Meet Dr. Nichelle Desilets, Doctors Manitoba Board President

by Claudine Gervais

Dr. Nichelle Desilets brings a grounded leadership that comes from a life shaped by small-town values, rural medicine, and an unwavering commitment to care.

“I step into this role knowing it is not a solo act,” said Dr. Desilets, setting a tone of unity in her introductory speech at the Doctors Manitoba gala in May. In her presidency, she looks to bring physicians together across differences in geography, specialty, and experience.

She learned the meaning of service, community, and hard work growing up in a small town. ​“Success doesn’t come from shortcuts. It comes from showing up early, staying late, and taking care of those around you,” she said. 

Those early lessons were incorporated into her medical journey, one that has taken her across Canada, through diverse training and mentorships, and now firmly into rural family practice. 

As a family doctor in Neepawa, she found her second family. It was rural physicians who demonstrated clinical courage and helped her see how a group of invested, committed doctors can uplift an entire community. At the ceremony in May passing the chains of office from outgoing President Dr. Randy Guzman to Dr. Desilets as incoming President, she chose her mentor, Dr. Joanne Sivertson, to help. Dr. Sivertson taught Dr. Desilets how to provide emergency obstetrical and surgical care to help rural patients receive care closer to home.

This symbolic passing of leadership — not just between presidents but between mentor and mentee — reflects the interconnectedness of the medical profession and the strength found in supporting one another.

“I love being a family doctor,” she said. ​“While there is a lot I can do for my patients as a full scope rural physician, it truly takes our entire diverse medical community to care for them.” 

It’s not always easy to come together to care for patients, Dr. Desilets pointed out. Silos in the health care system, disconnected electronic systems, and physician shortages all contribute to making it much harder than it should be to collaborate on patient care.

“Fixing the broken system we work in as physicians is a major task, and it’s one that requires collective, unified action,” she explained. ​“It means recognizing each other’s concerns and supporting each other’s priorities, so every corner of medicine sees improvements.” 

“The privilege of this profession means we don’t just get to do the job, we have to show up for each other.” This means confronting bias, advocating for better recruitment and retention, and making sure every physician knows they belong.

“Let’s resist the forces that try to divide us, whether by geography or specialty, race or ethnicity, gender or generation. We must keep pushing to create a profession where every physician belongs, and every patient has access to the care they deserve.” 

Dr. Desilets’ vision for a united medical community is driven by a simple truth: ​“We all have a place.”

Her vision is a profession where every physician can be well, where collaboration wins over interprofessional challenges, where administrative burdens no longer force doctors to choose between their practice and their family, and where personal well-being is not sacrificed to uphold a system in need of reform.

Looking ahead to her year as president, she offered a promise rooted in her rural upbringing and medical calling: ​“I will show up. I will listen. I will lead with integrity and with heart.”

Coming together to help patients isn’t something left in the exam room or on a call shift, but in every boardroom, at every policy table, and every time physicians are working to be able to provide the best possible care to patients. ​“Let’s stay grounded in our calling to care, to connect and to heal,” she said.

Since beginning her term as President, Dr. Desilets explains she is already seeing the importance of unity in this moment. 

“I’ve seen how powerful we are when we work together. In a time when the profession is under pressure — across Canada and beyond — our strength comes from unity. When we speak with one voice, we’re more likely to succeed in shaping a stronger health system.” 

Dr. Desilets pointed to some key priorities in the year ahead where a collective approach will be important, including broad consultations starting later this year to assess priorities for updating funding for physician services as part of the next Physician Services Agreement, as well as a major summit to address frustrating gaps and administrative burden associated with referrals and requisitions for both sending and receiving physicians.

“While each physician walks their own path, the profession grows stronger when we walk together,” she explained, ​“united in purpose, grounded in compassion, and connected by care.”

“Working together is important,” Dr. Desilets added. ​“Unity creates the opportunity to do better for us as physicians and for our patients.”

The Collaborative Year Ahead…

Doctors Manitoba has planned an active year of outreach for 2025/26. This includes:

• Rural outreach visits to Dauphin (and surrounding areas), Brandon, Thompson, The Pas, and Portage la Prairie
• A summit to improve referrals, requisitions and collaboration in care
• Forming working groups and broader consultation to identify concerns and ideas that will set the priorities for negotiating the next Physician Services Agreement in 2027
• Connecting with specialty and family medicine practices in a variety of settings, including hospitals and clinics around Manitoba