Physicians Recruitment
Testimonials & Success Stories
The following are Testimonials & Success Stories from Physicians in our Region!
If you would like to speak directly with one of the physicians mentioned throughout the site to gain further insight into our region, please contact us and we will put you in touch with them.
A Physician Success Story – Dr. Perry Sahni
Practice Location: Rivers, MB
Trained in: India
Years in Region: 5 years
What made you choose rural Manitoba to practice medicine in?
IMG Program
Past rural experience/background
What do you enjoy most about your rural medical practice?
Variety – clinic, hospital, acute, PCH, teaching opportunities
All services under one roof – no time wasting
Knowing patients very well and families – all 4-5 generations
What are the challenges?
Short staffed
Heavier call schedules
Do you find your career rewarding? How so?
Yes. Your services are needed and appreciated. Stronger doctor patient relationship. Making a difference – especially with geriatric population
Do you have time for a personal/family life? Hobbies?
Yes and No. Now more so in my situation. Good time management/planning always helps.
Describe a typical day for you?
Morning hospital rounds – dealing with lab work, new orders
Running clinic
Hospital admissions/discharges
PCH Call offs on
Lab work/referrals/consults for clinic patients
Clinic
Dealing with abnormal labs
Calling patients/pharmacy related calls
A Physician Success Story – Dr. Anita Pople
Practice Location: Rivers/Administration
(Family Physician/EMS Medical Director)
Trained in: South Africa
Years in Region: 12 years
What made you choose rural Manitoba to practice medicine in?
Coming from South Africa I had very little knowledge of where I was actually destined to end up here, back then I have never even been on the internet, I could not even find a map with Rivers on it! I had a friend who loved the Saskatchewan experience but otherwise came fairly blind. From information available I knew the Canadian situation was stable and I thought it would offer more long-term opportunities than what I could pursue in England where I worked at that stage. When I arrived in 1997 my work permit restricted me to a rural facility. Back then even Brandon was seen as “Urban”. Those restrictions have long been lifted for me but I am still here!
What do you enjoy most about your rural medical practice?
The work is incredibly rewarding: You really get to know your patients, their families, and the environment they live and work in. You become part of a dedicated team that works towards a common goal; I see them as a health care family. Community spirit is really alive in these small communities.
There are so many opportunities to expand your medical experience beyond the clinical environment. Multiple programs and services need the input of physicians. Becoming involved gives you a sense of being part of the decisions that influence how the system works.
What are the challenges?
You sometimes have to be a “Jack of all trades”, but if you enjoy challenges that would be enticing.
For me the hardest is the fact that you actually become part of the lives of these people and then it is extremely difficult when you see them and their families going through medical problems, accidents and death.
You sometimes have to have a certain comfort level with being uncomfortable in your work, working rural you sometimes are restricted in what you can provide in your facility and cannot access definitive care immediately as you might want to, we have long transport times and you might have to take care of critical patients until a secondary facility can be reached.
Do you find your career rewarding? How so?
Medicine has so many facets, it is always rewarding. I have had so many unexpected opportunities to develop as a full human being here in rural Manitoba, I seriously doubt that those opportunities would have presented in urban practice. There is the whole clinical experience but then also all the other things that come into play in rural practice. Watching students during their rural exposure time, getting some hands on opportunities is energizing. They inspire you to go and read and do research and keep you on your toes!
Emergency Services opened a whole new view of medicine for me, it has been a wonderful journey seeing the system develop, knowing patient treatment in the field has expanded and improved. Being involved with International Medical Graduates and seeing them establish successfully has been a unique experience every time. The many committees and work groups I am involved in gives me a sense of accomplishment when we are able to successfully establish new policies, protocols and programs.
Do you have time for a personal/family life? Hobbies?
In rural medicine, you definitely can have that time, but for those who want to work extremely long hours that opportunity is there too. It is ideal for family life, you are often within walking distance of the school, daycare etc. and can plan things to be there for family events.
Rural Manitoba is paradise for nature lovers. You actually still see wildlife roaming around, even coming into town nibbling on the garden shrubs! Winters are cold but it does not keep me and my camera locked up, you just have to plan well, actually winter has its own little wonders that I would miss should I live anywhere else in the world. Summers on the other hand are balmy. There is so much opportunity to go hiking, kayaking competing in all kinds of sport etc.
Like everything in life it depends on the balance you want to maintain how you structure your downtime.
Describe a typical day for you?
Right now my days are not very typical physician days; I am involved in a variety of non clinic activities with clinic work in locum capacity. Therefore it is extremely varied and I don’t have typical days, never a dull moment however!
Other:
Working for the ARHA has been incredible. It is a region that constantly goes through changes and face special challenges because of it’s incredible size. I am still here because I did not think that I would find another Health Region that carries their employees like this region does. They are not just interested in your work, but in you as a person.
A Physician Success Story – Dr. Wickus Pieterse
Practice Location: Russell, MB
Trained in: South Africa
Years in Russell: 4
What made you choose rural Manitoba to practice medicine in?
It was an ideal opportunity to live at a relaxed pace and practice medicine in 1st world medicine. A good place to raise your kids and have safety and peace of mind.
What do you enjoy most about your rural medical practice?
Being able to treat acute cases in the ER and manage chronic patients in clinic setting. Also the availability of hospital beds when needed for more ill patients. The fact that you get to know your patients very well over a period of time makes things easier in management, you build trust and understanding in an easier way.
What are the challenges?
There are multiple; the increasing age of the population and care for the elderly is not always straightforward as the need for chronic care is getting more and more and facilities for this care is limited. Also the expectations from family members regarding the elderly is not always realistic and generates alot of difficulties.
The native population poses a huge problem as education and personal health is not a great priority for themselves, this is especially demanding in some cases. We have a lot more work to do in achieving better health care and giving them the education to take charge of their own health.
Do you find your career rewarding? How so?
Very much so, even in a smaller community you feel you are contributing to make people feel good or keep them comfortable. People appreciate it very much to be able to see a doctor when needed and have the reassurance that they are not alone with their problems. It is very satisfying to see people happy and feeling healthy.
Do you have time for a personal/family life? Hobbies?
Definitely, although some days are tough. There are lots to do in our community, ski-ing in winter, etc. We enjoy playing golf and are able to do this as much as we like. (Winters could be shorter though).
Describe a typical day for you?
8 AM – Ward round at hospital
930 AM – Clinic
12-1 – Lunch
1-5PM – Clinic
Some days there will oncology clinics
Some days out patient procedures
On Call 1:4
We are 4 doctors helping each other where we can.
A Physician Success Story – Dr. Allan Ranson
Practice Location: Hamiota, MB
Trained in: Manitoba
Years in Region: 22 years
What made you choose rural Manitoba to practice medicine in?
I grew up on a small mixed farm near Carberry, Manitoba. I feel most comfortable and “in my element” serving a small agricultural-based community.
What do you enjoy most about your rural medical practice?
The fact that many of my patients are also my friends and neighbours. Our relationships extend from the health centre out into the schools and church and farms and businesses and the very fabric of the community.
What are the challenges?
The fact that many of my patients are also my friends and neighbours. “Walking the walk” with them during times of serious illness takes a lot of emotional energy. The concept of “leaving your work at the office” is not part of the reality in a rural practice.
Do you find your career rewarding? How so?
It is very rewarding to care for families through all stages and ages (cradle to grave). Rural people are, in general, very appreciative of the care they receive and often let you know.
Do you have time for a personal/family life? Hobbies?
I have the good fortune of working with a group of physicians who set this as a high priority, and support each other in making sure we have time for our families and a life outside the health centre.
Describe a typical day for you?
A typical day at Hamiota Health Centre starts with a very brief morning meeting with physicians, nurses and outreach staff to “touch base”, share information, and review admissions from the previous 24 hours. We make rounds as a group on hospitalized patients, and arrange referrals, investigations, transfers, etc.
Following that, we do our booked procedures such as cast changes, procedures under local anaesthesia such as skin excisions, follow-up or patients requiring dressing changes. With any luck, we then pause for a cup of coffee with staff.
We begin our outpatient clinic at 10:30am and see scheduled patients until noon. Lunch time is taken sometimes at home and sometimes at the health centre. The afternoon is spent seeing patients at the clinic. Clinic usually winds down around 5:00pm. “Paperwork” often extends beyond that time.
We have a 1:4 on call rotation. The physician on call for the ER is booked lighter at the clinic to accommodate urgent and emergent patients. Call is a 24 hour shift from 0800 hours to 0800 hours the next day. In the evening and night, call can be taken from home. Weekend ER shifts are 72 hours, from 0800 hours Friday to 0800 hours Monday.
Most of us still do some home visits – most often to palliative care patients and to the elderly who live in nearby elderly persons housing.
A Physician Success Story – Dr. Jasper Stone
Practice Location: Souris, MB
Trained in: South Africa
Years in Souris: 6+ years
What made you choose rural Manitoba to practice medicine in?
A few of my friends made the journey across to Canada. Two to Saskatchewan and two to rural Manitoba. Their feedback was positive so we decided to give it a try.
What do you enjoy most about your rural medical practice?
Being able to provide on call services while sleeping at home
Being able to enjoy lunch at home on occasions
Managing acute and chronic care on a daily basis
Getting to know your patients socially
What are the challenges?
Long waiting times for specialist consults and having to manage complex cases without hands on specialist input (although telephone consults do help in some cases)
On call ration of 1:3 (and 1:2 on occasions) while raising a family
Do you find your career rewarding? How so?
Yes, managing a whole spectrum of pathology ranging from acute care to palliative care on a daily basis is both rewarding and challenging at times.
Do you have time for a personal/family life? Hobbies?
Yes, but it remains a balancing act as my family/practice and personal life evolves.
Describe a typical day for you?
Clinic from 8:30 to 11:00 am. Then a 1 hour ward round, followed by lunch. And back to the clinic from 1:00 – 4:30/5:00 pm.
