The Library of Life

In Through Mountains and Medicine, family physician Dr. Kendra Barrick shares her journey through medical school, Family Medicine residency, and fellowship. Dr. Barrick weaves in stories of her mountain races and alpine adventures from her home and practice located in the majestic mountains in Canmore, Alberta. Drawing from her first ten years in practice, she reflects on the lessons learned—both in the clinic and on the trail—offering a thoughtful look at how medicine and the mountains have shaped her life and perspective.

Biography

Dr. Kendra Barrick obtained her medical degree from the University of Ottawa in 2014. Originally from Kitchener, Ontario, she moved to Calgary to start her Family Medicine residency at the University of Calgary, and instantly fell in love with the mountains and the people. She made the move to Canmore, Alberta where she started practicing family medicine. In 2021, she obtained her General Practitioner in Oncology certificate and started working at the Bow Valley Community Cancer Centre. 

Dr. Barrick also works as a clinical lecturer at the University of Calgary, teaching longitudinal clerkship students and family medicine residents. 

When not practicing medicine, you can find Dr. Barrick in the mountains running, hiking or chasing after her family. 

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.

Dr. Lana Fehr has had amazing blessings and opportunities throughout her life to meet and learn from a variety of people in many stages of life. The combination of her life experiences and role as a rural family physician has brought many insights into why people hurt and what they look like when they do. Seeing, Hearing, Healing will speak about health equity and a practical approach to trauma healing in primary care. If you are looking for ideas to help vulnerable patients this is the book for you!

Biography 

Dr. Fehr is a family physician and Clinical Lecturer with the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Calgary. She is the owner of Arrowwood Medical located in the village of Arrowwood. She serves the surrounding rural communities, including the Siksika Nation. She has participated in numerous committees and educational planning, mainly in the areas of medical education, chronic pain and addiction. Her clinical interests include neurodiversity, trauma informed care, indigenous health, patient education and shared decision making. She is a mom to two awesome teenagers. Dr. Fehr previously worked in education as a high school science and math teacher.

"Walks like a duck, talks like a duck, looks like a duck... but can it really be a duck in a child this young?"

When It Looks Like a Duck tells the story of rural physician, Dr. Colton Lewis facing a rare and life-threatening emergency: necrotizing fasciitis in a ten-month-old baby. Dr. Lewis must rely on instinct, past experience, and gut feeling to act quickly, before it's too late.

This story highlights how critical thinking, teamwork, and intuition can save lives. It's a powerful reminder that in medicine, even the rarest conditions can appear when you least expect them, and recognizing them in time can make all the difference.

Biography

Dr. Lewis, call me Colton, is a rural family practice anesthetist in Olds and Innisfail. Having graduated in 2022, he is new to practice but manages to have a diverse, mixed, and unique practice between the two communities. He spends most of his time in the Operating Room, but also works in the Emergency Room, Labour Suite, Ward, and in clinic. 

Having been the black sheep in the family since he only works on one species (the rest of his family are all veterinarians), he comes from a rural background having grown up on the farm and helping out with different species for rural professionals. He played some junior hockey, before becoming an automotive mechanic for five years and getting his red seal before going back to school to go become a doctor. Colton is a graduate of the longitudinal clerkship ICC, MD from the University of Alberta, and a rural family resident graduate from Lethbridge and FPA designation from the University of Calgary. 

Colton is a new father to daughter Aria, and a loving husband to wife Debra. He is very proud of his family and all that they have accomplished together, he is looking forward to many many many more adventures together. 

High River in the Foothills of the Rockies offers an intimate look into the professional life of Dr. Sarah Makhdoom, a rural family doctor in small-town Alberta. It traces what drew her to rural medicine and the deep sense of purpose she has found in serving her community. As both a physician and a mentor, she shares what fuels her passion for teaching the next generation of doctors, and why small-town practice offers big lessons in care, connection, and commitment.

Biography 

Dr. Sarah Makhdoom is a graduate of Rawalpindi Medical University in Pakistan and completed her Rural Family Medicine Residency at the University of Calgary in 2003. She has been practicing full scope Family Medicine in a small town with a population of 12,000 since then. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor with the Department of Family Medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine.

On Call in Iqaluit is a personal story of balance, vision, and dedication to patients, students and community. It is a reflection and a testament to purposeful leadership, grounded clinical care, and a deep commitment to the next generation of physicians. 

Dr. Johnston balances patient care with strategic academic leadership. He is known for his steady hand in complex environments and his ability to lead with clarity, whether in the emergency room or at the university office. Dr. Johnston’s clinical and academic roles reflect a deep sense of purpose to help build amazing educational teams who will train the physicians of tomorrow, sharing that “clinical practice keeps me grounded, while leadership work demands strategic vision.” 

Biography 

Dr. Aaron Johnston, originally from rural Ontario, obtained his medical education from Queen’s University. He has provided his services as a medical professional in various Canadian provinces, including British Columbia, Nunavut and the NWT. Since 2012, he has been based in Alberta and is currently working with the Rockyview General Hospital as an emergency physician. With a wealth of experience, Dr. Johnston has previously served as the CCFP-EM Residency Program Director, won numerous local and national teaching awards, and currently serves as the Associate Dean, Distributed Learning & Rural Initiatives at the Cumming School of Medicine – University of Calgary. Dr. Johnston is also involved in national work as the Chair of the CFPC Section of Teachers. Additionally, his interests in research and scholarship revolve around faculty engagement, medical leadership, and rural healthcare. 

Step into the world of rural family medicine through the eyes of Dr. Prabhnoor Osahan, a resident physician in Southern Alberta. In this immersive and heartfelt talk, discover what a 24-hour shift really looks like delivering babies, managing emergencies, supporting families through addiction, coordinating complex care for elderly patients, and treating everything in between. With stories that span joy, urgency, grief, and resilience, this session explores the incredible breadth of rural practice and the deep community connections that make it so rewarding. Perfect for anyone curious about the human side of healthcare, especially in under-resourced or close-knit settings.

Biography 

Dr. Prabhnoor Osahan is a second year Family Medicine resident in the University of Calgary’s Rural Family Medicine program, currently completing her training in Lethbridge, AB. Originally from Winnipeg, she completed medical school at the University of Manitoba. She is passionate about comprehensive family care with a special interest in care of the elderly and medical education. She serves as a social and wellness representative for her cohort and is the lead resident for Lethbridge. Outside of medicine, she enjoys hiking, lakeside swims, running, and exploring local restaurants.

This is the story of a pilot and rural Family Medicine resident navigating life as a racialized learner in rural Canada. Blending personal experiences with reflections on medical training, Charting New Routes explores how rural medicine is not just a place to work, but a mindset rooted in adaptability, trust, and community.

Through challenges in clinical practice, research, and education, Dr. Panchendrabose shares how mentorship and identity helped shape his journey. This book offers an honest and inspiring look at what it means to grow, serve, and lead in both medicine and life.

Biography 

Dr. Kapilan Panchendrabose is currently a second year rural Family Medicine resident physician in the Lethbridge program at the University of Calgary. He was born, raised and completed high school in Winnipeg, Manitoba but lived rurally in Alberta and Manitoba. He went on to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (Cell, Molecular and Developmental) at the University of Manitoba. After that, he shifted gears and completed a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Calgary. Kapilan then decided to return to Manitoba to complete his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Manitoba. Outside of his clinical training, Kapilan enjoys flying airplanes, hiking, pursuing research/entrepreneurship endeavors and writing poetry.

This heartfelt story follows Rachel Prato, a Physician Assistant who moved from Ontario to practice in the small town of Sundre, Alberta. There, she became a trusted healthcare provider and valued member of the community. When her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she joined Rachel in Sundre and received the personal, compassionate, and deeply human care her daughter so often described until her peaceful passing, surrounded by Rachel, her dog, and the presence of a community that refuses to let anyone face life's hardest moments alone.

The story highlights the emotional side of rural medicine—how it connects people through care, compassion, and shared experiences of grief. Rachel’s journey shows the deep rewards of serving a community that also cares for you in return.

Biography  

Born and raised in Tweed, Ontario, Rachel Prato developed a deep passion for community and rural medicine early in life. She earned an Honours degree in Biomedical Science with a minor in Psychology from the University of Ottawa before graduating at the top of her class from the University of Toronto’s Physician Assistant program in 2021.

Since then, Rachel has dedicated her career to providing comprehensive primary care at the Moose & Squirrel Medical Clinic in Sundre, Alberta, where she utilizes her full scope of practice to meet the diverse healthcare needs of a rural community.

In 2023, Rachel was honored with the DLRI Interprofessional Educator of the Year award and currently serves as the Clinical Skills Course Lead for the inaugural Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at the University of Calgary. She played a key role on the curriculum development committee and contributed to the initial program proposal, shaping the future of PA education in Alberta.

A passionate advocate for the Physician Assistant profession, Rachel has shared her insights through interviews on the Cherry Live podcast, in the CPSA Annual Report, and as a featured speaker at DLRI's Cabin Fever Conference. She continues to promote interprofessional collaboration and education to advance healthcare access and quality—particularly in rural settings where connection and presence are paramount.

When a newly minted physician sets out into the vast landscapes of rural medicine, his biggest fear is not the workload, it is stagnation. Would choosing a small-town practice mean closing the door on professional growth, global exploration, and dynamic medical experiences?

In Thriving on the Edge, Dr. Du Toit Visser shares a surprising and inspiring reality: rural medicine did not limit him  - it launched him. Far from the urban centers and academic hospitals, he found unmatched opportunities to expand his skill set, from advanced obstetrics and emergency medicine to fellowships in ultrasound. The rural setting offered a depth and breadth of experience that many urban physicians wait years to access.

Beyond the clinic, he discovered a lifestyle of unexpected freedom. With the support of his community, he is able to return to adventures aboard cruise ships as a locum physician and travel the world, only to return home to the serenity of the rural life he now cherishes.

Biography

Dr. Du Toit Visser completed his medical studies at the University of Stellenbosch, in beautiful winelands of  South Africa.  Definitely worth a Google. Subsequently he did his internship training at a rural hospital in the Province of Kwazulu Natal, called Ngwelezane Hospital.  He stayed there in the small town of Mtunzini, where he spent his afternoons playing golf, surfing, paddle boarding, fishing, running and occasionally taking his dog for a walk.  He did his community service here at Potchefstroom Hospital in emergency medicine, in which he also obtained a diploma in primary emergency care from the College of Medicine South Africa.  After this he spent a few years as a Maritime emergency physician on board crew ships in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, while also traveling to do to emergency medicine shifts in Letterkenny, Ireland as well as rural African sites.  He subsequently moved to Canada in April 2023, where he started his career in Brooks, Alberta.  He embraces the rural generalist position, with his role involving acute care, family medicine, hospital medicine, obstetrics, emergency medicine and cesarean sections.