🩺 Physician Health Update // IMD Outbreak // Manitoba Health Benchmarks

October 24, 2025

This week’s Vitals is 1,528 words or a 6 min read. If you only have 1 minute, here are the highlights:

Remembering Dr. Majid Zahiri: Doctors Manitoba joins our colleagues from Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority in mourning the death of Dr. Majid Zahiri, who passed away last week. We extend our deepest sympathies to those who worked alongside him, his family, friends, patients, and loved ones.
Physicians' Health Better, but Far from Good: New results from Doctors Manitoba’s Annual Physician Survey and preliminary data from the CMA show physician wellness has improved since the peak of the pandemic but is still worse than before COVID-19 arrived.
Expanded Doc360 Support: Doctors Manitoba now offers counselling and service navigation support to members' dependent children 12 years of age and older. We also have exciting new staffing updates.
Ahead and Behind – Manitoba’s Health System: New nationwide CIHI data helps paint a picture about where Manitoba stands on benchmarks such as primary care availability, same-day appointment access and hospital admissions.
Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) Outbreak Update and Response: Manitoba Health is expanding eligibility for the Men-C-ACYW vaccine and working to immediately catch up everyone who is and has been eligible. Public Health is providing important information about how you can help.

Plus, important updates on RSV, the new HSC Health Safety App, and a call from CPSM to provide your input on two new proposals.

TOP STORIES

Remembering Dr. Majid Zahiri

Doctors Manitoba joins our colleagues from Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority in mourning the death of Dr. Majid Zahiri, who passed away last week. We extend our deepest sympathies to those who worked alongside him, his family, friends, patients, and loved ones.

Physician Health Better, but Far from Good

New results from local and national research show physician wellness has improved since the peak of the pandemic but is still worse than before COVID-19 arrived.

Burnout and signs of depression, for example, are improving but are still at very concerning levels. We dive into this data, and offer an update on how we are tackling some of the health system factors that lead to distress and burnout.

Read our full analysis here.

Expanding Doc360 Support

We are pleased to announce an expansion of our Doc360 physician health supports, including counselling and service navigation support to members' dependent children 12 years of age and older. Plus, we are thrilled to announce new roles for Dr. Shelley Anderson and Dr. Alexis Botkin, along with Chelsea McClelland, who joined our Physician Health and Wellness team this month as a therapist.

We are here for you every step of the way and are excited to enhance our support for you in these ways. As always, if you have any questions, please email us at general@doctorsmanitoba.ca.

Learn more about these exciting new changes here.

Ahead and Behind – Manitoba’s Health System

New data released this week from the Canadian Institute for Health Information reveals how Manitoba’s health system is performing in many areas important to doctors.

From primary to hospital care to mental health, benchmarking Manitoba’s performance helps us advocate for stronger resources and support for doctors in all settings to help you provide exceptional care to your patients.

Read a full break-down of the numbers here.

New HSC Safety App

Shared Health Safe is a new app launched as part of the initiatives to improve security and safety at the Health Sciences Centre campus. App users will receive all HSC Hold and Secure notifications directly to their phone. The app includes a direct contact to HSC Security and a personal alarm. It also lets users share their location with a friend or family member. The free mobile app is available for both iOS and Android phones.

More information and a link to download the app can be found here, or go to the app store on your phone and search Shared Health Safe.

Your feedback helps inform our continued discussions with government, justice officials and health system leaders. As we continue advocating for broader supports at HSC and across Manitoba, we invite you to email us at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.

Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) Outbreak Update and Response

Manitoba Health is expanding eligibility for the meningococcal ACYW (Men-C-ACYW) vaccine to directly protect infants between 6 weeks to less than 12 months old living in or closely connected to Indigenous communities and working to catch up everyone who is and has been eligible. The changes come as a result of continued an increase in the number of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) serogroup W cases seen this year, which data show are disproportionately affecting Indigenous communities in Manitoba. For serogroup W, in 2024 there were 25 confirmed cases. In 2025 to date, there have been 21 confirmed cases, with 10 of these cases occurring since July 2025. Manitoba typically sees 6 IMD cases from all serogroups annually. Cases have not been epidemiologically linked and have occurred in all regions, with the highest rates in the Northern Health region.

The vaccine not only provides direct protection to the individual, but also indirect protection to the community around them as it helps to eradicate carriage (some people carry the bacteria in their oropharynx). Increasing vaccine coverage within all eligible cohorts is key to help reduce transmission and prevent further cases across the broader population. Please review immunization status and eligibility with all your patients to ensure they are up to date.

See the memo to health care providers here.

HEALTH SYSTEM UPDATES

RSV Updates

What’s new: Manitoba has significantly expanded eligibility for its pediatric RSV immunoprophylaxis program, meaning many more infants can now be protected this season. All babies born from October 1 to March 31, the highest risk season for RSV, are eligible for Nirsevimab. High risk infants born before October 1 may qualify too.

👉 Resource: Manitoba Health has published an FAQ for health care providers

RSV Vaccine in Pregnancy: Newborn coverage is in place and offers stronger protection than vaccination during pregnancy, meaning newborn immunization is now the recommended option in Manitoba for this season. Manitoba Health advises against promoting the RSV vaccine for pregnant people expected to deliver before March 31, 2026.

If the birthing parent received the RSV vaccine more than 14 days before delivery, and the infant is healthy (no high-risk conditions), that infant is considered protected and should not receive Nirsevimab.

Why it matters: Nirsevimab is expected to offer better and longer protection against RSV than maternal vaccination alone. Providers are encouraged to educate expecting parents about its benefits.

👉 Resource for families: Manitoba Health has created a patient handout.

Stay Updated

Check the Doctors Manitoba Vaccine Update page.

CPSM Changes: We Want to Hear from You

The CPSM has launched two new public consultations, and has invited physician feedback.

1. Modernization of the process to elect registrants to Council.

2. Reducing barriers to Provisional Registration for internationally educated family physicians.

💬 Doctors Manitoba reviews every CPSM consultation carefully, and we encourage you to copy us on your feedback to them, or send us your comments confidentially. You can email us at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.

Learn more here.

Movement Disorder Clinic Conference for Health Care Providers

The Deer Lodge Centre Movement Disorder Clinic is hosting a conference on Thursday, November 20, for health care providers working with Parkinson’s disease patients. Physicians will come away with a deeper understanding of how to best identify symptoms and signs that support the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, expertise in early medical management of motor symptoms along with strategies and therapies available to treat patients, and insight into the multidisciplinary care offered at the movement disorders clinic.

Learn more here.

Parenting in Manitoba

Manitoba Health has launched ParentingInManitoba.com, a resource hub with current, evidence-based information for parents across Manitoba that focuses on pregnancy and parenting up to age five. Topics include safe sleep tips, common childhood illnesses, immunization, midwifery care, and information tailored to newcomer, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQIA+ families.

Learn more here.

National Infection Control Week

National Infection Control Week from Oct. 20 to 24 is an opportunity to recognize the importance of infection prevention and control within our health-care system. This year’s theme is "Bridging Gaps, Building Bridges," so Shared Health is featuring some of the dedicated individuals from across the province who help health-care teams build bridges between infection control knowledge and practice: infection control professionals and infection control support associates.

Complete Shared Health's quiz to help bridge the gaps in your infection control knowledge by October 31 and enter to win a prize!

WORTH NOTING

Scam Alert

The Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) is aware of several scams currently circulating via phone and email targeting Canadian physicians. These fraudulent messages come from individuals pretending to be with reputable organizations (e.g. the RCMP, Canada’s Drug Agency, or a regulatory College). The messages use scare tactics (e.g. “the police have been contacted”) to pressure you to act immediately and often include requests to share personal, patient, or financial information, or send payment immediately.

Learn more about fraud attempts and what to do if you receive one.

Get Your Jets Discount for Emergency Services Appreciation Night

Our friends and partners at the Winnipeg Jets invite physicians, residents and medical students to attend their October 30th Halloween game against the Chicago Blackhawks for Emergency Services Appreciation Night!

Use this link to buy your discounted ticket, starting at $75 CAD.

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to Dr. Erika Donald, the winner of our ticket giveaway to this Saturday’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers game against the Montreal Alouettes.

🏈 #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! Check out his blog post, “Exercise Snacking for Everyone” as part of our Getting Healthy public health initiative.

Phenomenal Physicians

Dr. Nolan De Leon, a past winner of the Top 40 Under 40 for Doctors Manitoba, was recently recognized with the Michael Hollwarth Prize for Best Clinical Research of the Year. This international research competition award was presented to De Leon, an M.D. and Ph.D. student at the International Symposium on Pediatric Surgical Research.

Looking for Physician Participation

Pan Am Clinic Foundation is recruiting physicians to participate in educational workshops designed to improve Musculoskeletal Clinical Assessment Skills. For more info or to sign up to participate, please contact lead instructor, Dr. Jason Peeler, Jason.Peeler@umanitoba.ca.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

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

Nominations Open: Take the opportunity to recognize a colleague by nominating them for a 2026 Doctors Manitoba award, the highest honour in the Manitoba medical community awarded to physicians by physicians. Get started here.
Getting Healthy Winners: See the winners of our SummerToba Challenge and the topics people want to hear from physicians about. We need your expertise!
Health Care System Check-Up: Checking in two years after the election with a look at progress and issues that still need work. See how Doctors Manitoba is helping to shape what comes next. Read our analysis.

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:

Family Medicine Forum will be in Winnipeg this year, the first week of November. Doctors Manitoba is a proud sponsor of the event, and our partners at MCFP are hosting a social evening. See details below!

Manitoba Night with the Manitoba College of Family Physicians (MCFP)

🗓️ Wednesday, November 5

⏰ 7 to 11 p.m.

📍 Winnipeg Art Gallery Qaumajuq – Main Hall

The MCFP invites you to an evening of cocktails, appetizers, music and great company as we honour our peers and the excellence of family medicine in Manitoba. Whether you trained here, practiced here, are coming home, or you’re just discovering what friendly Manitoba is all about, you are welcome to attend!

More Events:

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.

From Awareness to Action: Igniting Ideas for Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Clinical Practice, November 5, 11 a.m. to noon, virtual. This webinar explores prevention strategies and the critical role of clinical professionals as trusted agents of change in addressing social isolation and loneliness among older adults. Register here.

Opioid Agonist Therapy 101: Introduction to Clinical Practice, November 13 – 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.

Peer Support for Physicians: Evidence and Ways to Access Support, November 19, 5 – 5:45 p.m. Virtual. Join Dr. Alexis Botkin and Doctors Manitoba for an overview of peer support, and the evidence for how peer support benefits physicians. View event details and register.

Browse our Events Calendar

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