Cypress Hills, AB

Southern Alberta Preceptor Summit

About Southern Alberta Preceptor Summit

The Southern Alberta Preceptor Summit (SAPS) presented by Distributed Learning & Rural Initiatives (DLRI)  is an annual conference where we discuss the latest topics and trends in rural medical education. 

This conference uses interactive, small group workshops to share the latest knowledge and best practices in rural medical education.

At the end of this conference, participants were equipped to:

  1. Identify gaps in teaching skills for preceptors in rural sites through Southern and Central Alberta.
  2. Create local expertise in teaching to allow future, faculty-run professional development.
  3. Develop links between disciplines and teaching sites.
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SAPS 2025 Schedule At A Glance

SAPS25 Schedule at a Glance

Saturday, September 20

Opening Plenary

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. MT

Hosted by Dr. Paul Winwood

Time: 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. MT

Hosted by Dr. Elaine Godwin and Dr. Jacqueline Hui

Time: 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. MT

Hosted by Dr. Rick Buck

Time: 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. MT

Hosted by Dr. Gloria Tainsh, Dr. Jonathan Sommerville, Dr. Rithesh Ram and Dr. Ryan Torrie

Time: 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. MT

Hosted by Dr. Kristy Penner

Time: 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. MT

Hosted by Dr. Sarah Makhdoom


2025 Plenary Speakers

Image coming soon

Dr. Paul Winwood

Dr. Sarah Makhdoom

Dr. Sarah Makhdoom, MD, CCFP, FCFP

Dr. Sarah Makhdoom is a dedicated physician who graduated from Rawalpindi Medical University in Pakistan and completed her Rural Family Medicine Residency at the University of Calgary. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor with the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Calgary. She has recently taken on the role of Rural Director for IMG residents. From 2020 to 2022, Dr. Makhdoom led as President of Canadian Global Care through the global pandemic, raising awareness on COVID prevention and management. In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Mahkdoom has been actively involved in improving maternal health at the grassroots level and is passionate about giving back to local and international organizations.


2025 Speakers & Panelists

We've gathered an amazing group of experts to help you and your learners be successful.

Since 2017, Dr. Godwin has held the role of Lethbridge Site Director, where her enthusiasm lies in witnessing the development of learners as they navigate through the rural program. Presently, her professional practice revolves around being a low-risk maternity physician. She operates as a locum, collaborating with healthcare groups in both Calgary and High River.

In her personal life, Dr. Godwin takes pride in being the mother of three grown boys. Together with her husband Darryl, they call the picturesque small town of Diamond Valley in the Alberta Foothills their home.

 

Dr. Hui undertook her studies in Family Medicine and Palliative Care at the University of Toronto, supplemented by her pursuit of a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the Gorgas Institute. Her journey has taken her across various countries, including Kenya, the Netherlands, and South Africa, where she resided and taught. This rich international experience was followed by the completion of her Master of Health Professions Education in Maastricht, Netherlands.

Presently, Dr. Hui has a specialized focus on Palliative Care, which she practices alongside her role as the Assessment Director within the University of Calgary Family Residency Program. Her commitment extends to areas of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) as well as social justice. Furthermore, she's actively navigating her new responsibilities as the Co-Complex System Navigator for the OTP project, embracing this role with enthusiasm and dedication.

Dr. Penner is a dedicated rural generalist residing in Crowsnest Pass. With a strong passion for rural medical education and leadership, she has been actively involved in teaching medical students and residents from both the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary. Recently, she has taken on the role of Co-Site Director of the Rural residency Program – Lethbridge site. In her free time, Dr. Penner enjoys exploring the great outdoors, whether it be on foot, wheels, or skis.

Dr. Gloria Tainsh is a family physician based in Medicine Hat, Alberta, where she practices longitudinal family medicine. Since moving to Medicine Hat in 2017, she has been an active member of the local healthcare community and currently serves on the Palliser Primary Care Network board. Gloria qualified as a family doctor in Scotland and earned her medical degree in Nigeria, where she grew up. She is passionate about building long-term patient relationships, training medical students and residents, and contributing to the ongoing improvement of primary healthcare in the region. Like many Albertans, she enjoys a lazy day in the sun and camping with her husband, 2 daughters and 3 dogs. 

Growing up, Dr. Rithesh Ram, like many children, was fascinated with space and dreamed of one day being an astronaut. Fast forward to present day, while going into space still fascinates him (he did go through several rounds of the Canadian astronaut selection process), Rithesh now can't imagine being anything other than a rural physician. Dr. Ram is formally trained as a family physician, but his passion is that of a rural generalist in Drumheller, Alberta. Aside from his MD, he has a BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alberta and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Calgary.

Dr Ram is passionate about teaching with clinical appointments at both the U of C and the U of A. He is also Director of the UCLIC Program (University of Calgary Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship) which is a research-based, educational experience that allows medical students to learn in the continuum of patient care throughout southern Alberta.

Dr. Ram is highly involved in many leadership roles locally, provincially and nationally including treasurer of his PCN, President of the Alberta Medical Association Section of Rural Medicine, Alberta Representative to the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada.

A medical entrepreneur, in 2017 Dr. Ram opened an award winning and highly recognized patient medical home, primary care practice in Drumheller, Riverside Medical, winning Business Professional of the Year due to that accomplishment. The practice, as well as Dr. Ram, have been subsequently recognized numerous times from various organizations, including being awarded the Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal.  

Dr. Leroy Little Bear

2025 Indigenous Knowledge Keeper

Dr. Leroy Little Bear