Many endoscopists rural and remote communities in British Columbia need to juggle many competing demands on their expertise. 

The skills of these physicians often mean the difference between life and death as well as whether patients can be treated closer to home. 

Dr. Eric Lam is a certified instructor in the Skills Enhancement in Endoscopy program at the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. 

These courses are only held in large urban centers across Canada. He developed a pilot program along with support from the local hospitals and community partners to bring endoscopy skills enhancement to Cranbrook and Fernie.

In a three-day course, 8 local endoscopists were given didactic and hands-on instruction from Dr. Eric Lam and Dr. Steven Heitman from the University of Calgary on enhancement in procedural technique and polyp removal.

This pilot program endorsed by the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology will hopefully lead to more educational support for our colleagues working in rural or remote communities. 

This initiative highlights the educational commitment of SPARC physicians working with provincial and national organizations to improve endoscopic practice.