Prince Albert Engagement Event Celebrates Connection and Appreciation

The Department of Family Medicine hosted an engagement event in Prince Albert to celebrate connection, gratitude, and community among local preceptors and faculty. The evening recognized clinics and physicians who play a vital role in training future family doctors, with plaques of appreciation and heartfelt thanks for their ongoing commitment to medical education.

By Colie Thomas

Written by Colie Thomas, Manager of Faculty Development and Undergraduate Education

Pictured above (left to right): Dr. Craig Cantin (MD) and Dr. Matt Kushneriuk (MD)

This October, Dr. Kushneriuk (MD),Undergraduate Director at the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of Family Medicine (DFM) and I had the pleasure of visiting Prince Albert to host a DFM Undergraduate Education Event, which was an evening focused on connection, gratitude, and community. The goal of the event was simple: to strengthen relationships within our faculty network and thank the many preceptors who dedicate their time to supporting our medical learners in the region.

Thanks to the support of Nicole Toutant and Heidi Brown, we welcomed representatives from every clinic currently involved in clerkship training in Prince Albert. Sixteen faculty joined us for the evening, each playing an important role in shaping the next generation of family physicians.

It was truly special to present each clinic with a plaque of appreciation – small tokens that reflect our deep gratitude for their ongoing contributions. Attendees also received portfolios including resources about medical faculty appointments and personalized thank you letters. The night wrapped up with a presentation from Dr. Kushneriuk, followed by plenty of good conversation and laughter.

Pictured above (left to right): Dr. Cassidy Jones (MD) and Dr. Emily Pona (MD), first-year family medicine residents from the Prince Albert site.

This event was part of a larger initiative to recognize and celebrate the 59 clinics across Saskatchewan that provide essential learning experiences for our students and residents. Each plaque we deliver represents the heart of what makes our programs so strong – the people and teams who open their doors to teach, guide, and inspire future physicians.

These gatherings help foster stronger relationships between clinical sites and the Department, ensuring learners have supportive, high-quality teaching experiences across Saskatchewan.

We look forward to continuing this momentum in the months ahead and creating more opportunities to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the incredible preceptors and clinic teams who are shaping the future of family medicine in Saskatchewan.