Department of Medicine

5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE: Our members, in collaboration with our healthcare colleagues and with the support of departmental administrative staff, have been providing care to patients with COVID throughout the pandemic. At times this has required department members from across our sections/divisions to come together... to focus our efforts on caring for high numbers of patients admitted to COVID units across the Calgary adult hospitals. Although members have experienced significant exhaustion and moral stress, they have never given up their commitment to providing excellent patient care for all Albertans. Many of our members also contributed to the COVID vaccination efforts, including providing vaccinations through mobile vaccination clinics at workplaces and at a pop-up vaccine rodeo focused on combating inequities in vaccine access. Department members are now leading in the development of long COVID clinics, to help patients dealing with the prolonged effects of the virus. Members have also led in educating colleagues regarding the most up-to-date evidence-based clinical management strategies. They have led in and supported a number of research studies that contributed to improving our understanding of the virus and the discovery of much needed COVID treatment strategies. The department has continued its efforts to develop a more equitable and inclusive environment within and beyond the department. Our Equity & Diversity working group has continued its efforts to implement change, including the ongoing incorporation of EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion) topics at our Medical Grand Rounds and the creation of an award for members wanting to take EDI leadership courses. We have incorporated structured EDI moments within every Medical Services Executive Council meeting, with the goal of promoting inclusive leadership. The Black Lives Matter movement also inspired us to form a departmental anti-racism task force, in an effort to start to address racism within medicine. Our Vice ...Read More