January 16, 2025

In this issue:

• Optimized Prescribing with Seniors: When to deprescribe PPIs
• Employment opportunity with the Physician and Family Support Program
• Zonal/regional RF delegate election results are available
• AMA committee opening: Online applications now being accepted!
• You can still apply for the 2024-25 TD Insurance/AMA Medical Student Bursary
• Join the AMA ACTT Physician Leadership Network and earn CME credits in 2025
• Need help with PPIP requirements? We have webinars for that!
• Represent the AMA at the CMA Annual General Meeting
• AHS Updates:
  • Active health advisories
  • Resumption of mail service
  • Reminder: Measles case confirmed in Calgary Zone
  • Enhancing care for Albertans living with diabetes
• MD Financial
  • Tax changes for 2025
• Community Connections
  • The Canadian Association of Wilderness Medicine (CAWM) is seeking applications for speakers and workshop leaders for our 2025 conference 
  • Stick it to Cancer charity hockey game 

Optimized Prescribing with Seniors:

When to deprescribe PPIs

Case  
Richard is 75 years old with a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease. 12 years ago he was started on a proton pump inhibitor, but his last family doctor retired so he was never reassessed. He was mildly obese for much of his adult life, but since retiring 10 years ago, he has worked to eat healthier and be fairly active, with good results, having lost about 15 pounds and being able to keep it off.  
  
Issue  
Richard has been on a PPI for 12 years and his symptoms have not been an issue. He has made lifestyle changes in the last 10 years. When should his PPIs be reviewed?  
  
Optimized Prescribing with Seniors is a joint communication of the Alberta Medical Association and the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta. Articles are written by physicians for physicians prescribing in the care of older patients.  

Employment opportunity with the Physician and Family Support Program

The AMA has an exciting part-time employment opportunity for a physician as the role of Clinical and Program Co-Director of the Physician and Family Support Program (PFSP). This is a part time job share opportunity (0.5 FTE); you will work in partnership with another part-time colleague as co-directors to successfully lead the clinical services and program administration of the PFSP. 

As an ideal candidate you are in good standing with the CPSA, with 10 years of clinical experience and interest in physician health, mental health and addiction disorders. You are experienced and knowledgeable in physician health issues and psycho-social aspects of medicine. You are a natural collaborator who would easily be able to work in a close partnership with a colleague to effectively lead the PFSP. 

For full details on this opportunity or to apply, please see the posting on our careers page.

Zonal/regional RF delegate election results are available

Ballots were tallied on December 11 for the election of zonal/regional delegates to AMA's Representative Forum. Elections took place in the Calgary and Edmonton Zones.

AMA committee opening: Online applications now being accepted 

The AMA is currently recruiting to fill a vacancy on the History of Medicine Committee (HOMC). The term will be June 1, 2025, to September 30, 2028. 

Our online application process makes it easy to apply! To view the posting, committee description and apply, visit the AMA committee recruitment web page (member login required). 

The AMA is committed to diversity and inclusion in its committee appointment process. 

The deadline to apply is March 7, 2025.

You can still apply for the 2024-2025

TD Insurance/AMA Medical Student Bursary

Online applications are still being accepted for the 2024-25 TD Insurance Meloche Monnex/AMA Medical Student Bursary. 

The bursary program helps to reduce financial pressure from escalating medical school tuition fees and is made possible through a significant contribution by TD Insurance Meloche Monnex as well as donations from generous physician members. Funds are apportioned to each Alberta medical school based on the number of students enrolled. 

Applications will be accepted until February 2, 2025. 

For information about eligibility and who to contact, visit the AMA website.

Join the AMA ACTT Physician Leadership Network and earn CME credits in 2025

Sign up today to join the AMA-Accelerating Change Transformation Team Physician Leadership Network (PLN) webinar: New Year, New Approach: Taking Action on Burnout Prevention on January 21 OR January 22. 

These one-hour virtual interactive sessions provide practical information and tools, as well as opportunities to connect with your peers. 

Sessions are repeated on two dates and times to give you attendance flexibility. Interested in the content? Check out past session recordings.  

For convenience, PLN members receive calendar invitations to all webinars.

Need help with PPIP requirements? We have webinars for that!

AMA-ACTT webinars can help you meet your CPSA Physician Practice Improvement Program (PPIP) requirements. 

Visit the AMA website and choose from several topics, some with multiple date and time options. 

Sign up to receive notifications of new sessions.

Represent the AMA at the CMA

Annual General Meeting

The AMA Nominating Committee is inviting you to submit your name for the opportunity to attend the CMA’s virtual AGM on May 31, 2025, as part of the designated AMA delegation. You must be a CMA member to vote on issues. AMA will also pay honoraria for your attendance. 

Submit your name and why you would be interested in attending to committees@albertadoctors.org by February 14, 2025. 

The AGM is a forum for members to hear from and ask questions of CMA leadership, provide input on CMA governance and address other corporate matters; it’s followed by the Nominating Committee report, where delegates can vote to approve nominees for CMA leadership positions. 

Physicians and medical learners must join the CMA or renew their CMA membership to participate in the AGM. If you’re unsure about your membership status, please log in to your CMA account. If you have any questions, please contact the CMA Member Service Centre at membership@cma.ca.

AHS Updates

The following AHS updates have been provided for your information: 

• Active health advisories
• Resumption of mail service 
• Reminder: Measles case confirmed in Calgary Zone
• Enhancing care for Albertans living with
  diabetes

Tax changes for 2025

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Community Connections

The Canadian Association of Wilderness Medicine (CAWM) is seeking applications for speakers and workshop leaders for the 2025 conference scheduled to take place October 3-5, 2025, in Canmore. Pre-conference activities are scheduled for October 1-2. 

Applications are open to both students/residents and faculty. 

Any/all wilderness medicine topics are encouraged, please be creative! Applications close March 6, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. MT. 

CAWM sees great value in multidisciplinary presentations, and encourage applicants from a variety of disciplines and professional backgrounds to apply. Speaker mentorship is also available for anyone interested. 

Please visit the CAWM website or contact programdirector@cawm.ca to learn more.

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Stick it to Cancer charity hockey game

On March 22, medical students and physicians will face-off on the ice to raise funds for cancer research in collaboration with the Canadian Cancer Society. Proceeds will go to the Neri/Bahlis research lab, which is dedicated to researching multiple myeloma and identifying mechanisms of drug resistance. 

The game is organized by University of Calgary medical students in the UCalgary Med: Stick It To Cancer Calgary Medical Students' Association group. 

Buy tickets and learn more at stickittocancer.ca.

Promoting a local charitable health-related event?

Recruiting physicians and medical learners for a medical study?

Seeking AMA member participation in a survey?

The AMA receives many requests to promote local events, research participation opportunities and surveys to our members. We consider all requests based on specific criteria and general relevance/appropriateness. Please note that, unless explicitly stated, the AMA is not associated with or responsible for items listed in Community Connections.

In case you missed it...

WCB reporting terminology update

Upcoming events

Common Fractures and Dislocations Course

January 23

26th Annual Anesthesia for GP Anesthesiologists Conference

January 24

41st Annual Emergency Medicine for Rural Hospitals

January 24 - 26

PCCM webinar: Eligibility & Enrolment January 29

View all upcoming events on the AMA website.

Have an event you'd like to promote?

Review our criteria and submit your event.

Recognition Roundup

January: 
Alzheimer's Awareness month

Recommend a special date.

Last issue's top stories

2024 year-end tax planning tips for physicians 

2024/2025 holiday claim processing and payment schedule

In the January 16
MD Scope Classifieds
you'll find listings for:
 

- Physicians wanted

- Locums wanted

- For sale or lease
- Services

More AMA publications

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