PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
By: President Tara Zrymiak, P.Eng., FEC
John Ralston Saul said, “Engineers have done more to improve the health and quality of life of all residents of the earth than all of the medical advances combined, most of which are also engineering achievements.”
I must admit that I was a little bit stumped when I started to compose the message for this medicine-themed edition. When I started to think about it though, I realized that I have seen numerous instances where our professions have collaborated with medical professions to the benefit of all involved.
The more obvious engineering contributions to medicine can be seen in the advancements of robotic prosthetics or mobility aids and in the design and construction of specialized hospital buildings and laboratories. However, there are many others that are not so obvious, including nuclear engineering for magnetic resonance imaging and computer and electrical engineering to develop artificial neural networks, physiological system modelling and other medical instrumentation, to name a few.
Last year I was fortunate to attend the prestigious Ernest C. Manning Innovation Awards dinner in Saskatoon. The level of accomplishment and genius displayed by the winners of these awards was awe-inspiring. The principal award was given to the team of Dr. Mark Torchia and Richard Tyc, P.Eng. for the development of the NeuroBlate® System – a laser-probe inserted into the brain through a small incision in the skull to heat and kill tumour cells. The minimally invasive procedure is conducted in an MRI machine, enabling surgeons to plan, steer and adjust the laser continuously as it is delivered, which increases precision in treating the cancer lesion and avoids damaging surrounding healthy brain tissue.
This allows treatment of tumours and lesions previously considered inoperable by removing the tumour from the inside out. The patient got off the table and walked away minutes after the successful treatment.
This is a remarkable example of a partnership between a medical doctor and an engineer. Both men said that they couldn’t have created this great innovation without the other. Tyc said that the use of their procedure to make a difference on a patient was the biggest moment in his career as an engineer.
You can see more about this wonderful innovation at
http://www.manningawards.ca/en/awards/winners/2015/mark-torchia-and-richard-tyc.
There are many other situations where engineers are making contributions in the field of medicine. The current president of APEGA, Steve Hrudey, P.Eng., FEC, FCAE, FSRA spent 20 years in the Faculty of Medicine. The recently retired Chair of the APEGA Board of Examiners, Dr. Gary Faulkner Ph.D., P.Eng. founded the biomedical mechanical engineering program at U of A and serves as research, innovation and technology director for Alberta Health Services.
In the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Saskatchewan, Associate Professor J.D. Johnston B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., P.Eng. focuses his research on orthopaedic biomechanics and musculoskeletal medical imaging to aid in the treatment of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Professor Daniel Chen, Ph.D., P.Eng. is the leader of the Tissue Engineering Research Group with a long-term research goal of developing advanced technologies to produce various scaffold-guided tissue or organ substitutes. The contributions of engineers in the field of medicine are significant and beneficial for society.
Over the last few months I have had the pleasure to represent APEGS at many events around the country. In September I attended the Engineers Nova Scotia Annual Meeting in Halifax, where we were treated to a wonderful lobster dinner with the large group of out-of-town guests. Discussions during the event ranged from design for resilience in the face of climate change and effective communication and cultural competence to accreditation, mobility and national standards.
I then spent four days in Ottawa attending a series of meetings in conjunction with the Engineers Canada board meeting. I was pleased to represent the presidents’ group at the first meeting of the new Linkages Committee. I am confident that the work this group is doing will strengthen the communication and co-operation between Engineers Canada and its owners, the constituent associations, with emphasis on the fact that success needs to be determined by the owners. Some of the biggest topics at the other meetings included developing the improved strategic planning process for Engineers Canada and progress on transformation of the accreditation system.
In October, I attended the APEGBC Annual Meeting in Victoria. British Columbia has many passionate and engaged members. The association is very active in many areas as shown by their new Operational Quality Management program and their accredited employer member-in-training program. They have also done impressive work on an online tool for competency-based assessment and alternatives to Canadian experience.
After that, I was off to Winnipeg where we were warmly welcomed at the Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba Annual Meeting. This group presented many bylaw changes at their business session and reported that they are planning a full bylaw rewrite in the near future.
As we approach the end of the year, I hope you have all submitted your APEGS membership renewal, complete with Continuing Professional Development credits for the year. If you haven’t yet had a chance to check out the APEGS CPD Roadshow travelling around the province, take a look on the Events listing on the website to see when it will be in a conference room near you!
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season.
TOP: APEGS President Tara Zrymiak, P.Eng., FEC (centre) at the Engineers Nova Scotia AGM with incoming President Chris Zinck, P.Eng. (left) and outgoing President Bob MacDonald, P.Eng. (right)
CENTRE: At Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba AGM: left to right – Incoming Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba President Lindsay Melvin, P.Eng., FEC, APEGS President Tara Zrymiak, P.Eng., FEC, outgoing Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba President Lesley McFarlane, P.Eng.
ABOVE: At APEGBC AGM: left to right – incoming APEGBC President Bob Stewart, P.Eng., APEGS President Tara Zrymiak, P.Eng., FEC, outgoing APEGBC President Dr. Michael Wrinch, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.)