It’s a crisp fall day on Vancouver’s North Shore. The clear skies allow for an unobstructed view to downtown Vancouver. Lions Gate Hospital is nestled in a quiet neighbourhood in North Vancouver, amongst gorgeous old growth trees; their leaves changing colours with the season. It is a smaller, community hospital, which by nature of its size and heritage feels quite welcoming and warm.
Dr. Simon Bicknell has been living and working on this side of the Burrard Inlet for over twelve years. His calm, friendly disposition seems to fit right in with the hospital’s ambiance. A Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology, Dr. Bicknell was recently awarded the Clinical Faculty Award for Excellence in Community Practice Teaching for the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program.
After living in Vancouver’s Kitsilano for many years, Dr. Bicknell says he contemplated staying close to the larger, urban academic centre. However, a quality family life, within a smaller community began to take precedence. “As I finished the program, and had one child and another on the way, I really wanted to be immersed in a place where my hospital and community were essentially one,” he reflects. “When we moved to the North Shore that desire was strengthened. I love going to work. I love seeing my colleagues and patients in the community. “
Dr. Bicknell’s appreciation of community extends to both his practice and the way he teaches. He emphasizes how important it is to develop and maintain good relationships with both colleagues and patients – as it is likely that many are also one’s neighbours. For example, in a small community you cannot always leave work conflicts at the office:
“You’ll go to the supermarket and see your colleague, so you can’t just let things go. You have to establish solid rapport which will contribute to building a framework around enhancing care in the hospital. “
Relationship building for Dr. Bicknell is the key to successful teaching. When he came to Lions Gate Hospital he was excited about teaching, due largely to the fact that he had teachers who he admired and wanted to emulate. His passion is apparent and enthusiastically noted by many of the students and colleagues who nominated him for his recent award. Each and every person described how Dr. Bicknell always makes time for his students.
Dr. Bicknell sees teaching as one of the highlights of his day and is continually invigorated by it. He lights up when he speaks about working with students and describes how being involved in their educational experience is so fulfilling to him.
“One thing that gets me excited is getting the residents and medical students engaged,” he says. “Whether it’s involving them in a certain case…or just buying them a cup of coffee in the morning….or introducing them to every single colleague you meet to emphasize that they are a part of the team. Once you have that hook, it’s hard for them to let go and you just work the cases together as best you can.”