May 7, 2026

TOP STORIES

01

Introducing President Dr. Alon Altman 

Doctors Manitoba is pleased to announce Dr. Alon Altman will serve as the organization’s president for the 2026-2027 term. During his inaugural speech on Friday, he committed to focusing on improving physician retention this year. 

“I will be focused on working with health system leaders to find the best pathways that keep the students and residents we train, and ensure more physicians choose to stay in Manitoba for the duration of their careers. That’s the bullseye,” he said. 

🎯 Learn more about our new President here!

Doctors Manitoba President Dr. Alon Altman stands at a podium addressing the audience during the 2026 Awards Gala.

02

Awards Gala Recap 

Every year, the Doctors Manitoba Awards Gala celebrates the physicians who make Manitoba medicine extraordinary. The 2026 edition was no exception. 

The event was made possible by Presenting Sponsors MD Financial Management and Scotiabank, along with Platinum Sponsor Bokhaut CPA LLP. 

📖 Read our full recap here. 

🎬 Watch the videos about each winner here. 

03

Legislation Advocacy Update 

Our Past President and current Board Chair, Dr. Nichelle Desilets, appeared before a legislative committee Tuesday evening to share physicians’ perspectives and our concerns on two pieces of proposed legislation:  

Bill 27, which codifies patient expectations in health care, and  

Bill 50, which would expand pharmacist prescribing authority to include therapeutic substitutions. 

Read more about how these provincial bills could affect both patient expectations and physician workflows across Manitoba’s health system.

04

Manitoba Declares HIV Public Health Emergency

New HIV diagnoses have surged from 90 cases in 2019 to 328 in 2025 — giving Manitoba a rate more than three-and-a-half times the national average. The province is establishing an HIV Response Steering Committee, with PrEP access, earlier testing, and targeted community supports among the priorities.

🩺 Physicians: PrEP is available free through MEPP. Prioritize testing for high-risk patients and address stigma directly.

Read the full story. 

05

Help Simplify Employer Forms

We’re working to simplify employer medical reports and reduce unnecessary paperwork for physicians. With thousands of different forms used across Manitoba, doctors often face unclear and inconsistent requests, employers may not get the information they need, and employees can experience delays.

We’ve developed two prototype forms to create a more consistent, structured approach for work capacity and accommodation requests. Now we want your feedback.

➡️ Take our short survey and review the prototype forms.

06

Youth Social Media Ban: We Want to Hear from You  

Last week, we shared our analysis of a proposed social media ban for children and youth, which could also extend to AI chat bots. We’re continuing to collect your feedback to help inform our response to this public health issue. 

💡 What do you think? Take our brief survey here. 

07

CMA President’s Tour May 21 

Join us on May 21 to meet Canadian Medical Association (CMA) President Dr. Margot Burnell and Board Chair Dr. André Bernard. The event includes cocktails, dinner, and discussion, and is part of a President’s Tour in communities across the country to hear directly about the realities and pressures facing medical practice today.  

Event details 

📍 Winnipeg Art Gallery 
300 Memorial Blvd 

🕕 6 – 8:30 p.m. 


6:00 – 6:30 p.m. | Cocktails 

6:30 – 8:30 p.m. | Dinner & discussion 

Please note: this event will be held in English only. 

Physician guests are welcome. Meal selections are made at registration. 

⚠️ Registration closes May 13 at 1 p.m. Space is limited. 

Register now. 

This is an opportunity to share your perspectives on the challenges here in Manitoba and find out how CMA can best support you. 

The President’s Tour is designed to foster meaningful discussion in a relaxed, collegial setting, ensuring that physicians’ voices continue to shape advocacy and leadership at the national level. 

HEALTH SYSTEM UPDATES

New Department of Surgery Resources 

The Department of Surgery performs approximately 30,000 surgeries and facilitates over 170,000 clinic visits annually. That’s one fact you’ll discover as part of two new webpages for members of the public and health care providers. 

View the public page here.  

View the page for Health Providers here. 

The pages include a Department of Surgery – Surgeon Referral List. This is a great placeholder resource, while we continue to press for an interactive and current referral directory for all consulting physicians to help avoid misdirected and incomplete referrals. 

Syphilis Treatment Shortage Update 

The ongoing national shortage of long-acting penicillin G (Bicillin® L-A) continues to be extended, with a new estimated end date of May 29, 2026. Health Canada has authorized temporary import (Lentocilin S 1200TM). The latest update includes a modification to the eligibility criteria for benzathine penicillin G, and further guidance for reporting treatment on the updated STBBI Provider Report Form. 

Read the letter to health care providers here.  

New and Updated Pathology Requisitions 

Shared Health has issued new and updated Pathology requisitions effective May 19, including Pathology Requisition for GI Endoscopy and Request for Placental Examination.  

You can view them at Clinical Practice Changes for Health Providers here.  

RSV Antibody Program Expands 

Beginning in October, all infants will be eligible to receive one dose of nirsevimab during their first RSV season. The dose will be offered shortly after birth in hospital or through public health offices, nursing stations, and other designated sites across the province. This means infants born at any time of year will be eligible to receive protection during their first RSV season, including those born outside of the fall and winter months. 

Read the full release here. 

PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES

Doctors Manitoba’s job board has 7 new practice opportunities for physicians at Munroe Medical Clinic, WELL Health Manitoba Clinic, Fetuga Medical Clinic – Steinbach, Harbourview Medical Centre and Walk-In Clinic, Beausejour Guardian Medical Clinic and Selkirk Medical Centre, along with dozens more opportunities previously listed Check it out!  

Placing a job ad on our site is free – add one here. 

ICYMI

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

• Physicians on Parliament Hill: For the first time, provincial medical associations joined the CMA for Hill Day in Ottawa. Doctors Manitoba was there raising Manitoba physician concerns with federal lawmakers — including disconnected digital systems and the impact of misinformation on patients. Read the full story. 

• New Disrupting Racism Policies at Shared Health: Shared Health has released two comprehensive anti-racism policies applying to all staff – including physicians. Here’s what you need to know.  

• Closing a Health Care Loophole: Following concerns from physicians, Doctors Manitoba took a strong stand on how Manitoba should respond to a new federal health directive on user fees from pharmacists and nurse practitioners. Dr. Nichelle Desilets laid it out in a Free Press op-ed. Read our full 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. 

Cancer Day for Primary Care 2026, May 8, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Hybrid from Winnipeg, focuses on enhancing primary care provider knowledge on early diagnosis and work up of suspected cancer, and enhancing communication and relationship building between primary care providers and oncology specialists. Learn more and register. 

Advanced Learning in Palliative Medicine Conference, May 28 – 30, Winnipeg. This national conference offers expert-led education, practical clinical insights, and the chance to reconnect with a national community that shares the same commitment to high‑quality care. Learn more and register today! 

Winnipeg Francophone Medical Symposium, May 29, 8:15 a.m.- 4:20 p.m., Virtual. The first of its kind event offers interdisciplinary training sessions and was developed with Francophone physicians from across Manitoba. Learn more and register today! 

Doctors Manitoba Book Club with Special Guest, Author Lisa See! June 2, 6 – 7 p.m., Virtual. We’ll explore Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by bestselling author, Lisa See. We are delighted that Lisa See will be joining us for a special virtual conversation, where participants will have the opportunity to discuss the book and hear insights directly from the author. All members are welcome to join. Learn more and register! 

Cancer Screening & Cervix Check Competency Training, June 3, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., In-person near the Misericordia Health Centre, Winnipeg. CancerCare Manitoba is hosting a training session for physicians who would like to learn about cancer screening, refresh competency in cervical cancer screening, or mentor colleagues in becoming competent in screening for cervical cancer. Register today! 

Cultivating Wellbeing for Health Professionals, June 14 – 19, Cortes Island, BC training, and values-based reflection. Led by psychiatrists Erin Burrell and Andrea Grabovac, this retreat offers practical tools to support wellbeing and sustainability in clinical practice, within a supportive peer community and natural setting. Learn more and register! 

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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