Ontario Association of General Surgeons | Members | June, 2026 |
|
|
|
Celebrating 30 Years of Service! |
|
|
|
Member E-Update - Q2 2026 |
|
|
|
Have a great summer and Happy Canada Day! |
|
|
|
Dear Colleagues,
I hope everybody had a good spring. We are heading into the summer with hopefully more consistent sunny days. It’s been raining a lot here in Northern Ontario. As you are aware (or maybe no since we are Northeners), we had some flooding issues all the way from Muskoka to North Bay Ontario. I’m looking forward to the summer. My practice over the years is to not work on Fridays in the summer except on days or weekends I’m on call; I do half day clinics from 8AM-1:45 PM. This is because the summers are so short here in Northern Ontario, and yet so beautiful, that I don’t really take a travel vacation in the summer; this is my compensation for that. What do you do in terms of practice changes in the summer to create some regulation in your life (Poll)?
We have been working hard in terms of planning our annual OAGS Surgical Symposium for 2026 on Saturday, November 7 at the Hilton in Downtown Toronto (Richmond Street). Our topics are all confirmed and most speakers have been chosen. I’m looking forward to this symposium, as it’s our 30th year as an organization. We will have some commemorative items to purchase for the 30th year (pre-orders) and there’ll be some items at the symposium itself to purchase as well.
For summer, I enjoy golfing, kayaking, more recently biking with my gravel bike, and of course, hiking with my furry friend Hugo (Golden Retriever). I also enjoy trying new food items! One of my favourites to make is a yogurt dip, and I’ve included the recipe below.
As usual if the membership has any questions, concerns, and feedback, we are more than happy to converse with our members. Looking forward to seeing everybody at the annual surgical symposium. Sincerely, Dr. Ravinder Singh OAGS President
Any queries can be sent to our office: info@oags.org. |
|
|
|
| Summer Recipe: Yogurt Dip - 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon dry mint leaves; can add a few fresh minced leaves as well
-
½ tablespoon dry basil leaves; can add 1 fresh leaf as well
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup minced cucumber
-
1-2 grated red or green thai chillies (optional for extra spicy)
- 1 container yogurt
- Mix all the above
- Best served if left overnight in fridge.
|
|
|
|
| 2026 OAGS Board of Directors & Committees For details, visit our website. |
|
|
|
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: The OAGS board would like to welcome newly appointed board members Drs. Eamer and Pasternak who will replace two vacancies since last fall: |
|
|
|
| Dr. Gil Eamer, MD, MSc, FRCSC
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Surgery, University of Ottawa;
Pediatric Surgeon, CHEO; OMA Section on General Surgery - Exec at large; Ottawa, ON |
|
|
|
| Dr. Jesse Pasternak, MD, MPH, FRCSC Associate Professor, Dept. of Surgery, University of Toronto; Director, UofT Endocrine Surgery Fellowship Program;
General Surgery - Endocrine Surgery, UHN - Toronto Genera Hospital; OMA Section on General Surgery - Exec at large; Toronto, ON |
|
|
|
| OAGS MEMBERSHIP DRIVE 2026
The new fiscal year has begun (Jan-Dec, 2026). Dues fees have remained the same. Email reminders were disseminated earlier this year. If you authorized auto-renew in your Member Portal account, dues transactions occurred several months ago. Otherwise, you will need to renew your membership manually through the OAGS Membership Portal on our website. So, check your status. If it's green ACTIVE, you're paid up; if it's red "INACTIVE", you're still owing. If your membership lapses, you will no longer receive quarterly updates, communications, benefits or discounts after the grace period. More member benefits are in the works. Member benefits and category descriptions can be found here.
Password Protected Pages: Some pages on our website are now for members only. Our site has SSO, so if your browser remembers your login, you'll have direct access and should only have to login once.
Early Bird Deadline expires September 1st. Until then, current 2026 OAGS members in good standing can register for the 2026 OAGS Surgical Symposium FOR FREE. After the deadline, admission will be an additional $100 for members. Discounts will be applied upon final checkout only. |
|
|
|
2026 OAGS Surgical Symposium Event registration is now 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 deadline is September 1st. |
|
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
|
| OAGS Symposium - Hilton Room Block Hilton Toronto Hotel 145 Richmond St. W., Toronto, ON
Nov.6-8 block dates OAGS Room Rate: $289 / nt |
|
|
|
| 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
|
|
|
|
| Symposium On-site Child Care
If you're interested in on-site child care while you attend this year's 2026 OAGS Surgical Symposium, we will be arranging this certified service on the same hotel level. Registration is required well in advance. Please do so when registering for the symposium through the member portal. |
|
|
|
2026 OAGS Resident Research Grant Winner Congratulations to this year's OAGS grant winner, Dr. Kameela Alibhai, UofT, PGY3 (more info). Thank you to everyone who applied. Details for next year's grant competition will be released this fall. Stay tuned! |
|
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
|
|
BLOG: OAGS Case Study
The latest Case Study 26-Q2 (June) blog was submitted by OAGS President Dr. Ravinder Singh regarding stable elderly patient with cognitive decline and duodenal bleed. After reviewing the case, what would you do next? Take our poll challenge. |
|
|
|
| BLOG: OMA Section Update Q2
Dr. Kevin Lefebvre OMA Section Chair on General Surgery
Download |
|
|
|
| Physician Payment Committee Report
Schedule of Benefits changes for April 1, 2027
Draft Recommendations to Physician Services Committee.
This is a preliminary report. The PPC will continue working closely with sections/constituencies. If approved, these changes would be funded through the Year 2–4 general increases secured in the 2024-28 Physician Services Agreement.
Download Full PPC Report for full details (OMA gated) |
|
|
|
Note: Section Chair Dr. Kevin Lefebvre's letter to members in Q1 can be downloaded here. |
|
|
|
| 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.
-
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. |
|
|
|
| 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.
|
|
|
|
| ColonCancerCheck Resource Hub
Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) is introducing changes to the ColonCancerCheck program on July 1, 2026. To support change management, communications with supporting resources will be sent to Ontario primary care providers, endoscopists and hospitals performing GI endoscopy. These resources are also available online on the new ColonCancerCheck Resource Hub:
ontariohealth.ca/coloncancercheckhub santeontario.ca/ressources-controlecancercolorectal |
|
|
|
| CRS‑HIPEC Implementation
The Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) Surgical Oncology Program (SOP) engaged Ontario’s peritoneal malignancy centres regarding cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS‑HIPEC) implementation. In an effort to standardize referrals for potential CRC-HIPEC candidates across the province, a provincial information sheet was created in collaboration with HIPEC centres. To receive a copy of this document, please contact: SOPInfo@ontariohealth.ca.
|
|
|
|
CPD Listings:
These can be found on our website CPD calendar. Let us know of others that should be posted. |
|
|
|
|
EVENT CAGS Forum Date: September 16-19, 2026 Location: Halifax, NS CME: yes
Details: download |
| |
|
| EVENT UofT Multidisciplinary Gynecologic Oncology
Annual Lecture Series (MyGOALS) Date: Dec. 11, 2026 Location: Toronto, ON Details: download |
|
|
|
| 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
|
|
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
|
| 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. |
|
|
|
YOUR FEEDBACK Have a query or suggestion? We welcome your opinion. |
|
|
|
Follow us on social media. Be sure to tag us if you'd like us to repost to our followers. |
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
