March 2023 | eNews
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Welcome Dr. Noel DaCunha!

It is an honour and privilege to serve as the new President of the Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP). I would like to thank our outgoing president Dr. Sudha Koppula for all of her hard work over the past number of years, which she has performed with impressive grace and diplomacy. I am happy that she will continue to work with us in her new role as Past President. Her perspective and experience in this role will be much appreciated.

I am a rural physician in the town of Westlock in North Central Alberta, where I have been practicing comprehensive family medicine for over thirty years and teaching medical learners from both of our universities.

The Annual Meeting of Members took place at this month’s Family Medicine Summit (Summit). At this meeting, I was officially recognized as ACFP’s new President, and other members of the Board and...
UPCOMING EVENTS
Speakers: MAPS Consultants
ACFP members are encouraged to register for a virtual discussion on rural and remote primary health care.

Speakers: Kelly Shinkaruk MD, Sasha Mallya PhD
Improve care for your chronic pain patients with innovations and best practices incorporating the biopsychosocial model of care, explaining evidence-based theories and practice, and integrating new evidence-based management.

Speaker: Candice Laws BA, M Poli Sci
Learn how to differentiate the federal and provincial governments' contributions to health policy and funding, understand the main provincial parties' proposed health platforms, and discuss efficient government relations strategies.

For more events, check out the ACFP CPD calendar!
TOP STORIES
CMN Celebration

Over the past three years, the ACFP has proudly continued to build the Collaborative Mentorship Network for Chronic Pain and Addiction (CMN); an interdisciplinary community of practice.

While the Health Canada Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) contributions may be ending, the ACFP will carry this momentum forward! Join us in celebrating all that the CMN members, mentors, and mentees have accomplished in this short time and stay tuned for what is yet to come.
First Five Years of (Rural) Family Practice

Joining a rural practice or maybe scheduling a locum? Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned in my first five years in rural medicine...
Awards Deadline Extended!

Congrats to the 2022 Award winners! Watch their celebration videos and celebrate your peers. The award nomination deadline has been extended to April 18.

World Family Doctor Day - Get Your Swag!

World Family Doctor Day is around the corner on May 19! Visit the ACFP shop and submit your orders by April 14 for a better chance to have it in hand for the big day!
Volunteer for the ACFP Shadowing Program

Shape the future of family medicine by sharing your passion with the next generation. The ACFP's Incoming Medical Students Shadowing Program takes place in June and August 2023. Help make family medicine a first choice specialty for students. Rural and urban placements welcome.
WHAT'S NEW IN HEALTH CARE
Family physicians can prescribe Paxlovid™ to eligible patients who have tested positive for COVID-19. Patients should take medication within five days of symptom onset, but if this is not possible, you can refer them to the AHS Outpatient COVID Treatment Program.

Effective March 20, diagnostic imaging reports available in Netcare will be released to Alberta Health’s MyHealth Records (MHR) in the My Personal Records application. This Alberta Health strategy expands information available so patients can see reports online when available. The reports will also be available in MyAHS Connect.
Alberta College of Family Physicians | www.acfp.ca