GP-anesthesia physician recruited to Slave Lake, will enable local C-section services to be re-established

Fifth physician recruited to Slave Lake since March

SLAVE LAKE — Alberta Health Services (AHS) is making progress on its goal to expand obstetrical services in the Slave Lake area with the recent recruitment of a new family physician sub-specializing in anesthesia.

Dr. Cara Robertson is a family physician with a diploma in anesthesia. When partnered with the C-section surgical skills of another new physician recruit, Dr. Chris Igboamalu, Slave Lake’s obstetrical program will expand to include caesarean section (C-section) services. This means more families will be able to deliver their babies closer to home. As a family physician, Dr. Robertson will also help increase local access to primary care and prenatal care.

“AHS has wanted to return C-section services to Slave Lake for several years now,” says Dr. Kevin Worry, Medical Director for the AHS North Zone. “The national shortage of GP-anesthesia physicians has been challenging to overcome. We are very fortunate to have had the ongoing support of our Slave Lake community and its elected leaders to facilitate this significant advancement in local care.”

She is the fifth physician AHS has recruited to Slave Lake since March.

“We have been listening to the community and working with Alberta Health Services to recruit physicians to Slave Lake,” says Pearl Calahasen, MLA for Lesser Slave Lake. “It’s great news to welcome another new physician to our thriving community.”

Dr. Robertson is currently finishing her master’s degree in palliative care and is expected to begin practising in Slave Lake this winter/spring, following the completion of her immigration process from South Africa and her required assessment with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.

Dr. Robertson and four other newly recruited physicians were attracted to and will be working at the local Family Care Clinic.

“The Family Care Clinic is a unique facility that provides quality, same-day care from a whole team of health care professionals, and Dr. Robertson will be an excellent addition to the local team,” says Dr. Terry Unger, Associate Zone Medical Director for Slave Lake.

The four other family medicine physicians who have been recruited to the community are:

• Dr. Hythum Elharathi, who has an interest in rural and remote medicine. 
• Dr. Yusrah Hartley, who has an interest in children’s health (pediatrics).
• Dr. Geoffrey Bourke, who has additional post-graduate diplomas in diabetes, children’s health, dermatology and antenatal care.
• Dr. Chris Igboamalu, who has a sub-specialty in high-risk obstetrics.

As part of an overall physician recruitment strategy, AHS has three North Zone physician resource planners who identify and pursue physician recruitment opportunities. They work closely with various community partners and organizations in northern Alberta, such as the Rural Physician Action Plan, Health Advisory Councils, and independent community physician recruitment and retention committees.

“With support from local community members, I’m confident in the Government’s efforts to continue to recruit the professionals Slave Lake needs to provide health services,” says Tyler Warman, Mayor of Slave Lake. “This recent success is another testament to our teamwork and to Slave Lake. It’s a great community to live in.”

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. 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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