February 23, 2024

The 2024 Doctors Manitoba Awards winners are a group of seven changemakers in health.

“When I think about this year’s winners, there is a common thread that connects them, and that is the way they have used their voices to advocate for change in the interests of their patients and the systems they work in,” said Dr. Michael Boroditsky, president of Doctors Manitoba. ​“This takes no small measure of courage and the ability to see ahead to how what we accomplish today makes a difference for those who follow.

This is especially true for one of our winners, Dr. Dick Smith, who we are naming posthumously as our Humanitarian of the Year. Dr. Smith’s long career was notable for many reasons, but especially for the way he made a place for himself as the first openly gay physician in Manitoba, and then created safe spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ community to receive care.

As we honour Dr. Smith’s memory at this year’s awards gala coming up on May 11, we’re dedicating a gift to the causes that he embraced, including Our Own Health Centre and the Rainbow Resource Centre’s transformative capital project, Place of Pride. This initiative will establish a new campus offering a comprehensive range of queer services, including a community hub and housing for 2SLGBTQ+ older adults.

The Doctors Manitoba awards are the highest honour bestowed upon physicians in the province. Award recipients are nominated by their physician peers and selected after a thorough evaluation by the Awards Committee. 

Together we celebrate the human, courageous and committed physicians dedicated to advancing the medical profession and improving care for their patients. This year’s honorees include:

Dr. José François 

Physician of the Year 

During his time leading family medicine, Dr. Francois has laid the foundation to turnaround the family doctor shortage in Manitoba. He has championed expansions for family physician training, better support for international medical graduates, targeted initiatives for rural, northern and francophone training, and he supported new models of care and remuneration for longitudinal family practice, among several other important achievements.

Dr. Stephen Kowalski

Distinguished Service

Dr. Kowalski’s dedicated attention to the care of patients in anesthesia and critical care, clinical research, education and administration have contributed to the lives of those here in Manitoba and beyond. In a career spanning four decades, his keen intellect has been a constant, matched with his dedication to supporting others along the way.

Dr. Dick Smith

Dr. Jack Armstrong Humanitarian Award (posthumous)

Dr. Smith was a groundbreaking physician who led the way in both the treatment of HIV/AIDS in Manitoba and the compassionate care for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. He founded the first clinics specializing in their care and was an outspoken voice and hero to those he helped throughout his 52-year career.

Dr. Lerly Luo

Resident of the Year

As a Public Health Preventive Medicine resident, Dr. Luo is dedicated to improving the health of populations by building bridges between the worlds of acute care, community medicine, and public health. She holds a Master of Public Health from Harvard and has advised Ministries of Health internationally on national strategy for strengthening chronic disease care. She is a passionate advocate having worked to represent the needs and voices of others and access to health for all on the world’s stage.

Dr. Sara Goulet

Medal of Excellence

Dr. Goulet’s career is about breaking down the barriers that prevent Indigenous people from receiving the care they deserve, and leading the way for those who can provide it. A family physician and advisor for Ongomiizwin Health Services, she is a force for building new systems that create better outcomes for everyone involved.

Dr. Kristel van Ineveld

Medal of Excellence

Dr. van Ineveld’s contributions to interdisciplinary geriatric care and education have been influential across Canada, resulting in informed and compassionate care for older patients. In her roles as an administrator, researcher, and advocate, she helps navigate systems with an unmatched understanding of how they work now and their potential for the future.

Dr. Helen Pymar

Medal of Excellence

Dr. Pymar is a valued educator and mentor to medical and physician assistant, nurse practitioners, midwives, family medicine, international medical graduates, and Obstetrician Gynecologist learners. She is a proponent of free access to contraception, safe and accessible abortion care and best practices for early pregnancy complications, providing a voice for Manitobans throughout her 20-year career.

For more information about the awards and longer-format biographies of the 2024 award winners, visit the Doctors Manitoba 2024 Awards Recipients page. More details regarding the gala will be available this spring.

Doctors Manitoba will hold an Awards Gala on May 11 to celebrate the winners. As has become the custom, the Gala will also support the cause of the Humanitarian Award winner. Dr. Smith’s long career was notable for many reasons, but especially for the way he made a place for himself as the first openly gay physician in Manitoba, and then created safe spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ community to receive care.

Doctors Manitoba will make a donation towards the causes Dr. Smith championed, including initiatives at Our Own Health Centre focused on addictions treatment and HIV testing, and the Rainbow Resource Centre’s transformative capital project, Place of Pride. This initiative will establish a new campus offering a comprehensive range of queer services, including a community hub and housing for 2SLGBTQIA+ older adults. Guests at the Awards Gala will have the opportunity to support these causes as well through a fundraising initiative.