First Annual Prince Albert Residency Alumni Event Celebrates Mentorship, Legacy, and Community

On October 5, the Prince Albert Family Medicine Residency Program held its first alumni event, bringing together residents, faculty, administrators, and their families to celebrate community. Over 60 people attended the event, which was organized by Dr. Jamie Grunwald with support from Heidi Brown and Nicole Toutant, whose contributions were essential to its success.

Dr. Grunwald, a second-year resident who grew up in Leduc County, Alberta, and completed medical school at the University of Alberta, is drawn to the diverse demands of rural medicine. After residency, she plans to locum as she finds a community that best fits her values. Outside of medicine, Dr. Grunwald enjoys kayaking, cross-country skiing, engaging in her church community, and is the founder of the “Vitreous” healthcare film festival. Leading this event was a unique way for her to combine her non-medical interests with her commitment to the Prince Albert medical community.

Inspired by the photos of alumni in the resident lounge and by her encounters with alumni during clinical rotations, Dr. Grunwald wanted to create a sense of connection through shared experiences. “I took inspiration from past alumni events I helped with as a campus ambassador in my undergraduate degree, and I wanted to create something meaningful for PA.”

The evening featured several key moments that will be remembered for years to come. A distinguished alumni award was presented to Dr. Sean Groves, an advocate for rural medicine. He is one of the first residents trained in Prince Albert and graduated in 2005.  Dr. Groves also created and has led the development of the La Ronge family medicine training site, and he is currently serving as their Site Director. “Dr. Groves is a champion for rural medicine and has continued to practice in a manner that embodies the values of the PA residency program.” Dr. Grunwald noted.

Dr. Jim Cross, a respected figure in Prince Albert’s medical education landscape, delivered a keynote address filled with humor and insight, drawing on his experiences and memories from over two decades of mentoring future family physicians. The event also included a group photo session on the well-known couch from the PA residents’ lounge—which captured the spirit of camaraderie within the residency program.

Reflecting on the event, Dr. Grunwald emphasized the importance of connection and mentorship between current residents and alumni. “Mentorship, legacy, and community were the themes that emerged for me. Having a common ground of a shared residency history can be a natural facilitator for relationship and mentorship between residents and attendings. I think the world would merit from celebrating more of the extraordinary with the ordinary of everyday life, and reflecting on the legacy of the PA residency program ties in with that. Most importantly to me is the value of community, especially the community of people trying to do good work in medicine, and connecting with each other in meaningful ways is one piece of making out healthcare system stronger and finding joy in medicine again.”

While this year’s reunion was considered a pilot, the team is hopeful it will become a tradition, with feedback from attendees being collected to help shape future gatherings. Discussions around the frequency of the event, potentially every three to five years, are already underway.

Dr. Grunwald expressed deep gratitude for the support shown by attendees and those who couldn’t make it but shared stories and memories through messages. “It was a way to give back—a love letter to PA, if you will,” she reflected. “And a reminder to myself and others that there’s no place quite like PA(radise).”