2023 Awards Press Kit – Vancouver

2023 Awards Press Kit – Vancouver

 

Family Doctors Celebrated as the Foundation of Health Care
BC College of Family Physicians names 2023 award recipients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VANCOUVER (May 10, 2023) – The BC College of Family Physicians (BCCFP) has announced the recipients of its annual awards program which recognizes the incredible work of family physicians across BC.

Dr. Jennifer Lush of Victoria has been named BC Family Physician of the Year and Dr. Bradley Little of Vancouver is the recipient of the First Five Years in Practice Award. Both were nominated by fellow family physicians in recognition of their exemplary patient care and excellence in family medicine.

Five family physicians received this year’s patient-nominated My Family Doctor Award which celebrates the doctor-patient relationship that supports good health.

The recipients – one from each geographic health region in BC – are: Dr. Ingrid Cosio (Prince George), Dr. Paul Graham (Chilliwack), Dr. Sheldon Howard (Vancouver), Dr. Anna Mason (Victoria) and Dr. Ella Monro (Prince George).

The awards program also recognizes residents of UBC’s Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Rachel Cook (Kamloops), Dr. Robin Craven (Surrey South Fraser) and Dr. Cassia Tremblay (Kootenay Boundary) were awarded the R2 Resident Award while Dr. Arielle Roberts (Campbell River) and Dr. Nique Seper (Vancouver Island) were awarded the Dr. Manoo and Jean Gurjar Award.

The announcement comes ahead of Family Doctor Day on May 19. 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 doctor 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:

BC Family Physician of the Year – Dr. Jennifer Lush (Victoria)

First Five Years of Practice Award – Dr. Bradley Little (Vancouver)

My Family Doctor Award:

  • Ingrid Cosio – Prince George
  • Paul Graham – Chilliwack
  • Sheldon Howard – Vancouver
  • Anna Mason – Victoria
  • Ella Monro – Princeton

BCCFP members also recognized 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)
  • 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, please contact:

Erin Murtagh, BCCFP Communications Manager
erin.murtagh@bccfp.bc.ca
604-802-0981

 

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