Family Doctors Celebrated as the Foundation of Health Care
BC College of Family Physicians names Dr. Ella Monro as Interior Health’s My Family Doctor Award Recipient
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VANCOUVER (May 10, 2023) – The BC College of Family Physicians (BCCFP) today announced Dr. Ella Monro as the recipient of the My Family Doctor Award for Interior Health. Each year, five family physicians receive the patient-nominated award which celebrates the doctor-patient relationship that supports good health.
“She is our family doctor. First she had my husband and I and then added my mom when she moved to town as she aged,” says Dr. Monro’s nominator, “She then added my daughter-in-law who was pregnant and didn’t have a doctor. Then my son and new baby. Truly a family doctor.”
Dr. Ella Monro completed her UBC undergraduate degree and Family Medicine Residency in Prince George and moved to Princeton shortly after; now providing full-service rural family medicine to the Princeton community.
“[Dr. Monro] set up a clinic at the hospital so doctors on call could still have patients when they weren’t in emergency. She set up Princeton Hospital to be a teaching hospital for interns to come and practice,” writes one of her patients.
“Before COVID-19, she had set up a system so that specialists came to our hospital once every three months which allowed older patients not to avoid travelling out of town.”
Dr. Monro has also helped to train many medical students and residents during her time as a family physician and hopes to have inspired them to consider rural practice.
Dr. Rachel Cook of Kamloops and Dr. Cassia Tremblay of Kootenay Boundary have also been announced as recipients of this year’s Residents awards.
The announcement comes ahead of Family Doctor Day, proclaimed in BC and globally, recognizes family doctors as a resource to their communities who provide relationship-based, comprehensive, longitudinal care that improves overall health outcomes.
It also comes at a time when there is wide-spread acknowledgment that primary care is in a state of crisis in BC, and that transformation should include investment in team-based family medicine.
“Evidence shows that having a family doctor who knows you and cares for you over time results in better overall health outcomes, higher patient satisfaction, and fewer hospitalizations and emergency room visits,” says Vancouver-based family physician and BCCFP President, Dr. Justine Spencer.
“This is affirmed by the hundreds of letters we have received from patients sharing how essential their family doctor is to their overall health and quality of life.”
“We launched our awards program as a way to celebrate the exceptional work of family physicians across the province,” says Dr. Spencer. “We received hundreds of nominations for the My Family Doctor awards, this year. Sadly, we also continue to receive messages from people desperate to find a family doctor.”
“In their nomination letters, the public told us that they value the relationships they are able to build with their family doctors, as well as their medical expertise,” says Dr. Spencer. “We’re continuing our advocacy work to create a more sustainable career for family physicians and provide all British Columbians with access to high-quality, culturally safe care.”
About the Award Recipients:
My Family Doctor Award
- Dr. Ingrid Cosio – Prince George
- Dr. Paul Graham – Chilliwack
- Dr. Sheldon Howard – Vancouver
- Dr. Anna Mason – Victoria
- Dr. Ella Monro – Princeton
BCCFP members also recognized Dr. Jennifer Lush (Victoria) as BC Family Physician of the Year, Dr. Bradley Little (Vancouver) as the First Five Years of Practice award recipient and five exceptional family medicine residents in the following categories:
- R2 Resident Award: Rachel Cook (Kamloops), Dr. Robin Craven (Surrey South Fraser) and Dr. Cassia Tremblay (Kootenay Boundary)
- Dr. Manoo and Jean Gurjar Award: Dr. Arielle Roberts (Campbell River) and Dr. Nique Seper (Vancouver Island)
Read more about our award recipients here.
About the BC College of Family Physicians
The BCCFP is a not-for-profit organization that supports family physicians and advocates for the future of family medicine. We are the home of family medicine in BC, providing leadership, support, advocacy and education for more than 7,000 members from across the province. The BCCFP celebrates the specialty of family medicine and the excellence in patient care family doctors provide. Our members include family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students interested in pursuing a career in family medicine.
For more information, or to arrange an interview with any of the award recipients, contact:
Erin Murtagh, BCCFP Communications Manager
[email protected]
604-802-0981
Below are sized images for socials. Please tag our associated accounts so we can thank you for sharing!
- Twitter – @BCCFP
- Facebook – BC College of Family Physicians
- Instagram – @bccollegeoffamilyphysicians
- LinkedIn – BC College of Family Physicians
Sized for Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn:
Individual images:
- My Family Doctor Award – Dr. Ella Monro (Princeton)
- R2 Award – Dr. Rachel Cook (Kamloops)
- R2 Award – Dr. Cassia Tremblay (Kootenay Boundary)
Sized for Instagram (square):
Individual images:
- My Family Doctor Award – Dr. Ella Monro (Princeton)
- R2 Award – Dr. Rachel Cook (Kamloops)
- R2 Award – Dr. Cassia Tremblay (Kootenay Boundary)