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Less, but Better: Stewardship that Works
The Choosing Wisely Alberta Provincial Symposium is a one‑day, interactive event bringing together physicians, health system leaders, researchers, learners, and quality improvement partners from across Alberta to advance practical, evidence‑informed clinical resource stewardship.
Taking place on June 8, 2026, this symposium moves beyond traditional lecture‑based CME to offer an interactive, action‑oriented experience focused on real‑world challenges in everyday clinical practice. Participants will explore how to reduce low‑value care while maintaining patient‑centred, high‑quality outcomes—together.
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
| Physician Registration | $75 CAD + Tax |
| Other Healthcare Provider (OHP) Registration | $50 CAD + Tax |
| Resident/Student Registration | $25 CAD + Tax |
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Date and Time
Location: Health Sciences Centre, Foothills Medical Campus
Schedule
Learning Objectives
By the end of the symposium you will be able to:
1 Identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary tests, treatments, and interventions in both inpatient and outpatient clinical settings
2 Apply Choosing Wisely and stewardship principles to improve appropriate use of laboratory testing, antimicrobials, and medications in everyday clinical practice
3 Evaluate quality improvement strategies (e.g. audit and feedback, clinical pathways, and implementation initiatives) that support sustainable reductions in low-value care
4 Integrate environmentally sustainable and patient-centered approaches into efforts aimed at improving healthcare resource stewardship
5 Assess strategies for implementing stewardship and deprescribing initiatives that align with emerging quality benchmarks and system-level priorities in healthcare
Key Themes
The symposium focuses on four priority areas central to clinical resource stewardship in Alberta:
- Antibiotic prescribing and stewardship
- Wise prescribing in seniors, with a focus on sedating medications
- Appropriate laboratory and blood utilization, particularly in outpatient care
- Planetary health and sustainability in healthcare decision‑making
Each theme is explored through a blend of evidence, data, lived experience, and facilitated discussion.
Who Should Attend
This symposium is designed for:
- Primary care and specialty physicians
- Health system and policy leaders
- Quality improvement and data experts
- Pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and interdisciplinary team members
- Residents, students, and early‑career clinicians
- Researchers and innovation leaders interested in stewardship
Whether you are implementing change in your own practice, leading system‑level initiatives, or exploring new ideas, this event offers something relevant and valuable.
Choosing Wisely in Practice: Antibiotics Audit & Feedback Workshop
(Free Virtual Add On – Preparation Required)
(Free Virtual Add On – Preparation Required)
Join this complimentary virtual workshop at the end of the day (starting 5 PM, June 8, 2026) t. Participants will work with their own prescribing data, engage in facilitated discussion, and develop practical action plans to improve antibiotic use.
This facilitated audit and feedback workshop builds directly on the earlier antibiotics sessions and offers a hands‑on opportunity for practice improvement. Participants will work with their own prescribing data to reflect on patterns, compare benchmarks, and develop actionable stewardship plans.
To participate fully, attendees are expected to:
- Complete the CWPI: Antibiotics course in advance; and
- Access their CPSA MD Snapshot Report, which will be used during the session for guided reflection and discussion.
This virtual add‑on session supports data‑driven self‑reflection, peer learning, and practical change planning, and may be used toward CPD and CPSA practice improvement requirements.
Bring your data. Leave with a plan.
Scientific Planning Committee Disclosures
Dr. Kelly Burak MSc MD FRCPC. Co-Chair
Dr. Tina Nicholson MD, MBChB, CCFP, FCFP. Co-Chair
Lori Humphrey Clements – BA
Dr. Douglas Woodhouse – MD BScEng CCFP
Dr. Sonia Butalia – BSc, MD, FRCPC, MSc
Dr. Oliver David – MD MCFP
Dr. Heidi Schmaltz – MDCM FRCPC
Dr. Janet Reynolds – MD, LMCC, CCFP, FCFP
D’Arcy Duquette – Patient experience
Christina Lei – PLP assistant
Erika Johnson – MSc, CWA Regional Coordinator
| Faculty | Credentials | Disclosures | Affiliations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Burak | MD FRCPC MSc Epid | Education Grant for Realist Evaluation from World Gastroenterology Organisation | University of Calgary, American College of Gastroenterology |
| Tina Nicholson | MD CCFP MB ChB FCFP | Medical Director, CSM, UofC, Chair and Speaker honoraria for IMG Course and APASS coach at CPSA, Faculty Member at CanREACH Alberta and REACH Institute New York, Board member, member of conference committee, guidelines committee and other educational events at CADDRA, Physican Champion at CFPCN, Member of Advisory Boards and Speaker Bureaux at Elviu, Knight, Kye, and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals | University of Calgary, Calgary Foothills PCN, Faculty member CanREACH ALberta and REACH Institute New York; Board Member of CADDRA ( Chair of Advocacy Committee, Member of Guidelines Committee, Conference Committees) ; Calgary Foothills PCN- Physician Champion for Child and Youth Collaboratives.ee |
| Lori Humphrey Clements | BA | Nothing to disclose | University of Calgary |
| Douglas Woodhouse | MD CCFP BScEng | Medical Director, Physician Learning Program, UofC | University of Calgary |
| Sonia Butalia | MD FRCPC | CIHR funded grants, Diabetes Canada, Breakthrough T1D | University of Calgary |
| Oliver David | MD MCFP | Physician Advisor to panel reports for Health Quality Alberta and Medicial Director of Primary Care for the Physician Learning Program, University of Calgary | University of Calgary, Mosaic PCN, Health Quality Alberta |
| Heidi Schmaltz | MD FRCPC | Main employment contract by Alberta Health Services | University of Calgary, Alberta Health Services |
| Janet Reynolds | MD CCFP FCFP | Primary Care Co-Lead for Choosing Wisely Canada | University of Calgary, Choosing Wisely Canada, Calgary Foothills PCN, Crowfoot Village Family Practice |
| D'Arcy Duquette | Patient Representative | Nothing to disclose | No affiliations |
| Christina Lei | MA | Nothing to disclose | University of Calgary |
| Erika Johnson | MSc BA | Nothing to disclose | University of Calgary, Choosing Wisely Alberta/Canada |
| Sean de Varennes | MN, BScN, RN | Nothing to disclose | Office of CME&PD, University of Calgary; Primary Care Alberta |
| Utkarsh Subnis | PhD | Nothing to disclose | Office of CME&PD, University of Calgary |
| Charlie Kampman | BSc | Nothing to disclose | Office of CME&PD, University of Calgary |
Join the Conversation
The Choosing Wisely Alberta Provincial Symposium is an opportunity to be part of a growing community of practice committed to delivering care that is thoughtful, evidence‑based, and sustainable.
Less, but better—together.
