The Gasette

The Department takes great pride in our fellowship programs, offering seven specialized tracks for aspiring subspecialty anesthesiologists. These programs go beyond simply providing advanced clinical training. The programs cultivate well-rounded professionals by fostering a collaborative and supportive learning environment that integrates research opportunities and exceptional mentorship.  

This year, we are happy to welcome three new fellows to our programs:

• Dr. Abdulelah Alhatlan (Pediatric Anesthesia) – Abdulelah received his residency training in King Abdulaziz Medical City for National Guard Health Affairs, with additional training in King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital and King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre in Saudi Arabia. He will be supervised by Dr. Jane Seviour.

• Dr. John Bartolacci (Cardiac Anesthesia) – Originally from Nova Scotia and an alum of Dalhousie med school, John brings his residency training from Western University to our fellowship program under the supervision of Dr. Victor Neira.

• Dr. Loran Morrison (Women’s and Obstetric Anesthesia) – Loran is a recent graduate of our residency program. She returns to specialize in women's and obstetric anesthesia under the supervision of Dr. Patricia Doyle. 

The other portion of the team consists of 13 anesthesiologists, one pediatric fellow, two residents, six anesthesia assistants, and one technician.

“Most of the questions we use for the study are consistent with the international dataset provided by CRICKET,” says Stephanie. “SickKids is the Canadian data coordinating centre for this worldwide study, and they added a few additional questions that are more specific to Canadian practice.” The team plans to record 720 cases by recording all eligible cases between now and November 2024.

Complications during airway management continue to be a major problem in pediatric anesthesia. To improve patient safety, previously defined critical events associated with airway management during tracheal intubation in children will be recorded and analyzed. The results will be used to identify the extent of airway management-related complications and design randomized controlled trials. Data may be used by sites for quality improvement.

"Participating in a large-scale multinational study like CRICKET is exciting for our Department," Dr. Dumbarton expressed his enthusiasm for the study. "This will be the biggest study in pediatrics of its kind, recruiting more than 100,000 patients worldwide!”



The team's involvement in the CRICKET study will go beyond just data collection. While the principal investigators will use this database to better characterize the risk factors for critical events related to airway manipulation, the team will also be able to mine collected local data for practice-changing quality improvement opportunities for patient safety and to refine their practices. 

The photo above of an all-female cardiac surgery team was taken this summer at the Halifax Infirmary site of NSH QEII Health Sciences Centre. Though not the first time an all-female team performed a surgery together, the photo captures in many ways the advances made in gender equality within the medical field, particularly in traditionally male-dominated specialties like surgery and anesthesia.

Today, more women are pursuing specialties once dominated by men, breaking barriers, and changing perceptions about leadership roles in healthcare. Initiatives aimed at mentorship, support, and training are also encouraging women to pursue careers in anesthesia, surgery, and other high-demand fields, further enriching the medical community. These efforts honour the legacy of  Dr. Jennie Trout, the first female physician licensed to practice medicine in Canada in 1875, who was recently inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame for 2025. Her pioneering spirit and dedication paved the way for countless women who followed in her footsteps.

As the number of women in medicine continues to grow, this all-female team event underscores the importance of diversity in healthcare and its role in reducing gender bias. Dr. Paula Kolysher, the NSH Central Zone subspecialty chief for cardiac anesthesia, emphasized the significance of representation, stating, “Hopefully it inspires more women into medicine—surgery and anesthesia—and perfusion. It’s important for women to see reflections of themselves in these predominantly male fields, showing them what careers are possible.”

She also praised the expertise and collaborative spirit of the entire surgical team. “It’s an honour to work alongside our talented female colleagues, including cardiac surgeons, perfusionists, anesthesia assistants, anesthesia technicians, nurses, and supporting staff. It is the combined knowledge and skill of every team member that contributes to quality patient care,” says Dr. Kolysher.

Following our first successful Café Scientifique in the Valley last year, the Department’s Office of Research hosted, in October, a second Café at the Dalhousie University’s Tupper Building in Halifax. Supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research Evidence Alliance program, Café Scientifiques aim to provide information and stimulate discussion to enhance health literacy, promote health equity, and empower patients to take charge of their own health.

The Department’s event, open to the public, brought together approximately 25 people to discuss the science of pain and pain management. Speakers, including Dr. Melissa O'Brien, PhD, Dr. Jason McDougall, PhD, Dr. Jessica Dawe, Neurologist and Virginia McIntyre, BA, MRT(R)(MR), shared the knowledge and latest research findings on cannabinoids, migraine pain, and alternative pain management. Patients and caregivers in attendance had the opportunity to share experiences, ask questions and learn about available peer support groups and services. 

Dr. Allen Finley

I was beyond amazed by the little girl’s maturity and awareness about our connection with land as human beings and how it not only provides means for our living but also connects us far and wide. For time immemorial, in various cultures around the world, the elements of nature have been worshipped in different forms. For Indigenous communities of Canada, land, water, air, and the ecosystems that thrive in them are the very roots of their culture and living practices.

While pondering over the image, I couldn’t help but deliberate over our own practice of land acknowledgements in Canada. They became common after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report of 2015 and brought to light the grave history that was unknown to many of us before. Recited before public events, posted websites, and used as a part of e-mail signatures, land acknowledgements are a way to show respect to the Indigenous peoples and their tradition of honouring the interconnectedness of land and humans.

Although land acknowledgement is crucial, it should never be a mere statement. It should be an earnest reflective process that motivates us to learn more about the history of Canada. Delivering the land acknowledgement is an opportunity to recognize the fact that the lives of Indigenous peoples have been diminished over the last several centuries, and they continue to face challenges in the present times in the form of profound intergenerational trauma. It is an acknowledgement that this trauma impacts their health and their experiences within our current health care system. For us as health care professionals, land acknowledgement should be a way to delve deeper into understanding the impacts of colonization on the physical and spiritual health of Indigenous communities and how our systems could be improved to mitigate the mistakes of the past.

As a stepping stone in the reconciliation journey, land acknowledgement should be viewed as a learning opportunity; learning about our own profession’s failure to protect indigenous health care rights. But more importantly, it is an opportunity to pledge for advocacy and bring about meaningful changes in our health care system for the betterment of all, including Indigenous communities.



It is incredibly fascinating how all of us have come from various parts of the world to live here in Canada, call it home, and how we all have become linked to this land, the people around us, and the people we don’t necessarily know. Just like Anna Rozen conveyed through her poster, that we are all interconnected, and if one person lets go, everyone else will eventually fall. As health care providers, we are in a unique position to strengthen these invaluable connections with each other and prevent others and eventually ourselves from falling.