The Library of Life

One of the truths of leadership is that it is often not sought out but requested by others in times of need.  Driving to an AMA meeting in Edmonton in 2020, Dr Michelle Warren had to pull over when she received a surprise call from the AMA Nominating committee chair - would she take on the role of AMA president?  As a rural general specialist, trained to work in low resource environment, and loving the complexity of the medicine and the relationships with her colleagues and community, what skills could she bring to the table?  As a staunch rural advocate, who had gone head-to-head in the legislature before, she brought the gritty rural viewpoint.  A keen sense of honor and responsibility to those in her care, a willingness to tell truth to power, a focus on doing what is right for her colleagues, and an ability to see the "long game" were qualities needed, as many of her colleagues and Albertans were reeling from the combination of a pandemic and political attacks. 

Biography

Raised in Claresholm, Alberta, on her parent’s ranch, Dr. Vesta Michelle Warren has worked as a full scope rural general specialist in Sundre since 1999.  A mother of 3, and a wife of 35 years, she and her family have travelled the world, including a sabbatical to Napier, New Zealand.  She is a co-owner of the Moose and Squirrel Medical Clinic with her husband.  She has been involved in teaching for over 25 years and is a clinical associate professor at the University of Calgary and a clinical assistant professor at the University of Alberta.  As a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and as a Fellow of Rural and Remote Medicine of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada, she has always been a staunch advocate for rural family medicine and our rural communities.  She became involved in medical politics with the Alberta Medical Association in 2014.

During the turbulent times of the Covid pandemic and Alberta politics of 2020, she was approached to step up into a new leadership role - that of the presidency of the Alberta Medical Association.  In January 2023, she received a Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal recognizing her work in Health Care in Alberta during her time with the AMA.  She is now involved further in advocating for Alberta physicians, both specialists and family physicians, by working with the AMA and Alberta Health.  

Fitting into any practice, any where and harnessing the benefits of being a career locum doctor.

Biography

Jonathan Wallace is the physician equivalent of a hobo. He roams the Canadian Wilderness in an electric car or single-engine Cessna to help out rural/remote hospitals in need. He practices various combinations of emergency medicine, GP-anesthesia, rural critical care, transport medicine, ultrasonography, etc.

I am a “bayman” from rural Newfoundland, and as in Ted Russell’s iconic play The Holdin' Ground, home and history are integral parts of who I am. No matter where I go and practice, I will always be connected to my past and my values. To be honest, kind and true to your beliefs, honouring family ties, friendship, heritage, loyalty and culture – these are the same values that mirror my medical practice in Medicine Hat. As rural doctors, the most important thing we can bring to our patients is an honest and unbiased desire to work collaboratively with them to ensure best possible care.

Biography 

Dr. Josh Foley is a rural generalist caring for the people of Medicine Hat and area. He was born and raised in Newfoundland and completed his medical degree at the Memorial University. He worked as a rural doctor in Labrador and Burin for 16 years prior to moving to Medicine Hat in 2004. He initially came to “fill in for a local cancer clinic for 2 months”, and the rest is history, continuing to practice as a GP oncologist for 20 years. His passion for ensuring the safe, proper and efficient delivery of health care to people in rural communities led him to help set up the local Palliative Care program in 2006, where he is currently the medical director. Dr. Foley has extensive practice experience, working closely with healthcare practitioners in primary care and palliative care. He has special interest in pain management, especially malignant pain, and has contributed to the development of provincial and national pain management strategies. He is currently involved with planning and development of the proposed regional medical campus at the University of Lethbridge. 

Dr. Logan Brennan is a rural Family Medicine resident at the University of Calgary Lethbridge program. Logan grew up in southern Alberta in Bragg Creek and Pincher Creek but has been very fortunate to have explored most of our wonderful country while pursuing his education. Logan loves the outdoors, the wilderness and wildlife. He enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including but not limited to hunting, hiking, skiing, mountain biking and horseback riding.

Biography

Dr. Logan Brennan is a rural Family Medicine resident at the University of Calgary Lethbridge program. Logan grew up in southern Alberta in Bragg Creek and Pincher Creek but has been very fortunate to have explored most of our wonderful country while pursuing his education. Logan loves the outdoors, the wilderness and wildlife. He enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including but not limited to hunting, hiking, skiing, mountain biking and horseback riding.  

On the journey to becoming a rural family physician Dr. Davis Yawney’s training afforded him the opportunity to travel to rural and remote communities. Rather than be separated his wife Eliza shifted her career in order to take the journey as well. This sacrifice came with many obstacles and barriers including birthing three of their children in rural communities and moving thirteen times. Each community provided an opportunity to put down roots, develop friendships, and find a sense of home.  Davis and Eliza treasure the memories and experiences of this time in their lives. They share both practical ideas and gleaned wisdom from a life on the road and the journey home together. 

Biography 

Dr. Davis Yawney was born and raised in Raymond, Alberta. He is the youngest of 5 children. As a youth, he wore down the foundation of his parents' house, practicing his pitching in hopes of playing for the Toronto Blue Jays. Davis worked for Bullock Land and Livestock as a farm hand between school years. He loved this job!

After graduating from High School in Raymond, he attended a year of pre-optometry at the University of Lethbridge. He spent the next two years as a missionary serving in western Nevada and returned to his studies, almost graduating with a degree in Biochemistry. He met and married Eliza Walters while in Lethbridge and had many inspirational teachers within the biochemistry faculty. Despite their efforts to keep him in the pure fold of academia, he was "seduced by the dark side" and went to medical school at the University of Calgary. Amongst many unique experiences in Calgary, he was particularly inspired by his longitudinal clerkship preceptors in Taber, AB. They had a breadth and style of practice that resonated with Dr. Yawney's rural roots. His preceptors in Taber were like the farmers of medicine.

After a whirlwind of moves to the Yukon, northern Saskatchewan, etc. Dr. Yawney and his wife Eliza and their 4 children had received a proper rural (medical) education. The Yawneys put down roots in the Taber area, where he has practiced for almost ten years. Aside from a busy comprehensive practice, Dr. Yawney teaches longitudinal students, organizes CME as part of the Taber MoreOB core team, and fulfills his initial dream of farming by growing a vast garden every summer.

As a specialist in a small community, I am frequently asked (and sometimes compelled as the one on call!) to provide medical care for people I’m familiar with – family friends, colleagues, and loved ones of those I’m close with.  This is incredibly rewarding work.  But it can also bear a heavy burden as I accompany my patients and their families along the end of life journey in my palliative care practice.  Join me as I describe some of the patients who have left a mark on my heart: what it felt like to care for them, and the impacts it has had on my relationships with those remaining as well as on my own wellbeing. 

Biography

Dr. Dionne Walsh is a family physician who practiced community based general practice in Lethbridge, AB prior to joining the Alberta Health Services South Zone - West Palliative Care team in 2016.  She is involved in both Palliative Care and Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Lethbridge and the surrounding rural communities of Southwestern Alberta, caring for patients with serious illness in hospital, hospice, facility, and in their homes.  She is passionate about wellness and is the South Zone physician peer support coordinator and the physician lead for Schwartz Rounds at Chinook Regional Hospital. She is a single mom living in Lethbridge with her eye rolling but overall best ever teenage daughter.  Outside of work, she enjoys competing with an adult synchronized skating team, enjoying time with good friends, and being a soccer mom.  

When a shortage of local doctors in the community, Linda singlehandedly kept the urgent care department open and running. She is much loved by her patients and the community, holding her in highest regard as a "hero" for supporting the Bassano community during a challenging time when they lacked a local doctor. 

Biography 

Linda Parrish has been working as a Physician Assistant (PA) in the community for 11 years. Prior to that, she worked as a healthcare professional in the Canadian Armed Forces for 25 years. As one of the first PAs to be hired by Alberta Health Services for rural placement, Linda was a pioneer in rural PA practice in Alberta. With the support of her supervising physician, she created her own PA practice model, figuring it out as she went along. Currently, Linda is pursuing a Masters in Disaster and Emergency Management at Royal Roads University while continuing to work full-time as a Physician Assistant. In 2022, a shortage of local physicians threatened the closure of the hospital. For six months, Linda played a vital role in keeping the Bassano Emergency Department open by collaborating remotely with a supervising physician from the Brooks Health Center, demonstrating the potential and value of PAs in rural healthcare. In 2024, Linda was nominated for the Rhapsody Rural Healthcare Heroes Award, an annual award that recognizes rural healthcare providers who show exceptional commitment to their patients, healthcare team, and community. 

Practising medicine in rural Alberta has set the framework for working in Global Health.  I have discovered that the challenges faced by physicians in rural practise are similar in Laos, Uganda, Tanzania and Iraq to those experienced in rural Alberta.

The lessons learned in Alberta have been helpful in working abroad, however, the experiences abroad have also informed my practise in Alberta.  As different as the practise might initially appear, I have discovered that our worlds are very similar.

Biography 

Dr. Jaelene Mannerfeldt grew up on a small dairy farm in Central Alberta and was encouraged to study medicine as a High School student by a Chemistry teacher.  Upon achieving her MD she studied Family Medicine with an eye to returning to rural Alberta.  When the opportunity to study further to become an Obstetrician/Gynecologist her colleagues and family encouraged her to return to residency.  As part of her training, she included a year of Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology in Toronto.  Returning to Alberta she has continued to work in rural Alberta by providing consultative services to the community of High River.  Over the past 20 years, her work has included more Global health and she has taught in over 20 different countries and inspired groups of students who have joined her in rural Uganda for their pre-clerkship medical school electives.

This compelling narrative delves into the life of a Blackfoot individual from the Piikani Nation, who has dedicated his career to improving Indigenous health in rural communities across Alberta, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories. Explore the profound impacts of residential schools and colonial policies on Indigenous health, emphasizing the necessity of acknowledging these historical truths to foster healing and reconciliation. Through personal experiences and the wisdom shared by elders, it offers invaluable insights into the realities of health disparities and the path forward.

Aiming to inspire future medical professionals to embrace rural medicine and collaborate with Indigenous communities, the importance of understanding the past to create a healthier, more equitable future is the way forward. Join this transformative journey and learn how to co-create solutions that bridge two worlds and foster wellness for everyone.

Biography  

Harley Crowshoe is a member of the Piikani Nation with extensive experience of service delivery in rural communities across Alberta, BC, and the NWT. With a career spanning policing, government programming, and healthcare, Harley is dedicated to improving Indigenous health and fostering culturally safe healthcare services. His work focuses on understanding and addressing the historical impacts of residential schools and colonial policies, aiming to bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous healthcare experiences and outcomes. Harley's commitment to truth and reconciliation drives his efforts to create a culture of mutual trust and healing.

Harley is a member of the National Advisory Committee on Residential Schools, Missing Children and Unmarked Burials.

Harley is the recipient of the Order of Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and Commemorative Medal for the 125^th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation. He was also inducted as an Honorary Chief of the Piikani (Blackfoot) Nation – including a traditional transfer of a sacred eagle headdress.

Rural generalists may often be seen as "the jack of all trades, master of none." But while there's no doubt that you'd be in good hands with a rural generalist if you injure yourself in the backcountry, rural medicine involves far more than "MacGyvering" non-standard solutions in resource-limited settings!

Rural medicine is a comprehensive specialty, and its practitioners become experts at identifying and meeting the needs of their communities. No two places are alike. Rural practitioners tend to be very forward-thinking and (perhaps contrary to popular opinion) are often at the forefront of adopting new evidence and technology. Rural doctors are integral in providing stability to and advocating for their communities.

I look forward to sharing some of my experiences in rural practice and my hopes for the future of this field!

Biography 

Jonathan Somerville has been practicing rural family medicine in Sundre, AB, since 2014. He is a U of C Faculty of Medicine graduate and completed a residency in the Rural Alberta North Residency Program at the Red Deer site. He is passionate about medical education and believes rural Canada is the best place to learn how to be a doctor.