Events

ATLS rural offering of Recertification and Instructor Courses

October 10 and October 11-12

The Athabasca Healthcare Centre is providing rural offerings of Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) courses in Recertification (October 10) as well as becoming an ATLS instructor (October 11-12).

35th Annual Diabetes Directors Seminar

October 13, 2023

Hosted by the Endocrine Research Society, the 35th Annual Diabetes Directors Seminar is an interactive presentation series covering the latest aspects of diabetes therapeutics and clinical care.

Urgent Care Conference

October 14, 2023

This conference is designed for physicians, paramedics, nurses and nurse practitioners working in Urgent Care Centres (UCC). The content will provide participants with an update on the management of several urgent clinical conditions presenting to a UCC.

Changing your Self-Criticism to Self-Compassion

October 18, 2023

In this interactive experiential session learn and practice techniques for motivating yourself with encouragement rather than self-criticism. Led by Dr. Ieleen Taylor MD, CCFP, and sponsored by PFSP.

Rural Obstetrical Management Seminars - 2023

October 19, 2023

Associated with Current Obstetrical Management Seminars (COMS), this program is intended to provide an opportunity to review and update your knowledge and management obstetrical cases specific to rural practice. Issues with respect to newborn care, lactation, preconception care and planning, women’s mental health and postpartum management will also be covered.

Current Obstetrical Management Seminars - 2023

October 20, 2023

This program is intended to provide an opportunity to review and update your knowledge and management of normal and abnormal obstetrical cases.

Falls in older people: Risk factors and prevention strategies

October 24, 2023

Falls pose a major threat to the wellbeing and quality of life for older people. This presentation will discuss fall risk and mobility assessments and the roles exercise, impaired vision, sensation, strength, reaction time and coordination play in predisposing older people to falls.

Canadian Conference on Physician Health

November 3-4, 2023

The conference showcases both research and innovative initiatives addressing issues related to physicians’ health and wellness within the medical training and practice environment, while providing a forum for learners and physicians across the career lifecycle, researchers, educators, administrators, and others to network and promote collaboration within the community.

Poison and Drug Information Service (PADIS) Conference 2023

November 4, 2023

This intensive, one-day clinical toxicology course will be of interest to anyone who provides care to poisoned patients. Physicians, nurses, pharmacists and paramedics whose practice includes emergency medicine, critical care medicine or internal medicine will find this course useful.

Rocky Mountain Internal Medicine (RMIM) 2023

November 16 & 17, 2023

The goal of the Rocky Mountain Internal Medicine Conference is to uphold high academic standards by focusing on key topics and emerging issues within the practice of internal medicine, presented through workshops, short snappers, and plenary talks that inspire excellence in clinical and academic medicine.

Diabetes and Endocrine Update 2023

November 18, 2023

This one-day course will provide physicians and health care professionals with the latest in diabetes as well as an approach to common endocrine problems.

Social Media 101

September 21, 2023

Please note this session will not be recorded. In this beginner session, members will walk away feeling more comfortable and confident in navigating social media platforms and understanding how to create strategic and engaging content for advocacy efforts, amplifying positive messages, mitigating criticism and more.

Media Relations 101

September 27, 2023

Please note session will not be recorded. In this beginner session, members will walk away feeling more comfortable and confident in navigating social media platforms and understanding how to create strategic and engaging content for advocacy efforts, amplifying positive messages, mitigating criticism and more.

Social Media 201

October 11, 2023

In this intermediate session, members who are already using social media are invited to learn tactics and tools to help make your social media life easier—more efficient and effective. Get ideas for creating content, managing engagement and building community, tips, tricks and tools to use social media more strategically and seamlessly. Social Media 101 is recommended as a prerequisite for this session.

Media Relations 201

November 16, 2023

Hosted by the AMA's Shan Rupnarain, AED Public Affairs, with our media training partner Grant Ainsley, this is a three-hour session for those who anticipate doing a lot of media. It will involve working up messages, doing mock interviews, receiving feedback (and trying again if there's time). Space is limited for this session

American College of Surgeons Trauma Education Programs

December 7, 2023 & January 30, 2024

This course is designed for doctors and advanced practice clinicians (nurse practitioner and physician assistant). It is updated every four years and includes evidence based improvements in the initial care over the first hour of trauma care, transfer of care, team building, and triage. The course is accredited as CME by the American College of Surgeons.

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News and Latest UpdatesRSS

Minister's announcements

September 27, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The Representative Forum meeting last weekend included a candid session with Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange. The minister addressed the RF and then took questions from the delegates.

Top-up for one-time payment coming

September 18, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Progress continues toward implementing the agreement. Top-ups to the one-time recognition payments that were issued in December of 2022 will be made this week.

Lab physicians: Fair treatment and due process

September 14, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: I wrote to you May 31 regarding the fact that our laboratory medicine colleagues have been without a contract for five years despite our continued efforts to advance one. Alberta Health Services agreed last May to the AMA’s proposal for arbitration and this is now scheduled to take place in November.

We have a lot to talk about

September 8, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The Board meets next week in final preparations for the September 22-23 Representative Forum. The RF’s guidance will be more important than ever at this time and in this environment.

2023-24 dues

August 31, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The 2023-24 annual membership renewal statements will be sent to all members next week. After five years of frozen AMA membership dues, the Board has decided to increase dues for some membership categories. This will help the AMA to continue providing support to members in these increasingly challenging times.

Lab physicians hope for stability in latest changes to lab services

August 21, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Last week, Minister LaGrange announced that Alberta Health Services has signed a memorandum of understanding with the ownership of Dynalife, which will see the private provider (Dynalife) transfer all of its staff, operations and physical locations in the province to the government-owned Alberta Precision Labs by the end of 2023.

Message to doctors evacuating NWT or northern Alberta communities

August 19, 2023

If you are a physician, resident physician or medical student evacuated from your home or practice community due to the wildfire and need a place to land in Edmonton or another community, we may be able to help.

Connect Care conversation with Alberta physicians

August 18, 2023

AHS and the AMA are inviting physicians from across Alberta to join a conversation about Connect Care.

Family medicine crisis

August 17, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: This is another brief update on activity. There has been daily contact with government and AMA senior staff. There have been meetings between primary care physician leaders (Section of Family Medicine, Section of Rural Medicine, Primary Care Networks Physician Leads Executive) and the minister. All our representatives are aligned and clear on our commitment to membership and the need for urgent action to address the sustainability crisis in family medicine.

Second retroactive payment

August 16, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Alberta Health has released a bulletin regarding fee-for-service retroactive payments under the agreement.

Stay informed about income equity

August 11, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: You will have received an Income Equity Initiative Update from our AMA Compensation Committee Co-Chairs yesterday. I am writing to encourage members to review this update including the linked videos.

Brief update on government discussions.

August 4, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: I promised to keep you apprised about discussions with government. There have been numerous government meetings in recent weeks including with the Board of Directors, primary care physician leaders and senior staff. We have communicated at every opportunity that there is a deepening crisis in primary care and that action is needed now to stabilize community family medicine clinics. The minister has listened to our concerns.

Changes to Bylaws and Notice of Elections

August 3, 2023

Members are advised of proposed changes to the AMA Bylaws and elections taking place at the 118th AMA Annual General Meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3. The meeting will be held virtually; details will be provided with the AGM report circulated prior to the meeting. Member login required to view.

Introducing our new Executive Director

August 1, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: After more than 30 years of service to the Alberta Medical Association, our Executive Director Mike Gormley is retiring October 1. There will be more to say about his departure, but I am writing today to let you know that the Board of Directors has conducted an exhaustive search and appointed his successor.

ARPs - Joint working group underway

July 25, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: An AMA-Alberta Health Alternative Relationship Plan Working Group will begin meeting in September, as provided for under our agreement. This is essential work to remove many barriers that have existed in developing and implementing ARPs.

Stabilizing practices, talking with government

July 19, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Community practices across the province are imploding and must be stabilized. We have been meeting with Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange and her team. The crisis in family medicine is the first priority at every table and it appears we are being heard.

Urgent discussions with government

July 11, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The Board and I have provided briefing materials and have had numerous interactions with Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange in recent days. AMA senior staff are also in contact with their counterparts at Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services.

Supporting Indigenous leaders, physician trust, safety and engagement

June 30, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: There have been multiple media reports regarding the resignation of Dr. Esther Tailfeathers from the AHS Indigenous Wellness Core. The AMA immediately commented on this with the essential voice of our Indigenous Health Committee. I also made a statement to commend a group of AHS physicians who courageously penned an open letter to media.

SCA surveys members about Connect Care

June 28, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Connect Care is one of the topics about which members contact me frequently. The Specialty Care Alliance recently conducted a survey to assess the impact on members.

Micro-aggression training for physicians launches

June 15, 2023

A step toward anti-racism and anti-discrimination. Over the past few months, the AMA, the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta and Alberta Health Services have collaborated on a new online training course for Alberta’s physicians on micro-aggressions. The course launched on June 14 and is available to all regulated members through the myCPSA virtual learning platform.

Join the AMA Committee on Achievement Awards

June 15, 2023

The AMA is currently recruiting to fill positions on the Committee on Achievement Awards. There are terms of varying length available. Visit the AMA committee recruitment webpage (login is required) to view the postings and apply.

Contact with the new government

June 13, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: With the election behind us and the new government in place, there are many things to get done. Minister Adriana LaGrange and I had a brief conversation this morning. I appreciated receiving her call.

Lab physicians: Essential services deserving attention

May 31, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: All specialties in our profession deserve due process for contractual discussions, with access to dispute resolution when required. I am writing you today to let you know that there’s one community in particular that is still waiting to see due process: laboratory medicine.

Election over; no time to waste

May 30, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The United Conservative Party has won the provincial election and will form the government until 2027. I have written today to Premier Smith to congratulate her on the outcome of the vote.

Parties respond to AMA questions

May 24, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The final component of our election information program is hearing from the two major parties in response to the questions we posed in our seven-topic Handle With Care series. You can find their answers here.

Watch party leaders at AMA's health care town hall

May 23, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Last night the AMA hosted a virtual patient town hall about health care with Ms. Danielle Smith and Ms. Rachel Notley. The video is now available for viewing. More than 2,200 patients joined the virtual event on a long weekend Monday evening.

Hard times, anger, but we will remain united!

May 19, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Every day, angry and frustrated members write to me about their financial challenges. I understand. I have the same issues. But we are the AMA. We don’t approach challenges as an organized labor group would. Negotiating fair and competitive compensation is a most important Key Result Area, but we seek to do this in a way that benefits patient care. We are more than dollars and cents in a contract. We seek value for patients and fairness for physicians.

Message re wildfires from AMA

May 12, 2023

UPDATED MAY 12 - A few cooler days of showers helped to douse some fires and that is good news. Many members and Albertans are still out of their homes or on evacuation alert. As hot weather returns, we’re sending thanks and good thoughts to the firefighters, communities and volunteers who continue to contribute amazingly to the response. To our members, we say again that our thoughts are with you. We’ll keep compiling information here.

Election issue 7: Primary Care

May 11, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Today we release the final issue of our election information program Handle With Care. The primary care profile addresses: the state of family medicine; the need to sustainably support clinics and family physicians that are in crisis; and the value of providing every Albertan with a medical home.

Election issue 6: Drug Poisoning Crisis

May 5, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Recent years have caused at-risk individuals in cities and towns to become homeless or lose access to support for substance use disorders or mental illness. While they have struggled to get the help they need, increasingly toxic street drugs have taken a horrible toll. We lost 1,498 vulnerable Albertans in 2022 to unintentional drug poisoning. In 2019 that number was 626.

National Physicians Day 2023

May 1, 2023

National Physicians Day is a chance to celebrate the contributions of the extraordinary people who choose to serve in the medical profession. Physicians choose medicine for myriad reasons, but first and foremost it is to help people live in good health.

Your AMA Section: Three question survey

May 1, 2023

Please take a moment to complete a three-question survey regarding your experience with your section. The survey will close Friday, May 19 at 4 p.m. The survey is being conducted on behalf of the Representative Forum Governance Oversight Group; it supports GOG's goal to increase the effectiveness of the AMA's governance structure and promote excellence among sections. All responses are anonymous and only aggregate data will be provided to section executives and shared with GOG.

Celebrating National Physicians’ Day; initial thoughts on MAPS statement

May 1, 2023

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Today is National Physicians’ Day. A day to celebrate the contributions of the extraordinary people who choose to serve in the medical profession. Also, Ministter of Health Jason Copping has released a statement on the final reports from the Modernizing Alberta's Primary Health Care System (MAPS) initiative. While we have yet to see the full report, we do have some preliminary comments to share with members.
More news and updates

Alberta Medical Association Mission: Advocate for and support Alberta physicians. Strengthen their leadership in the provision of sustainable quality care.