Awards

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2024 Family Physician of the Year

Saskatchewan Family Physician of the Year Award

Dr. Herman Schalk Van Der Merwe, MB.ChB (U.OFS) MD, CCFP, FCFPc

My name is Schalk Van der Merwe, I am a full-time family physician in Moosomin, Saskatchewan. I have been married to my wife, Henriette for 29 years and we have 2 children. My wife and I came to Canada in September of 1998 with 4-month plan. I started my career in Family Medicine in Canada in REDVERS, Saskatchewan, where I worked from September 1998 to December 31, 1998. I met 1 of my colleagues, Dr. Ettiene Crouse, at a CME event and he invited me to come work in Moosomin after my time was done in REDVERS. I have been privileged to work in Moosomin
since January 2, 1999, till current.

I work in Moosomin Saskatchewan with my 12 colleagues at the Moosomin Family Practice Center and I have privileges to work at Southeast Integrated Care Center (Moosomin Hospital). A 28 bed Acute Care Facility with 54 Long Term Care beds. We provide inpatient care, surgical care, emergency room care, nursing home care, obstetrical care, chemotherapy outreach Center for the Allan Blair Cancer Center.

I was born in Upington, South Africa, the 4th of 5 children, 3 brothers and 1 sister. I grew up on a farm 60 km from Upington and my family ran a Butchery in Upington. My early years were spent carefree on the farm and helping in my family’s Butchery. We moved to Botswana in 1983 where my parents did missionary work for the next 5 years at Mochudi Mission Station. I have very fond memories of living in Botswana. My High School years were spent in Zeerust, South Africa where I lived with my youngest brother in a house while my parents were doing missionary work.

Growing up in South Africa the major sport was rugby, and I was fortunate to play rugby throughout my school career. I also did athletics throughout my school career and was fortunate to represent my province in both rugby and athletics while going to school. In my grade 10 year we had to do a project or about what we wanted to do when
we were done school, and I thought becoming a doctor would be pretty cool. My initial thought was to
become a heart transplant surgeon. In January 1989 I started my Medical Training at the University of the Orange Free State in Bloemfontein, Universitas and Pelonomi Academic Hospitals South Africa. In South Africa all physicians
get trained as family physicians before specializing. I graduated as family physician in November of 1995 and started my internship at the Kroonstad and Boitumelo Hospital Complex in Kroonstad, South Africa in December of 1995.

After responding to a newspaper advertisements for a locum position in family medicine in REDVERS, Saskatchewan we moved to REDVERS in September 1998 then the to Moosomin in January 1999I have been very fortunate to work in Moosomin for the past 25 years. I have provided full-service Family Medicine and Cradle to Grave care to my patients. While working in Moosomin I had the opportunity to help establish the Moosomin Chemotherapy Outreach Center as part of an initiative by the Allan Blair Cancer Center. The Chemotherapy Centre currently delivers between 450 and 500 chemotherapy treatments per year to the community of Moosomin and surrounding areas.

I am also very thankful to have had the opportunity to establish the MOREOB program (MOREOB is nationally accredited program for obstetrical care) at SEICC; Moosomin Hospital. At the time of establishing this program it was only Regina General Hospital and Moosomin Hospital that had this program in Saskatchewan. While working in Moosomin I became very interested in palliative care and have been providing palliative care for the past 20 years as well. I am also very fortunate to be the Palliative Care Physician for Southeast Networks 1 through 5 in South East Saskatchewan. I became very interested in addictions medicine in the past 5 years are currently providing addictions medicine services and OAT therapy as part of my Family Medicine Practice. My passion for leadership also has been satisfied through becoming the Area Division Lead in the Saskatchewan Health Authority for Network 7 South East and currently sharing the Area Chief of Staff position for Southeast Saskatchewan in the Saskatchewan Health authority

Other Awards for 2024

SCFP AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Dr. Dan Dattani

Born and raised in Uganda, Dr Dattani settled down in Saskatchewan based on a Canadian settlement Visa issued to him as an Ex Uganda-refugee several decades ago. Briefly, he received his medical degree from the University of Mysore, India followed by Internship and post-graduation in the United Kingdom. He has been a fully fledged Family
Physician since 1980 with a special focus on HQC’s Chronic disease management and remains a proponent of quality improvement program (QIP). Having interacted with his peers nationally, he was very impressed with the way the Saskatchewan QIP has worked out and consider it as the best model from a national perspective.

Besides being a part-time Faculty member of the University of Saskatchewan, he served on a number of committees including Biomedical Ethics Committees at the University of Saskatchewan, President of the Saskatoon City Hospital, the Drug Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Health & the SMA. Additionally, he served as national CME Co-ordinator for Saskatchewan at the CFPC and currently serves as a member of the Fellowship nominee Committee. Dr Dattani feels his career turning point was participation in International collaborative projects focused on Global landmark studies earlier on. This commitment. bestowed a wealth of knowledge that challenged old established concepts and helped us steer toward evidence based breaking concepts in our daily practice. Dr Dattani is a Certificant, fellow and a life member of the CFPC, a body that excels as the only voice of Family Doctors in our country.

He is a recipient of the Centennial Medal of Saskatchewan, the Queen Elizabeth Silver and Diamond Jubilee awards among other accolades. Dr Dattani is widowed and has 3 married children and 6 grandchildren. In the end, he is very grateful for the opportunity to have served his humble patients, our province-Saskatchewan and Canada. Indeed, he salutes the publication of” The Value of Family Medicine, an impossible job, done impossibly well”, Kolber et al , CFP, April 2023.

SCFP AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Dr. Marcie Heggie

Marcie is a family physician with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Clinical Assistant Professor in the department of Academic Family Medicine with the University of Saskatchewan. She completed medical school at the University of Saskatchewan followed by family medicine residency through the University of Calgary in Lethbridge, Alberta. She has worked in Yorkton since completing residency in 2013.

Her areas of work include a longitudinal family medicine practise, Collaborative Inpatient Care (hospitalist) and emergency room coverage at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. She is the Yorkton site co-ordinator for residents and medical student placed in Yorkton. Along with several colleagues at the Sunrise Health & Wellness primary health centre, she is in the process of starting a heart function clinic in Yorkton. Outside of work she enjoys watching her three children in various community activities, attending the gym and gardening when time allows!

SCFP Dr. Michael Krochak Award

Dr. Preston Smith

Dr. Preston Smith is thrilled to be back on the Island. Preston, his wife Jane, and their two dogs, Murphy and Lincoln, made the move from Saskatoon to Stanhope. A highly regarded medical educator and administrator, he completed his medical education at Dalhousie University and is a Certificant and Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. In 2010, he completed a Master of Education from Mount Saint Vincent University focused on medical education.

What drew Dr Smith to this opportunity was his passion for what medical education and research can do in every community it touches. He believes Prince Edward Island’s vision to build a medical education program to help meet the needs of Islanders from tip to tip is ambitious, compelling, and exciting. Dr. Smith’s career has been marked by his dedication to developing medical education programs. He spent 25 years as a family physician in Moncton, during which he served as VP of Medicine in New Brunswick, overseeing the transition from the province’s 52 hospitals to eight regions. This experience provided him with significant expertise in health system reform and administration. He also held the position of Senior Associate Dean of Education within the Faculty of Medicine at DAL, where he played a key role in developing and overseeing the Dalhousie medical education program launched in Saint John.

He was instrumental in starting new family medicine residency programs in PEI, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. His most recent role as Dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan saw his team lead a significant restructuring of the College of Medicine. The opportunity to be part of building something new and unique in Prince Edward Island while partnering with Memorial University’s award-winning medical school is an opportunity he is eagerly anticipating.

Dr. Smith is acutely aware of the importance of engaging existing physicians and attracting more to the Island for the success of PEI’s medical school and the healthcare system’s future. He eagerly looks forward to collaborating with the physician community, Health PEI, the university community, and others to bring this vision to life. His commitment to this endeavour is unwavering, and he is dedicated to ensuring the success of the medical school and the betterment of healthcare in Prince Edward Island.

SCFP RESIDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Dr. Alaa Baiou

Dr. Alaa Baiou earned her medical degree from The University of Tripoli and while writing the licensing exams, she earned UBC’s Institute for Future Legislators (IFL) certificate from the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions. School of Public Policy and Global Affairs – at the University of British Columbia and volunteered in multiple community projects.

In 2022, she started her residency in the Northwest Family Medicine program at the University of Saskatchewan. As an RDOS Board Member for Primary Care, Dr. Baiou represents Saskatchewan residents on key committees, enhancing medical education and the resident experience.

She serves as a board and voting member of the SMA Committee on Rural and Regional Practice and the Specialist Recruitment and Retention Committee, advocating for residents and healthcare system improvements. Nationally, Dr. Baiou co-leads the Resident Resources & Advocacy team for the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada in 2022-2023, driving impactful initiatives. Balancing her professional commitments, she cherishes family time and outdoor activities with her family and two daughters

SCFP RESIDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Dr. Jessica Froehlich

Dr. Jessica Froehlich was born and raised in Moose Jaw. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of
Saskatchewan and recently completed her residency training with the La Ronge Family Medicine Program. Jessica first visited La Ronge as a medical student and was won over by some birthday cake and a canoe trip, symbolizing the overall generosity and inclusivity she experienced (and now tries to emulate). She is looking forward to continuing her career in La Ronge, where she will embrace a rural generalist practice.

During medical school, Jessica credits many leadership and advocacy experiences to building valuable knowledge and support networks. Her most transformative experience was a practicum spent in Buffalo River Dene Nation through the Making the Links Certificate in Global Health, which greatly impacted how she wished to practice medicine. During residency Jessica served as her sites Lead Resident and chaired the program’s Lead Resident Committee, endearingly referred to as “President Resident” by her peers.

Her favorite part of the job was orientating the many visiting medical students and residents, touring them through town and taking them on many kayaking
and hiking adventures. She has spent two years initiating and running the La Ronge Family Medicine Instagram account, which has garnered the attention of medical learners both in and out of the province. She likes to highlight the beauty, generosity, kindness, and adventure which Saskatchewan offers. Outside of medicine, Jessica enjoys cooking and baking, camping with her partner, and practicing yoga. She has picked up canoeing and cross-country skiing as hobbies, like any true northerner in a fake it till you make it fashion. Jessica is thankful for the many mentors and supports she has garnered both in La Ronge and throughout the province. Lastly, she counts herself as the luckiest to have had the best co-residents shape who she is both as a provider and person.

SCFP MEDICAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD

Calista Lytle

Calista grew up on a farm just outside Saskatoon, where the values of community and hard work were instilled in her from a young age. Her early education in a French immersion program ignited a passion for lifelong learning and cultural appreciation, setting the stage for her future academic pursuits. She pursued a degree in Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Saskatchewan, which laid a strong foundation for her medical career. Following her undergraduate studies, Calista continued at the University of Saskatchewan for medical school, where she excelled academically and clinically. A pivotal moment in her journey came during her 40 weeks of clerkship in Meadow Lake. Here, she discovered a deep passion for northern family medicine, captivated by the unique challenges and rewarding relationships that come with serving rural and remote communities.

Calista’s dedication to family medicine extended beyond her clinical work. As President of the Family Medicine Club and a Student Representative on the Family Practice Board of the Saskatchewan Medical Association for four years, she was instrumental in advocating for her peers and learning more about family medicine. Currently, Calista is pursuing family medicine residency in Prince Albert, where she serves as the led resident for first years. Outside of her professional life, she finds joy in reading, visiting the lake, and cross-country skiing. Looking ahead, Calista is eager to practice in northern Saskatchewan, where her background and experiences have uniquely prepared her to make a meaningful impact. Her commitment to providing compassionate, comprehensive care reflects her deep connection to the communities she serves.