Nova Scotians care about their doctors and want to celebrate the qualities that make them special. These stories highlight the great work local physicians are doing across the province, showcasing their expertise and leadership within health care, and within their communities.
For Halifax neurologist Dr. Kerrie Schoffer, virtual care is key to providing good care for her patients with Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. “I often get to meet their whole family and gain much more of an understanding of the patient as a whole,” she says.
Family physician Dr. Brent Young is committed to making medicine more inclusive and equitable for Indigenous people. “The hope is to see more Indigenous folks coming into medicine in the Maritimes,” he says.
Mentoring medical learners is helping Dr. Michelle Dow attract and retain physicians for her rural area, ensuring that her practice has the doctors needed to care for the community today, and a pathway to nurture and sustain physicians into the future.
For nearly 30 years, family physician Dr. Sue Atkinson has served Nova Scotia’s two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus community, helping patients who are transitioning navigate a stressful process that involves long wait times.
For family physician Dr. Simran Ohson, having long-term relationships with his patients has been invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for people facing loneliness and isolation.
Halifax nephrologist Dr. Tammy Keough-Ryan provides care to people with end-stage kidney disease who receive the gift of life through organ donation.