Highlights in Medicine Conference and Reunion: A recap and planning for 2024
Each year the College of Medicine celebrates the people and progress of our college and healthcare communities through its annual conference, Highlights in Medicine.
By Kelsey Kougiya, Alumni Relations Officer
A time-honoured tradition, it has evolved into a unique combination of educational lectures from renowned clinicians and healthcare professionals alongside USask Medicine alumni class reunions.
The 2023 rendering, themed “Healing Ourselves, Healing Our Communities,” sought to provide support and solace to our physician community in a time when the healthcare landscape felt physician burnout, resource strain and increased pressures across the industry. Conference attendees heard from renowned medical practitioners, including Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. Jim Dosman (MD), Honoured Alumni Lecturer Dr. Morris Markentin (MD), and former Deputy Surgeon General Dr. Scott McLeod (MD), among others in the notable lecture line up.
Beyond professional development, the 2023 Highlights in Medicine brought together past graduating classes for a weekend of comraderie and reminiscing. Closing out the weekend, the Highlights banquet saw conference attendees and reunion classes come together in Saskatoon at the Delta Bessborough Hotel for an evening of splendor. At the sold-out event, guests were joined by College of Medicine Dean Dr. Preston Smith (MD), USask President Peter Stoicheff and the Saskatchewan Minister of Advanced Education, the Honorable Gordon Wyatt, who recognized the value of continued education in the community.
Together with the banquet silent auction, gifts from the Class of 1973 and Class of 1998, along with numerous individual contributions, the 38th annual Highlights in Medicine Conference and Reunion raised $48,700.75 to support three different student bursaries and the college’s Surgical Skills Lab.
A special thank you to the Class Representatives who not only served on the conference’s scientific committee but gathered their classmates, introduced lectures, and hosted social activities throughout the weekend’s program. Through their support and efforts, the 2023 Highlights in Medicine wrapped up with extraordinary success and attendance.
Looking toward 2024 and the 39th annual Highlights in Medicine Conference and Reunion, the audience is being expanded to welcome all medical practitioners in Saskatchewan and beyond. The coming year’s program is still in development but is expected to grow in stature once again. Registrations are set to open in February 2024, and you are encouraged to register promptly to take advantage of early bird pricing.
Help us organize the 2024 conference by representing your class.
For more information, contact Kelsey Kougiya, alumni relations at 306-966-5763 or kelsey.kougiya@usask.ca