🩺 3,700 Doctors // Youth Social Media Ban // Pride Winnipeg

May 28, 2026

This week’s Vitals is 822 words or a 3.5-minute read. If you only have 1 minute, here are the highlights:

Manitoba Surpasses 3,700 Doctors for First Time! The doctor shortage is a top concern for physicians, and we’re finally seeing strong recruitment to help close the doctor shortage. But retention remains a top concern. Learn how we’re advocating and what you can do to help.

Physicians Support Youth Social Media Ban: More than 90% of Manitoba’s doctors support restricting social media and AI chatbots for children and youth, according to our new report.

Walk with Doctors Manitoba at Winnipeg Pride: We can’t wait to see you on Sunday, June 7, as we rally in support of Manitoba’s 2SLGBTQ+ community. Register to join us!

Ebola and Hantavirus Protocols in Manitoba: Though the risk to Manitobans remains low, Public Health is providing new guidance to health care providers about two current international outbreaks.

Doctors Manitoba Book Club: Kick off summer with Book Club on June 2 with special guest, Lisa See, author of Lady Tan’s Circle of Women!

Plus, stay up to date on member news by following @DRMBInfo on social media! Stay connected with member news, advocacy updates, wellness resources, and stories that celebrate the work of your colleagues across the province.

TOP STORIES

Manitoba Surpasses 3,700 Doctors!

Manitoba has surpassed 3,700 physicians in practice, marking a major milestone in doctor recruitment!

Why it matters: The doctor shortage is a top concern for physicians, and we’re finally seeing strong recruitment to help close the doctor shortage.

Yes, but: While recruitment is up, Manitoba still struggles with physician retention. We have been at work on improving both recruitment and retention, taking your feedback to health system and government leaders.

How you can help: Retention is a team effort at every career stage, and physicians can play a role too:

Refer early career physicians, or residents in their final year, to our New to Practice program for individualized support.
Learn more about peer support, and how it can help physicians experiencing burnout and distress in the workplace.
Develop skills to build healthy workplace culture, by signing up for our leadership development sessions.

Share the news! Read our full report and share our post on social media!

Youth Social Media Ban Supported

Earlier this week, we released a report about the impact of social media and excessive screen time on the health of children and youth, including perspectives from our recent physician survey.

Social media was ranked as one of the top risks by physicians, above substance use, injuries, and sedentary lifestyles.

Dr. Alon Altman, President of Doctors Manitoba, explained doctors are “worried about their brain development, their mental health and their physicality.”

More than 9 in 10 physicians support restricting social media and AI chatbots for children and youth.

📰 In the news: Check out our coverage in the Free Press, CBC, Canadian Press and Brandon Sun.

✔️ Tips for patients and parents: See the screen time guidelines from the Canadian Pediatric Society.

➡️ Read more and access the full report summarizing physician views, and see this video from Dr. Altman here.

Walk with Doctors Manitoba at Winnipeg Pride!

We can’t wait to see you on Sunday, June 7, as we rally in support of Manitoba’s 2SLGBTQ+ community.

The rally kicks off at 10 a.m. at the Legislature, followed by an 11 a.m. parade extending from Memorial Blvd. to the Forks.

PHENOMENAL PHYSICIANS

Congratulations to these phenomenal Manitoba physicians!

🏆 Dr. Zoë Piggott has been named Emergency Physician of the Year Award (Prairies-Urban) by the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians! Dr. Piggott serves as Medical Site Director of the St. Boniface Hospital Emergency Department.

➡️ The Canadian Association of Emergency Medicine’s national conference is coming to Winnipeg June 7 – 9, where Dr. Piggott will be honoured. Register today!

🩺 Dr. Dipeeka Kumari, a family physician from Pakistan now practicing in Winkler, is featured by the CMA in a new national video series, Mosaic of Care. The segment highlights Dr. Kumari’s words about how international physicians are not just filling gaps, but expanding capabilities, both clinically and culturally.

HEALTH SYSTEM UPDATES

Ebola and Hantavirus Protocols in Manitoba

Though risk to Manitobans remains low, Public Health is providing new guidance to health care providers about two current international outbreaks.

Ebola

Health care providers should suspect Ebola in individuals with:

A travel history to an Ebola disease affected area within 21 days of symptom onset (currently the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda) AND
A new-onset fever ≥ 38.0 degrees Celsius, or other new, Ebola-compatible symptoms.

Hantavirus

Promptly contact a Medical Officer of Health (MOH) at 204-788-8666 for further guidance if you identify an individual with suspected Andes hantavirus infection with:

Clinical symptoms consistent with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, AND
A potential epidemiologic link to the Andes virus outbreak through recent travel or exposure to rodents in South America.

Read the memo to health care providers.

Exception Drug Status Updates

This month’s Manitoba Drug Benefits and Manitoba Drug Interchangeability Formulary Amendments Bulletin is out and includes updates on:

Exception Drug Status Additions
New Interchangeable Categories & Products
Discontinued Products

These amendments take effect Monday, June 1.

New HIV Resource

The Manitoba HIV Program has released a new infographic aiming to help physicians and other health care providers diagnose and treat HIV.

As we reported this month, Manitoba has declared a public health emergency in response to a sharp rise in HIV cases with rates now among the highest in Canada.
The increase reflects broader challenges tied to substance use, housing instability, mental health, and inequitable access to care.

View the guidelines here.

Clinical Practice Changes

Here are this week’s Clinical Practice Changes from Shared Health.

Provincial bone mineral density test requisition - effective May 21
Request for Pre Transfusion Testing and Blood Components Requisition Update and associated form – effective June 15*

*This communication does NOT apply to sites within Winnipeg, Portage District Hospital, and Bethesda (Steinbach) Regional Health Center at this time as Canadian Blood Services (CBS) will continue to provide pre-transfusion testing services at this time.

All Clinical Communications can be found under Clinical Practice Changes for Health Providers.

Health Product InfoWatch: May 2026

Canada Health is out with its monthly recap of health product safety information. It includes:

Health product advisories
Type 1 drug recalls
Summaries of completed safety reviews

View the advisory.

PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES

Doctors Manitoba’s job board has 1 new practice opportunity for physicians at Crocus 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:

Prepare for New Collaborative Care Standards: On June 1, CPSM’s new set of standards will go into effect. Watch for clearer expectations about communication, including referrals. Review CPSM and Doctors Manitoba resources.

Docs on Clocks: Lawmakers are seeking the public’s opinion about abandoning seasonal time changes, something we asked you about earlier this spring. Find out what doctors think.

Winnipeg Family Medicine District By-Election Begins: Eligible voters have been notified with more information via email and have until June 11 to vote.

CancerCare Referral Changes Coming: CancerCare Manitoba will release new streamlined forms, clearer descriptions, and new website content on June 1. Learn more here.

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.

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!

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!

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!

Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP) Conference, June 7-9, Winnipeg, Ideal for emergency medicine specialists and family physicians working in emergency, this conference brings together professionals and experts from across Canada to discuss the latest advancements and best practices in emergency medical care. Register today.

Homewood Mental Health Symposium, Virtual from Guelph, Ontario, June 10. This complimentary Mental Health Education Opportunity will feature practical, evidence-informed presentations from Homewood clinicians and subject matter experts on topics including eating disorders, rTMS for treatment-resistant depression, addiction treatment and recovery, mood and anxiety disorders and other emerging topics in mental health care. Learn more and register here.

The Canadian Women in Medicine Conference, June 11-13, Winnipeg, 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!

Connection Evening for Female Physicians Navigating a Cancer Diagnosis, June 16, 7-8:30 p.m. Doctors Manitoba is hosting an evening of connection and peer support for practicing female physicians navigating a cancer diagnosis. You are welcome to join us for a confidential physician-facilitated evening to connect with colleagues who understand. Learn more and register here.