Released on August 25, 2020
Two new geriatricians have been recruited to the province to help improve access to services for seniors. Dr. Krista Lagimodiere and Dr. Megan Surkan are now practicing in Saskatoon.
“Recruiting highly qualified specialists to meet the health needs of our residents is a priority for our government,” Minister Responsible for Seniors Warren Kaeding said. “We value the role geriatricians play in supporting the care and well-being of older adults, and we are very pleased to welcome Dr. Lagimodiere and Dr. Surkan in this capacity.”
Saskatchewan currently has two geriatricians, one in Saskatoon and one in Regina. The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has been actively engaged in efforts to recruit additional geriatricians for the past several years.
“Only a small number of geriatricians are trained in Canada each year and, like other specialties with a low number of trainees, recruitment has been challenging,” University of Saskatchewan Professor and Department Head of Medicine Dr. Haissam Haddad said. “We are very pleased that two excellent geriatricians have joined the existing ones to help provide specialized care for our elderly residents.”
Geriatricians are specialized medical doctors who complete a residency program in internal medicine followed by a fellowship in geriatric medicine. They specialize in treating elderly patients, who can present with complex or age-related medical needs.
In addition to geriatricians, the province has general practitioners with additional training in geriatrics who provide clinical geriatric services to patients. Other professionals providing geriatric services, often as part of multi-disciplinary teams, include: psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, registered nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and development educators.
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For more information, contact:
Colleen Book
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: media@health.gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-537-3594
Amanda Purcell
Saskatchewan Health Authority
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-655-3476
Email: amanda.purcell@saskhealthauthority.ca