Family Doctors Celebrated as the Foundation of Health Care
BC College of Family Physicians names Dr. Anna Mason as Island Health’s My Family Doctor Award Recipient
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VANCOUVER (May 10, 2023) – The BC College of Family Physicians (BCCFP) today announced Dr. Anna Mason as the recipient of the My Family Doctor Award for Island Health.
Each year, five family physicians receive the patient-nominated award which celebrates the doctor-patient relationship that supports good health.
Dr. Mason places importance on knowing all of her patients’ stories to give context for care, with one patient sharing how “[Dr. Mason] believed in me and saw the potential I still had to recover and make positive changes in my life when it felt like I had no hope left. If it was not for Dr. Mason I would likely not be graduating this spring!”
Dr. Mason sits on the Victoria Division of Family Practice Board and is involved in the development of the Victoria Primary Care Network as one of the co-leads for her neighbourhood.
One nominator wrote that they have “repeatedly been impressed not only with Dr. Mason’s knowledge about her fellow doctors and her desire to see them succeed, but the fact that she has gone out of her way to be a coach and support for the success of clinics in which she has no financial interest.”
Dr. Mason also feels strongly about supporting the existing Patient Medical Homes in Victoria and is an “advocate for improving the accessibility of primary care services to ‘unattached patients’ in her geographic area and interested in leveraging existing technology to close these gaps, improving outcomes for all.”
Dr. Jennifer Lush, also practicing in Victoria, was named the BC Family Physician of the Year. According to one of her peers, Dr. Lush has “selflessly changed the landscape of family medicine in BC for the better.”
Dr. Arielle Roberts, training in Campbell River, and Dr. Nique Seper, training across Vancouver Island, are Family Medicine Residents at UBC and the recipients of this year’s Dr. Manoo and Jean Gurjar Award.
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
erin.murtagh@bccfp.bc.ca
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. Anna Mason (Victoria)
- BC Family Physician of the Year – Dr. Jennifer Lush (Victoria)
- Dr. Manoo and Jean Gurjar Award – Dr. Arielle Roberts (Campbell River)
- Dr. Manoo and Jean Gurjar Award – Dr. Nique Seper (Vancouver Island)
