Dr. Randy Mackoff, PhD ’92
Dr. Mackoff received his doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of British Columbia in 1992. A member of the College of Psychologists of British Columbia, Dr. Mackoff is currently a Clinical Associate for the clinical psychology program at Simon Fraser University, as well as a faculty member and former Chair of Criminology at Douglas College. He lectures internationally in the area of credibility assessment and evaluating truthfulness.
Dr. Mackoff has significant experience working with athletes and business executives in the area of performance enhancement and developing coping strategies in dealing with a broad range of stressors that interfere with performance. He also consults to a number of police departments both in Canada and internationally. Dr. Mackoff’s areas of focus include treating individuals experiencing difficulties with but not limited to anxiety, trauma and depression. He also has an interest in providing psychological assistance to individuals who are coping with health related difficulties.
Dr. Roanne Preston
Dr. Preston received her medical degree from the University of Ottawa, completing an internship and residencies in Internal Medicine and Anesthesia. She subsequently completed a fellowship in Obstetrical Anesthesia at the University of Toronto, Women’s College Hospital.
Currently the Department Head of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (APT) at the University of British Columbia, and Division Head of Obstetric Anesthesia in the UBC Department of APT, Dr. Preston’s area of practice and research interests focus on obstetric anesthesia, the obstetric airway and patient safety. Dr. Preston previously was the Site Head of the Department of Anesthesia at the General Hospital campus and Director of Obstetric Anesthesia at the Ottawa Hospital. Dr. Preston served as Head of the Department of Anesthesia at BC Women’s Hospital, as well as Senior Medical Director Acute Perinatal Program at BC Women’s Hospital. She has also served as President of the Children’s and Women’s Medical Staff Association and acting VP Medical Affairs for BC Women’s Hospital.
Dr. Preston has presented internationally on topics in obstetric anesthesia. She is also a member of the Perinatal Coordinating Council at Vancouver Coastal Health, the Provincial Perinatal Mortality Committee, and the Cesarean Section Task Force. She has received the UBC Department of APT Master Teacher Award for BC Women’s Hospital twice and the Teacher of the Year award from Department of Anesthesia at The Ottawa Hospital.
Simon Pulfrey MD’00
Dr Pulfrey received his medical degree at the University of British Columbia in 2000. He previously completed a MSc in nutrition at McGill University where he studied energy expenditure while climbing above 6000m.
In his second year of medicine at UBC, Dr Pulfrey joined Medecins Sans Frontiers/Doctors without Borders as a nutritionist during the civil war in Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since then, he has worked as a physician with MSF and other organizations in DRC, Haiti, and Nepal. Most recently, he spent 12months with his family, helping direct the new emergency medicine residency program at the National University of Rwanda.
Dr Pulfrey is clinical assistant professor in the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine and works clinically at Lion’s Gate and St Paul’s hospitals.
Before working in Rwanda, he was a co-director for the UBC R3 CCFP-EM and the Enhanced Skills in Global Health Residency Programs.
Having spent two seasons as a professional triathlete in France many years ago, Simon has remained active in multiple endurance sports. He is a coach for girls soccer and XC skiing. He lives with his family in North Vancouver.
Dr. Beth Taylor
Upon receiving her medical degree at Dalhousie University, Dr. Taylor moved to British Columbia and completed her residency in 2005 at the University of British Columbia. Specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology, she completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and joined the Genesis Fertility Centre as co-director. In 2013, she co-founded the Olive Fertility Centre, a comprehensive IVF and fetal diagnosis centre where she continues to serve as co-director.
Dr. Taylor is a Clinical Associate Professor at UBC and coordinates the UBC Obstetrics & Gynecology residency program “Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility” rotation. She is a staff member at both BC Women’s Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital, performing surgery at both campuses. Dr. Taylor has expertise in all areas of reproductive endocrinology and infertility care. Her specific interests include, but are not limited to minimally invasive surgery for conditions such as endometriosis and fibroids, fertility preservation and IVF. She has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals and has written three book chapters. Dr. Taylor has four children, a dog, a fish and a hamster.
Moderator: Rhonda Low, MD’82
Dr. Rhonda Low practices family medicine full-time in Vancouver. Dr. Low received her Bachelors of Science degree with Honours in Cell Biology from UBC and is a graduate of UBC Medical School Class of 1982. She is a Fellow of both the College of Physicians of Canada and American College of Family Physicians.
Dr. Low is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at the University of British Columbia. With experience teaching both undergraduate and post-graduate medical students, she has twice been nominated by students for Teacher of the Year award in the Faculty of Medicine, UBC. In 1996, Dr. Low began co-hosting a television series on Alternative Medicine for the Life and Knowledge Television networks and has guest hosted for Dr. Art Hister’s Housecalls radio program on CKNW. Dr. Low spent 15 years as the health expert for CTV News, appearing on air five nights a week with topics she produced herself.
Dr. Low played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Asian Woman’s Health Centre in Vancouver. She was also an examiner for the former Clinical Competence Program of B.C. for UBC and the College of Physicians and Surgeons and is the longtime Secretary/Executive Committee Member for St. Paul’s Hospital Annual Refresher Course for Primary Care Physicians.