Dear Members,
The announcement of CaRMS Round Two results on April 17 was a big improvement on Round One.
Our colleagues at the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta (PARA) have expressed optimism about this year’s outcome. They see meaningful progress in improving the resident experience through the Resident Physician Agreement, which strengthens compensation, wellness and working conditions. They are encouraged that rural residency programs in Medicine Hat and Lethbridge have performed well, fueling hopes for continued success in training outside major urban centers.
The shortage of physicians and all health team members remains the most significant challenge we face. Our review of Q1 data from the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) reveals that, despite overall growth in physician numbers, the number of physicians per 100,000 Albertans has declined slightly over the past five years: from 245.9 in 2021 to 244.4 in 2025. We know also that today’s patients are more complex and an aging population requires more care from the same number of providers.
A recent influx of family physicians as counted by CPSA has helped restore the population ratio to 2021 levels. This trend may reflect efforts by Alberta Health Services, the Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) and others to attract more physicians, particularly to rural areas. Additionally, the new Primary Care Physician Compensation Model (PCPCM) could further strengthen Alberta’s ability to recruit and retain physicians. We are hearing positive reports from family physicians who are now engaged in the model.
We will continue to monitor CaRMS as a key indicator of Alberta’s competitiveness in attracting new physicians and medical learners - a key aspect of retaining the talent we already have. While progress is being made, Round One results suggest we are still hindered by some challenges and more work lies ahead.
Sincerely,
Shelley Duggan, MD, FRCPC
President, Alberta Medical Association