Dr. Rachel Talavlikar
Dr. Talavlikar’s work as a family physician and the medical director at the Calgary Refugee Health Clinic has improved the lives of untold numbers of refugee and immigrant patients. She has been an outspoken champion of the importance of refugee health, and played a key role in securing funding that will allow the clinic to remain open so those patients can access essential health, social and settlement services as they begin their journey in a new country. Her research work on areas such as the resiliency of refugees has helped expand medicine’s understanding of the realities these patients face and how the system should respond. As a Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Calgary, she has inspired students to advocate for the importance of providing equitable, quality primary care for the refugees and immigrants who arrive in Canada seeking a better life. Dr. Talavlikar has been recognized with many awards, including an Outstanding Teaching Award from the Cumming School of Medicine and we are pleased to add the SFM Outstanding Service Award to her list of accomplishments.
Dr. Paul Parks
Dr. Parks’ contribution to the creation of our Primary Care Physician Compensation Model (PCPCM) has been quite the journey. From the moment he signed an MOU with government in October 2023, he was tireless in working to design and implement a longitudinal family practice physician compensation model. It was, as he said many times, a game-changer that would help make community family practices viable, while making Alberta competitive with neighbouring provinces. When government delayed implementation, he was relentless in pushing them to move ahead. While his specialty is emergency medicine, and he worked a grueling schedule in the emergency department at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, Dr. Parks made family medicine his focus throughout much of his term as president. He also ensured family medicine leaders were involved, informed and heard at every step. He personified collaborative leadership and demonstrated time and again that our health system, and the physicians who drive it, are intertwined. He is the recipient of many awards, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, the Allan Drummond Advocacy Award and several clinical teaching awards. We are pleased to add the SFM Outstanding Service Award to that list.
May 1, 2026
Celebrate primary health care achievements—submit a nomination today! Nominate Yourself or a Colleague!
The Section of Family Medicine (SFM) Nominating Committee is seeking Nominations for the SFM Outstanding Service Award 2026. Each year, the Section of Family Medicine is honoured to award up to two individuals who have made outstanding contributions in promoting and enhancing primary care in Alberta. While primarily awarded to family physicians, the award is open to individuals from any specialty.
Submission Guidelines
- Maximum one page summary of the outstanding contributions made towards enhancing primary care in Alberta.
- Specify self-nomination or nominating a colleague.
- Nominations are submitted by SFM voting members.
- Submit nomination by 4 p.m., Tuesday, June 2, 2026 (CLOSED)
Selection
The SFM Nominating Committee reviews the nominations and makes recommendations to the SFM Executive at their June meeting. Presentation of awards is held at the SFM Annual General Meeting (AGM) in September 2026.
For any questions, please email [email protected].