The Library of Life

In Through Mountains and Medicine, a family physician reflects on her past journey through medical school, residency and fellowship. Blending stories from mountain races and alpine mountain adventures, Dr Barrick highlights life lessons learned in her first ten years in practice. 

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.

I’ve had amazing blessings and opportunities throughout my life to meet and learn from a variety of people in many stages of life. The combination of my life experience and my role as a rural family physician has brought me many insights into why people hurt and what they look like when they do. I 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 session 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.

The professional life of a rural family doctor in small town Alberta. What brought her here and what fuels her passion for teaching the new generation of doctors.

Biography 

Dr. Sarah Makdoom 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.

Step into the world of rural family medicine through the eyes of 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.

As both a pilot and a rural Family Medicine resident, I have learned that sometimes you must chart your own flight path. This story explores what it means to be a racialized learner navigating the skies of clinical practice, research and medical education in rural parts of Canada. Along the way, I have come to see rural medicine not just as a setting, but as a mindset, one that values adaptability, trust and innovation. Through windstorms of doubt and tailwinds of mentorship I have found meaning in the spaces in between: between community and academy, past and future, theory and practice.

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 powerful and deeply human story follows Physician Assistant Rachel Prato’s journey from medical training in Ontario to rural practice in Sundre, Alberta—where she became a well-known healthcare provider and valued member of the community. When her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she decided to spend her final months in the community Rachel served—drawn by the kind of care her daughter so often described: personal, compassionate, and deeply human.

Treated by Rachel’s colleagues and surrounded by the warmth of a town that truly cared, her mother passed peacefully—with Rachel by her side, her dog curled next to her, and the presence of a community that refuses to let anyone face life’s hardest moments alone.

This story explores the emotional depth of rural medicine—the privilege and pain of being both provider and family, the way grief brings people together, and the lasting impact of care rooted in genuine presence. For those considering rural practice, Rachel’s story reveals what it means to care for a community—and be cared for 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.