CME in the Sun

News

CJEM 2002;4(5):372

In early February, 50 dedicated Canadian emergency physicians left the comforts of our prosperous native land to travel to Ixtapa, Mexico, and improve their professional skills and knowledge. Undaunted by the threats of carcinogenic ionizing radiation, hepatotoxic fluids and bowel-wrenching Montezuma's dysentery, these fearless physicians dedicated themselves to broadening the skills necessary to alleviate the pain and suffering of their patients back home. Those gross motor skills so important in reducing dislocations or effectively applying defibrillator paddles were relentlessly refined on the trapeze and on small wind-powered watercraft. The value of aggressively countering hyperthermia with immersion in aqueous solutions was practised repeatedly. Reminders of the hazards of consumption of a rich diet of well prepared, delicious foods were ever present. Medical knowledge aside, the cry of "Dos cervases, por favor" was frequently heard as language skills were practised to better adapt to our increasingly multilinguistic Canadian society.

The success of our Olympic athletes was a great source of pride for Canadians in February 2002. In the same month, there were other dedicated, heroic Canadians who returned home not with Olympic gold, but with wisdom, memories and peeling noses.

Garth Dickinson, MD 
Senior Associate Editor, CJEM

CME in the Sun 2002 -- Ixtapa Club Med, Mexico

Clockwise: Sunset from a balcony; Larry McDonald, Chris Comeau and Saul Kizis; Chris Vaillancourt and Daniel Wallis; Valorie Cunningham, Jean-Marie Wilson and Colin Macpherson; Nicolette and Derek Pearce; Beach shot; Garth Dickinson, Tim Allen, Saul Kizis and Robert Mack: ocean margaritas!; Tim Allen, Cheri and Peter Nijssen-Jordan; Robert Primavesi, Club Med, Valorie Cunningham holding her son David, Andrew MacPherson (back), with 2 other Club Med staff. Photos by Peter Nijssen-Jordan, Vera Klein and Tim Allen.