ZONE NEWS

Scroll down to view a collection of updates, news and upcoming events relevant to physicians across Alberta.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Wellness

For more, follow on X (formerly Twitter): 
@CSM_PESJO

Online events, webinars, courses and conferences:

  • July 16, 12:00 – 1:30pm MT:   The Alliance against Violence & Adversity (AVA) Webinar Series presents Creating a Culture of Consent: Being an Engaged Bystander. This webinar explores the root causes of sexual violence and factors that may prevent people from intervening, and provides strategies to address harassment in ways that empower the person experiencing harm. Details and registration here

  • July 29, 11:00am – 12:00pm MT: The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion presents a webinar on Five years and forward: Black Lives Still Matter. The webinar will explore how the murder of George Floyd sparked both global and Canadian responses, and how it exposed deeper issues of racial injustice, silence from institutions and widespread calls for change, shaping how DEIA work is approached today. AHS is a partner with CCDI and those registering with an AHS email can attend at no cost by selecting ‘employer partner’. Details and registration here

  • July 31 – Aug. 1: The Canadian Black Scientists Network presents its annual conference, Black Excellence in Science, Technology, Mathematics, Medicine & Health (BE-STEMM 2025). Taking place at the University of Calgary EEEL building, this conference includes multi-disciplinary STEMM talks, posters, career development, and networking. Special rates for trainees!

    Articles and resources:

  • The 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability collected data on experiences of persons with disabilities and found that 27% of Canadians had one or more disabilities that limited them in their daily activities. 

  • The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta recently developed an online course for physicians to learn about microaggressions particularly in healthcare settings, why they are harmful, and how to respond. Learn more here or sign into the CPSA’s online learning platform, MyCPSA.

  • MedScape published a recent article on Shifting the Narrative in Women’s Health. The article highlights some discouraging statistics such as women are seven times more likely to be discriminated against by a healthcare provider and that while women constitute 70% of patients with chronic pain, 80% of pain medication research is conducted on men or male animals.

    Recordings of recent webinars, podcasts and presentations:

  • The Lancet has a recorded video examining the disparities, frequently exacerbated by intersectionality, that impact women’s healthcare globally.

  • Past webinars presented by the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health are available for viewing with some recent webinars focusing on advancing health equity.

     

Physician Wellness

Resources available to support you in your wellness:

Well Doc Alberta
Well Doc Alberta is an initiative aimed at advancing a collaborative, co-operative, pan-provincial approach to physician wellness. Their work, focused on education and prevention, is supported by the science of physician wellness and driven by need. Well Doc works with physicians at the grassroots level and with leadership to grow capacity, empower change, shift culture, and achieve their vision of “Shaping the future of physician wellness, together.”

Alberta Medical Association Physician & Family Support Program
The AMA's Physician and Family Support Program provides confidential support and help with personal health issues and enhances the quality of patient care and public safety by promoting health and well-being for the medical profession that cares for all Albertans. More resources are posted on the AMA website link above.

Their phone line is available for you at any time:
1.877.SOS.4MDS (767.4637)
International: 403.930.0529 (you may call collect)
CONFIDENTIAL 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year

Canadian Medical Association Physician Wellness Hub
This Hub provides reliable wellness tools and resources to empower physicians, medical learners and leaders to create change in the culture of medicine.

Community Collect YYC
Community Connect YYC is a collaborative of Calgary-based agencies committed to helping community members quickly and easily access mental health and other social support services.

Vital Signs

Vital Signs began in 1996 as a black-and-white stapled newsletter. It evolved over the years, eventually becoming a sleek and modern digital magazine until it was discontinued in 2020. To learn more about the history of Vital Signs and those who helped create it over the years, take a look at the final issue.

Archives
Click on links below to view each year's issues in pdf format.