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Recognizing the increased demands on family physicians, and the resulting increase in burnout, Dr. Jacqueline Gougeon eagerly partnered with Doctors Manitoba and Well Doc Canada to create a Physician-to-Physician Peer Support Team for the Department of Family Medicine. Formally trained Peer Supporters within the Department of Family Medicine are available to connect with colleagues reaching out for help.

As a family physician who also provides low-risk obstetrical and newborn care, Dr. Gougeon is the Education Director of the Bilingual Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Manitoba. Before completing her medical degree at McMaster University and residency in Manitoba, Dr. Gougeon worked for several years as a physiotherapist. A proud Métis Manitoban, she currently practices at Centre de Santé in St Boniface and provides low risk obstetric care at SBH. She recently completed the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant program to better support her postpartum and newborn patients.

A strong advocate for family physicians ​“to remain engaged in perinatal care, including early newborn care,” Dr. Gougeon finds great fulfillment in this work and really values caring for her more vulnerable patients. She has been instrumental in creating a process which provides better access to prenatal and intrapartum care to women who are without a family doctor.

Colleague and friend, Dr. Isabelle Paquin is inspired by Dr. Gougeon’s commitment to teaching and clinical practice and says Dr. Gougeon ​“truly exemplifies the dedication, compassion and selflessness of a great family physician.” Dr. Gougeon is proud to provide French language care to newcomers arriving from French-speaking countries. Her list of professional achievements is long, but having someone name a baby after her holds a top spot on that list! 

Dr. Gougeon worries about family physicians and the growing administrative burden and increasingly complex patient needs that seem to be discouraging new graduates from pursuing family medicine. She says ​“something needs to change to encourage a culture shift,” which needs to be followed with ​“support and remuneration” that values the specialty. Without this shift, those currently providing primary care will be left with greater burdens and bigger caseloads. 

Dr. Gougeon enjoys spending time with her three daughters, ages nine, seven, and three, and on most Saturdays you will find her working at her ​“hobby-job” at Shapes. For over 25 years she has carved out time in her busy schedule to teach fitness classes, stressing the importance of ​“walking the walk” in promoting wellness. 

Paediatrician Dr. Suzanne Robinson provides a safe learning environment for learners and sets an example by engaging compassionately with patients and families. Described as a ​“powerful communicator and incredible mentor” by medical student Lisa Kim, Dr. Robinson is ​“an inspiration for the type of healthcare professional” students hope to become. 

Born and raised in Ontario as a first generation Canadian, Dr. Robinson moved to Nova Scotia to complete all of her post-secondary education at Dalhousie University, completed her paediatric residency at UM and her postgraduate maltreatment training at UBC. In addition to Ontario and Manitoba, she has lived in Halifax, Miramichi, Vancouver, Guelph and Perth, Australia. 

Dr. Robinson practices child maltreatment medicine and general paediatrics care on Treaty 1 Territory at HSC, the Manitoba Youth Centre, and in Wasagamack First Nation. She also covers the Social and Northern Ambulatory Pediatric (SNAP) and Manitoba First Nation Call, which services Southwestern Nunavut, Western Ontario and Manitoba. Dr. Robinson feels privileged to have an impact, no matter how small, in her patients’ lives and when needed, to ​“advocate for them and their family with patience and objectivity”. Sharing this experience with colleagues, patients and communities, she says, ​“is an honour.”

Dr. Robinson sees a disconnect between fact and opinion at the system level and worries that ​“the politicisation of different types of care and systemic racism” may further erode our already fragile system. She believes ​“we can have hard discussions and make challenging decisions while still being kind.” She has seen the effects the pandemic has had on children and hopes people don’t buy into the false impression that ​“the kids are all alright.”

On the night she submitted her CARMS ranking, Dr. Robinson met her husband Lindsay, a Manitoba original, while vacationing in Cuba. She moved to Manitoba to complete her residency and the rest, as they say, is history. They were married at their favourite restaurant, Clementine and enjoy spending time with their two adopted fur kiddos, Flecks the Cat and Rolo the long-haired, black retriever. In her spare time, she can be found experimenting with food and design and spending time outdoors. If she has anything to say about it, music will be playing in the background of any moment outside of the hospital. After a tough day of medicine, she will listen to Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now or Imogen Heap’s Hide and Seek to decompress. 

Described by his colleagues and patients as warm, trustworthy, friendly and approachable, Dr. Michael Coodin always knew he wanted to be a physician. His father Harvey, a family physician, encouraged his son to put his kind and compassionate personality to good use. He was born and raised in Winnipeg, attended St. Paul’s High School and completed all of his post-secondary education here in Manitoba. He has worked at the Charleswood Medical Clinic since 2007. 

Dr. Coodin enjoys every aspect of his job, appreciating the challenges and variety of family medicine. He says he ​“genuinely enjoys caring for his patients and in his 15 years of practice he has had many of the same patients since the beginning of his career.” He feels rewarded in knowing that he has made and continues to make an impact on the health of his patients. He prides himself on being available to his patients 24/7. With a strong focus on connection, Dr. Coodin goes above and beyond to reach patients with test results after hours so they are not left waiting for a diagnosis. He attributes his success as a Family Physician to his supportive family and his many incredible colleagues.

A lifelong, diehard Winnipeg Jets fan, Dr. Coodin enjoys going to games with his wife Melanie and their two sons, Hartley (15) and Avery (11). He and Melanie love watching the boys play hockey and even built a rink in their front yard so the boys can hone their skills. The family escapes Winnipeg winters by taking a warm winter vacation each year. 

Dr. Elizabeth Rhynold is a rural-based geriatrician who is committed to her patients and to promoting positive aging. In fact, she has recently combined her professional passion with her personal love of music to curate a ​‘Positive Aging Playlist’ in collaboration with her colleagues in geriatric health across the country. More on this later!

After completing her medical degree and internal medicine residency in her hometown of Saskatoon, Dr. Rhynold did a subspecialty in Geriatric Medicine at UBC and then took her first ​“job” as a geriatrician in Saint John, NB. Her husband’s career in the potash industry brought their young family to Western Manitoba seven years ago when they relocated to Virden. Since then, Dr. Rhynold has been doing in-person and Telehealth comprehensive geriatric assessments in almost all clinical settings throughout the Prairie Mountain Health Region. 

Dr. Rhynold derives great personal satisfaction from the act of service she is able to provide in her role. She says her ​“best days are when I can really dig in and get to know people living with frailty. On those days I use the comprehensive information available to enhance individualized care planning.” She values the connections and relationships she has formed with others working to support people living with frailty in Prairie Mountain.

While she focuses on supporting people living with frailty in her daily practice, the prevalence of frailty among older adults throughout the world is a top concern for her. She describes the needs of these patients as ​“complex and each individual has a unique collection of strengths and challenges.” She insists we must find more ways to work ​“comprehensively, as teams, across care sectors, to minimize preventable functional decline and optimize quality of life.” This improved framework would also optimize the professional fulfillment of health care providers and result in more effective resource utilization. 

Colleague and friend, Dr. Alison Carleton, is thankful for Dr. Rhynold’s leadership during the height of the pandemic. Dr. Rhynold provided the Region’s physicians with clear and consistent protocols for personal care homes. A very active and committed member of the PMH Physician Health and Wellness Community of Practice (CoP), Dr. Rhynold went above and beyond the required commitment to the project, even taking the Physician Well-being Director Course. Project Coordinator, Jennifer MacDonald says Dr. Rhynold ​“took every opportunity to apply the knowledge she gained through the CoP and coursework.” She commends Dr. Rhynold for her continued advocacy and for creating opportunities for peer collaboration and connection. 

Dr. Rhynold and her family love that Virden has had everything they needed. Her two sons, aged 11 and 8, have been able to explore interests that range from hockey to musical theatre to skateboarding. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to audiobooks or music while cooking or running. That love of music led to the creation of the Positive Aging Playlist, which is an ever-growing collection of songs that reflect positive attitudes towards aging. The playlist started with the song ​“When It Comes My Turn” by the great New Brunswick performer, David Myles. Dr. Rhynold says ​“it’s turning into an eclectic and uplifting collection. And my search continues.” Listen to the playlist on Spotify until April 12.