2026 CAS Pinnacle Rounds: Celebrating National Anesthesia Education
Our member-exclusive education program – CAS Pinnacle Rounds: Celebrating National Anesthesia Education continues in 2026, featuring new anesthesia teaching rounds from the country, submitted by Canadian universities. As a CAS member, you have access to new ideas and perspectives covering a diversity of topics to help enhance your knowledge.
The CAS Pinnacle Rounds is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Each round is eligible for 1 hour of Section 1 credit.
Note - Your CAS Membership must be in good standing for the event date in order to access the member discount. You will be able to register as soon as you receive the renewal confirmation. Click here to renew.
Click on each event below for details on the upcoming rounds. All events are listed chronologically. For information on our past rounds, please check the events archive page.
Pain During Caesarean Delivery
September 2, 2026
8 pm ET
Register
Pain during caesarean delivery under neuraxial anesthesia is common and historically has not been openly discussed within our specialty. This session will explore the incidence, risk factors, and challenges of recognizing and responding to inadequate neuraxial anesthesia, as well as its psychological impact on patients and the associated medicolegal implications for providers. Emphasis will be placed on – evidence-based strategies to prevent, identify, and manage intraoperative pain. By highlighting gaps in communication and responsiveness, this session underscores critical opportunities to enhance patient-centered care, improve maternal outcomes, and strengthen overall quality and safety in obstetric anesthesia.
At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
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Describe the incidence and risk factors associated with pain during caesarean delivery under neuraxial anesthesia.
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Explain patient, provider, and system-level contributors to inadequate anesthesia during caesarean section, including physician perception and recognition of pain.
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Summarize the clinical, psychological, and medicolegal consequences of intraoperative pain during caesarean delivery.
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Evaluate current strategies for preventing inadequate neuraxial anesthesia and identify early warning signs of block failure.
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Apply evidence-based approaches to the management of intraoperative pain during caesarean delivery, including effective communication strategies.
Moderator: Dr. Dolores McKeen
Dr. Dolores McKeen is a Professor of Anesthesia at Memorial University and former Interim Dean of Medicine (2023–2025). She completed her medical degree, anesthesia residency, and MSc in Clinical Epidemiology at Memorial, followed by an Obstetric Anesthesia fellowship at Dalhousie University, and later earned the CCPE and ICD.D designations. She has held numerous leadership roles, including Vice Dean of Education and Faculty Affairs, Chief of Women's and Obstetric Anesthesia at the IWK Health Centre, and President of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society (2020–2022). A member of the CMA Board of Directors and the Royal College Residency Accreditation Committee, Dr. McKeen has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and now focuses on physician leadership, medical education, and addressing healthcare system challenges.
Presenter: Dr. Milena Bullen
Dr. Milena Bullen is a PGY-3 resident in Anesthesiology at Queen’s University, where she also completed her Bachelor of Science Honours in Life Sciences and her medical degree. She has a strong interest in global health and has contributed to the development and organization of a Knowledge Translation Fellowship Program for anesthesiologists from Rwanda. Over the past year, she has participated in international teaching initiatives in both Ethiopia and Rwanda, supporting anesthesia resident education. Her clinical and academic interests include obstetric anesthesia and global perioperative care. Outside of medicine, she enjoys running along the Kingston waterfront with her two dogs, Kevin and Rupert, and playing volleyball.
Peri-Operative Anaphylaxis
November 4, 2026
8 pm ET
Registration coming soon
Perioperative anaphylaxis is a rare but life-threatening event that anesthesiologists must recognize and manage rapidly, often without classic allergic signs. This talk provides a practical, anesthesia-focused approach to intraoperative recognition and up to date recommendations on immediate management. It also emphasizes post-event investigation and the importance of close collaboration with allergists in a multidisciplinary model to accurately identify triggers, prevent recurrence, and improve long-term patient safety.
Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to:
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Discuss the pathophysiology of anaphylaxis
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Review treatment of intraoperative anaphylaxis & postoperative work up
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Review the most common culprits of anaphylaxis in the OR and explore local patterns of sensitization.
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Develop a practical approach to manage patients with anesthetic allergies.
Moderator: Dr. Christopher Pysyck
Bio coming
Presenter: Dr. Julena Foglia
Dr. Foglia is a Clinical Assistant Professor with the University of British Columbia and practices Cardiac Anesthesiology at Vancouver General Hospital. She completed medical school at the University of Calgary before relocating to Vancouver for her residency training. She continued her training in Cardiac Anesthesia with the University of British Columbia before returning to Vancouver General Hospital on staff. Anaphylaxis during the perioperative period is a unique interest she developed during residency and is now Co-Director of the Perioperative Anaphylaxis Clinic (POAC).
Presenter: Juan Camillo Ruiz
Dr. Juan Camilo Ruiz is an Allergist and Clinical Immunologist who completed his specialty training at the University of British Columbia. He is the co-director of the Peri-Operative Anaphylaxis Clinic (POAC) at Vancouver General Hospital, Canada’s first multidisciplinary clinic jointly led by Allergy and Anesthesiology. Established in 2018, POAC has evaluated over 400 patients with suspected perioperative anaphylaxis. Dr. Ruiz is also the founder of the Canadian Perioperative Anaphylaxis Registry (CPAR), a national database aimed at studying the incidence, triggers, and management of perioperative anaphylaxis across Canada.