Awards

Dr Maryam Zeineddin  – President-Elect, BC Family Doctors

BC Family Doctors’ (BCFD) president-elect, Dr Maryam Zeineddin, was honoured with a Doctors of BC 2023 Recognition award on January 26, 2024. Dr Zeineddin was the BC Family Doctors representative to the Statutory Negotiating Committee for three years during negotiations for the 2022 Physician Master Agreement. She was also instrumental in negotiations to bring about the Longitudinal Family Physician Payment Model.

Dr Renee Fernandez – BC Family Doctors

Dr Renee Fernandez, Chief Medical Officer of BC Family Doctors, won the prestigious Dr Don Rix Award for physician leadership at the Doctors of BC Awards Gala on January 26, 2024. Established in memory of the late Dr Donald Rix, the award recognizes lifetime achievements and exemplary physician leadership so outstanding that it serves as an inspiration and a challenge to the medical profession in British Columbia. Dr Fernandez also received the College Coin by the BC College of Family Physicians, recognizing the work she has done on creating the longitudinal family practice model.

Dr Karen Forgie – Sunshine Coast Division of Family Practice

Dr Karen Forgie, a medical leader and rural family practitioner based in Sechelt, received the Silver Medal of Service Award at the Doctors of BC Awards Gala on January 26, 2024. The Silver Medal of Service is awarded to physicians who have made outstanding contributions to medicine and/or the improvement of British Columbians’ welfare. Dr Forgie served as president of BC Family Doctors President during the organization’s transition from the Society of General Practitioners of BC to BC Family Doctors and is now chair of economics.

Dr Jay Slater – Vancouver Division of Family Practice

Dr Jay Slater received the Silver Medal of Service Award at the Doctors of BC Awards Gala on January 26, 2024. Dr Slater co-developed the Home VIVE Program as Physician Lead, which provides home-based primary care to frail elders in Vancouver, allowing patients to avoid unwanted placement in nursing homes and needless hospitalizations. Dr Slater is also a co-founder of the Vancouver Division of Family Practice and a published scholar, particularly relating to geriatric palliative care. 

Dr Carole Williams – Cowichan Valley Division of Family Practice

Dr Carole Williams, a family physician in Duncan and co-chair of the Cowichan Valley Division of Family Practice, received the Silver Medal of Service Award at the Doctors of BC Awards Gala on January 26, 2024. Dr Williams is a clinical instructor in the Department of Family Medicine at UBC, a past president of BC Family Doctors (BCFD), and served as BCFD’s Executive Director. 

Dr Emily Evans 

Dr Emily Evans received the Dr David M Bachop Silver Medal in general medical practice, given annually to the UBC family practice resident, or the practice-eligible British Columbia registered general practitioner who achieves the best overall result in the Family Practice Certification. Dr Evan is currently travelling around northern Ontario to small towns and remote First Nation communities providing primary care, emergency medicine services, and hospital-based care. 

Dr George Francis – Surrey-North Delta Division of Family Practice

Dr George Francis received the Exceptional Teaching Honour from the BC College of Family Physicians. The award recognizes and celebrates family physicians dedicated to teaching and mentorship. His nominator described Dr Francis as “an amazing, dedicated, and passionate teacher to his students.” 

Dr David Jerome – Thompson Region Division of Family Practice

Dr David Jerome, a Kamloops physician and medical officer with the Canadian Armed Forces, received the Exceptional Teaching Honour from the BC College of Family Physicians. The award recognizes and celebrates family physicians dedicated to teaching and mentorship. His nominator says: “Driven by passion and expertise, Dr. Jerome has significantly enriched the landscape of wilderness medicine education in Canada."

Dr Eric Juneau – Richmond Division of Family Practice

Dr Eric Juneau received the Exceptional Teaching Honour from the BC College of Family Physicians. The award recognizes and celebrates family physicians dedicated to teaching and mentorship. He was nominated for his “outstanding contributions in developing a clinical curriculum for medical technicians at a national level have significantly elevated the standards of education in the field.”

Dr David McBeath – East Kootenay Division of Family Practice

Dr David McBeath received the College Coin by the BC College of Family Physicians, recognizing his ongoing commitment to family medicine and dedication to good work. He was nominated for the time and energy he gave to the medical community in Fernie throughout his career. “Fernie has been extraordinarily lucky to have him here and younger physicians have been lucky to learn under him. The medical community will lose an important member when he decides to remove his shingle."

Dr Taylor Swanson – Nanaimo Division of Family Practice

Dr Taylor Swanson received the College Coin by the BC College of Family Physicians, recognizing ongoing commitment to family medicine and dedication to good work. He was nominated for being “integral in achieving support funding and logistic support to save Nanaimo's GP in-patient care service from collapsing."

Dr Adam Thompson – Comox Valley Division of Family Practice

Courtenay’s Dr Adam Thompson received the College Coin by the BC College of Family Physicians, recognizing ongoing commitment to family medicine and dedication to good work. “Dr Thompson's investments in primary care/family practice is invaluable and has resulted in a model of remuneration and support that has breathed life back into found practice and I would like to acknowledge him for that," his nominator says. 

Dr Amanda Wang – Victoria Division of Family Practice 

Dr Amanda Wang, of Coastal Maternity Care, received the College Coin by the BC College of Family Physicians, recognizing ongoing commitment to family medicine and dedication to good work. Her nominator said Dr Wang is “has been a wonderful aid in making the steep learning curve of new to practice more manageable. She is also just a wonderful person and she delivers excellent timely evidence based care to her patients.” 

Dr Jessica Wilder – Nanaimo Division of Family Practice

Dr Jessica Wilder received the College Coin by the BC College of Family Physicians, recognizing ongoing commitment to family medicine and dedication to good work. She is head of hospital addictions medicine service in Nanaimo and physician lead for harm reduction and education for all of island health and regularly in the Northwest Territories providing comprehensive hospitalist care. Her nominator said “Dr Wilder is a passionate advocate and has saved many lives and provided compassionate care for the most vulnerable in our communities"

Dr Kevin McMeel – Nanaimo Division of Family Practice

Dr Kevin McMeel received the David Haughton Award for his considerable accomplishments in Emergency Medicine. He founded the Nanaimo Emergency Education Program (NEEP) and related initiatives like the Emergency Residency and Ultrasound Fellowship programs. According to his nominator, McMeel’s work “has not only advanced medical education but also improved patient care through the integration of ultrasound technology, benefiting physicians and communities alike.”

Dr. Ingrid Cosio – Prince George Division of Family Practice

Dr. Ingrid Cosio received the 2023 My Family Doctor Award from the BC College of Family Physicians. Dr. Cosio has been a partner in a shared group family practice in Prince George for 18 years.

Dr. Paul Graham – Chilliwack Division of Family Practice

Dr. Paul Graham received the 2023 My Family Doctor Award from the BC College of Family Physicians. Dr. Graham started a full-service practice – including obstetrics and hospital work – in 2008.

Dr. Sheldon Howard – Vancouver Division of Family Practice

Dr. Sheldon Howard received the 2023 My Family Doctor Award from the BC College of Family Physicians. Dr. Sheldon Howard has been a family physician in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside for over 50 years. Dr. Howard was also a hospitalist for Vancouver General Hospital and sat on the Board of Directors for drug treatment programs, including Odd Squad Productions Society.

Dr. Bradley Little – Vancouver Division of Family Practice

Dr. Bradley Little received the 2023 First Five Years of Practice Award from the BC College of Family Physicians. Dr. Bradley Little is a family physician at Spectrum Health in downtown Vancouver.

Dr Jennifer Lush – Victoria Division of Family Practice

Dr. Jennifer Lush received the 2023 BC Family Physician of the Year Award from the BC College of Family Physicians. Dr. Lush serves as clinical faculty for the Island Medical Program and UBC Family Medicine Residency Program.

Dr. Anna Mason – Victoria Division of Family Practice

Dr. Anna Mason received the 2023 My Family Doctor Award from the BC College of Family Physicians. Dr. Mason sits on the Victoria Divisions of Family Practice Board and is involved in developing the Victoria Primary Care Network as one of the co-leads for her neighbourhood.

Dr. Ella Monro – South Okanagan Similkameen Division of Family Practice

Dr. Ella Munro received the 2023 My Family Doctor Award from the BC College of Family Physicians. Dr. Munro helped set up Princeton Hospital as a teaching hospital for interns to come and practice.

Dr. Dayna Mudie – Fraser Northwest Division of Family Practice

Dr. Dayna Mudie has been recognized with the 2023 Family Doctor of the Year Award by The Fraser Northwest Division of Family Practice. These awards recognize and honour outstanding healthcare professionals serving the Tri-Cities and New West communities.

Dr. Robert Fox, Chilliwack Division of Family Practice

Dr Robert Fox received the 2023 Award of Excellence in Rural Medicine – Lifetime Achievement from The Rural Coordination Centre of BC. Recipients of the BC Rural Health Awards are selected for developing innovative and collaborative solutions to local health care issues.

Dr Charles Helm, Chief of Staff Tumbler Ridge Community Health Centre, North Peace Division of Family Practice

Dr Charles Helm received the 2023 Award of Excellence in Rural Medicine – Lifetime Achievement from The Rural Coordination Centre of BC. He is a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and serves on the teaching faculty of the University of British Columbia.

Dr David May, qathet Division of Family Practice

Dr David May received the 2023 Award of Excellence in Rural Medicine – Lifetime Achievement, from The Rural Coordination Centre of BC. The BC Rural Health Awards recognize rural doctors for their inspiring contributions to improving the health of rural people and communities across BC. He was a founding member of Pain BC as well as a board member of Powell River Hospice Society.

Dr Arielle Roberts, Campbell River and District Division of Family Practice

Dr Arielle Roberts received the BC College of Family Physicians Dr. Manoo and Jean Gurjar Award, which is awarded to two resident physicians in the UBC Family Practice Residency Program.

Dr Julia Robson, Campbell River and District Division of Family Practice

Dr Julia Robson was awarded the Peter Grantham Teaching Award from the UBC Faculty of Medicine. This is awarded to a first-year resident who has demonstrated interest and excellence in teaching.

Dr Nique Seper, Cowichan Division of Family Practice

Dr Nique Seper received the BC College of Family Physicians Dr. Manoo and Jean Gurjar Award, which is awarded to two resident physicians in the UBC Family Practice Residency Program. She is the Co-Site Lead Resident of UBC's Indigenous Family Practice Residency Program.

Dr Trina Larsen-Soles, East Kootenay Division of Family Practice

Dr Trina Larsen-Soles received the 2023 Award of Excellence in Rural Medicine – Lifetime Achievement from The Rural Coordination Centre of BC. She has served as the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada’s (SRPC) president in addition to several roles within the SRPC including as the co-chair of the SRPC/CPFC task force on advancing rural family medicine.

Dr Ken Burns, Ridge Meadows Division of Family Practice

Dr Ken Burns received the 2022 Doctors of BC Silver Medal of Service in January 2023. The medal is awarded to physicians who have made outstanding contributions to medicine and/or the improvement of British Columbians’ welfare. Dr Burns started his full-service family practice in Maple Ridge in 1980. He was the inaugural chair of the Ridge Meadows Division of Family Practice and former president of both the Ridge Meadows Hospital Medical Staff Association and the site’s Physician Engagement Society. Dr Burns retired in 2022 after 42 years in the Ridge Meadows community.

Dr Hyman Fox, Fraser Northwest Division of Family Practice

Dr Hyman Fox received the 2022 Doctors of BC Silver Medal of Service in January 2023. The medal is awarded to physicians who have made outstanding contributions to medicine and/or the improvement of British Columbians’ welfare. He was recognized for his outstanding record of service with Doctors of BC and BC Family Doctors over the last four decades. He has 14 years of experience on the Doctors of BC Statutory Negotiations Committee, and he currently still serves on the Negotiations Coordinating Group.

Dr Alysson Hamilton, Kootenay Boundary Division of Family Practice

Dr Alysson Hamilton received the 2022 Dr David M Bachop Silver Medal in general medical practice from Doctors of BC in January 2023. The medal is presented annually to the UBC family practice resident or the practice-eligible British Columbia registered general practitioner who achieves the best overall result in the Family Practice Certification. Dr Hamilton is a resident family doctor in the Kootenay Boundary Family Practice Residency Program.

Dr Shannon McDonald, Senior Medical Officer, Vancouver Island

Dr Shannon McDonald received the 2022 Dr David M Bachop Gold Medal from Doctors of BC in January 2023. The medal is given to a BC doctor who has made an exceptional contribution in the field of organized medicine and/or community service. Dr McDonald is an exemplary medical leader in Indigenous health, and she has co-led the First Nations Health Authority for the past seven years. She received the 2022 National Healthcare Leadership Award from Health Care Excellence Canada and the First Nations Health Managers Association.

Dr Remi Oyedeji (Dawson Creek), South Peace Region, Chief of Staff of the Dawson Creek and District Hospital

Dr Remi Oyedeji received the Best of the Best Reader's Choice Award 2022 for Best Doctor from the Dawson Creek Mirror. Passionate about teaching, Dr Oyedeji is a Clinical Instructor for the MD Undergraduate Program at UBC Faculty of Medicine. He teaches third-year medical students during their rural family medicine rotation. Dr Oyedeji works out of Dawson Creek Medical Clinic and is the Deputy Chief of Staff at Dawson Creek and District Hospital.

Dr Magda Du Plessis (Dawson Creek), South Peace Region

Dr Magda du Plessis received the 2022 Dawson Creek Citizen of the Year Award from the City of Dawson Creek. Dr du Plessis has a passion for women’s health, pre and post-natal care and aesthetics and works in the Mile Zero Family Practice clinic as well as ER/OR/Obstetrics. Dr du Plesis was instrumental in recruiting a group of new doctors to the community. In addition to her clinical practice, she initiated the new maternity care clinic, Chickadee, and she has stepped into the role of Medical Director to serve the needs of the South Peace region.