In recognition of integral role physicians play in the health system, the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) has established three leadership awards – one each for Physician, Resident and Student Leader of the Year.
The inaugural awards were presented Friday at the SMA’s 2019 Fall Representative Assembly in Saskatoon. The awards, which recognize outstanding achievement in leading Saskatchewan physicians, align with the SMA’s strategic priority to “grow effective physician leaders.”
The awards will be presented annually at the fall RA.
The recipients are:
*Physician Leader of the Year for 2019: Dr. Julie Kryzanowski
*Resident Leader of the Year Award for 2019: Dr. Jessica Harris
*Student Leader of the Year for 2019: Dr. Jacqueline Carverhill
“The SMA is proud of the three recipients of the inaugural leadership awards and we will encourage and support them to continue to be leaders within the health system,” said Dr. Allan Woo, president of the SMA. “Not only is Dr. Julie Kryzanowski a leader within the Saskatchewan Health Authority today, but the resident and student award recipients, Drs. Jessica Harris and Jacqueline Carverhill, will be leaders of tomorrow as they embark on their careers. The three women represent a standard all physicians should strive for and reflect the diversity we see today within the medical profession.”
SMA Physician Leader of the Year for 2019: Dr. Julie Kryzanowski:
Dr. Julie Kryzanowski is the first Senior Medical Health Officer of the new Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Originally from Humboldt, she graduated from Queen’s University medical school in 2006, and completed family medicine and public health and preventative medicine specialty training in Calgary. She came to Saskatoon in 2011 as deputy medical health officer.
As deputy medical health officer, Dr. Kryzanowski worked to improve the lives of the city’s most vulnerable, leading partnerships and developing health promotion strategies that are recognized across Canada for their innovation.
In her new role she set up a new public health structure while providing advice at all levels as the SHA takes shape. She has been a leader among medical health officers to ensure new health networks are fully prepared to advance disease prevention and health promotion to all residents of Saskatchewan.
SMA Resident Leader of the Year Award for 2019: Dr. Jessica Harris:
Dr. Jessica Harris is training as a family medicine resident in Saskatoon. Her interest in politics led to the position of chair of the Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee with the Student Medical Society of Saskatchewan. She engaged students across Canada in advocacy work, and was later elected vice-president of government affairs for the Canadian Federation of Medical Students.
As a resident, Jessica has served on the executive of resident and physician organizations, including Resident Doctors of Saskatchewan, the College of Family Physicians of Canada Section of Residents Council, the College of Medicine PGME Committee and the Saskatchewan College of Family Physicians board of directors.
She chaired the 2018 Saskatchewan Family Medicine Resident Retreat planning committee, and was the resident representative on the Health Quality Council group that developed physician panel reports.
SMA Student Leader of the Year for 2019: Dr. Jacqueline Carverhill:
Dr. Jacqueline Carverhill is a 2019 graduate of the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan.
As a student she focused on serving those who are disadvantaged, ignored or oppressed in society. She is committed to social justice and equitable population health.
Dr. Carverhill has organized forums at the College of Medicine to engage students with MPs and MLAs. She was elected the Student Medical Society of Saskatchewan Government Affairs and Advocacy Representative, expanding the role to include a provincial lobby day. On that day she and other students drove in a blizzard to Regina to impress upon the health minister the need for universal coverage of antiretroviral therapy for all HIV-positive patients (which the government later adopted).
She is a founding member of two organizations – Upstream (Campus group) and Grits for Grieving Guys. She was also one of 40 people selected in the CBC’s Top 40 Under 40 feature of Saskatchewan future leaders.
The Saskatchewan Medical Association (www.sma.sk.ca) is a voluntary, member-based, professional association for physicians, medical students and residents in the province and it is the provincial chapter of the Canadian Medical Association. As the trusted voice of Saskatchewan’s more than 2,400 practising physicians, the SMA negotiates for and on behalf of doctors; supports the educational, professional, economic and personal well-being of physicians; and advocates for a high-quality and patient-centred health-care system.
