Doc of the Week

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Doc of The Week shows the people, faces and stories of the physicians caring for patients across Alberta Health Services.

Visit the Medical Staff webpage for more or contact cmo@ahs.ca to nominate a physician to be featured here.

Dr. Chad Ball, Surgeon, Calgary Zone “My clinical practice is a bit of an unusual combination – on the one side I do trauma surgery and on the other, I specialize in liver and pancreas surgery,” says Dr. Chad Ball, a surgeon at Foothills Medical... — Dr. Chad Ball, Surgeon, Calgary Zone
“My clinical practice is a bit of an unusual combination – on the one side I do trauma surgery and on the other, I specialize in liver and pancreas surgery,” says Dr. Chad Ball, a surgeon at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary Zone.
“Only one other person in the world who do that combination. Usually surgeons who like one don’t like the other.”
Dr. Ball says that this combination of clinical specialties was always part of his plan.
“There’s an unusual but important synergy. The principles of liver and pancreas surgery actually translate nicely into trauma surgery.”
“Trauma surgery is fascinating for many reasons, one is you tend to have a lot of younger, socially disadvantaged folks, at the margins of society,” he explains. “Liver and pancreas surgery are at the opposite end of the spectrum, because it’s older folks who develop those type of cancers. It’s neat to care for such range of people every day.”
Dr. Ball says that he’s driven by seeing the impact his care has on the lives of patients.
When he’s not in the OR, Dr. Ball raises his three children and year-round he likes to spend time at Ghost Lake, just outside of Calgary.

Dr. Noel De Cunha, Family Physician, North Zone “As a rural family physician, I need to be well-versed in the full range of care, whether it’s emergency medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics, the list goes on,” says Westlock family physician Dr.... — Dr. Noel De Cunha, Family Physician, North Zone
“As a rural family physician, I need to be well-versed in the full range of care, whether it’s emergency medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics, the list goes on,” says Westlock family physician Dr. Noel De Cunha. “I delivered my youngest patient just yesterday, and my oldest patient is 100 years old. Then there’s everyone in between. I’ve cared for as many as five generations of the same family and I’ve delivered babies to moms who I delivered when they were born.”
Dr. De Cunha says it’s this variety that makes his work so rewarding.
“I have lived on four continents, but the best place in the world is Weslock, Alberta, Canada” he says. “I’ve been here for almost 30 years. The community is about 5,000 people and our practice covers around 20,000 people in surrounding areas.”
Dr. De Cunha also sits on the board of the Alberta College of Family Physicians and is actively involved in teaching medical students and residents.
“My work is fulfilling and there’s a lot to be said about living rurally.”
When he’s not working, his seasonal activities include golfing daily before work between May and September, going to the family cabin at a nearby lake, snowmobiling and skiing.

Dr. Craig Hodgson, Family Physician, North Zone “What attracts me to rural family medicine is the variety it offers. My second choice during my training would have been psychiatry, but fortunately I’m able to incorporate a lot of this type of mental... — Dr. Craig Hodgson, Family Physician, North Zone
“What attracts me to rural family medicine is the variety it offers. My second choice during my training would have been psychiatry, but fortunately I’m able to incorporate a lot of this type of mental health work in my practice,” says Dr. Craig Hodgson, who works as a rural family physician in Whitecourt.
“Family medicine allows you to customize what you do – especially when working in a rural setting. I get to do my regular family practice, as well as clinic and Emergency Department work.”
Dr. Hodgson is also Clinical Department Head for North Zone Addictions & Mental Health. Previously, he was Associate Zone Medical Director for North Zone.
“Over the years, I discovered that I really enjoy the leadership piece. It gives you the opportunity to help patients and families from a system perspective, in addition to the one-on-one work we do with patients. There’s a rewarding balance in that.”

Dr. Matthew Carroll, Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Edmonton Zone “When I was ten years old, I knew I wanted to do pediatrics,” says Dr. Matthew Carroll, Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Stollery Children’s Hospital. “I love the combination of... — Dr. Matthew Carroll, Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Edmonton Zone
“When I was ten years old, I knew I wanted to do pediatrics,” says Dr. Matthew Carroll, Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Stollery Children’s Hospital. “I love the combination of disciplines that go into the work I do – whether it’s Critical Care with transplant patients, acute care, doing procedures such as endoscopy or providing ambulatory care. It’s a good blend.”
But Dr. Carroll says it’s his patients which make his work so rewarding.
“You often end up developing a relationship with them over many years. In my work there’s always the drive to improve the care we’re providing to kids and their families. We will never reach a point in medicine where we know everything. We’re always ascending up that learning curve,” he say. “But it’s that continual learning and improvement that drive myself and many of my colleagues.”
When he’s not at the hospital or in clinic, Dr. Carroll likes to cycle, including fat biking in the winter, as well as road and mountain biking. He also enjoys camping with his family.

Dr. Debrah Wirtzfeld, Associate Chief Medical Officer, Edmonton Zone “For us as physicians, we are often all too aware of how burn out can affect us, our workplaces and most importantly our families. That’s why it’s especially important that we... — Dr. Debrah Wirtzfeld, Associate Chief Medical Officer, Edmonton Zone
“For us as physicians, we are often all too aware of how burn out can affect us, our workplaces and most importantly our families. That’s why it’s especially important that we discuss mental health and suicide risk. Many of us have colleagues who have been personally affected by these issues,” says Dr. Debrah Wirtzfeld, Associate Chief Medical Officer, Physician Health, Wellness & Diversity.
“January 29 is Bell Let’s Talk Day. It’s a chance for us to focus on mental health and how it impacts the lives of Albertans. I’m excited to join forces with Dr. Michael Myers, Dr. Jane Lemaire and Well Doc Alberta on a podcast focusing on the importance of physician mental health and the issue of suicide,” she says.
“This podcast is for physicians, family members of physicians, and members of the general public who will not tolerate losing even one more physician colleague to suicide. We talk about strategies to support physicians in providing a safe space for the recognition and treatment of mental health issues. Doctors are human and are not exempt from these concerns - no matter how much we would like to believe otherwise.”
Check out the podcast by visiting www.welldocalberta.org/letstalk and share with your colleagues.

Dr. Stephanie Liu, Family Physician, Edmonton Zone “I had my first daughter three years ago and soon discovered that the web can be a tough place for parents to find reliable information. It’s hard to figure out what’s true online,” says Edmonton... — Dr. Stephanie Liu, Family Physician, Edmonton Zone
“I had my first daughter three years ago and soon discovered that the web can be a tough place for parents to find reliable information. It’s hard to figure out what’s true online,” says Edmonton family physician Dr. Stephanie Liu.
“That’s what inspired me to start my Life of Dr. Mom blog – as a source of credible information for new parents.”
Dr. Liu’s blog focuses on everything from burping babies to breastfeeding to hot tubs and pregnancy.
“I focus on a variety of topics, many of which I encounter either as a mom myself or from questions I receive from new moms are asking about pediatrics or women’s health,” she explains.
“The blog went semi-viral and was featured in a number of major news outlets.”
In addition to her family practice, Dr. Liu also provides inpatient care at University of Alberta Hospital, with a focus on acute care and geriatric medicine.
In addition to her three-year-old daughter, Dr. Liu now has another newborn.
Visit her blog at https://lifeofdrmom.com/ or follow her on Social @lifofdrmom.

Dr. Janine Karpakis, Family Physician, South Zone “I’ve always felt strongly about being a voice for those who are marginalized,” says Lethbridge family physician Dr. Janine Karpakis. “That’s the reason I work with transgender health. My daughter is... — Dr. Janine Karpakis, Family Physician, South Zone
“I’ve always felt strongly about being a voice for those who are marginalized,” says Lethbridge family physician Dr. Janine Karpakis. “That’s the reason I work with transgender health. My daughter is also transgender, so I’m passionate about the work I do.”
Dr. Karpakis also has a special interest in caring for patients with substance use disorders, and leads the South Zone’s Opioid Dependency Program.
“When I was Chair of the Chinook Primary Care Network (PCN), they needed someone to lead the opioid response initiative, so my work today is a natural part of that work,” she says.
“It’s quite challenging at times, but it’s the success stories that motivate me in my work.”
Dr. Karpakis also has two daughters and says she loves to read and do arts and crafts with her family.

Dr. Sandy Widder, Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon, Intensive Care Physician, Edmonton Zone “Working in trauma and acute care, I think of it like social surgery,” says Dr. Sandy Widder, Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon in Edmonton. “It’s exciting to be... — Dr. Sandy Widder, Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon, Intensive Care Physician, Edmonton Zone
“Working in trauma and acute care, I think of it like social surgery,” says Dr. Sandy Widder, Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon in Edmonton. “It’s exciting to be able to provide advocacy and support vulnerable populations.”
Working as a trauma surgeon-intensivist, Dr. Widder has the opportunity to support patients across the trauma care spectrum, from resuscitation, to surgical management, and rehabilitation and reintegration, providing them the full cycle of care. She is now also working in administrative roles as a Co-Medical Director for Trauma Services and Facility Site Chief for Trauma and Acute Care.
“I’m able to impact patient care, including their quality of life and outcomes,” she says. “I can really make a difference alongside the multidisciplinary members of our trauma team.”
Balancing these complex roles, she spends time outdoors with her three dogs, hiking and mountain biking.

Dr. Gavin Parker, Family Physician, South Zone “As a rural family doctor, I care for people from cradle to grave. My colleagues and I do the entire gamut – working in the emergency room, caring for patients in hospital and working normal hours in... — Dr. Gavin Parker, Family Physician, South Zone
“As a rural family doctor, I care for people from cradle to grave. My colleagues and I do the entire gamut – working in the emergency room, caring for patients in hospital and working normal hours in the clinic,” says Dr. Gavin Parker, a family physician in Pincher Creek.
“I also do anesthesia for low-risk surgical patients. There was a need for an anesthesiologist here in Pincher Creek, so I did a year-long fellowship. We also do a lot of teaching at my clinic, and there’s always a resident or student working with us.”
“I golf a lot. When you golf with people who are better than you, you get better. Working with other doctors in my clinic is a lot like that. I’ve had to rise to their level.”
He says choosing to practice rural medicine was a natural choice for him.
“Like a lot of physicians who practice rurally, it was the diversity of experience that attracted me. You get both the exciting interactions that often happen in the Emergency Department, but you also get to build long-term relationships with patients and their families,” he says.
“My wife is a French immersion teacher, and Pincher Creek had good work prospects for her and my three kids. It was a natural fit.”
When he’s not in clinic or on the golf course, Dr. Parker can be found throwing people in the air at the judo club he opened with his wife several years ago.
“The community has been welcoming and supportive,” he says. “It’s got a little something for everyone.”

Dr. Kerri Johannson, Pulmonologist, Calgary Zone “Initially, I planned to be a rural family doctor, but ended up falling in love with Internal Medicine,” says Dr. Kerri Johannson, a Pulmonologist and Interstitial Lung Disease specialist at Calgary’s... — Dr. Kerri Johannson, Pulmonologist, Calgary Zone
“Initially, I planned to be a rural family doctor, but ended up falling in love with Internal Medicine,” says Dr. Kerri Johannson, a Pulmonologist and Interstitial Lung Disease specialist at Calgary’s South Health Campus. “I didn’t know which subspecialty to pursue, but pulmonary medicine jumped out at me, partly because of my research interests. Fortunately, I had some outstanding teachers along the way.”
Dr. Johannson spends half of her time as a clinician seeing patients, and the other half doing research investigating the relationships between environmental exposures and pulmonary fibrosis.
“The area I work in is pretty devastating. Pulmonary fibrosis is often a progressive disease with no cure. I go into work each day and encounter very difficult scenarios in the lives of my patients. But I’m inspired by the research that I do, with the hope that I’m contributing to knowledge that guides care, helps patients manage their condition and ultimately finds a cure.”
Dr. Johannson has a husband who is also a physician, along with two young children.
“As a family, we try to travel and to be outside as much as we can.”
What would people find most surprising about her? “I used to be a marine biologist, working in Alaska on commercial fishing boats.”

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