April 11, 2025

This week’s Vitals: 1007 words / 4 min read 

 

Happy Friday! Today’s vitals is a 4-minute read. If you only have 1 minute, here are the highlights:


  • Hear from Dr. Lisa Monkman and Premier Kinew about the importance of diversity and expertise at HeartBeat on April 23 – register for free!
  • The new Canada Disability Benefit – and more paperwork – is coming May 15. What will it mean for doctors?
  • Share your views to shape the future child care, a key topic considering nearly half of physicians have children under 18.
  • Take the 2025 National Physician Health Survey before April 15.
  • Your 2025 CPD rebate bank is available, starting claiming as you learn!
  • Health system updates, including an optometry strike, Selkirk Hip/Knee surgery update, and more.
 

TOP STORIES

01

Dr. Lisa Monkman and Premier Kinew to headline HeartBeat2025


We are excited to confirm Dr. Lisa Monkman and Premier Wab Kinew to our HeartBeat event on April 23. They will join for a fireside chat about breaking through in high performing fields that have not traditionally been diverse spaces, as well as their views on the importance of both diversity and expertise. We will also hear their views on the progress we still need to achieve to make medicine, politics, and Manitoba more diverse and equitable for everyone.


Our HeartBeat event also includes a presentation about the past, present and future of medicine, including the history of discrimination and mistreatment our colleagues have faced and progress towards a more equitable and inclusive profession. We will also include our AGM, with a vote on extending membership to international medical graduates while they complete the Manitoba licensure program.


→ Click here to learn more and register. Be a part of our history and our future!


Are you attending the Rural and Remote Medicine Conference April 24-26? Start your stay in Winnipeg with HeartBeat2025 the night before.

02

Canada Disability Tax Benefit Coming May 15


Canadians can start to apply for a new Disability Benefit, complementing the existing Disability Tax Credit. We have a summary of what this is, what it will mean for physicians, and how we are working to reduce the paperwork and administrative burden for you.


Read more here.

03

Help Shape the Future of Child Care in Manitoba


We invite you to add your views to an important consultation now underway by the Manitoba Child Care Association. Over 46% of our members have children under the age of 18 according to our 2025 Annual Physician Survey and we’ve heard how vital child care is to physicians, including to reducing burnout and distress. That’s why we’ve advocated for better child care options. Take this survey by April 16 to help shape the future.


Read more.

04

Meet our Humanitarian of the Year


Dr. Leif Sigurdson is a dedicated plastic surgeon whose humanitarian work spans decades and continents. Since 1996, he has participated in over 30 volunteer surgical missions abroad with various medical charities, including most recently with Team Broken Earth to Guyana and Guatemala. We will be fundraising for Team Broken Earth on Saturday, May 10 at our Annual Awards Gala!


🏆 Read about all of our 2025 Doctors Manitoba Award recipients.


This year's Gala is 80% Sold Out!


Don’t miss out on joining us on May 10 to celebrate our 9 phenomenal physician winners, and hear from our incoming President for 2025-26, Dr. Nichelle Desilets. It will be a night to remember!


→ Get your tickets here!


The 2025 Doctors Manitoba Awards Gala is proudly presented by MD Financial Management, Scotiabank and the Canadian Medical Association, with platinum sponsorship from Bokhaut CPA LLP

 

IN OTHER NEWS

2025 National Physician Survey! 


Physicians and medical learners continue to experience unprecedented pressure, impacting their mental health, job satisfaction and capacity to respond to the high demand for care. 


The National Physician Health Survey, conducted every four years by the CMA, provides crucial data on burnout, anxiety, depression and other wellness indicators in medicine. 


The survey results helps identify how to better support medical learners and physicians at all stages of their careers, and provides researchers, educators and health organizations with a one-of-a-kind dataset to advance physician health and wellness programs. 

Please complete this survey by Tuesday April 15. 


You can share the survey link with your peers and colleagues and encourage them to respond. All Canadian medical students, residents and practising physicians are welcome to participate. 



→ Take the survey now! Survey closes on April 15.

Tariff Turmoil Continues, Webinar Planned


On again. Off Again. The tariff turmoil continues and stock markets are highly volatile. Based on our survey, we know most physicians are concerned about what this all means to your investments and retirement funds, which is why we have partnered with MD Financial Management to bring you information and updates. You can get the latest here, updated weekly.

 

Join MD Financial Management and MNP for an exclusive financial webinar, called Navigating tariffs: What physicians in Canada and their families need to know about financial impacts. Learn how recent tariff changes could impact your finances, investments, tax planning and the cost of essential goods and services. Our knowledgeable panel will break down key insights, strategies and actions you can take to help navigate these economic shifts with confidence. Register here.


Can’t attend the live webinar because you’re joining us at HeartBeat 2025? No problem, a recording of the webinar will be shared with those who register to watch on demand.

CPD Rebate Banks available for 2025!


You can now start to claim your 2025 expenses for continuing professional development with our Claim-As-You-Learn CPD Rebate! We just opened this a couple of weeks ago and over 100 doctors have already claimed a rebate on their expenses. 


→ Check out this article that provides instructions and more information.  

HEALTH SYSTEM UPDATE

Get health system updates, including:



  • Optometry Strike is impacting physicians, we want to hear from you.
  • Selkirk has officially launched their hip and knee replacement program
  • 14 Advanced Care Paramedic clinical leaders will be stationed in seven rural and northern communities
  • Melita Health Centre has gotten more staff, but no new doctors
  • On March 26, a nurse at the Grace ER was assaulted.
Read the full Health System Update

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Here are the most read and important recent stories, in case you missed them:


 

EVENTS and CPD

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:


EVENT: Choosing Wisely Canada National Meeting 

DATE: May 25 – 27, 2025 in Winnipeg

OVERVIEW: a two-day event bringing together health professionals, patients, system leaders, and researchers, offering a unique opportunity to explore leading Choosing Wisely initiatives from across the country.

DETAILS: Register / Learn more

HOSTED BY: Choosing Wisely Canada and The CMA


Other Events:

 

EVENT: Dr. David Crawford Memorial Run

DATE: June 1, 9am and CMU in Winnipeg

OVERVIEW: Run/Walk 3.3km or 5km to raise funds for the Dr. David Crawford Memorial Fund.

DETAILS: Register for the run.

HOSTED BY: Manitoba Runners Association


EVENT: Introduction to Mindful Practice presented by Dr. Jillian Horton

DATE: June 7-8, 2025 at The Studio in Pineridge Hollow

OVERVIEW: Rooted in the evidence-based, JAMA-published Mindful Practice Program from the University of Rochester, this CPD accredited workshop teaches and deepens skills in meditation, self-awareness, and self-regulation

DETAILS: Sign up today! No previous experience with mindfulness is required.

HOSTED BY: Rady Faculty of Health Sciences


EVENT: Mental Health Rounds 

DATE: May 23, 2025 - 6th Floor, 363 Broadway, Winnipeg

OVERVIEW: Psychological injuries in the workplace- What role does WCB play?

DETAILS: RSVP by emailing alockste@wcb.mb.ca

HOSTED BY: WCB


EVENT: Resuscitation Course for Acute Medicine Practicing Physicians (ReCAPP)

DATE: July 12, 2025, Clinical Learning and Simulation Facility, Brodie Centre

OVERVIEW: Designed to provide a high-quality, interactive educational opportunity for Canadian practicing physicians who are involved in the initial or ongoing care of acutely unstable patients, increasingly cared for outside the walls of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

DETAILS: Register.

HOSTED BY: Canadian Critical Care Society

Browse our Events Calendar

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


Visit DRMB.ca/Bannatyne for more information on our Bannatyne office and to view the full calendar.


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