ZONE NEWS

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

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Wellness

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@CSM_PESJO

Online events, webinars, courses and conferences:

  • Treaty 7 was signed on Sept. 22, 1877, between the Government of Canada and five First Nations: the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Tsuut’ina, and Stoney Nakoda Nations. The Crown and the Indigenous Nations held very different understandings of the agreement (sharing vs surrendering the land, among other misunderstandings). Treaty 7 remains a living agreement with rights and responsibilities that continue today. Join UCalgary’s Office of Indigenous Engagement (OIE) for two special virtual events in recognition of Treaty 7 Day:

    • Sept. 22, 12:00 – 1:30pm MT: Register for an online screening of a documentary produced by OIE in partnership with Blackfoot Crossing, followed by a Q&A session with a Blackfoot knowledge keeper to learn more about our Treaty relations. Register here

    • Sept. 22, 12:00 – 1:30pm MT: Join a webinar with Regena Crowchild in conversation with Jonathon Brewer, Specialist, Cultural Protocols, to discuss the history of Treaty, and the Treaty Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Register here

  • Sept. 23, 10:00 – 11:00am MT:  The National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health presents a webinar, A Different Kind of Health Equity: Highlights from the 4th NCCDH Environmental Scan. This webinar will explore current public health actions, key challenges, and practical opportunities to address the structural determinants of health and advance health equity action from where you are. Details and registration here

    Articles and Resources:

  • The Equi’Vision data visualization tool offers easy-to-use, comparable information about workforce representation and pay gaps among federally regulated employers. It helps users see trends in employment equity for women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and visible minorities across Canada. 

  • Two students of CSM’s Community Engaged Learning program recently published a policy brief, Equity in Canadian Mental Health Trials: How Canada’s Most Influential Psychiatric Medications Trials Record, Race, Ethnicity, Sex, Gender, and Indigenous Identity, and what Policy can do to Close the Gap. The brief authors recommend a consistent national framework that requires researchers to collect, analyze, and report demographic information using categories appropriate to the Canadian context.

  • The UN Human Rights recently released Navigating the Pushback against Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: A Business and Human Rights Analysis. This brief examines recent trends and debates relating to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the corporate world, through a business and human rights perspective. It looks at real-life consequences of DEI reversals and showcases good practices of companies that have remained committed to EDI.

    Recordings of recent webinars, podcasts and presentations:

  • The Canadian Poverty, Health Equity, and Climate Change initiative and the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health hosted a webinar that explored the connections between poverty, the climate crisis, women’s health, and health equity.

  • The Docs With Disabilities Podcast has released a three-part series that examines the consequential decisions that disabled healthcare providers make about whether, when, and how to disclose a disability. Episode One focuses on the Decision to Disclose. Episode Two discusses Medical Culture, Stigma, and What Prevents Disclosure. Episode Three looks at Creating the Conditions for Disclosure.

  • Late in ‘88 is a podcast hosted by Bronwin Parks and Elinor Svoboda, two friends from grade school who share their experiences of growing up queer and gender non-conforming in Calgary in the 1980s and ‘90s. The podcast series hosts special guests and experts including grade school classmates, curriculum professors, clinical psychologists, and experts in their fields.

     

     

Physician Wellness

Resources available to support you in your wellness:

The Well Doc Initiative
The Well Doc Initiative (comprised of “Well Doc Alberta” and “Well Doc Canada”) is a non-profit organization that advances a collaborative, co-operative approach to physician wellness by working with interested groups and organizations across Canada. They aim to help physicians, physician groups, and healthcare system leaders embed policies, practices, and programs in their healthcare systems to proactively enhance the wellness of physicians across Canada.

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.