes a closing dinner. Please do not make travel bookings until 14th so that you can take full advantage of the workshop. Better yet, please consider booking 7 - 10 days in Belize in order to allow yourself time to enjoy the many adventures Belize has to offer. 

About Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is an island in Belize. It is small, less than 1 km wide and 8km in length and a population of ~2000 residents. Known for its friendliness, safety and barrier reef, many who visit feel a quick sense of belonging to an island whose motto is "Go Slow." It is a favourite island of backpackers and "backpacker-emeriti" for its streetside barbecues, car-less streets, amazing restaurants and live music. People get around by walking, bicycles and golf carts.

Getting There:

To/from Belize City:

Direct flights to/from (as of November 2024)

Toronto (Westjet: Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, Air Canada: Thursday)

Calgary (Westjet: Friday and Saturday, Air Canada: Not Direct)

Seattle (Great Option for the West Coast) (Alaska Air: Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday)

Halifax - (Miami on Air Transat (early morning Saturdays) with daily flights from Miami on American Air (> 2hr layover)

Daily connections through many US hubs that most Canadian cities fly to (Atlanta, Houston, New York, Miami, Seattle)

Belize City to/from Caye Caulker

10 min flight to/from Caye Caulker from the International Airport on Tropic Air or Maya Air. OR
30 min taxi from the airport to the ferry terminal + 45 min ferry to Caye Caulker

Accommodations

* * PLEASE BOOK ACCOMMODATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS FEBRUARY IS HIGH SEASON.

Most places have cancellation policies with refund prior to 60 days (may have small fee for cancellation) so please consider booking even if you can't confirm your attendance.

There are many wonderful places to stay on the island.  Most accommodations on Caye Caulker do not include a white sandy beach (except Iguana Reef), so definitely look for accommodation with a pool. Some highly recommended accommodations very close to the venue include:

Iguana Reef Inn (www.iguanareefinn.com) - 1 min walk to workshop venue. Sandy west facing beach, beach activities, beach bar, pool, includes breakfast. This can be a busy gathering spot to watch the incredible sunsets and feed stingrays. Email: reservations@iguanareefinn.com (the website booking does not always show all rooms available)

The Dive House:  (www.thedivehousebelize.com) This would work well if there was a large group that wanted to coordinate as they only rent it out as a large house but with three separate areas.  This is right next door to the workshop venue. They have just put a beautiful new infinity pool in. They have a great dock with hammocks and stairs you can swim off).  (Penthouse: 1 Large Master Bedroom + living room with Double Murphy Bed + sofa bed; Second Floor: 2 Queen BR each with ensuite + Large Shared Kitchen & living Space ; Ground Floor: (Kitchen is used for Catering (including our event), All shared bathrooms: 2 x 1 BR with Queen bath, 1 x 1 BR with 2 queen/bunk combo) - Shared Bathrooms and Living Space))

La Isla Resort (www.laislabelize.com) 3 min walk to workshop venue. East facing, rooftop bar, pool.  

Caye Reef Apartments (www.cayereef.com) 7 min walk to workshop venue. Great apartments for families. East facing and next to village playground. Pool.

Pura Vida Inn: (www.puravidainn.com) 10 min walk to the workshop venue. Small, well-loved apartments. East facing. A small dipping pool (i.e. perhaps not a great kid pool) and a lovely dock. 

Seaside Cabanas: (www.seasidecabanas.com) 6 min walk to the workshop venue. Well-loved by many who call it their hidden secret. There are some hot-tub rooms, a pool and a bar

Weezies:  (www.weeziescayecaulker.com)A 15 min walk and a short bike ride away but a favourite on the island. 

Given the size of the island, there are many smaller cottage rentals: AirBnB/Booking.com  etc. are great resources to find places - please just remember to choose a place on the South Island 

Please do not stay on the north side during the workshop period as you are then reliant on boats to get to/from the venue. This results in very early mornings for you and potentially difficulty returning at the end of an evening event. 

 

Refund Policy

Written notification is required for all requests for cancellation.

A $30 administration fee will be charged for all cancellations.

Refunds will be granted based on the date of notification as indicated below:

• 100% refund if written notice is given by November 30, 2024
• 50% refund if written notice is given by December 30, 2024

Refunds for registration fees will not be made after December 30, 2024 - however, transfer of registration to another person will be allowed until March 15, 2025.