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Dr. Jacie Grobb, a rural emergency physician working in Brandon, advocates tirelessly for access to care for her patients, particularly those who live in more rural settings. Growing up in the small, rural town of Carberry, Manitoba, Dr. Grobb always felt a calling to medicine, with the exception of the few childhood years she thought she might have a go at a singing career. After completing medical school at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, she completed her rural family medicine residency in Dauphin, Manitoba, and settled in at the Brandon Regional Health Centre.

For the past eleven years, Dr. Grobb has proudly been an integral part of the ED medical team, even temporarily taking on an acting chief role. She enjoys teaching students and residents and seeing them ​“grow as clinicians before our eyes”. She loves working in emergency medicine, appreciating ​“the problem solving aspects, quick decision making, the learning opportunities (which seem to happen every day for me in the ER), and the ability to be a source of care and compassion for patients, sometimes on their worst day.” Dr. Grobb is thankful for the team atmosphere and for her colleagues who work collaboratively to make the chaos of the ED more manageable. 

Dr. Grobb is frustrated and disheartened when faced with a lack of resources to provide her patients with necessary care. With fewer rural physicians it is extremely difficult for patients to find family physicians and even more difficult to find specialist and subspecialist care. In the wake of the pandemic, Dr. Grobb believes that ​“a more cohesive and robust mental health system” is paramount to helping ease some of the strain on our health care system. 

When she’s not at the hospital, Dr. Grobb enjoys spending time with her husband and their two cuddly Persian cats and with family and friends, hiking, biking, or on the water on her kayak on Clear Lake. She often returns to Australia to connect with good friends. Along with her parents, who still live in Carberry, Dr. Grobb and her husband travel to watch her brother, a violinist with Cirque du Soleil, perform in various locations around the world. She is a ​“mediocre pianist”, ​“an unreliable book club member”, and a huge fan of Ted Lasso and Schitt’s Creek. 

Colleagues of Grobb have nothing but praise for her. ​“Jacie is a wonderful colleague,” said Dr. Stacey Kitz ​“When our past chief needed to take a medical leave, she stepped in and helped guide our department through a very rough time. Despite the fact that her tenure as chief is finished, she continues to advocate for our department and our patients. I feel lucky to count her as both a colleague and a friend.”

Dr. Gavin Roche is an exceptional physician with a diverse medical career spanning over three decades. After graduating from the University of Cape Town in 1988, he worked as a medical officer in South Africa before immigrating to Canada to begin his practice in Minnedosa. For 21 years, he dedicated himself to the community of Minnedosa, delivering comprehensive care in the emergency room, obstetrics, general practice, and on-call duties. Many of the babies Dr. Roche delivered now have children of their own and have become patients!

In 2011, Dr. Roche relocated to Winnipeg, joining the Assiniboine Clinic, where he continues to provide exemplary medical care. His practice encompasses 70% general medicine and 30% plastic surgery, showcasing his versatility and adaptability.

Dr. Roche has concerns about the significant duress primary care physicians are facing. He says that, ​“although measures are being taken to try and accommodate the stressors”, there are still complex problems that will require a lot of work in the coming years. He sees the overwhelming burden of paperwork as an urgent issue that needs to be addressed, and has faith that collaborative work can resolve many of these hurdles. However strong his concerns, Dr. Roche says ​“I still have a great deal of optimism for the development and progression of general practice in the future.” 

With unwavering professionalism and a compassionate spirit, Dr. Gavin Roche has left an indelible impact on the lives of his patients, colleagues, and community. His dedication to mentorship and humanitarian efforts, including assisting Ukrainian individuals affected by conflict, exemplify his commitment to making a difference. Dr. Roche’s genuine passion for his craft is evident in the strong relationships he forms with his patients, earning their trust and loyalty. His journey serves as an inspiration, and his contributions continue to shape the medical landscape with compassion and excellence.

Beyond medicine, he finds joy in rugby, both as a player and coach, and also enjoys pickleball and golf. He has 3 grown children with one left in school studying medicine and the other two working in their chosen professions. He feels very fortunate to have a group of friends with exceptional senses of humor who always make him laugh. Dr. Roche’s favourite hobby is cooking and his favourite dish is Babootie (Cape Malaysian dish). But don’t ask for the recipe. It’s a secret. 

Family physician, Dr. Zineb Laribi is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of her physician colleagues and has been an integral part of developing the Physician Health and Wellness Action Plan in the Northern Health Region as part of the Community of Practice (CoP). CoP Coordinator Jennifer MacDonald is excited that Dr. Laribi will continue this work through the implementation phase and says Dr. Laribi’s ​“calm nature and quiet strength have a positive impact on those around her.” 

Dr. Laribi graduated from the University of Algiers in Algeria and practiced with an interest in women’s health before moving to Canada to practice family medicine. The driving force behind her pursuit of a career in medicine was her grandfather’s diabetes, which left him blind and unable to ever see his grandchildren. Because of this she says her scope of practice is centered primarily on patients with chronic health issues, ​“helping them to minimize the risk of complications, and ideally prevent them altogether.” In an effort to better equip patients to make informed health choices, Dr. Laribi provides education and counseling, dispelling misconceptions or preconceived notions. She speaks 3 languages and is proud to offer care to English, French and Arabic speaking patients. 

Colleague Dr. Elham Fattah Dizaji says Dr. Laribi sets an exceptional example to fellow new physicians with her work ethic, knowledge and professionalism. Dr. Laribi’s deep understanding of the medical and social issues faced by patients in her region informs and influences the quality of the care she provides. Dr. Fattah is inspired by Dr. Laribi’s deep commitment to serving her patients in Northern communities over the last 7 years. Dr. Laribi practices family medicine in Thompson Clinic, emergency medicine at Thompson General Hospital, and spends over half of her time caring for members of Shamattawa First Nation. Dr. Laribi is inspired by the resilience of her First Nation patients, who find success despite facing challenging circumstances as a result of systemic barriers. 

Dr. Laribi’s greatest concern for the medical profession is the nation-wide shortage of physicians, namely the shortages in Northern and rural communities, where access to medical care is already severely limited and under-resourced. She argues that the shortage not only negatively-impacts physician well-being but could also increase ​“the risk of making medical errors.” 

Dr. Laribi finds her greatest sense of accomplishment comes from the daily victories she achieves when she is able to help her patients lead healthier and happier lives. She says, ​“seeing a patient overcome an obstacle, make progress towards their goals, or simply leave my office feeling more empowered and informed than when they arrived, is what makes every day in this profession feel like a triumph.” She adds ​“one of the most rewarding aspects of my work is when I see patients overcome their struggle with substance use disorder.”

When asked what makes her laugh, Dr. Laribi replied, ​“my daughter Bouchra is the funniest person I know and never fails to make me laugh. We share many moments of pure joy and laughter, even over the simplest things.” Bouchra, is an aspiring physician who is currently studying at McGill University. In her spare time, Dr. Laribi enjoys taking a break from long Manitoba winters by going on annual camping and hiking trips with her family to the Sahara desert in Algeria, where she can eat her fill of her favourite fruit: Algerian deglet nour dates. 

Residents and patients are fortunate to have Dr. Paul Kerr in their corner. With 30 years of experience as an academic head and neck surgical oncologist, Dr. Kerr has proven to be an incredible mentor to medical learners and a strong advocate for his patients. He is a hospital-based surgeon with a particular interest in endocrine surgery, transoral cancer surgery, and endoscopic skull base surgery. After completing both his medical degree and residency at UM, he completed advanced training in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology in Indianapolis.

Dr. Kerr is passionate about advancing surgical care, saying his ultimate goals are to ​“reduce surgical morbidity, improve functional outcomes in head and neck cancer patients, and promote efficient, standardized perioperative care protocols.” He’s proud to have worked with a very talented department that was ​“one of the first in Canada to acquire expertise in and adopt minimally invasive transoral and endoscopic techniques.” Through collaborative research and their shared expertise these specialists have led the creation of perioperative protocols, streamlining the care of patients undergoing thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy.

Recently, Dr. Kerr stepped up to cover patient care when the complement of local surgeons abruptly declined. And, despite the sudden and significant increase in patient volume, Dr. Kerr continued to provide exemplary patient care, all while maintaining his involvement with resident teaching both in the operating room, and during after-hour rounds. Resident physician and colleague Dr. Deanna Gigliotti says Dr. Kerr is ​“an outstanding patient advocate, a true example of professionalism, and an inspiring mentor for residents.”

Dr. Kerr credits three influential physicians who have helped shape his career in medicine. His fellowship mentor Dr. Ronald Hamaker taught him the value of providing a nurturing environment for trainees. Neurosurgical colleague Dr. Michael West is a tower of technical wizardry, integrity, and compassion. Dr. Kerr’s wife, Dr. Lorraine Kerr, has been especially influential. He says she is a ​“pediatrician extraordinaire, who showed me how to do medicine and family together.”

Dr. Kerr ensures he maintains a good work-life balance and encourages it for colleagues and learners. While he loves medicine, he would always rather be riding his bike, downhill skiing with family and friends, or practicing for his next gig with his band The Specialists. Rock on!