General surgery services resume in St. Paul this fall

ST. PAUL — General surgery services will resume this fall at the St. Therese - St. Paul Healthcare Centre with the arrival of Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, formerly of Edmonton.

Residents requiring general surgical services – including those involving the small and large bowel, gallbladder, and stomach – may be able to have the procedure at the local Alberta Health Services (AHS) facility rather than in Edmonton or Bonnyville. Surgical services have been unavailable in St. Paul since the town’s previous surgeon moved away in May 2010.

“I’m pleased that Dr. Ahmad will be joining the St. Paul community,” says Ray Danyluk, MLA for Lac La Biche-St. Paul. “It’s important for residents of St. Paul to have access to surgical procedures close to their homes, where they can recover surrounded by the support of family, friends and caregivers.”

Increasing access to surgical services is among the goals outlined in the 5-Year Health Action Plan, jointly developed by the Government of Alberta and AHS, and supported by the province’s stable, 5-year funding.

“It’s our priority to meet the health care needs of the communities in which we operate,” says Michelle Blanchette, acute care manager of the St. Paul Healthcare Centre. “St. Paul and surrounding communities will benefit from the return of surgical services.”

Dr. Ahmad earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) in Pakistan, where he was born and raised. Later, he worked at the University Hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before moving in 2001 to Glasgow, Scotland, where he received accreditation from the Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons. Four years ago, Dr. Ahmad and his family moved to Edmonton, where he received his licence to practise medicine in Canada.

Dr. Ahmad and his wife have four daughters and two sons. They enjoy camping, skating, cycling, swimming and playing soccer.

“We have visited the schools and the community of St. Paul and we really like it,” says Dr. Ahmad. “We are looking forward to our new home.”

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than 3.7 million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

• News release

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