Dr. Michel Bruneau and Dr. Selena Papetti not only share a clinic, they have a shared commitment to rural medicine and a vision for its future, including inspiring the next generation of family physicians.

Dr. Michel Bruneau is a dedicated rural family physician whose career is marked by his attention to patient-centered care, medical education, and community involvement. He began his journey in Somerset before settling in Lac du Bonnet. There, he invested deeply in the community, founding the Lac du Bonnet Medical Group focused on accessibility and continuity of care. The clinic provides same-day appointments for sick children, offers home visits for elderly and palliative patients, and fosters a culture of patient-first policies.

Dr. Bruneau’s leadership has stabilized local healthcare, fostered medical education, and profoundly impacted both his community and the medical professionals he mentors.

Dr. Selena Papetti is a passionate rural family physician with an unwavering commitment to her community, patients, colleagues, and medical learners. Dr. Papetti provides comprehensive, compassionate care across all stages of life, from birth to end of life.

An enthusiastic volunteer, she has contributed time to local organizations since moving to the area and has worked to promote health for the entire community with her investments, with a particular focus on early childhood education and advocating for access to child care for working families. She is a role model for medical learners, helping them see the value and opportunity in rural family medicine and ensuring learners have a memorable experience when they are there for placements. 

Dr. Jill Keddy-Grant has been a force in pediatric dermatology for more 35 years. Following her training in dermatology, she recognized an unmet need and focused her practice on pediatrics. She has been Manitoba’s sole specialist in this area for many years. Her dedication has been instrumental in advancing patient care, leading therapeutic research, and establishing herself as the go-to authority in the field.

Dr. Keddy-Grant’s compassionate approach has impacted countless lives. She was an early adopter of Telehealth, ensuring continuity of care for patients across Manitoba long before it became commonplace, reducing the need for travel.

As an educator, she has shaped dermatology teaching at the University of Manitoba, serving as section lead and developing the current curriculum. She mentors pediatric residents and medical students, offering hands-on, apprentice-style learning. At the Winnipeg Clinic, she co-founded the clinical research team, leading numerous studies to advance dermatological therapeutics.

Known for her unwavering support, enthusiasm, and patient-centered care, Dr. Keddy-Grant continues to inspire colleagues and medical learners, while caring for generations of patients.

Dr. Leif Sigurdson is a dedicated plastic surgeon whose humanitarian work spans decades and continents. Since 1996, he has participated in over 30 volunteer surgical missions abroad with various medical charities, including most recently with Team Broken Earth to Guyana and Guatemala. 

His international voluntary efforts also include missions with Operation Smile and humanitarian relief in Ukraine. Through the Canada Ukraine Surgical Assistance Program and the Sunnybrook Ukraine Surgical Education Initiative, he has provided reconstructive surgery for civilians and soldiers injured in the war, traveling to both Poland and directly into Ukraine. 

Beyond delivering critical care, Dr. Sigurdson is committed to sustainability, training local surgeons to continue providing care long after missions conclude, including arranging a trauma plastic surgery fellowship in Winnipeg for a Ukrainian surgeon to further their skills.

An exceptional clinician, educator, and leader, Dr. Sigurdson embodies the spirit of humanitarianism, improving countless lives through his compassion, expertise, and unwavering commitment to helping others.

Dr. Alexander Sharp, is a fourth-year subspecialty resident in General Internal Medicine. He’s recognized for his clinical ability, patient advocacy, and innovative research contributions. His dedication to addressing barriers faced by individuals with addictions and complex social challenges is reflected in both his medical practice and scholarly work.

Dr. Sharp’s research focuses on HIV, substance use disorders, and houselessness, bringing together academia and real-world practice. His work, published in high-impact journals and presented at national and international conferences, has contributed to government policy change in both HIV and addiction medicine. His leadership and advocacy is reflected in his roles as president and founder of the Addictions Medicine Education Group and past president of the Stem Cell Club.

A member of the All Together 4 IDEAS Research Group, Dr. Sharp contributes to transformational studies on HIV, STBBI, TB and pneumonia. His community engagement includes volunteering with Winnipeg’s Bear Clan Patrol. An avid marathoner, his resilience mirrors his compassionate, culturally sensitive approach to patient care, making him a transformative force in medicine.

Dr. Tamara Buchel is an outstanding family physician and medical educator. She has led the expansion of post graduate training at UManitoba through unprecedented growth, expanding training sites to rural and underserved communities. She was also instrumental in introducing physician-led team-based care options in Manitoba for family physician practices.

The post graduate training expansion welcomed the largest cohort of family medicine residents last year, with a further increase to 82 new residents starting this summer. Manitoba has been filling all of its family medicine residency spaces, something that is unfortunately not common across Canada in recent years.

Clinically, Dr. Buchel practices comprehensive primary care, inpatient care, and co-leads a MyHealthTeam that is enhancing team-based care.

Her dedication to mentorship, patient-centered care, and academic excellence has made her a champion in family medicine in Manitoba.

Dr. Wendy Smith has dedicated her entire medical career to providing compassionate, comprehensive care to remote and northern communities in Manitoba and Nunavut. Through her work at Ongomiizwin Health Services and in her advocacy for patients, she models clinical excellence, cultural safety and community connection. 

Her journey began with the J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit in 1988, and later Dr. Smith became one of the inaugural physicians at Ongomiizwin Health Services. Over the past 30 years, she has served as the principal primary care physician for Wasagamack First Nation, embodying cultural safety, clinical excellence, and deep community connection. She also provided decades of service to Red Sucker Lake First Nation

Dr. Smith’s impact extends beyond providing clinical care. She has advocated for culturally directed obstetrical services, advanced cervical cancer screening programs, and addressed public health challenges, including tuberculosis and diabetes complications. A dedicated mentor, she has guided countless medical students, residents, and international medical graduates, demonstrating the value in collaboration and bringing an understanding of cultural humility.

Known for her unwavering compassion, Dr. Smith goes above and beyond for her patients. Her profound contributions and positivity stand as an example to others in medicine and beyond. 

Dr. Versha Banerji and Dr. Shantanu Banerji have demonstrated what it means to be stronger together, balancing their demanding work as clinician-scientists with their commitment to each other, their family, and their philanthropic work. 

Dr. Versha Banerji is a globally recognized leader in hematology and cancer research, specializing in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). Through her roles as Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba and clinician-scientist at The Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute at CancerCare Manitoba, she has pioneered transformative approaches to leukemia treatment and patient care earning Manitoba an exceptional worldwide reputation in this field. A fierce advocate for equity in medicine, she actively works to dismantle systemic biases in healthcare and academia, particularly in access to treatment and gender disparities in patient care, medical practice, and research. 

Dr. Shantanu Banerji is a distinguished medical oncologist, clinician-scientist, and a leading expert in genomics and cancer therapeutics. Working at CancerCare Manitoba and the University of Manitoba as an Associate Professor, he helped establish Manitoba’s first Clinical and Research Genomics Platform, revolutionizing personalized cancer treatment in the province. His efforts both locally and nationally focus on the discovery and implementation of companion biomarkers to effectively implement novel therapeutics in routine clinical care. A compassionate physician, he is celebrated for his holistic approach to patient care, providing not just medical treatment but emotional support to those facing cancer.

Both Harvard-trained physicians are dedicated mentors, supporting the next generation of clinicians and scientists, many of whom now excel in their fields.