FMC MSA PHYSICIAN ENGAGEMENT GRANTS

In Fall 2019 the FMC MSA launched the physician Engagement Grants, which aim to encourage active citizenship by providing FMC MSA members with funds to implement creative projects that foster engagement and community at FMC. Applications are accepted from December To January each year.

The call for 2024 applications has closed

Stay tuned to find out which exciting projects are coming up!

Previous Recipients

2023 Recipients:

Dr. Bretton Hari

For the Calgary Department of Emergency Medicine Hodsman Legacy Lecture. The Hodsman Legacy Lecture is an annual lecture series dedicated to providing expert teaching in Emergency Medicine, and this year took place on April 20, 2023. The series started to honour our late colleague, Dr. Mike Hodsman and his great love of learning, and each year we honour the career contributions of another valued colleague in the department who has recently retired. This year, Dr. David Johnson was highlighted for his outstanding career in the Calgary Department of Emergency Medicine as a Pediatric Emergency Physician and Medical Toxicologist. We were also excited to host our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Timothy Erickson, Emergency Physician and Division Chief of Toxicology at Harvard Medical School. Along with our local toxicologists Dr. Mark Yarema, Dr. Scott Lucyk, and Dr. Eric McGillis, the four speakers reviewed a number of key toxicologic presentations, both common and uncommon; and Dr. Erickson reviewed the global health implications of biochemical poisoning in his recent time spent in Ukraine. The morning was well attended with ~150 physicians, residents, learners and allied health care professionals, in person and via Zoom; and generally very positive feedback.

Dr. Rabiya Jalil and Dr. Clark Svrcek

The project aims to assess physician and allied health attitudes toward sustainable, lower-carbon healthcare provision while offering some education on sustainable healthcare and an immediate, reduced-carbon-footprint and environment-friendly alternative to a daily piece of PPE: a Canadian-made biodegradable/compostable face mask.

Reducing our carbon footprint – one face mask at a time. Did you know that in 2020 there were 129 billion masks being thrown out globally every month? That is 3 million masks a minute. These masks have unfortunately found themselves in many unwanted spaces, including thousands of reported incidents of animals ingesting or entangling themselves in our human masks. Traditional single use masks do not disintegrate but much like other single-use plastic items they turn into microplastics. A compostable mask can offer the same protection (ASTM Level 3) as a single use mask PLUS it has the ability to compost in a municipal composting program. Over their life cycle a compostable mask will also provide a 65% reduction in carbon emissions compared to a traditional mask.  This is just one way in which we can be stewards of our health care community and make the environment safer and healthier for all.

Try a compostable mask today!  They are available in the FMC doc's lounge along with a QR code linked to a survey to provide feedback on the product and sustainability initiative.

Dr. Cathlin Mutch

For a team-based scavenger hunt around the FMC complex, to be held in the spring of 2024. Stay tuned for more updates!

2022 recipients: Dr. Eddy Lang & Dr. BRetton HAri

For the Calgary Department of Emergency Medicine Hodsman Legacy Lecture held on April 21, 2022 featuring Keynote Speaker, Dr. Anton Helman who is well known as the founder, editor-in-chief, and host of the popular EM Cases Podcast. Also, Dr. Bruce Macleod was highlighted for his excellent clinical career complemented by many administrative and leadership accomplishments. 

2021 Recipients: Dr. Eddy LAng & Dr. Marcie VeitCH

For the Calgary Department of Emergency Medicine Hodsman Legacy Lecture held on March 11, 2021, featuring keynote speaker was Dr. Esther Choo from the Oregon Health Sciences University.  She spoke in Health Equity in the ED. 

2020 Recipient:  Dr. Chandra Thomas

The 2019 FMC MSA Engagement Grant was awarded to paint a vibrant mural at FMC. Unfortunately, COVID scuttled these plans. After heading back to the drawing board, the project took on new life and we came up with a way for us to express our appreciation for our colleagues with custom Gratitude Cards. Mike Paget from UME painted the pictures and Dr. David Terrif, Psychiatrist, provided the quote. The cards were distributed to the members of the FMC Medical Staff Association with the hope of nurturing a culture of gratitude sharing amongst the medical staff at FMC.