December 6, 2023
RED DEER — Local and area residents will have improved access to surgical services with the recruitment of two new anesthesiologists.
Dr. Mohamed Al Ismaili is now practicing out of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, and Dr. Imraan Asmal is expected to join the anesthesia team at the hospital in mid-January.
Dr. Al Ismaili received his medical training at Sultan Qaboos University and College of Medicine in Oman and completed his residency training in anesthesia at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Al Ismaili is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and also completed fellowships in vascular and clinical anesthesia at the University of Ottawa. Prior to coming to Canada, he worked as a senior anesthesiologist at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital for 13 years, serving three years as head of Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care.
Dr. Asmal is currently a specialist anesthetist practicing in Durban, South Africa. He has received bachelor's degrees in medicine and surgery from the University of Cape Town, a diploma and fellowship in anesthesia from the College of Medicine of South Africa, and a Master of Medicine (anesthesia) from the University of Kwa Zulu Natal.
“This is wonderful news for the patients of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre,” says Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health and MLA for Red Deer-North. “The recruitment of Dr. Al Ismaili and Dr. Asmal will improve access to surgical services for patients in Red Deer and across central Alberta. Our government continues to work with our partners to recruit physicians to communities across the province, improving access to healthcare services for all Albertans.”
“Red Deer is the third largest city in the best province in Canada,” adds Jason Stephan, MLA for Red Deer-South. “Centrally located in the dynamic Calgary-Edmonton corridor, on the Red Deer River with beautiful parks and trails, close by lake and mountain recreational opportunities, Red Deer has many competitive advantages which make it an attractive place to live, work and raise a family. It is good to see medical professionals coming to Red Deer to serve families and individuals in our wonderful community.”
The addition of Dr. Al Ismaili and Dr. Asmal will bring the number of anesthesiologists working in Red Deer to 17.
"When I came for a site visit last July, the perioperative team of nurses, respiratory therapists, surgeons and anesthesiologists were amazing,” says Dr. Al Ismaili. “Red Deer has all the amenities that one would look for, and I look forward to putting my cumulative knowledge and skills to use in serving this beautiful community and being part of an outstanding team."
Dr. Mohamed Al Ismaili’s clinical interests are vascular anesthesia, ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia and perioperative patient safety. Outside of the operating room, he enjoys walking and biking with his children.
Dr. Imraan Asmal enjoys the arts, architecture and reading, and is looking forward to exploring some new wintertime hobbies.
“The city provides considerable benefits for families with young children,” says Dr. Asmal. “There is a great sense of community in Red Deer, and we feel it will be a great place to raise our kids.”
Alberta Health Services (AHS) continues to recruit for physicians across the Central Zone to meet community needs. AHS has physician resource planners who are dedicated to identifying and pursuing international and domestic physician recruitment opportunities. They work closely with various community partners and organizations, such as local Health Advisory Councils, the Rural Health Professions Action Plan, and independent physician recruitment and retention committees.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait-times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
