Ontario Association of General Surgeons | Members | September, 2026 |
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Celebrating 30 Years of Service! |
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Member E-Update - Q3 2026 |
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Dear Colleagues,
I hope everybody had a good summer. Did anybody try the yoghurt dip recipe? It seemed the summer went by quite quickly (as usual?)! I enjoyed my mini vacations on Fridays and in the afternoons after half-day clinics. But the work never gets less challenging as you’re aware.
September brings routine and finalizing our 2026 OAGS Annual Surgical Symposium for Saturday, November 7. We had a board meeting in September to help finalize things to make it a memorable experience for our members and registrants. We look forward to this year’s symposium because it’s the 30th anniversary of OAGS. If you would like to submit any commentary or even a short video (landscape view; MP3/MP4 format) about your reflections of OAGS over the years, we would welcome it with enthusiasm.
As you’re aware, the symposium wouldn’t happen without our members and registrants, and of course, our sponsors, organizing committee, volunteers, and our administrative assistant.
I hope we can get a great turnout for this hallmark anniversary. Myself and the rest of the OAGS board look forward to seeing you. Sincerely, Dr. Ravinder Singh OAGS President
Any queries can be sent to our office: info@oags.org. |
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Attn. [CLIENT_NAME] ID: [INTERNAL_ID] Member Category: [MEMBERSHIP] UN Login: [EMAIL]
Reminder: Please login to the Member Portal to update your profile, check if your membership is paid for the current fiscal (Jan-Dec/26) and you're registered for any upcoming events. |
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| 2026 OAGS MEMBERSHIP & EVENT REGISTRATION
Early Bird Deadline expires October 24 (Final Extension). Until then, current OAGS members in good standing (Jan-Dec/26) can register for the 2026 OAGS Surgical Symposium FOR FREE. After the deadline, event registration will be an additional $100 for members. Discounts will be applied just before final checkout. Did I Pay My Dues? Did I Register Yet?
Step 1: Login to the OAGS Membership Portal using the original email address that we have on file for you
Step 2: Click the MEMBERSHIP Tab - check if dues are paid. If it's green ACTIVE, you're paid up; if it's red "INACTIVE", you're still owing.
Step 3: Click the AGENDA Tab - check if you have a ticket for a particular event. If not...
Step 4: Click the EVENTS Tab - you can register for events here if your tickets do not appear in Agenda. NOTE: If your membership lapses, you will no longer receive discounts, quarterly updates, communications, benefits, access to password protected pages (i.e. CPD library). |
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2026 OAGS Surgical Symposium
Event registration is still open!
Our annual event is slated for Saturday, November 7, 2026 at the Hilton Toronto Hotel. Members should register through the OAGS Member Portal. Hope you will join us! Early Bird final extended deadline is October 24. |
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| 2026 OAGS Surgical Symposium - Nov.7 International Keynote Guest Speaker Eric M. Pauli, MD FACS FASGE FEBSAWS (Hon.) David L. Nahrwold Professor of Surgery Chief, Division of Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Vice Chair, Clinical Affairs Director of Abdominal Wall Surgery Program Director, Abdominal Wall Surgery Fellowship, Department of Surgery Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Hershey, PA |
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| OAGS Symposium - Hilton Room Block Hilton Toronto Hotel 145 Richmond St. W., Toronto, ON
Accommodation: Nov.6-8 block dates OAGS Room Rate: $289 / nt Group Rate Deadline: October 6 |
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| OAGS Symposium Flyer
A promotional flyer will be mailed out to most of you this within the next week. To help us promote our event please post it in your surgeon lounge or wherever your colleagues and residents will see it. You can also download a copy here. |
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| MEDICAL STUDENTS
If you know any medical students interested in General Surgery, we will be allowing complimentary admission to this fall's 2026 OAGS Surgical Symposium for 2 medical students from each program again this year. They have to be vouched for by a current 2026 OAGS Active General Surgeon Member (email is fine). In return, they will have to volunteer with early morning registration. Contact: info@oags.org
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| Shangri La Reception: Friday, Nov.6
Mark your calendar. OAGS and our partners BNS Group will be hosting a sponsored reception in downtown Toronto at the Shangri-La Toronto Hotel Lobby Lounge on the night before our 2026 OAGS Surgical Symposium - just across the street. OAGS Members welcome. More details coming soon! |
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| OAGS Anniversary Lapel Pin
Be sure to attend our 2026 OAGS Surgical Symposium on Saturday, November 7 to receive a complimentary, limited edition commemorative lapel pin, anniversary pen and other special prize draws celebrating our organization's 30 years of service. |
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| OAGS Webinar Series Topic: A New Referral Pathway for IBD Patients and Recent Data on IBD Management
Speaker: Dr. Jason Reinglas, MD, FRCPC Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Time: 7pm (1hr) Sponsored by: AbbVie Corporation Fee: FREE
Details/Register |
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| OAGS Board Election
Half of the OAGS board of directors are up for re-election and at least 1 vacancy available this fall. Terms are 2 years and renewable for up to 5 terms. Any current OAGS members interested in running for election are invited to submit your nominations before October 24, 2026. Election Date: Nov. 7, 2026 Details/Apply Online: https://oags.org/elections/ |
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| 2026-27 OAGS Resident Research Grant Competition
Application Deadline: December 31, 2026 Grant: $5,000 Sponsor: BNS Group (MD Financial Group, Scotiabank, CMA)
More details coming soon |
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| Vacancy: OAGS Lead Resident Liaison to the Board of Directors Application Deadline: November 30, 2026 Announcement: December, 2026 Term Start Time: January 1, 2027 Details Apply Now
Please hang this flyer in your lounge. |
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| Thank You OAGS Resident Representative Dr. Tyler McKechnie, McMaster University, PGY4 will be completing his term with us at the year end after 5+ years (2021-2026). His service and dedication is greatly appreciated. We wish him well going forward in his career as a general surgeon and all future endeavours. Well done! |
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| CPD Videos Now Available Did you miss last year's 2025 OAGS Surgical Symposium? These videos are now available on our website for current OAGS Members only. Previous symposia will also be uploaded to the library in the coming months. Login to View |
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| BLOG: OAGS Case Study
The latest Case Study 26-Q3 (September) blog was submitted by OAGS President Dr. Ravinder Singh regarding 51-year-old male with history of hypertension, previous abdominal injury from a knife fight. Seen for a cyst in 2020, he started getting left upper quadrant symptoms and slowly enlarging cyst. After reviewing the case, what would you do next? Take our poll challenge.
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| OMA Elections
OMA Section on General Surgery executive will have at least 2 vacancies this fall: Secretary and Board Member-at-Large. General Surgeons are urged to participate. Other positions will be up for election in 2027. Stay tuned. Nominations Begin: November 2026
Nominations Close: ~ Dec/26 Election Voting: TBA Details: https://www.oma.org/about-the-oma/elections/ (OMA gated) |
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| OMA Awards
Congratulations to Dr. Chris Vinden, OMA Section on General Surgery Past-Chair (and OAGS Past President) who will be receiving a 2026 OMA Life Membership Award. (details)
Note: If you know someone who should be acknowledged for their service over the years and would like to nominate them, more details can be found here: OMA Awards and Recognition Program. If you'd rather the Section nominate them, please let us know.
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| Do you have rejected billings?
The Ontario Medical Association is launching an OMA Billing Pilot to challenge unjustified OHIP billing denials. The goal is to select several test cases that will help clarify billing practices and improve fairness across the system. For physicians whose cases are selected, the OMA will cover legal costs associated with pursuing the appeal. Cases of particular interest: - A code was paid routinely in the past but is now being rejected without explanation.
- A code is paid at one hospital, clinic, or program but denied at another, indicating inconsistent application.
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The denial does not align with established clinical practice
Privacy: All personal health information will be handled securely and in compliance with PHIPA.
If you believe you may have a qualifying case, please contact OMA Senior Lead, Daniel Ostrovskiy (Daniel.ostrovskiy@oma.org) with a short summary and the relevant documentation. |
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| Colorectal Cancer Screening Changes
The Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) Surgical Oncology Program (SOP) are currently consulting with the OMA/Section on General Surgery. CCO will be rolling out changes to colonoscopy services and colorectal cancer screening reporting to align with updated ColonCancerCheck program recommendations later this year. Check here for future updates.
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CPD Listings: These can be found on our website CPD calendar.
Let us know of others that should be posted. |
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| EVENT 37th International Course on Therapeutic Endoscopy
St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto Date: October 15-17, 2026 Location: Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, ON CME: yes
Details: https://www.toronto-live-endo.ca/ |
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| EVENT
UofT Multidisciplinary Gynecologic Oncology
Annual Lecture Series (MyGOALS) Date: Dec. 11, 2026 Location: Toronto, ON Details: download
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| Job Listings Check out our latest job, locum, fellowship postings. They are posted as they come in daily. OAGS members can post an ad FOR FREE. Job Listings Page: https://oags.org/jobs/ Job Post Request Form: complete |
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| BILLING CORNER
Check out our billing page on our website. Here, you can submit your billing queries. You can also download Schedule of Benefits PDF excerpts dedicated to General Surgery billing codes.
Billing Corner Page |
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| BLOGS Check out our blogs: OAGS President, OMA Section Chair, Case Study and Resident Rostrum. This section is password protected for members only. OAGS Blog Page
We're interested in hearing your perspective on any topic. If you're interested in guest blogging or vlogging, let us know! Contact us. |
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YOUR FEEDBACK Have a query or suggestion? We welcome your opinion. |
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Follow us on social media. Be sure to tag us if you'd like us to repost to our followers. |
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NOTE: You are receiving this email because you were either an OAGS member or event attendee within the last two years. Your membership may or may not be current. |
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