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Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA) Orientation for IMG Candidates
ONLINE WORKSHOPS
Welcome to the PRA IMG Online Workshops!
This virtual conference will be held using Zoom. You can find the link to the virtual room below and on the program schedule.
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Virtual Room
Friday, Sep 20, 2024
1250-1300 Opening Remarks
1300-1500 Cultural Diversity and Sensitivity in Clinical Practice
1500-1530 Break
1530-1730 Shared Decision Making with Patients
Saturday, Sep 21, 2024
0800-1000 Case-Based Overview of Psychiatric Services in Alberta
1000-1030 Break
1030-1230 Pain Management
1230-1240 Closing Remarks
Speaker Bios
Learn more about the speakers presenting at this course.
Cheryl San Juan, RN, BN, MN
Cheryl is a passionate advocate for building health equity for marginalized and underserved populations and the Director of Primary Health Care. Her nursing career has enabled her to work in a variety of acute and primary care settings while gaining an appreciation for the complexity of our Canadian healthcare system. Cheryl has experience advocating to all levels of government to address local, provincial, and national issues related to primary health care. Cheryl is passionate about team wellness, patient-partnered care, utilization-focused evaluation, and developing health programs that are equitable and inclusive. Cheryl endeavors to lead with compassion and authenticity to support the delivery of evidence and trauma-informed health services.
Cheryl also chaired her organization’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee for a 2-year term and continues to learn and grow in the fight to create equity-oriented healthcare environments.
Erik Singendonk, MD, CCFP
Trained at the University of Calgary, Dr. Erik is a Family Physician working with The Alex Community Health Centre non-profit organization to deliver Primary Care to marginalized Calgarians. He also serves as their Associate Medical Director, supporting the ongoing development and improvement of The Alex’s health programming.
Izu Nwachukwu, MD, FRCPC
Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, CSM, University of Calgary
Medical Director Alberta International Medical Graduate Program (CAP/MMI)
Division Head for Community (Adult) Psychiatry
Charlie Chen, MD, CCFP, MEd, FCFP
Dr. Charlie Chen is a palliative care consultant working in Calgary, AB. He is the Medical Director for the Palliative End-of-Life Care Program for Calgary Zone, Alberta Health Services, and is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Calgary in the Division of Palliative Medicine. He is the newly appointed Medical Lead for ACP/GCD for Calgary Zone. Dr. Chen is a Master Facilitator with Pallium Canada.
Dr. Chen is passionate about non-violent communication, advanced care planning, and healthcare provider wellness. He is the Chair of the Wellness Committee for the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians. In his spare time, he loves to sing and write music.
Lori Montgomery, MD, CCFP
Dr. Lori Montgomery is a family physician with fellowship training in pain management, including headache, neuromusculoskeletal pain, pelvic pain and palliative care. Her clinical work is in the Alberta Health Services Calgary Pain Program, and she supports NPs in acute care hospitals and Primary Care Network pain teams in the community. She is a member of the Southern Alberta Primary Care Research Network, a clinical associate professor in the Departments of Family Medicine and Anesthesiology, Peri-Operative and Pain Management at the University of Calgary, and involved in teaching at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and CPD levels.
Sasha Mallya, PhD, R. Psych
Dr. Mallya earned her PhD at Toronto Metropolitan University, specializing in both Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology. She completed her residency in Calgary, providing neuropsychological assessments to individuals with acquired brain injury, dementia, and movement disorders; and providing group and individual CBT to individuals with chronic pain.
She returned to Toronto to complete a post-doctoral fellowship at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre before starting her current employment at the Calgary Chronic Pain Centre. Dr. Mallya’s clinical and research interests focus on the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on neurocognitive and psychological well-being.
Tina (Katrina) Nicholson, MD, CCFP, MBChB, FCFP
UK-born and vocationally trained FP emigrated to Alberta mid-career in 2006. She continues to hold a small family practice in Cochrane. Her interest in teaching has evolved over 15 years – having taught at all undergraduate levels. She is now more focused on peer-to-peer education and CME and PD, incorporating the use of individual data into reflective practice improvement. Clinically her practice also focuses on the provision of timely mental health care in the community setting and the promotion of a collaborative patient-centered approach.
Roxanne Swiegers, MD, CCFP, FCFP
- Course master for Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP) Mini Fellowship Program (2021 to present)
- CANREACH Faculty (2014 to present)
- REACH International Faculty (2016 to present)
- Development team and faculty for Adult Behavioral Health program presented through The REACH Institute
- Member of CADDRA
- Member of CADDAC
- Recipient of the 2019 President’s Excellence Award
- Recipient of ACFP (Alberta College of Family Physicians) Recognition of Excellence (ROE) Award 2020
- Presentations nationally in Canada and internationally in USA
“Personal and professional interest in ADHD.
All four of my children have an ADHD diagnosis. Since the diagnosis of my oldest in 1990, I have studied about and lived with the impact of the diagnosis on the daily functioning of the individual patient and the family.
As a firm believer that early diagnosis and comprehensive multimodal management of this very treatable condition is essential to prevent disability and maximize individual potential.
The advances in neuroscience, neurobiology and neuroimaging that improve the understanding, management, and treatment of neuro-developmental disorders excites me and with the opportunity to spread that knowledge to providers at primary care level, I strive that with early identification patients will be empowered before the development of comorbidities.”
Discussion Board
We have created a discussion board for you to share your experiences and network with fellow PRA IMGs. You may use this area to participate in engaging discussions, ask questions, offer advice, and build valuable connections to help with your adaptation to the Canadian medical system.