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This week’s Vitals is 1,538 words or a 6 minute read. If you only have 1 minute, here are the highlights:
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Manitoba Leads Nation in Measles Cases: January saw 51 measles cases, the province’s highest monthly tally since last May and currently the highest in Canada. Physicians are asked to continue conversations about the value of vaccination.
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Hepatitis A Outbreak: Manitoba Health has expanded access to free Hepatitis A vaccines in Peguis First Nation amid a provincial outbreak. Providers are reminded Manitobans experiencing homelessness are also already eligible to receive the vaccine.
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Poll Offers Check-Up on Health Care: Top of mind in a new Angus Reid report is access to emergency care. Manitoba residents are the least confident of any province in their ability to access emergency services in a timely manner, but we also report easy access to non-urgent care.
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Resident Doctors Appreciation Week: Join us next week as we recognize and celebrate the vital role resident doctors play in Manitoba’s health care system! Be sure to send a resident an eCard!
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New Physician Retention Payment Features: We are in the process of sending eligible members Physician Retention Benefit payments to recognize continued service to Manitobans, and new features on our member portal make estimating future payments easier than ever.
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Participate in the Annual Member Survey Out Now: Make some time this weekend to complete our 2026 Annual Member Survey! See below for your personal survey access code and link.
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Celebrating Black History Month: We're a proud sponsor of this year’s Black Health Symposium which provides a space for students to connect, network, and build community within the health profession. We look forward to seeing you there!
Plus, don’t miss our free family-friendly physician event at The Forks this February! Learn more about the February 15 event and register here!
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Manitoba Leads Nation in Measles Cases
Manitoba is one year into its most significant measles outbreak in decades. And now, we have the most cases in Canada for 2026. Manitoba Health reported 51 cases in January, its highest monthly tally since last May.
Rise in misinformation: Physicians are asked to continue recommending measles vaccinations to patients. We know this can be increasingly challenging at a time when health misinformation is rapidly on the rise.
You can help by talking with patients about measles and immunization.
Read our full coverage on Manitoba’s record-breaking measles cases, along with advice for talking to patients.
Full story: 352 words / 1.5 minute read
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Poll Offers Check-Up on Health Care
A new study by Angus Reid delves into the public’s perspective about health care in Manitoba and across Canada. The insights suggest the health care system is improving in some areas, and has significant challenges in others.
ER Care Challenges: Top of mind is access to emergency care. Only 25% of Manitobans said they were confident they could access emergency care in a timely fashion if they needed it, significantly lower than the national average of 38%. In fact, Manitobans are the least confident in Canada.
Non-Urgent Access Easier: The news is much better when it comes to non-urgent or primary care. The report found:
- 85% of Manitobans have a family doctor or regular provider, higher than the national average of 82%.
- 73% report being able to access non-urgent treatment easily, the highest in Canada.
Read the full report.
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Resident Doctors Appreciation Week is Here
Join us next week as we recognize and celebrate the vital role resident doctors play in Manitoba’s health care system.
đź‘Ź Round of applause for residents: Our residents provide exceptional and compassionate care while balancing their ongoing learning requirements. They are an essential part of our health care system, and we want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to them today.
➡️ Thank a Resident with an eCard to show your gratitude. Send one today! It only takes a minute and goes a long way.
Resident Appreciation Week Events
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Complimentary notary services at DRMB’s Bannatyne office in Winnipeg on Tuesday, February 10, 2026
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Automatic prize entry for all residents — including daily draws and a grand prize announced Friday
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Appreciation treats delivered to program-specific sites throughout the week
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Doctors Manitoba Resident of the Year announced in the member message at the end of the week
❤️ We’re excited to recognize the dedication, skill, and impact resident doctors bring to our hospitals and communities every day.
Learn more about Resident Appreciation Week initiatives here.
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New Physician Retention Payment Features
Doctors Manitoba is in the process of sending eligible members Physician Retention Benefit payments to recognize continued service to the people of Manitoba. Physicians are eligible for a retention payment after each five-year milestone of continued service.
New features!
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Now in our member portal, you can view your past retention payments and see a future payment estimator. This new tool responds to requests from members, and can help you plan your career milestones and transition to retirement. Try it here (log in required).
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Residents who stay in Manitoba now receive two years of credit, meaning your first $15,000 payment will come two years sooner.
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We've added the new Rural and Northern Retention Benefit to the portal, too. You will be able to view if you’ve certified your eligibility for past years, in anticipation of the first payment later on this year.
Physicians should have received an email this week with further details.
If you did not, or if you have more questions, contact us at benefits@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
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Celebrating Black History Month
Black Canadians have had a marked impact and influence on our country’s heritage and identity. Black History Month gives all Canadians the opportunity to learn about and celebrate the many accomplishments and contributions that Black Canadians have made and continue to make on our country’s history and cultural landscape, including in medicine.
Doctors Manitoba is a proud sponsor of this weekend’s Black Health Symposium at the University of Manitoba. With this year’s theme, Leading the Way: Mentorship and Black Health, participants can expect a dynamic day featuring speakers, hands-on workshops, networking with healthcare professionals, a Black vendor market, and a closing panel highlighting diverse paths in health and medicine.
See you there!
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Participate in Our Annual Member Survey
Make some time this weekend to complete our 2026 Annual Member Survey! Your feedback helps to set our priorities, guide our advocacy, and improve how we serve you.
This year, you are also asked for input on the issues and priorities that should be tackled in the next Physician Services Agreement. This is open to all members, including fully licensed and retired physicians, students and residents.
Complete the survey this month for a chance to win a free Doctors Manitoba membership or a $500 Visa gift card.
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Hepatitis A Vaccine Eligibility Expands
Outbreak Eligibility Expansion in Peguis
Manitoba continues to see new cases of Hepatitis A associated with the ongoing provincial outbreak and has expanded access to free vaccines for people six months and older in Peguis First Nation. The communities of Garden Hill, St. Theresa Point, Wasagamack and Red Sucker Lake are also eligible for the vaccines in response to the current outbreak. Please note, for the outbreak response, one dose is currently recommended.
People Experiencing Homelessness
Manitoba Health also advises there have been increasing cases of Hepatitis A among people experiencing homelessness, particularly those using shelters in Winnipeg. Health officials are clarifying for providers that all Manitobans experiencing homelessness are eligible to receive two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine as part of Manitoba’s existing publicly funded high-risk Hepatitis A immunization program.
Read the Memo to Health Care Providers here.
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Call for Physician Examiners
The University of Manitoba’s Clinicians Assessment Program is looking to recruit eligible Physician Examiners for National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Examination on the following days:
- Saturday, May 2, 2026
- Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Sunday, September 20, 2026
Physician Examiners will be remunerated for their assistance with the assessment.
Check your eligibility and learn more about how to participate.
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Connected Care for Canadians Act
Doctors Manitoba joins the Canadian Medical Association in support of the “Connected Care” legislation introduced in the Senate this week. If passed, the legislation would require IT companies providing digital health services in Canada to adopt common standards to support protected and secure information exchange across various systems, and allow health data to be sharable between providers, and across provinces and territories.
Read more here.
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Physician Family Day at the Forks February 15
Join us Sunday, February 15 at The Forks in Winnipeg, and bring along your family for a winter wellness afternoon of skating, snacks, and connection! As a proud partner of The Forks’ Winter Wellness programming this year, we’re excited to offer you and your loved ones a day of fun and informal connection with colleagues though a great variety of activities including an outdoor fitness class, skating, a warming hut tour, some tasty treats from Tall Grass Prairie and much more!
Learn more and register today.
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Visit the Doctors Manitoba Bannatyne Office
Are you in search of legal advice, answers to your insurance questions, notary services, practice advice or ways to boost your health and wellness? We’re here to help!
Come see us! In addition to in-person and virtual services always available to you from our main location, the Doctors Manitoba office on the Bannatyne Campus at the Health Sciences Centre is here for you.
🛎️ One-on-one service: The Bannatyne offers members a convenient way to drop in and meet with a staff member to get your questions answered.
📍 Where we’re located: The office is located on the second floor of the Basic Medical Sciences building, across the hall from the lecture theatres. View the map.
đź©ş Open office hours: Drop by between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on various days throughout the month. View this calendar to see which departments will be available when.
For those located outside of Winnipeg, you can always arrange to meet with us by emailing general@doctorsmanitoba.ca or connect with a Doctors Manitoba team member directly. We look forward to hearing from you!
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DRMB Proudly Supports Stone Soup Week
Doctors Manitoba is a proud sponsor of the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba’s Stone Soup Week, running from March 23-29 this year. The initiative raises funds and support for school meal programs across the province.
The Stone Soup 2026 Raffle is now live!
This year features five early bird prizes in addition to the final 50/50 draw. Early bird prizes include:
- Four restaurant gift card packages, each valued at over $500
- One grand early bird prize of a trip for two to Churchill with a Beluga Whale Dream Tour, valued at $5,800
Learn more here.
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Doctors Manitoba’s job board has 4 new practice opportunities for physicians at Fort Richmond Medical Clinic, Women’s Health Clinic, Lakewood Medical Center and Klinic Community Health, along with dozens more opportunities previously listed. Check it out!
Placing a job ad on our site is free – add one here.
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Here are the most-read and important recent stories, in case you missed them:
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Referral and Consultation Report: Doctors Manitoba released a major report and recommendations to modernize the referral and consultation system. The Free Press editorial board called it “required reading at the legislature and in every health authority boardroom” because it “shines a harsh light on the daily inefficiencies that quietly sabotage patient care and waste physician time.”
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New Physician Leadership Courses: Doctors Manitoba is excited to offer several new leadership courses including Physician Leadership Institute training that focus on the development of physicians and interdisciplinary teams which will have a positive impact on the organizations and the patients they serve. Register today!
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Attestation Relief? We have heard from dozens of hospital-based physicians frustrated by the new online attestation requirement to maintain their privileges. We raised your concerns with Shared Health who has offered recommendations. Learn more.
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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.
Anti-Indigenous Racism in Health Care Conference: Moving Beyond Land Acknowledgements, February 18-19, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, Winnipeg This conference centres Indigenous-led perspectives and critically examines how Anti-Indigenous Racism operates within healthcare delivery, health education, research, and policy—and how it can be disrupted in meaningful ways. Learn more and register here.
Fridays at the University: Travel Health Day, February 20, 8:20 a.m.- 3 p.m., Virtual Expand your skills in travel and post-travel medicine with a practical, case-based session designed for primary care providers. You’ll explore evidence-based strategies for managing common travel-related conditions, with special attention to tropical dermatologic issues and the unique needs of pediatric travelers. Learn more and register.
Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Foundations of Well-Being, February 20, 12-1p.m., Virtual Understand the optimal approaches for incorporating mindful practice and self-compassion in medical practice for physicians and Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Students. Learn more and register.
Leading Change, March 5-6, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Virtual This Physician Leadership Institute course is relevant for physicians in formal or informal leadership roles who want to learn how to build support for, overcome barriers to, and successfully implement, influence, and sustain change. Accredited for 13.5 hours. Learn more and register.
The Canadian Women in Medicine Conference, Winnipeg, June 11-13, RBC Convention Centre Hear from an impressive lineup of speakers, including best-selling authors, physicians, founders and other inspirational women leaders. Make connections that will last a lifetime! Learn more and register today!
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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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