December 18, 2024
GRANDE PRAIRIE — A newly recruited psychiatrist is now practising in the city, improving access to mental health services for local and area residents.
Dr. Mohamed Jebril Benelmokhtar is practising at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital and the Aberdeen Centre. At the hospital, he is supporting the local emergency department, inpatient and outpatient services. At the Aberdeen Centre, he is providing community care.
"I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Benelmokhtar to Grande Prairie,” says Nolan Dyck, MLA for Grande Prairie. “His expertise and support to mental health services will be invaluable to our hospital and local and area residents.”
“Dr. Benelmokhtar's arrival reinforces our ongoing efforts to provide the highest standard of care for the people of Grande Prairie, ensuring that mental health services are accessible to those in need,” adds Ron Wiebe, MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti.
Dr. Benelmokhtar received his medical training at the University of Tripoli in Libya and completed his residency at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. Originally from Libya, he moved to Grande Prairie at the end of September and began working here in October.
"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Benelmokhtar to the Grande Prairie medical team,” says Dr. Jane Ojedokun, Zone Medical Director in the North Zone of Alberta Health Services (AHS). “His expertise and support to mental health care will be a tremendous asset to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital and the community it serves. As a psychiatrist, his contributions will strengthen our capacity to provide high-quality, compassionate care to patients in both emergency and ongoing hospital and community treatment settings.”
Outside of work, Dr. Benelmokhtar says he enjoys bodybuilding, nutrition, camping and hiking.
As part of an overall physician recruitment strategy, AHS has three physician resource planners in the North Zone who are dedicated to identifying and pursuing international and domestic physician recruitment opportunities. These planners work closely with partner organizations, such as the Rural Health Professionals Action Plan and local, independent community physician attraction 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.
