Amy Gausvik

Biography

While I sometimes describe myself as “just a rural family doc”, I actually prefer to visualize myself more like Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (complete with the figure-flattering dress and petticoats) while I cure disease and care for humanity in the dusty prairies of Southern Alberta.

My work is focussed on Indigenous Health in the community of Eden Valley, as well as rural maternity care in the town of High River.  I believe that quality maternity care for all women in all communities is essential.  Because of this passion, I also sit on the ALARM National committee, teach and direct  ALARM courses, and am Program Director for an Enhanced Skills Training Program in Maternal Newborn Care in Family Medicine.

My other passion is Global Health and I completed my Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 2011 which led me to finish a Masters in Tropical Medicine and International Health this past year.  Over the years I have worked in refugee camps in the Thai-Burma border, taken many medical students to Tanzania and set up a medical student exchange there, and helped with teaching Family Medicine residents in Laos PDR.  This means I get to call myself “Senior Advisor to Global Health Concentration and Tanzania Electives” with the Global Health Office at the Cumming School of Medicine, but really it means I get to have a lot of fun with medical students from both Calgary and Tanzania.

My teaching philosophy is that I am a tour guide on a learner’s journey of the exhilarating but unknown path to becoming a physician.  I love to teach about history, give a view of the culture and humanity and point out the fascinating and significant aspects.  But the self-exploration and immersion is the exciting part of the trip, and while you may wander and explore off the path, I’ve got your back and make sure you get where you need to go.

Dr. Gausvik received the Dr. Michael Tarrant teaching award recognizing excellence in undergraduate teaching in 2014 and was the recipient of the Dr. Margaret Owen Waite Memorial Award 2019 from the Federation of Medical Women of Canada.