No Images? Click here Family MattersYour updates from the Department of Family Medicine, University of AlbertaOctober 2019 Message From the ChairWe certainly live in times of change, and with the budget and regulatory changes announced at the end of the month, our department is no exception. Though we were anxious about the budget, it appears that we will not lose any of our team - a most important consideration for us! We’ll lose some unfilled positions, which we will miss, and it’ll affect our work some, but we won’t have to say any goodbyes. Of greater impact is the proposed geographic restrictions on billing numbers. Government is very concerned about the longstanding and worsening shortage of family physicians in rural Alberta, and has become impatient with the limited success of less directive approaches to date. The DoFM has been concerned about the growing deficit, especially in the north, for several years. We have committed ourselves to addressing it, as an important part of our social accountability mandate. With government now taking this concern very seriously, we are hopeful that our efforts, and especially the efforts of our longstanding rural educators in Grande Prairie, Red Deer, and smaller towns across the province, will be better supported. Look for new initiatives over the coming year! - Dr. Lee Green, Chair, Department of Family Medicine Congratulations Shirley Schipper Begins Term as CFPC President Congratulations to Dr. Shirley Schipper, who has assumed the role of president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). Dr. Schipper has been with family medicine in a number of roles, including faculty advisor, clinical learning site manager, postgraduate program director, undergraduate program director and overall advocate for family medicine. We know the College will be in excellent hands during her term as CFPC president. Shirley Schipper with Richard Spooner, former chair of he Department of Family Medicine . Shelley Ross (left) receiving the Future Thinker Award Shelley Ross Receives AWA Recognition Congratulations to Shelley Ross, PhD, who is the recipient of the inaugural Academic Women’s Association of the University of Alberta Future Thinker Award. Dr. Ross was presented with the award at the Annual Fall Reception and Awards Ceremony on October 25, 2019. Jasneet Parmar and Team Among Winners of PHIC Congratulations to Jasneet Parmer, whose research team has been announced as one of 10 Priority Health Innovation Challenge (PHIC) Mini Challenge Winners. The team’s project, the Alberta Health Services Edmonton Zone Enhanced Home Living Supports project, focuses on giving homecare clients with complex chronic conditions the choice to remain in their homes and communities, and providing their caregivers support to maintain their own health and well-being. Welcomes Allison Alberto Welcome to Allison Alberto Welcome to Allison Alberto, who is excited to join the department as the Undergraduate Program Secretary. Allison has 20-plus years of office administration experience, most recently with the Alberta Federation of Labour. Although she has attended the University of Alberta as a student and worked here as part-time contract employee, this is her first experience as a full time U of A employee. Allison is a proud mother of two teenage children and an advocate for equality, compassion and understanding within our workplaces, schools and communities. She loves to play and coach ringette and has recently discovered the joy of backcountry camping and hiking. Allison is looking forward to working with the team in family medicine and learning her role within the department. Q & A with Dr. Jessica Kirkwood Welcome to Dr. Jessica Kirkwood, who joined the Department of Family Medicine team as Assistant Professor on September 1, 2019. Dr. Kirkwood’s clinical practice will be at the Boyle McCauley Community Health Centre, and she will also work with Evidence-based Medicine and the Patients. Experience. Evidence. Research (PEER) team. Here’s a little bit about our newest team member…. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Where did you grow up, go to school, etc.? I grew up in Edmonton and Lethbridge before heading off to St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia for my undergraduate degree. I played volleyball competitively for years but was a bit vertically challenged to join the incredibly successful program at the U of A so I decided to venture out to the Maritimes! I had a wonderful experience playing varsity volleyball for four years and taking in all that our east coast has to offer. After I graduated I missed home and returned to Edmonton for medical school and residency. Welcome to Lauren Eastman and Chris Koo Our residency team is welcoming Dr. Lauren Eastman and Dr. Chris Koo as our new residency academic coordinators. Lauren will start November 1, 2019 and will replace Dr. Samantha Horvey. Chris will replace Dr. Keith Huber as of April 1, 2020, although he will begin transitioning into the role as of January 1, 2020. - Dr. John Chmelicek, Residency Program Director, PostGraduate Medical Education Welcome to Samantha Horvey As you may be aware, Dr. Samantha Horvey is taking over the role of Assistant Program Director for resident support and wellness, effective November 1, 2019. The role of Resident Support will continue to receive administrative support from Lisa Felicitas. Samantha will be assisted by Michelle Morros during a transition period. I look forward to working closely with Samantha and Lisa in continuing the great work that is the resident support and wellness role. Welcome Samantha! - Dr. John Chmelicek, Residency Program Director, PostGraduate Medical Education Notable News Misericordia Family Medicine Centre Move The Misericordia Family Medicine Centre will move to its new location in the Cabrini Building on the Misericordia Hospital site on January 6, 2020. January 2020 Grand Rounds January’s Grand Rounds session will be presented by Dr. Jasneet Parmer. Her presentation is titled Healthcare Workforce Training in Supporting Family Caregivers of Seniors-in-Care, a topic which is sure to be of interest to many family physicians and allied health care providers. The session will be held on January 16, 2020 from 08:00 am – 9:30 am. The venue is the Clinical Sciences Building classroom 2-193. For those who are unable to attend in person, this session is available through Zoom videoconferencing technologies. Please contact uafammed@ualberta.ca to request the link to register and join us through Zoom. PEIP 2019: Another Great Educational Event! It was another great year for the Practical Evidence for Information Practice (PEIP) conference, which was held at the Double Tree Hilton in Edmonton, October 25 & 26, 2019. The conference kicked off with the always-popular What’s New What True, What’s Poo session and topics covered many aspect of primary care medicine including Uplifting Evidence on Depression Management, Nothing Cute about Acute Sports Injuries, Someone Put Cocaine in my Urine?: Managing Drug Testing, I’m Tired- It Must be my Adrenal Glands. Is there Something Natural I Can Take? and Congrats You’re Pregnant, Let’s start Ordering Tests. In addition to Canadian Family Physicians Drs Dee Mangin and Bill Ehman and five other primary care providers, four Department of Family Medicine team members (Allan, Korowynk, Kirkwood and Kolber) presented on a variety of topics. The conference was attended by 385 in-person as well as an additional 375 joining via livestream throughout Canada. It was a packed house at PEIP 2019. CaRMS Dates Reminder November 15, 2019: Faculty/resident emails can be entered in system Faculty & Staff Development This session will be available through Zoom videoconferencing technologies. You can register for this meeting through this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/2f0e80adbff4dd09dc2040ba88984b7b Family Medicine in the News Mike Allan quoted in Chatelaine article CBD is Touted as a Miracle Compound but Does it Actually Work? We Tried It. David Moores, a professor of family medicine at the U of A, gives expert comment in an Alberta Views story about how physicians are paid in Alberta. The Edmonton Journal ran a story about the Healthy Steps for CHANGE fundraiser. Recent Publications Please visit the Recent Research Publications page on the Department of Family Medicine website for a comprehensive list of research publications. Professional Development Opportunities Optimizing Antimicrobial Use in the Clinic The Office of Lifelong Learning and the Physician Learning Program (L3PLP), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry are hosting a workshop on antimicrobial use in the clinic. This event is fully catered, open to physicians and their multidisciplinary team members from any of the Edmonton Zone Primary Care Networks. This event has been certified by the Alberta Chapter of the College of Family Physicians for up to 1.75 Mainpro+ certified credits at 1 credit per hour for this Group Learning activity. Click here to register or call 587-758-6890 Save the Date Date: April 25, 2020 Gastroenterology for General Practitioners – offers a robust, impactful single day of learning for Alberta’s family practitioners so they are able to better serve their patient populations and to bridge the relationship between medical specialties. You’ll hear updates on cutting edge developments in Gastroenterology, and receive practical tools and advice on topics relevant to today’s Family Practitioner In the small group workshops on four key topics, you’ll discuss cases with your peers and a Gastroenterologist. New this year, we will be asking our participants to submit cases to be included in the program. For more information and to watch for registration to open, please visit the GI for GPs website. Plus.... The Alberta Society of Gastroenterology invites you to join us once again at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for ADDS 2020, taking place from June 5 - 7, 2020. More information coming soon at https://www.addsummit.ca/ Let's Get Social! Follow us on Check us out on Instagram: See what's new University UpdatesStatutory Holidays and Winter Closure Christmas Day - Wednesday, December 25, 2019 |