March 12, 2019 – Scotiabank, MD Financial Management and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) are uniting on a nation-wide priority for the medical profession and announcing a contribution of $1.6M to develop new physician-wellness resources.
Under the leadership of Dr. Jane Lemaire from the University of Calgary, and with the support of the Alberta Medical Association and the W21C Research and Innovation Centre at the University of Calgary, the existing Well Doc Alberta program will expand its reach and generate new resources to address physician wellness. This will lead to a unique pan-provincial approach, connecting relevant people, programs and organizations at the provincial and national levels in order to promote greater collaboration, enhance expertise, and augment resources.
Well Doc Alberta offers a collaborative approach to physician wellness, with a stated vision of shaping the future of physician wellness, together.
“An investment in Well Doc Alberta is of national importance as this program can eventually be scaled up to other provinces/territories and will inform a national physician wellness strategy being spearheaded by the CMA” said Dr. Gigi Osler, president of the CMA.
“The AMA and CMA have committed to working together on initiatives that advance our shared priorities and Well Doc Alberta is a great example of this. We recognize the importance of advancing physician wellness through an expanded Well Doc Alberta program and, by working collaboratively with the AMA Physician and Family Support Program, we will provide Alberta physicians with an incredibly strong support system that allows them to feel respected and valued,” adds Dr. Alison Clarke, Alberta Medical Association president
“Scotiabank’s contribution to Well Doc Alberta is ultimately an investment in the wellbeing of all Canadian physicians,” said Glen Gowland, Executive Vice President, Global Wealth Management at Scotiabank. “We are proud to support Dr. Jane Lemaire and her partners at the AMA and University of Calgary, and to help support the CMA’s strategic vision of a vibrant profession.”
Dr. Lemaire is a trusted Canadian voice in the realm of physician wellness. Her team’s 2018 article on the subject, entitled "Understanding How Patients Perceive Physician Wellness and its Links to Patient Care: A Qualitative Study," was called the year’s most impactful paper in the field by Stanford University, which awarded Lemaire its Physician Well-being Article Award.
The contribution, to be distributed over three years, is the first in a series of meaningful contributions Scotiabank, MD and the CMA will make to Canada’s medical profession as part of the 10-year affinity agreement.
About Affinity contributions
Scotiabank, MD Financial Management (MD) and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) together are firmly committed to supporting the medical profession and advancing health in Canada. As proof of this commitment, and in collaboration with the CMA and MD, Scotiabank will invest $115 million over the next 10 years to support physicians and the communities they serve across Canada.
About Scotiabank
About MD Financial Management
About Alberta Medical Association -
About Well Doc Alberta
About the University of Calgary
About W21C Research and Innovation Centre (W21C)