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This weekâs Vitals is 1,115 words or a 4-minute read. If you only have 1 minute, here are the highlights:
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Award Nominations Open: Recognize the outstanding contributions of your colleagues by nominating them for a 2026 Doctors Manitoba Award.
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Preparing for Negotiations: While our current agreement doesnât expire until 2027, we are already preparing town halls organized by specialty blocs of practice to update you and hear the issues that affect you.
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Last Chance to Register! Referral and Consultation Summit: We still have room at our October 31 summit to discuss the challenges for physicians collaborating on patient care, and the solutions needed to make it work better!
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Join the Getting Healthy Movement: Weâre looking for your expertise this fall and winter, following a great summer with our medical student interns and the SummerToba Challenge.
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U.S. Recruitment is picking up with 2025 shaping up to be a record year for recruiting colleagues from south of the border.
Plus, we have a pair of tickets to give away to the Bombers game on Saturday, October 25, when they take on the Montreal Alouettes! Enter here by Monday October 20!
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Nominations Open: 2026 Doctors Manitoba Awards!
You know you know someone! The Doctors Manitoba annual awards are the highest honour in the Manitoba medical community, awarded to physicians by physicians. Recognize the outstanding contributions of your colleagues by nominating them for an award, presented at our Annual Awards Gala set for Friday, May 1, 2026.
Five award categories include Physician of the Year, Distinguished Service, Resident of the Year, the Dr. Jack Armstrong Humanitarian Award, and the Doctors Manitoba Medal of Excellence.
Read more about the awards, this yearâs nomination process, and past winners. Nominations are due by December 15!
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Negotiation Preparations Start Now
While our current Physician Services Agreement (PSA) doesnât expire until 2027, Doctors Manitoba is already preparing to negotiate the next one.
What's new: This month, physicians will be receiving an update from our President, Dr. Nichelle Desilets, inviting you to a town hall for your specialty.
- Town halls will be held this fall and early winter with each specialty bloc of practice.
- Each session will include an economic outlook, updates related to the current PSA, and a discussion about issues that need further attention as we look ahead.
Why it matters: The PSA not only sets increases to physician funding and remuneration, it also governs benefit programs like our continuing professional development rebate, fosters physician engagement, and has ensured there are no caps or cuts.
- The current four-year Agreement was finalized in 2023 and included market adjustments to bring funding and remuneration in line with other provinces and 2% annual increases after that.
- It also includes new and enhanced funding models and tariffs for specialists and family physicians.
Looking ahead: As Dr. Desilets explains, âwe must ensure we address the issues physicians are facing today, as well as think ahead to the changes and support needed over the years to come.â
đ© Watch for an email invitation from our President Dr. Nichelle Desilets in your inbox with details about your specialty town hall.
You can always reach out to our team with your concerns or ideas by emailing us in confidence at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
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Last Chance to Register: Referral Summit
We have over 100 people registered for our Referral and Consultation Summit on October 31, but we still have room for more. Join us for a day of discussion about improving how referrals and requisitions work for consultations and testing, for both referring and consulting physicians.
Referrals and consultations are vital to patient care, but we know the current âsystemâ doesnât make it easy for physicians to collaborate. Our past research found referring and consulting physicians waste 30 to 40 hours per year each on average. From not knowing who to refer to, to unreliable paper- and fax-based communications, to missing information and misdirected referrals, there is no shortage of issues that need solutions.
Learn more and register here and join us at our Summit focused on making your work as a physician easier.
The Summit is being organized by Doctors Manitoba, in partnership with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and Shared Health.
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Getting Healthy: Join the Movement
Our Getting Healthy public campaign continues to spotlight physician expertise â and we need your help this fall and winter to help provide practical tips for Manitobans about preventing disease and living healthier lives.
But first, weâre celebrating our first-ever outreach team of medical students who hit the road across Manitoba, and the results of our SummerToba Challenge!
See the winners and the requests for information and advice from the public.
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Win Bombers Tix for Oct 25!
As part of our partnership with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this year, we have a pair of tickets to the game on Saturday, October 25 when the Bombers take on the Montreal Alouettes. All members are eligible to enter to win the tickets!
đ #ForTheW: Keep an eye on social media this month for a series of injury prevention videos with Blue Bombers team physician Dr. Neil Craton, a family physician with expertise in sports and exercise medicine!
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U.S. Doctor Recruitment Picking Up
A story in todayâs Winnipeg Free Press highlights early success in recruiting more physicians from the United States. Doctors Manitoba was first out the gate, likely across Canada, in launching a recruitment campaign just weeks after the U.S. election. The provincial government followed with a campaign in June, and reports that six U.S. physicians have moved or are confirmed to move to Manitoba, with about 30 more in various stages of exploration.
âItâs very encouraging to hear that 2025 is shaping up to be a record year,â President Dr. Nichelle Desilets said. She noted the highest number of U.S. trained physicians recruited to Manitoba in a single year over the last decade has been six.
Read the full article here.
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WRHA Launches Flu, COVID Vaccine Campaign
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority kicked off the 2025 vaccination campaign this week. Dr. Bunmi Fatoye, medical officer of health for the Winnipeg health region, spoke to the media ahead of a vaccine clinic, emphasizing that the vaccines are free in Manitoba. She shared that there is a good match this year between the influenza virus in circulation and this yearâs vaccine.
Read the Winnipeg Free Press story here.
The campaign lets Manitobans know vaccines are available now and points to vaccine clinics scheduled across the city.
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Vaccine Resources Available
With respiratory virus season underway, we want to make sure you have what you need to serve your patients best! Please visit the Doctors Manitoba Vaccine Program Updates page for new resources to share with your patients to help increase vaccine uptake.
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Shared Health Canada Post Update
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has moved from a nationwide strike to rotating strikes.
Effective October 15, the provincial health system resumed using Canada Post for non-urgent items only.
Clinics and service areas may resume the use of Canada Post for distribution of patient appointment letters and pre-appointment information that is NOT considered to be urgent or time sensitive. Staff sending packages and supplies to patients and urgent appointment letters will continue to use previously determined contingency plans.
Patients with upcoming clinic appointments at HSC may continue to receive their appointment confirmation by text message. The text messages from a Manitoba 431 phone number do not include patient information and will only identify the facility, date and time of the appointment.
Keep up to date on the Shared Health Canada Post Disruption Information page.
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Call to Re-evaluate Ontarioâs New Residency Policy
The Canadian Medical Association and the College of Family Physicians of Canada are urging the Ontario Government to re-evaluate the recently announced requirements for international medical graduates (IMGs) seeking residency positions in Ontario. This policy disqualifies IMGs who did not go to high school in Ontario from applying in the first round for residency training.
Read the full statement here.
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Power of Peer Support
In a profession where stress, isolation, and burnout are common, the support of a peer who truly understands can be transformative. Thatâs the power and potential behind the Organizational Peer Support (OPS) program, created to help physicians feel seen, heard, and supported by one another.
Read more from the latest edition of Rounds, your member magazine from Doctors Manitoba: Shaping a Healthier Culture with Organizational Peer Support
UP NEXT: Join Dr. Alexis Botkin and Doctors Manitoba for a webinar with an overview of peer support and the evidence of how peer support benefits physicians on Wednesday, November 19, at 5 p.m. Register here.
Doctors Manitoba is also able to tailor presentations to your organization. Request an information session here.
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Doctors Manitobaâs job board has six new practice opportunities for physicians in Manitoba this week at the following clinics: BonaVista Medical Clinic, Prairie Surgical, Notre Dame Medical Clinic, Regal Health Center and Seasons Medical Centre. Check it out!
You can find more opportunities listed by the Manitoba government here.
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Here are the most-read and important recent stories, in case you missed them:
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Health System Safety: We share our membersâ distress over recent news of a Winnipeg physicianâs experience of criminal harassment. Growing safety concerns have led us to advocate for enhanced safety and respect, and to share resources available for our members. Read our full coverage here.
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Campaign Promise Check-Up: Two years after the election, weâre taking stock of progress, issues that still need work, and how Doctors Manitoba is helping to shape what comes next. Read our analysis here.
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Referral and Consultation Summit: Join us on October 31 to discuss the challenges physicians face collaborating on patient care, and how to find solutions. Learn more and register here!
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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 Events:
Sport Medicine Football Symposium, November 15, presented by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Medical team in partnership with CASEM. Develop and enhance knowledge of and skill in the care of athletes and common musculoskeletal problems seen in primary care. Learn more and register here.
Fall Mentorship Program Event, October 23, 5:30 p.m. Mentors and mentees, make sure youâve registered for this free event, including dinner and an improv show at the Metropolitan Event Centre. Learn more and register here.
Bug Day, October 23, 7:55 a.m. â 4 p.m., (Virtual) Nationally and internationally recognized experts will present timely topics in infectious diseases and public health at Manitobaâs largest healthcare education event. Learn more and register here.
Family Medicine Forum (FMF), November 5 â 8, Winnipeg. FMF is Canadaâs largest and most comprehensive annual conference for family physicians hosted by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). Learn more and register here.
Opioid Agonist Therapy 101: Introduction to Clinical Practice, November 13 â 14, Thompson, and November 20-21, Winnipeg. These workshops will equip you with new knowledge and skills around opioid addiction and the resources available to support patients. Learn more and register here.
Movement Disorder Clinic Conference for Healthcare Providers, November 20, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Deer Lodge Centre. Learn more about Parkinsonâs disease. 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,
ï»żcareer resources or practice advice please
email general@doctorsmanitoba.ca or call 204.985.5888
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ï»żVisit DRMB.ca/Bannatyne for more information on our Bannatyne office and to view the full calendar.
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