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:

  • Dec. 2, 11:00am – 12:00pm MT: The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion presents a virtual workshop, Strengthening our Workplace Culture Through Psychosocial Safety. This webinar will explore how to mitigate workplace psychosocial hazards through equity, accessibility and inclusion approaches. 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

  • Dec. 3, 5:00 – 8:00pm MT: CSM’s Science in the Cinema, at the Calgary Central Library, is showing Low Priority, sequel to the 2023 film, Low.  This fictional narrative film offers a compelling portrayal of the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness when accessing medical care for their diabetes within a pressured healthcare system and will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker and medical specialists/researchers.  Details and registration here

  • Dec. 10, 12:00 – 1:30pm MT:  The Alliance against Violence & Adversity (AVA) presents a webinar on From Allies to Actors: Engaging Men and Boys in Gender Justice. The speaker will connect the research on masculinities to real‑world practice – youth programs, educator training, and workplace interventions – and show how these efforts reduce harm, strengthen relationships, and improve wellbeing. Details and registration here

Articles and Resources:

  • Coursera, a global online learning platform that offers access to high-quality online courses, has a free three-module course on Health Across the Gender Spectrum.  The course includes illustrated stories and short teaching videos to help learners gain a better understanding of gender identity and the gender spectrum, and Stanford University physicians, K-12 educators, and transgender faculty members offer practical tips for parents, teachers, healthcare providers, and allies on creating a more gender-expansive environment.

  • Despite what social/mainstream media and some political parties may say, results from the most recent Survey on Employment and Skills shows that most Canadians view EDI measures in the workplace positively. The survey results show strong support among equity-deserving groups, younger workers and those with positive job experiences. Read the full report here

  • The Black Women's Institute for Health has released Voices Unheard: Canada’s First National Health Survey of Black Women and Girls. The report describes the lived experience of Black women, girls, and gender-diverse people across the social determinants of health, from accessing healthcare to navigating mental wellness, employment, education, and more.

    Recordings of recent webinars, podcasts and presentations:

  • A recording of a recent webinar, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility (EDIA) in Health Professions Education: Implications for Health Learning Systems and Public Health, hosted by the CSM Department of Community Health Sciences and the O’Brien Institute for Public Health and presented by Dr. Aliya Kassam explores how the individual, programmatic, systemic and structural influences in health professions education can assist in the culture change of higher education institutions and healthcare services alike.

  • Every 48 hours in Canada, a woman or girl is killed in an act of gender-based violence (GBV). The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (Nov 25- Dec 10) is an international campaign that encourages people around the world to unite and take action to prevent and end violence against women and girls. GBV can take many forms, including physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and financial abuse, as well as stalking, harassment, and technology-facilitated violence.

     

    In Canada, Dec. 6 is proclaimed as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, a day that commemorates the 14 women murdered at Polytechnique Montréal in 1989. Honour the victims by wearing a white ribbon and observing a moment of silence at 11:00am.  On Dec. 5 at 12:15, UCalgary is hosting a ceremony in Engineering Main Atrium as a way of recognizing and supporting action against widespread violence committed against women in our society. A livestream of the ceremony will be available for anyone unable to attend in-person. Details here

     

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.