Biography:

Dr. Preston is Professor and Head of the UBC Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

Dr. Preston received her medical degree from the University of Ottawa, where she also completed an internship and residencies in Internal Medicine and Anesthesia. Dr. Preston subsequently completed a fellowship in Obstetrical Anesthesia at the University of Toronto, Women’s College Hospital.

Prior to joining the UBC Faculty of Medicine in 2004, Dr. Preston was an Anesthesiologist, Site Head of the Department of Anesthesia at the General Hospital campus and Director of Obstetric Anesthesia at the Ottawa Hospital. From 2004 to 2012, Dr. Preston served as Head of the Department of Anesthesia at BC Women’s Hospital and Head of the Division of Obstetric Anesthesia in the UBC Department of APT; and from 2008 to 2012 she was Senior Medical Director Acute Perinatal Program BC Women’s. 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.

Dr. Preston’s research interests focus on obstetric anesthesia. She has presented nationally and internationally on topics in obstetric anesthesia, including optimal labour analgesia, the obstetric airway and patient safety. She currently holds a CIHR-Michael Smith Research Grant on Surgical Quality Outcome Reports. From 2005 – 2014, Dr. Preston was a member of the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia Editorial Board. She has been a member of the Perinatal Coordinating Council at Vancouver Coastal Health, the Provincial Perinatal Mortality Committee, and the Cesearean Section Task Force. From 2004 to 2012, she was a member of the Perinatal Services BC Guidelines Committee. She currently sits on the Provincial Surgical Executive Council.

Dr. Preston is an enthusiastic educator and has received the UBC Department of APT Master Teacher Award for BC Women’s Hospital twice and the Teacher of the Year award from the Department of Anesthesia at The Ottawa Hospital. From 2008 to 2013, she was a Royal College Examiner in Anesthesiology.