During the new member spotlight, Dr. Kevan Lu, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon and one of only four adult cochlear implant surgeons in British Columbia, was introduced to the club.

Interview-style, he shared his medical journey, beginning with studies in computer science and biology, followed by medical school at Western, residency in Ottawa, and a fellowship in Vancouver, during which he also completed a master’s in biomedical engineering at UBC.

He spoke about his passion for art, 3D printing, graphic
design, and CrossFit, and how these interests connect to his work in medical education and prototyping medical devices— including designing and 3D‑printing components and even practical items for his home.

Kevan also talked about his family roots in Toronto, his recent participation in his brother’s mixed‑cultural Indian wedding, and his marriage to Karen, an intellectual property lawyer, joking that he has never won an argument with her.
He described first encountering Rotary through a medical trip to Uganda with members of a Rotary club, and how that experience changed his early impression of Rotary from a distant concept to a welcoming community of “wonderful, approachable, family people.”

he spotlight closed with a practical takeaway as he answered a question about hearing devices and ear health, cautioning against Q‑tip use due to the risk of infections and eardrum damage, and suggesting that bone-conduction headphones are generally the safer choice.

Dr. John Crocker, retired family physician and former student of Dr. Jane Goodall, delivered an engaging presentation on his time studying chimpanzees at Gombe in Tanzania. As a young pre‑med student, he was unexpectedly selected to join Goodall’s research team and spent eight months living in the remote forest, following chimpanzee families from sunrise to sunset. He described how this experience—working side by side with a world‑renowned scientist—shaped the course of his life, both personally and professionally.

Drawing on vivid stories from the field, Dr. Crocker explained how chimpanzee mothers provide what he calls the “five Ps” of development: protection, presence, playfulness, patience, and purpose. These elements, he argued, are crucial for raising confident, competent young—whether chimp or human. He illustrated the depth of the mother–infant bond, including cases where young chimps could not survive the loss of their mothers, and contrasted that with scenes of learning and exploration, such as youngsters mastering termite fishing and other forms of tool use. He also highlighted how genetically and biologically close we are to chimpanzees (less than 2% difference in DNA, similar diseases and hormones, comparable life spans in the wild), and shared touching examples of chimp empathy, including responses to loss and distress.

Dr. Crocker spoke movingly about Jane Goodall herself—not only as a scientist but as a remarkable storyteller and communicator who could “empower everyone around her.” He recalled her concern, expressed late in life, that her message of compassion, environmental stewardship, and respect for all living beings continue after she is gone. Through his talks and his book, Following Fifi, he now works to help carry that message forward. He closed by echoing Goodall’s call to action: that each of us can make a difference, and that it is up to us to decide what kind of difference we will make.