Students and Residents - Please read this post in its entirety to ensure that you are familiar with all the steps and rules pertaining to SRPC funding for learners.

We're doing it again! The SRPC is happy to share the details for the R&R funding program to support SRPC students and resident members who plan to attend the annual R&R Conference.

R&R 2025 Funding Program for Rural Learners! Important Notice: WAIT! - Don't Pay! Students and residents can avoid paying out of pocket in advance and secure the early bird rate by Submitting their registration forms and choosing the "Invoice" option. Do not make any payment at this time. Ignore the invoice until spring. This lets us adjust your registration if you receive funding from us or another source. In the spring, we’ll confirm your participation and finalize any funding, payments or withdrawals.

Dear Medical Students and Residents, We are excited to invite you to participate in the 32nd Annual Rural and Remote Medicine Conference, which will take place in Winnipeg, MB, April 24-26, 2025 As we prepare to open registration, we wanted to share a fantastic funding opportunity for Canadian medical students and residents. Details A guaranteed $20,000 in funding is available exclusively for medical students and residents, to significantly reduce registration fees. 25 medical students and 25 residents will each receive $400 in funding. Who is Eligible? To qualify for this exciting opportunity, you must meet the following criteria: You must be a SRPC Member You must attend all 3 days of the conference You must be attending/attended a Canadian medical school. You must not be receiving funds(*) from another source to attend. *Note: The ~$1000 conference funds most residents in Canada receive each year is not considered "funded" and you still qualify. *You are still eligible if you are participating in the co-presenter program. How to Apply? Register for the Rural and Remote Medicine Conference by January 20, 2025. Select "INVOICE ME" and submit. (Don't Pay) How will I know if I was selected? At the end of January, you will receive an email from the SRPC indicating if you were randomly selected (or not selected) to receive funding with instructions and additional details. All learners must pay their conference fee by March 1st 2025. If a learner was randomly chosen to receive funding but has not paid their registration fee by this date, the funding will be given to another learner. For any inquiries about the process or application, please reach out to Jenna at jennak@srpc.ca. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors for making this initiative possible, further enhancing access to rural medicine education in Canada.

R&R 2025 Conference Website

 

October 21 - October 25

Join us in celebrating the dedication, innovation, and impact of healthcare providers in rural communities across Canada.

What to Expect:

Throughout the week, we’ll highlight the unique rewards of rural practice, showcase stories from healthcare professionals across Canada, and bring together partners from across the country to support the official recognition of National Rural Health Week.

Why It Matters:

National Rural Health Week is more than a celebration—it’s a call to action. By joining this initiative, you’ll be part of a partnership calling for better access to rural healthcare and supporting innovative solutions for rural health challenges.

Get Involved:

Help us build momentum early by submitting your name and if possible, organization’s logo to our website: www.ruralhealthweekcanada.ca 

Your name and logo will be proudly displayed on our campaign homepage, showcasing your commitment to supporting rural health and helping us secure the official designation of a National Rural Health Week.

Together, we can make National Rural Health Week 2024 a milestone in advancing rural healthcare in Canada.

Today the Canadian Medical Association has taken further steps towards its journey of apology for harms caused to Indigenous people by the medical profession. I am honoured to be able to participate in today’s events on behalf of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC).  

As a physician who has spent my career working in Inuit Nunangat, as well as in Mi’kma’ki, I have seen the profound effects of colonialism, medical experimentation, and ongoing racism. Along with current President, Dr. Gavin Parker, we are here to represent all rural physicians. We offer our apology for the role we have played, either actively or by being passive onlookers, as harm has been committed by the medical profession to First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals and communities. 

My desire to be involved in this day is also deeply personal. For many years, I worked as a tuberculosis (TB) physician in Nunavut. The history of TB in Inuit Nunangat is a shameful one. Boats such as the C.D. Howe would travel the Arctic in the summers, testing individuals who, if found to have evidence of TB, would be forcibly removed from their communities, and brought to a TB sanitorium for treatment in southern Canada. Many were never seen again. Adults died of the disease and were buried without their family’s knowledge, while young children were sent from one hospital to the next without records or documentation of their whereabouts. If they did return to the north, sometimes years later, many had lost their language, or were returned to the wrong community. It took until the 1980’s for TB treatment to become effective enough that treatment in a sanitorium was no longer needed.  

It was not only these historical harms that impacted the trust, care, and treatment our TB team tried to provide in Nunavut. My colleagues included those of Inuit, Indigenous, and settler backgrounds, and were some of the most caring, compassionate, committed, and passionate individuals I have worked with, but still, trust and caregiving were not always easy. The work was challenging for us all, as racist policies, colonial structures, and lack of willingness of governments to provide adequate resources to eliminate TB continue to perpetuate harms to the clients we served. I personally felt powerless and voiceless in the face of these structures, and wish I could have done more to speak out both in support of both our team, the clients, and communities. Given my position of privilege, I am sorry that I did not, and commit to doing more as I move forward in my journey as a leader, clinician, and educator. 

On learning about this apology ceremony, I approached one of my colleagues, Tina Campbell who is a member of Mosakahiken Cree Nation who currently works as a TB Advisor with the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority, and who has spoken at the United Nations at a multi-stakeholder meeting on TB, as well as being involved as an advocate for TB elimination as Co-Chair of Stop TB Canada. I wished to find a way to respectfully demonstrate my acknowledgement of this history, and my commitment to this apology process from a personal as well as organizational level. I am so incredibly humbled and honoured that Tina created and gifted me this ribbon skirt to wear, and designed this beautiful medallion that was beaded by her cousin Valene Hardes, who is also a member of Mosakahiken Cree nation.  In wearing these today, I feel the responsibility to ensure this is not just a passing statement, but leads to meaningful action, that starts to repair the harms caused by the medical profession.  

  

Mamianaq, Mesgei’, 

Sarah Lespérance
MD, CCFP, FCFP, FRRMS
Immediate Past President, SRPC

Dr. Gavin G. Parker President, SRPC & Dr. Sarah Lespérance Immediate Past President, SRPC 

Ref: Link to YouTube CMA Apology to Indigenous Peoples - https://www.youtube.com/live/L-0v3sbwEpI 

The SRPC recognizes the importance of rural ESS/OSS physicians in optimizing care for those living in rural and remote areas of Canada and would like to support learning opportunities and foster networking. This bursary is named in honour of Dr. Stuart Iglesias, (a retired rural family physician) who was not only an ESS and FPA provider himself but also spent his entire career supporting rural maternity and surgical services through advocacy, research, and education. His tireless contributions led to an important culture-shift which the SRPC continues to support today.

The Stuart Iglesias ESS/OSS Bursary Award is presented to one (1) Medical Student, one (1) Medical Resident and one (1) Rural Physician who can demonstrate their interest in, or is actively pursuing Enhanced Surgical Skills (ESS) and Obstetrical Surgical Skills (OSS) (or otherwise supporting rural surgical and maternity care) as a rural generalist in rural Canada. 

Application Guidelines:

All candidates must be SRPC members and in good academic standing and demonstrate their commitment to rural medicine through any of the following:

• Students – Tell us how you intend to focus your medical journey as an ESS/OSS Rural Generalist.
• Residents – Are you a current OSS or ESS resident, or a Family Medicine resident serious about applying to those programs (or otherwise supporting rural surgery/maternity care)?
• Rural Generalist - Are you a practicing rural generalist physician (with or without OSS/ESS) advocating for improved rural surgical and maternity care, locally, regionally, or nationally?

Nomination Process:

• Nominees must be SRPC members.
• Self-nominations must include a letter of support from a preceptor or SRPC physician member detailing how the nominee meets the award criteria.
• Preceptors or SRPC physician members may also nominate candidates by describing how the nominee meets the criteria.
• Format: Microsoft Word document (max 250 words) outlining how the nominee meets the criteria.
• Submission: Send nomination emails to nominations@srpc.ca
• Timeline: The nomination window is from July 1st to August 31st every even year (2024, 2026, 2028). Nomination letters will be reviewed in September, with winners announced in October. (3 months prior to ESS/OSS event)

This award is open to all SRPC Medical Student/Resident/Physician members across Canada. Please note that individuals may only win this award once.

Prize: Each recipient will receive $1000 credited towards attending the ESS/OSS event.

We look forward to receiving your nominations and celebrating the dedication and achievements of our rural medical professionals.

If you have any questions - please send your email to nominations@srpc.ca

Trailblazing Women in Rural Medicine aims to highlight and celebrate women's remarkable achievements and unique experiences in rural healthcare. Through a series of enlightening interviews, we're proud to showcase the voices of inspiring women who are making a meaningful impact in rural communities in Canada.

Dr. Trina Larsen Soles, a rural generalist physician based in Golden, BC, embodies resilience, dedication, and leadership in rural medicine. Dr. Soles generously shared insights from her remarkable career spanning over three decades. Her journey began with a deep passion for medicine, rooted in the values of service from her upbringing. Reflecting on her childhood dreams, she remarked, "I always wanted to be a doctor," starting her transformative path in rural medicine.

The appeal of rural practice, with its diverse challenges and opportunities, captivated Dr. Soles from the start. "Nowhere else do you get such varied work," she noted, describing the excitement of delivering a baby one moment and tending to an elderly patient with lung disease the next.

Throughout her career, Dr. Soles has been a strong advocate for rural healthcare, serving in key leadership roles such as President of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC) and President of Doctors of BC. Her advocacy extends beyond policy to addressing practical challenges faced by rural communities, such as improving transportation for rural patients.

Dr. Soles's journey exemplifies the concept of "accidental leadership," as she described. "You see a need in your community, and you realize you're the one to do something about it," she explained.

Yet, amidst her professional successes, Dr. Soles acknowledges the personal sacrifices required, particularly as a mother balancing her medical career with childcare responsibilities. Her reflections underscore the ongoing need for support systems for women in medicine.

Dr. Soles's story is a source of inspiration for aspiring physicians, demonstrating that with determination and passion, obstacles can be overcome.

To watch the full interview with Dr. Trina Larsen Soles, click Youtube link. Join us in celebrating her pioneering contributions to rural medicine and her enduring legacy of leadership and advocacy.

Change is in the air at the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC). At our Annual General Meeting on April 19th, during the Rural and Remote Medicine course in Edmonton, we welcomed Dr. Gavin Parker into the role of President. Before we explore Dr. Parker's vision for the future, let's take a moment to honor the remarkable contributions of Dr. Sarah Lespérance during her tenure.

Dr. Lespérance brought invaluable expertise and dedication to the SRPC. Under her leadership, our organization flourished, advancing critical initiatives and strengthening our commitment to rural healthcare. From securing funding for rural healthcare training, to advocating against proposed changes to medical education, to hosting a National Summit on Equitable Access to Medical Transport in Rural Canada, Dr. Lespérance's impact on the SRPC was profound.

As we express our gratitude to Dr. Lesperance for her unwavering dedication and tireless efforts, we acknowledge and value the extensive impact she has had on our organization's growth and success.

As we transition to new leadership, we are excited to welcome Dr. Gavin Parker as our new President. With his leadership abilities and passion for rural healthcare, we are confident that Dr. Parker will build upon our successes and lead the SRPC to new heights.

Dr. Gavin Parker is a full-scope rural family physician practicing in Pincher Creek, Alberta. He has chaired numerous national medical educational conferences, has obtained an M.Sc. in medical education, and is the board chair of the Alberta Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP). He serves his community through positions such as medical director for the visitor safety program in Waterton Lakes, the Pincher Creek Health Centre Medical Director, and he and his wife Jennifer run the Barracuda Judo club in town. He is the father of three wonderful children and husband to his even more wonderful wife Jennifer. Join us in extending a heartfelt thank to Dr. Lespérance and a warm welcome to Dr. Parker as we embark on this next chapter. Together, we will continue to advocate for excellent healthcare close to home for all rural Canadians.

Stay tuned for updates and initiatives as we work towards our shared vision of a healthier, more resilient rural healthcare system.

Warm regards,

The SRPC Team

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Primary care reform in a rural context

Lespérance, Sarah MD, CCFP, FCFP, FRRMS¹

Calls for reform to primary care are growing, as our health system cannot support the status quo. Here in New Brunswick, many rural communities have lost physicians, and it has been impossible to find a replacement. They leave due to retirement, but also due to heavy administrative and financial burdens, frustration with fracturing of care, and lack of control over system issues. Workloads are unsustainable and there are no locums to provide relief. Like many, I find myself telling several patients a day that my practice is full and that I cannot accept new patients. This is particularly painful to do in a rural area, as access to other options for primary care is so limited. Those who have lost their family physician have, at best, access to episodic care with providers who do not embrace a holistic view of the patient and their problem. As a result, missed diagnoses and late presentations for conditions are a too-common occurrence we see in our work in emergency departments, operating rooms, or labour and birth units. However, we already are doing too much, and cannot take on more. We must do things differently.

A shift to team-based care is critical, and we need robust systems to support each other. However, a rural ‘team’ may look different from an urban-based one. Perhaps, co-location will not work, and we may need a network type model of care, using technology to enhance communication and collaboration. Ensuring all providers work to the top of their scope of practice, investing in dedicated, funded time for case management, and expanding the types of health providers on teams, may all be considerations. As rural generalists, our role extends beyond the office, and this must be part of workforce planning and remuneration. Finally, we must accept we may not be the most appropriate provider to perform every service.

Solutions may also include enhancing practice-eligible routes of training and enhanced pathways for internationally educated health professionals to enter the workforce. We must develop the supports needed for individuals to integrate within teams and communities, assuming roles as mentors or supervisors, but perhaps also confronting some uncomfortable realities regarding bias and racism.

Beyond this, it will be critical that our training programmes continue to prepare graduates to have the specific, unique skills required to practice in rural and remote regions of this country. And finally, we must continue our advocacy work, particularly with respect to reducing administrative burdens and *national licensure (*see page 13). With this, we can develop the teams needed to continue to provide high quality care close to home, in all parts of this country.

Lespérance, Sarah MD, CCFP, FCFP, FRRMS1. Primary care reform in a rural context. Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine 29(1):p 5, Jan–Mar 2024. | DOI: 10.4103/cjrm.cjrm_54_23

The official journal of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada 

Volume 29, no. 1, Winter 2024

In this Issue 

• Pan-Canadian licensure: potential impact on rural physicians
• Assessing new-patient attachment to an integrated, virtual care programme 
• Informal peer support for rural doctors
• The Occasional frostbite

Read it Now

The Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC) is currently seeking applications for two Executive Committee member-at-large positions, and we invite you to consider applying for these roles. Alternatively, if you know of a fellow SRPC Physician member who would be an excellent fit, we encourage you to nominate them.

This is an excellent opportunity to make a significant impact on rural healthcare in Canada. By joining the SRPC Executive Committee, you can contribute to our mission of improving healthcare access and outcomes for rural communities.

The Executive Committee provides strategic direction and leadership to the organization, ensuring alignment with the SRPC's strategic plan.

Expectations - Time Commitment:

• Bi-monthly Zoom meetings
• Attendance at Spring (in-person) and Fall (virtual) Council meetings
• Collaborating with the SRPC Executive to identify and prioritize issues

Term Details: The Executive positions are for a 2-year term, eligible for renewal once.

How to Apply: To apply, please submit the following to jennak@srpc.ca by Monday, Feb 26th:

1. Expression of Interest (EOI) in Microsoft Word or by email (max 250 words), endorsed by one SRPC member in good standing. 
2. Curriculum Vitae.
3. Applicants must be active physician members of the SRPC.

For further information or inquiries, please contact Jenna Keindel at jennak@srpc.ca.

Important Dates: Nomination letters and EOIs must be received by Monday, Feb 26th.

The Nominations & Awards Committee will carefully review all submissions and select the most suitable candidates.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to contribute to the future of rural healthcare. Together, we can make a difference!

We hosted "Indigenous Experiences in the Colonial Medical System" on January 30th, 2024 with guest speaker Sandra Bender. The recording and slides have been added to our Indigenous Health page.

Please visit the SRPC's Indigenous Health page to watch any of our previous sessions. https://www.srpc.ca/indigenous_health

• Indigenous Approach to Trauma Informed Care – ACEs the Engine Behind Intergenerational Trauma
  
  
• Moving Towards Cultural Safety, Reconciliation, and Anti-racism.
  
  
• Indigenous Approach to Trauma Informed Care – ACEs the Engine Behind Intergenerational Trauma
  
  
• Determinants of Illness for Indigenous Women
  
  
• The Legacy of the Residential School System & Impacts on Health
  
  
• Understanding the Context of Healthcare for Indigenous Peoples in Canada
  
  
• Jordan, Joyce, and Justice: Decolonizing Healthcare for Indigenous Children and Youth

Additional recourse: Recommended books on traditional Indigenous health practices. Decolonizing Wellness by Dalia Kinsey Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer You are the Medicine by Asha Frost Held by the Land: A Guide to Indigenous Plants for Wellness by Leigh Joseph Medicines to Help Us: Traditional Metis Plant Use by Christi Belcourt It's All About the Land by Taiaiake Alfred The Science of the Sacred: Bridging Global Indigenous Medicine Systems and Modern Scientific Principles by Nicole Redvers Decolonizing Therapy by Jennifer Mullan Medicine Unbundled by Gary Geddes Sacred Medicine: A Doctor's Quest to Unravel the Mysteries of Healing by Lissa Rankin Mother Earth: Plants for Health and Beauty by Carrie Armstrong