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This week’s Vitals is 1,398 words or a 5 minute read. If you only have 1 minute, here are the highlights:
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HSC Security: Many physicians, students and residents who work and study on the campus reached out, and this week we are sharing what we heard and the advice we’re offering to make the entire hospital and university campus safer and more welcoming.
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New Med Class: Welcome to 140 new first year medical students! We’re excited to see the larger class size again this year!
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Become a Mentor: With a record class size, we need more residents and physicians to sign up as mentors.
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Annual Membership Renewal: Most members received a renewal notice last week, and the renewal now includes an easy way to claim rebates and benefits, plus you can donate to a new Medical School bursary!
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COVID Shots Approved: Health Canada has approved new COVID vaccines for this season, plus a reminder we have a webinar with public health scheduled on Sept. 11!
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Plus... we have updates on SWIM, CMA leadership opportunities, and more.
Also, don’t forget about our SummerToba Getting Healthy challenge. You can join thousands of Manitobans who have entered the challenge to improve their health this summer for a chance to win great prizes. Plus, this initiative is all about showcasing physicians’ expertise in medicine and health and how much you care about Manitobans’ well-being.
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Last Chance - Golf Tournament Registration
Last call to register for our Getting Healthy Golf Tournament by this Thursday, August 28. We’ll see you on the greens on September 2! Warm up at the practice facilities, enjoy lunch and dinner, and play a best-ball round with your team across 18 holes at Southwood Golf and Country Club!
🎊 Connect with colleagues and join us for a chance to win some great prizes, including restaurant and golf gift cards, a GPS speaker, free rounds of golf, and even a shot at winning a car!
⛳ We'll be joined by Brett White, winner of the 2025 Commissionaires Ottawa Open after the biggest comeback in PGA Tour history – including shooting a 59 in his final round!
đź©ş Proceeds will go to the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba and the Getting Healthy public awareness initiative created by Doctors Manitoba.
We extend our gratitude to presenting sponsors: the Canadian Medical Association, MD Financial Management and Scotiabank, and platinum sponsor Bokhaut CPA.
Register by this Thursday (August 28) at noon to secure your spot or team.
Learn more here!
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HSC Security Update
Thank you to the many physicians, students, and residents who work and study on the HSC campus for sharing your experiences and concerns about safety and security. We have carefully reviewed your submissions and have shared an anonymized summary directly with senior leaders in health care, the university, and provincial justice officials, with the goal of making the campus safer for everyone -- physically, psychologically, and culturally.
We are providing an update today on what we heard from members, and the preliminary recommendations and advice we’ve submitted to health, university, and justice officials to inform immediate visible action that promotes and safe and welcoming environment. We have also joined efforts with Shared Health and the University to improve safety on the campus.
Read the full story here.
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Welcome Med Students!
We are excited to welcome the new expanded class of med students in Manitoba! On Wednesday, August 20, the Max Rady College of Medicine hosted the school’s Inaugural Day Exercises and White Coat Ceremony. The 2029 class comprises 140 students, and members range in age from 20 to 43. The class includes 11 Indigenous students and 53 students with rural attributes, meaning that they have rural roots or rural work, volunteer or leadership experience. One French-speaking student is enrolled in the bilingual stream.
The Inaugural Day Exercises included the ceremonial cloaking of the students in their first white coats and the recitation of the Physician’s Pledge.
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Become a Mentor!
Residents and practicing physicians are invited to take part in the medical learner Mentorship Program. Mentors receive support throughout from Doctors Manitoba with mentorship events and opportunities to take part in training tailored to mentors. No previous mentoring experience is required.
Learn more about how to get involved and the impact you can have within Manitoba’s medical community.
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Annual Membership Renewal Due September 18
Plus, there’s a special chance to contribute to the future of medicine! By donating to the new Doctors Manitoba Student Bursary at the University of Manitoba, you can help students across Manitoba take bold steps toward becoming the doctors our communities rely on. For many aspiring physicians, the journey through medical school comes with overwhelming financial pressure and this bursary has been established to help them. You will be able to contribute during your renewal, or you can click here to donate. All donations will receive a tax receipt.
We are well on our way toward our fundraising goal thanks to your generous support. Your contribution will help level the playing field and ensure a stronger, more inclusive future for health care in Manitoba.
➡ Click here to renew your membership, claim your rebates, and donate to the new Student Bursary. (Portal Log-in required)
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COVID Shots Approved for Fall
Health Canada has authorized updated COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and BioNTech and by Moderna for use this respiratory virus season, as the Canadian Press reports. News releases from both Pfizer and Moderna say the new mRNA shots will target the LP.8.1 variant, a descendant of Omicron that the World Health Organization was monitoring earlier this year.
đź“… Webinar Reminder: Join us for a webinar in partnership with Manitoba Public Health on Thursday, September 11 at 12 p.m, to discuss preparing for the upcoming respiratory season. Click here to register.
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SWIM Surgery Update
The Surgical Waitlist Information Management (SWIM) application is now live across surgeon offices and surgical sites throughout Manitoba. A recent bulletin from Shared Health reports that more than 360 providers are actively using SWIM Access to Care (ATC) to add surgical cases to their waitlists. The system also enables seamless electronic submission of cases to 23 hospitals and health centres across the province. The Surgeon Self-Directed Learning Guide will walk you through each step of accessing the application, interpreting your dashboard, and understanding the waitlist view.
Questions? Reach out to SWIM@sharedhealthmb.ca.
At Doctors Manitoba, we are aware that SWIM has created some additional administrative burden for surgeons’ offices. Please continue to keep in touch with us via practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca with your concerns, so we can share them with Shared Health and advocate for simpler and more integrated approaches.
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CFPC Seeking Accreditation Reviewers
The Office of Continuing Competency and Assessment is seeking additional accreditation reviewers. This rewarding opportunity allows you to play a key role in supporting high-quality continuing professional development (CPD) by ensuring educational activities are accurate, evidence-based, and aligned with national standards.
Learn more here and apply by emailing contactcca@umanitoba.ca.
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Saskatchewan Medical Association EDI Conference
You’re invited to register for the Saskatchewan Medical Association’s upcoming 2025 Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Conference, taking place September 26–27, 2025, at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina. This year’s theme, “The Intersectionality of EDI and Physician Wellbeing,” offers a timely and important exploration of how inclusive practices directly impact physician health, engagement, and retention.
Learn more here and register today!
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CMA Leadership Opportunities
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is looking for members from various provinces and territories and medical learners, including Manitoba, who are interested in applying for these leadership vacancies with an initial term starting in 2026.
Learn more about these leadership opportunities and how to apply.
The deadline for eligible members to apply for all of these positions is Dec. 29, 2025.
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Peer Support for Physicians: Evidence and Ways to Access Support
In a profession where stress, isolation, and burnout are common, the support of a peer who truly understands can be transformative. Over the last several years, Doctors Manitoba has been working with physician leaders to improve physician health through the implementation of evidence-based services and interventions.
On Tuesday, September 16, from 5 – 5:45 p.m., Doctors Manitoba will host a virtual session with Dr. Alexis Botkin, Physician and Medical Learner Health and Wellness Consultant, on the evidence for Peer Support and the different ways for physicians in Manitoba to Access Peer Support in Manitoba. We hope you’ll consider joining us and sharing the invitation with your network of colleagues.
Learn more and register here.
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Dr. Catherine Cook Named to Winnipeg Citizens Hall of Fame
Congratulations are in order to Dr. Catherine Cook, named as the 2025 inductee to the Winnipeg Citizens Hall of Fame! She is the 51st inductee with her likeness unveiled at Assiniboine Park. The award, presented by the Winnipeg Real Estate Board, is given to individuals who bring recognition to Winnipeg or have made outstanding contributions to the quality of life and development of the city.
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Akhil Ramdoyal Wins Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Reward
Akhil Ramdoyal is a second-year medical student at the Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. Originally from the island of Mauritius, he brings a global lens to medicine, shaped by lived experience, intersectionality, and a deep commitment to equity. His path into medicine was inspired by witnessing how gaps in access—especially in HIV prevention—can profoundly affect lives. That realization became the foundation of his advocacy. Watch Akhil’s video here. Congratulations, Akhil!
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Dr. Jared Bullard Noted for COVID Research
U of M’s Dr. Jared Bullard is noted in this summer’s issue of Rady UM Magazine for his dual dedication to conducting research and working as a clinical physician. “Very early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Bullard wanted to know how long people stayed infectious with the virus...Bullard’s team was one of the first in the world to report this finding.”
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Here are the most-read and important recent stories, in case you missed them:
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Practice Changes: eChart was upgraded on August 23 with several changes and enhancements. A new provincial requisition form is available to order rural non-MRI imaging.
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FIT vs Colonoscopy Study: Your patients could participate in a major research trial looking at the effectiveness of FIT tests compared to colonoscopy for detecting colorectal cancer in older adults with a history of polyps.
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Billing Seminar: We have a billing seminar designed for early-career physicians and final-year residents to get essential billing advice, learn about benefits and insurance options, and explore wellness supports through our New to Practice program. It is on September 24.
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We feature events planned by Doctors Manitoba, as well as other events submitted by the medical community to share and connect with their peers.
Featured event:
Respiratory Season Webinar
Join us for a webinar in partnership with Manitoba Public Health to discuss how to best prepare for the upcoming respiratory season.
🏥 We will be joined by Dr. Brent Roussin, Dr. Davinder Singh, Dr. Natalie Casaclang, and others from Public Health
🗓️ September 11
đź•• 12 p.m.
đź“Ť Register here for this Zoom webinar
Physicians, clinic managers and staff are welcome to attend.
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More events:
CancerCare Manitoba Webinar, September 9, A healthy tomorrow starts with HPV vaccination today, September 9. Learn how to improve access to the HPV vaccine in your practice, including practical strategies and promotional tools to support conversations with patients. Register here.
Cultivating Wellbeing for Health Professionals, September 21 – 26, Cortes Island, Strathcona, BC, Canada. Learn more and register here.
2025 Paul Wawryko Memorial Run, September 27, 6 p.m., Andrew Currie Park, Wellington Crescent (at Renfrew St.), Winnipeg, MB. Learn more and register here.
Bug Day, October 23, 7:55 a.m. – 4 p.m., Virtual, Nationally and internationally recognized experts will present timely topics in infectious diseases and public health at Manitoba’s largest healthcare education event. Learn more and register here.
Family Medicine Forum (FMF), November 5 – 8, Winnipeg. FMF is Canada’s largest and most comprehensive annual conference for family physicians hosted by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). Learn more and register here.
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We are here to support the whole physician.
Every step of the way.
Your health & well-being are important to us.
Visit DRMB.ca/HELP to connect to support services or call 1.844.433.3762
For all other support, including benefits and insurance support,
career resources or practice advice please
email general@doctorsmanitoba.ca or call 204.985.5888
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Visit DRMB.ca/Bannatyne for more information on our Bannatyne office and to view the full calendar.
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