Page 8 - SpringNews2022

Health Policy Committee Report

As a first step, we will be conducting a large-scale census
Troy Sitland to determine the state of the workforce and available
Chair (Interim) resources. This census will be available to all members and
we will be actively encouraging as many members as
Health Policy Committee possible to complete it. The details of where to access and
Moncton, NB complete the census will be provided in the coming weeks.
A s we seem to be emerging from the COVID-19 This census will cover many aspects of our workforce and
available resources, and will form the foundation of our
advocacy efforts in the years ahead.
pandemic, or at the very least adjusting to managing
our practices in these new, challenging times, the Health If you have questions, concerns, insight, or thoughts about
Policy Committee is looking forward to pushing on with these issues in your region, please do not hesitate to reach
efforts to improve the role the CUA will play in advocating out to your provincial section representatives, the CUA
for us as members, as well as for our patients. Given the members at large for your region, myself, or any of the CUA
consequences of the severe practice changes and office staff. We look forward to meeting and continuing our
restrictions over the last two years, the urologic workforce efforts in person in Charlottetown this summer!
and access to appropriate resources have never been so
important. The CUA is striving to address these topics to help
members provide the best possible care to their patients.

Community Urology Committee Report

Lorne Aaron
Chair, Community Urology Committee
Longueuil, QC

Spring has arrived, and with it, hopefully better times and a slow return to “normal”

inter has come and gone (we hope). Our lives have On a personal note, the bone marrow transplant for
Wall been affected by COVID-19, climate change, the leukemia that I underwent in December 2019 failed. I was
abundance of “fake news” on social media, and the invasion diagnosed in April 2021 with a relapse and underwent a
of Ukraine. Many of us are stressed and some of us are burnt cord blood stem cell transplant in early September 2021. The
out. We must take care of our physical and mental health. I second transplant was much more difficult and I developed
encourage everyone who feels overwhelmed by what’s going multiple complications. I am in remission, for now, but the
on around them to seek help from friends, family, and/or a treatment has left me with bilateral peripheral neuropathy
professional healthcare provider. affecting my lower legs, especially my feet, and hands/
fingers. My balance, ability to walk, and sensation in my
Community urologists are becoming more and more involved in fingers have all been affected. Due to this disability, my
the CUA and the CUA recognizes the importance of community return to work as a urologist is impossible. I will be resigning
urologists and their needs. There are now three grants available my position as Chair of the CUC at the Annual Meeting in
exclusively to community members. Please visit cua.org to obtain June 2022. The BOD will nominate an interim Chair and then
the terms of reference, application forms, and deadlines. officially request applications from community urologists to
1. CUC Mentorship Grant (Maximum of $50 000 annually) fill the position on a full-time basis (4-year term maximum,
renewed annually).
2. Community Urology CPD Grant ($15 000 annually)
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time volunteering at the CUA
3. Tolmar Community Urology CPD Grant over the years. I would like to thank all the members of the
($50 000 from Tolmar and $50 000 from the CUA) CUC for their devotion. As well, it has been a real pleasure
working and getting to know the staff at the CUA corporate
We are still working on the implementation of the “Ask-the-Expert” office and all the members of the Board of Directors and
online forum. The major obstacles are patient confidentiality and Committee Chairs and volunteers (past and present).
legal responsibility issues. I am unsure if we will be able to find
acceptable solutions to enable this great initiative to come to
fruition.

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