University of Saskatchewan (USask) fourth-year medical students will be able to take the national award-winning Indigenous wellness online course, The Role of Practitioners in Indigenous Wellness, at no cost with the generous support of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and two committees of the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA).

There is a proverb that speaks to looking at the past to understanding the future. It is proving to be very prescient during the COVID-19 pandemic. We don’t have to look too far back or too far away to know what is in store for us in Saskatchewan if our political leaders don’t take swift, decisive action to blunt the surge that is overwhelming our health care system and putting Saskatchewan citizens at risk.

Supporting physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing racism within the medical profession were two major themes explored by delegates to the Saskatchewan Medical Association’s 2020 Fall Representative Assembly (RA).

The Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) commends provincial health officials for their decision to mandate the wearing of non-medical masks in Saskatchewan’s three largest cities.

n recognition of integral role physicians play in the health system, the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) annually recognizes leaders in the medical community with three awards – one each for Physician, Resident and Student Leader of the Year.

Longtime pediatrician Dr. Biswa Datta of Regina is the recipient of the Saskatchewan Medical Association’s (SMA) 2020 Physician of the Year Award. The award was presented as part of the SMA’s virtual 2020 Fall Representative Assembly (RA) on Friday, Oct. 30. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fall RA was held via video conferencing rather than in-person, as is the tradition.

By Dr. Barb Konstantynowicz: The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in rural health care that the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) believes need to be addressed by the next provincial government following the Oct. 26 election. Physicians recognize the pandemic is unprecedented in its scale and its scope, but now is not the time to shy away from new ideas and strategies.

The Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) has unfurled banners across two major Saskatoon streets and bought billboard ad space to remind the public of the benefits of wearing a mask this fall when physical distancing is not possible to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Today, Health Minister Jim Reiter and Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) President Dr. Barb Konstantynowicz were pleased to announce that Saskatchewan physicians have ratified a new five-year contract. More than 90 per cent of physicians who cast ballots, voted in favour of the agreement.

Yesterday, Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) leaders met with the province’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, and with senior officials from the Ministries of Health and Education to discuss elements of the province’s Safe Schools Plan.