Department of Emergency Medicine

Critical care focuses on caring for patients with life-threatening conditions who require complex monitoring, organ support, and intensive interventions. In Emergency Medicine, critical care overlaps when patients transition from resuscitation in the ED to the ICU and includes research and quality improvement of that critical phase.

Staff complement
We have four physicians who work as emergency medicine-based intensivists in Manitoba:

• Dr. Eric Flynn
• Dr. Carmen Hrymak
• Dr. Murdoch Leeies
• Dr. Shelly Zubert

EDI focuses on promoting fair, inclusive, and culturally responsive practices in emergency medicine. This encompasses research into health disparities, curriculum development, policy advocacy, and interventions to reduce bias and structural inequities in care delivery.

The Disrupting Racism in Emergency Medicine (DRiEM) research program is one way we are working to improve Manitoba’s emergency departments by understanding and then designing evidence-based strategies to mitigate racism in emergency medicine.

Staff complement
We are also proud to support an interdisciplinary Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee led by:

• Dr. Carmen Hrymak
• Dr. Murdoch Leeies

The committee works to identify gaps in knowledge and service, followed by recommendations for best practices, lecture series, and educational modules to enhance health equity, diversity, and inclusion in emergency medicine.

Geriatric medicine centers on the unique needs of older adults, recognizing that aging populations often present with complex comorbidities, atypical symptoms and increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes. In emergency care, this involves tailored assessment, safe transitions and research to reduce repeat visits and hospitalizations.

Staff complement

• Dr. Alecs Chochinov
• Dr. Malcolm Doupe

Both physicians have an international program of research exploring the ways in which acute health care facilities, allied services and community-based care options can be aligned more effectively to help older adults live successfully in the community.

Medical education covers the theory and practice of teaching, assessment and curriculum design in emergency medicine. This includes training learners (students, residents, faculty), educational research, mentorship, and innovation in pedagogical methods (e.g., flipped classrooms, competency-based approaches).

Staff complement

• Dr. Tamara McColl serves as the director of education, scholarship and faculty development
• Dr. Zoe Oliver serves as director of the medical education block provided for FRCPC EM residents

Patient and community engagement highlights the partnership between emergency medicine and the communities it serves. This includes involving patients and families in shaping care, collaborating with community organizations, and advancing research, education, and advocacy that reflect patient voices and community needs.

The CEDVIP project provides a 24/7 response to offer support to youth (ages 14–29) who have presented with an injury caused by violence. Youth are offered trauma-informed, flexible follow-up support in the community to assist with reducing their risk and supporting stability to prevent repeat injury. 

• The CEDVIP lead is Dr. Zoe Oliver.

The EPIC program, operated by the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) and staffed by paramedics, provides early health assessments and intervention planning to Winnipeg patients who are identified as top users of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Emergency Department services and who are referred to the program. 

• The EPIC lead is Dr. Erin Weldon.

PEM specializes in the emergency care of infants, children, and adolescents. It involves understanding age-specific disease patterns, dosing, communication, and procedural skills tailored to younger patients, along with research and collaboration across pediatric centers.

POCUS emphasizes the use of bedside ultrasound by emergency physicians to rapidly assess, diagnose, and guide procedures in real time. POCUS enhances decision-making in critical situations such as trauma, shock, cardiac arrest, and procedural safety, while also advancing research and education in emerging ultrasound applications.

Curriculum
From the implementation of a formal postgraduate ultrasound curriculum in 2011, training in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) continues to be a mandatory skill required for Royal College certification, as well as a critical skill for emergency physicians to improve patient care. The ultrasound curriculum has been designed to include two tracks: core and advanced.

Staff complement

• Dr. Tomislav Jelic serves as the ultrasound director
• Dr. Chitbanu Singh serves as the AFC Acute Care POCUS Fellowship director
• Dr. Joanna Maclean serves as the FRCPC assistant director of ultrasound
• Dr. Caroline Kowal serves as the CCFP assistant director of ultrasound

Pre-hospital Medicine covers emergency care delivered before arrival at the hospital (e.g., by paramedics, air medical services). Topics include protocols for out-of-hospital care, early interventions, system design, and integrating prehospital and in-hospital workflows to optimize outcomes. More recently, our physicians have staffed VECTRS (Virtual Emergency Care and Transfer Resource Service).

Staff complement

• Dr. Rob Grierson serves as the chief medical officer of Emergency Response Services
• Dr. John Sokal serves as the medical director of VECTRS
• Dr. Erin Weldon serves overseeing EMS rotations
• Dr. Doug Martin serves as the medical director of STARS

Simulation applies simulation-based education (mannequins, scenario-based training, virtual reality, etc.) to teach and evaluate clinical skills, crisis management, teamwork and decision-making in safe environments. It also includes educational scholarship in simulation methodology.

Staff complement

• Dr. Cheryl ffrench serves as our simulation director
• Dr. Joey Ringaert serves as the simulation assistant director

Sports Medicine focuses on the diagnosis, acute management, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions occurring in athletes or physically active individuals. In the emergency setting, this often involves musculoskeletal injuries, concussion evaluation, and coordination with sports care networks.

Staff complement

• Dr. Deborah Hill serves as our Sports Medicine Fellowship director and works alongside Drs. Ali Almaleki and Eric Hildahl at the Pan Am Clinic.

Toxicology addresses the diagnosis, management, and prevention of poisoning, overdoses, and adverse effects of drugs or chemicals. This includes clinical consultation, antidote administration, and guiding protocols to improve patient safety and outcomes at the population level.

Staff complement

• Dr. Wesley Palatnick is one of the forebearers of emergency medicine in Manitoba and is internationally recognized for his work in the field of toxicology. He has contributed numerous articles, book chapters, lectures, and significant publications that have changed the way we all practice today.
   
• Dr. Palatnick serves as one of two clinical toxicologists providing on-call consultations for the entire province of Manitoba. Thousands of patients have benefited from his remarkable clinical expertise, compassionate care and tireless efforts.

Trauma encompasses the management of patients who suffer significant injuries (e.g., from accidents, falls, violence). This includes rapid assessment, stabilization, coordinating multidisciplinary care, and working in regional trauma systems. Our emergency physicians often act as trauma team leaders and partners in trauma research.

Staff complement

• Most emergency physicians working at the Health Sciences Centre serve as Trauma Team Leaders.

• Dr. Julian Regehr serves as the trauma best practices lead.