From an administrative perspective, one of the highlights achieved by the membership was building the largest Alternate Relationship Plan (ARP) in Internal Medicine in the country which has significantly aided recruitment and retention, both within the ARP and non ARP settings. Since 2002, the DOM has recruited 155 members and 15 adjunct members, of which almost 2/3 are in geographic full or part time positions. All the new members have academic appointments with the University of Calgary (U of C) and are engaged in the teaching of our residents and clerks, providing a rich and enduring learning environment for trainees. The DOM membership has grown from being 12% female to 34% female, which has further enriched our membership. Retention was enhanced by the development of a focus on physician wellness and work-life balance and the Senior Physician Initiative (SPI), providing a means to pass on the wisdom and clinical acumen of members who are entering a new phase of their careers. Several new awards were created to recognize Clinical Excellence and in turn recognizing and honouring the early pioneers of Internal Medicine in Calgary. Additional awards were created to recognize members’ contributions in Innovation, Quality and Professionalism, reminding us of our contract with society to deliver the best quality care possible.
From an innovation perspective, the DOM was able to secure funding from Alberta Health and Wellness (AH&W) to launch 18 new innovations in clinical care delivery – new specialty clinics, the use of Alternate Care Providers, new inpatient units, adoption of new guidelines, and Central Access and Triage, allowing unique care delivery models. These initiatives have all served to improve access and reduce wait times for specialty care. We have witnessed the conception, gestation and birth of the Ward of the 21st Century (W21C) and its twin ‘Living Laboratory' within the TRW Building which has established itself as a novel and unique testing ground for future innovations in care delivery.
Clinical enhancements have included the splitting and development of new Medical Teaching Units, the development of General Medical Units, the opening of one of the country’s first Medicine – Psychiatry Units, the first Clinic devoted to Chronic Disease Management, a novel Clinic for Mind Body Medicine and a robust Telehealth Service which is used by many disciplines to provide specialty care to rural Albertans. Most recently, members have begun participating in Outreach Clinics, interacting with our Primary Care colleagues and providing specialty care to special populations. The latter will serve as a new rotation for our core residents providing a unique clinical and learning environment.
From an educational perspective, we have seen a doubling in the size of our core internal medicine training program with several new rotations which enhance the learning environment, the development of several subspecialty Advanced Fellowships, the ARP enabled Clinical Scholar Program, the pioneering deployment of the International Medical Graduate Program within the Department and the growth of several members who have pursued Master’s degrees in Medical Education.
Academically, the DOM pooled its resources and has developed the modest but important Research Development Fund aimed at members within the first five years of their appointment, the combined Department of Surgery-Department of Medicine Research Development Fund, the Research Fellowship Program and worked with the Reach! campaign and Institutes to develop many new Endowments and Endowed Chairs, some of which are now coming to fruition. We have seen the development of an academic Division of Dermatology in Calgary which recently opened its doors as the first new Dermatology Training Program in Canada in over two decades, with a focus on medical dermatology. Several members have successfully competed for Canada Research Chairs, CIHR salary awards, AHFMR salary awards and Endowed Chair positions, supported by their respective Institutes.
The Department has benefited significantly from strong and capable leadership from its Division Chiefs, Site Chiefs, Program Directors, Vice Chairs, Division Site Leads, managerial and administrative staff and the support of the Faculty and Region - now Alberta Health Services.
In the end, what drives us forward, epitomizing and capturing so well our work as physicians are the words of Sir William Osler, reminding us what it is all about:
"To prevent disease, to relieve suffering and to heal the sick. This is our work"
I would like to thank the members of the DOM for their support and dedication to these ideals. It has been an inspiration for me and it has been a great honour and privilege to have served the membership of this Department.
In closing, I would like to end with a very appropriate quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes as the Department moves into the future to face new challenges.
"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving - to reach port we must sail sometimes with the wind, sometimes against it but we must sail, not drift nor lie at anchor"