July 2, 2025
RED DEER – Local and area residents have improved access to care with two newly recruited specialist physicians now practising in the city.
General internal medicine (GIM) physicians Dr. Mark Madabattula and Dr. Rebecca Small are caring for patients at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, bringing the total number of GIM specialist physicians practising in the city to 20.
GIM physicians diagnose and care for patients with complex multi-system disorders, many of whom are acutely ill, while focusing on disease detection, prevention and management, as well as patient education and post-admission transitional care back to the patient’s primary physician.
“This is wonderful news for the patients of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre,” says Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Primary and Preventive Health Services, and MLA for Red Deer-North. “Patients from throughout central Alberta receive care from the internal medicine team here in Red Deer, and the continued recruitment of physicians such as Dr. Madabattula and Dr. Small helps ensure timely access to services for people in our community and beyond.”
“Red Deer is the third largest city in the best province in Canada,” adds Jason Stephan, MLA for Red Deer-South. “It is good to see medical professionals coming to Red Deer to serve families and individuals in our wonderful community.”
Dr. Madabattula received his medical education at the Saba University School of Medicine in the Caribbean Netherlands, and his internal medicine training at the University of Missouri and the University of Western Ontario. He has been practising in Edmonton and providing locum coverage at the Red Deer hospital prior to joining the GIM team full time.
Dr. Madabattula says training in Columbia, Mo., a small city with a large catchment of rural communities, encouraged him to seek a similar opportunity in Red Deer.
“A smaller community hospital allows for stronger team cohesion and work environment, and this is absolutely the case at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre,” adds Dr. Madabattula, whose hobbies include spending time with friends and family, staying active outdoors and indoors, and cheering for the Edmonton Oilers.
Dr. Small received her medical education at Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Calgary, completing GIM and intensive care unit (ICU) fellowships in Calgary. A critical care physician, Dr. Small will be applying her expertise in the hospital’s ICU.
An interest in community practice with a focus on clinical medicine and the opportunity to teach and mentor rotating residents helped attract Dr. Small to Red Deer.
“I have completed several rotations in Red Deer and could immediately tell that Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre would be a good fit for me,” she says. “The city is the perfect size; big enough to have all the amenities with lots of outdoor activities, but small enough to feel like a tight-knit community.”
Previously a professional musician, Dr. Small loves to play the cello in her free time.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) continues to recruit 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 the Rural Health Professions Action Plan, and independent physician recruitment and retention committees.
Alberta Health Services provides a range of healthcare services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide excellent, patient-focused healthcare 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.
