SMA honours Saskatoon family physician Dr. Jonathan Hey as 2026 Physician of the Year
“I am surprised but extremely honoured to receive this award from the SMA and it is a highlight of my career, Said Dr. Hey. “Having said that, I am well aware that I have not got where I am today without the hard work and expertise of my colleagues and in particular the support and sacrifice from my entire family.”
Dr. Hey has been honoured as the Saskatchewan Medical Association’s (SMA) 2026 Physician of the Year. He received the award at a ceremony held Oct. 30 as part of the SMA’s 2026 Fall Representative Assembly.
Dr. Jonathan Hey of Saskatoon has devoted more than three decades to advancing family medicine, obstetrical care, and medical education in Saskatchewan.
Since joining Lakeside Medical Clinic in Saskatoon in 1995, he has provided comprehensive care to generations of patients while building innovative programs that have improved outcomes for mothers, newborns, and families throughout the province.
A family physician with expertise in obstetrics, Dr. Hey has delivered thousands of babies in both rural and urban Saskatchewan. He has maintained a lifelong commitment to continuity of care by personally following his obstetrical patients throughout their pregnancies and delivery.
His impact extends far beyond his own practice. As Division Head of Family Medicine Obstetrics for more than two decades, Dr. Hey championed the creation of the in-house Family Medicine Obstetrics program on labour and delivery, a model that improved patient safety, strengthened collaboration among care teams, and enhanced the experience of both patients and physicians. He also established the Roster Doctor newborn care system, ensuring reliable, high-quality care for newborns and families requiring hospital-based support.
Nationally, Dr. Hey helped shape obstetrical education through his work with the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada. He served on the national ALARM Committee for 15 years, including seven years as co-chair, and has taught hundreds of physicians, residents, and nurses through simulation-based emergency obstetrical training programs. He has also contributed to national educational resources and clinical guidelines focused on maternal and newborn care.
Colleagues consistently describe Dr. Hey as an exceptional physician, mentor and leader. One nominator writes, “He has earned the respect of colleagues not by seeking recognition, but through decades of quiet leadership, unwavering professionalism, and an unfailing commitment to doing what is best for patients and those around him.”
Another colleague notes, “I am grateful to have Dr. Hey as a mentor, resource and colleague. He has an unmatched sense of insight and wit, and we are lucky to have him in this province as a lead example of the ideals to strive for in Family Medicine.”