Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) presented Leadership Awards in four categories during an awards ceremony held in conjunction with the SMA’s 2025 Fall Representative Assembly in Saskatoon.

New for 2025 is the Early Career Physician Leader of the Year Award, which recognizes leadership contributions from a Saskatchewan physician who is in the first 10 years of practice.

The award recipients are:

• Physician Leader of the Year: Dr. Puneet Kapur
• Early Career Physician Leader of the Year: Dr. Mary Kinloch
• Resident Leader of the Year: Dr. Ava Bayat
• Student Leader of the Year: Zoey Bourgeois

Virtual care pioneer Dr. Puneet Kapur honoured with Physician Leader of the Year Award

Dr. Puneet Kapur, who spearheaded the virtual physician program and physician involvement in Healthline 811, has “helped to create and lead a paradigm shift in how medicine is delivered throughout Saskatchewan.”

Dr. Kapur, an emergency physician in Saskatoon, is the SMA’s 2025 Physician Leader of the Year. He says his feelings “span the emotional spectrum” upon receiving the award.

“I am thankful that the work of my 811 physician teams is being recognized for the innovation they bring to care in Saskatchewan,” he said. “At the same time, I am incredibly humbled to be awarded such a prestigious award mid-career. I know that I join a community of award-winning alumni who have provided multiple decades of service. Finally, I am somewhat embarrassed that only my name can be on the award, as many contributed to this work.”

Dr. Kapur received his medical degree from the Cumming School of Medicine in 2013. Prior to medical school he completed an MSc in Computer Science, also from the University of Calgary, as an NSERC Industrial Scholar. He became medical director of Healthline 811 in 2020 and built the virtual care programs. “Dr. Kapur was the pioneering physician to take on this challenge and lead from the front,” a nominator says. “Fast forward to today, there is a strong cohort of physicians providing this provincial service.”

Dr. Kapur became inaugural physician lead of the virtual physician program in 2020, which was launched overnight during the early stages of the pandemic. “Working alone from home, Dr. Kapur created an entire virtual care program and workforce of 30 physicians providing 24/7 care across Saskatchewan,” the nominator writes.

Dr. Kapur describes the process as “frugal innovation…. As a first-generation Indo-Canadian, I grew up speaking Hindi at home. In Hindi we often speak of the need to work using ‘jugard,’ which loosely translates into ‘frugal innovation.’ I think that describes the essence of why I was nominated and captures the ‘can-do’ spirit of most folks in Saskatchewan.”

He thanks former Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. Vern Behl for hiring him as the first virtual physician. Funding was limited, but not the vision to design a new program, Dr. Kapur said. “So, in the spirit of ‘jugard,’ I just started creating different projects or implementing new ideas and adapted on the fly. The innovation from that original project laid the groundwork for the VIPER (Virtual Physician for ER) project that led to this nomination.”

In 2023, the Saskatchewan Health Authority launched a new virtual physician program to assist rural and remote communities cover emergency room gaps. Like his earlier work, Dr. Kapur was instrumental in developing the program, recruiting physicians, creating work standards, scheduling, and engaging with communities. As a nominator writes, Dr. Kapur’s work “exemplifies the profound impact that visionary leadership and collaborative efforts can have on health systems and patient care.”

Dr. Kapur says he is proud of all virtual care projects at 811. “The number of patient lives impacted, and communities served via this work simply dwarfs what I can do as a single physician working in one emergency room over my entire career. The other highlight of my career is the next generation of physicians I have had the privilege of training. Watching medical students transform into full-fledged physicians is incredibly rewarding and reminds me of why I work at an academic centre.”

Dr. Mary Kinloch receives inaugural Early Career Physician Leader of the Year Award

Dr. Mary Kinloch, a gynecologic pathologist in Saskatoon, is the inaugural recipient of the SMA’s Early Career Physician Leader of the Year Award.

“A passionate mentor and educator, Dr. Kinloch has been a leader at both provincial and national levels. Her proactive, collaborative approach has shaped the future of cancer care in Saskatchewan and beyond,” a nominator writes.

“It has been a privilege to do cancer care work in Saskatchewan and am so grateful for all of the opportunities the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, and the Ministry of Health have trusted me with to enhance the diagnostics for the patients of the province,” Dr. Kinloch said.

In 2017, Dr. Kinloch identified a significant gap in cancer care, as patients had no local access to critical precision biomarker testing. All diagnostics were sent out-of-province, with a 35 per cent failure rate. She enrolled in the Clinical Quality Improvement Program and led a project to bring biomarker testing for lung cancer back into Saskatchewan. The initiative not only brought back local testing but resulted in a success rate of 99 per cent.

From 2019 to 2025, Dr. Kinloch led and collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to bring every Health Canada-approved companion diagnostic into the province. She was instrumental in finding funding, navigating logistical barriers, and ensuring the timely delivery of accurate results to patients and oncologists. These efforts led to the creation of two province-wide committees: the Biomarker Diagnostic and Quality Assurance Committee. Today, Saskatchewan is one of the few provinces where patients have in-province access to all Health Canada-approved companion diagnostics, thanks largely to Dr. Kinloch’s leadership.

She also led a Genome Canada-funded project to implement genomic profiling for ovarian cancer, making Saskatchewan the first province in Canada to publicly fund this testing, and serving as a testing hub for four other provinces.

Dr. Kinloch has expanded her focus to ensure access to testing is not only available but equitable. Her research revealed that patients living outside Saskatoon experienced longer turnaround times. She responded by developing solutions and advocating for policy changes.

Dr. Kinloch was Division Head of Anatomic Pathology in Saskatoon from 2017 to 2024, when she took on the new role of Area Department Lead for Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in Saskatoon. She is Deputy Speaker to the SMA Representative Assembly for 2025-26.

“Dr. Kinloch’s approach has been proactive and collaborative,” a nominator writes. “Her leadership has made a measurable difference in patient care quality, speed, and access across Saskatchewan and is influencing practice beyond its borders. For her unwavering dedication to improving diagnostic equity, building systems that ensure sustained access to precision medicine, and advocating for patient-centred care, Dr. Kinloch is an outstanding candidate for the Early Career Physician Leader of the Year.”

Dr. Ava Bayat ‘incredibly honoured’ to receive 2025 Resident Leader of the Year Award

Dr. Ava Bayat feels “incredibly honoured” to be the recipient of the 2025 Resident Leader of the Year Award. “I feel truly grateful to be part of such a supportive and inspiring medical community,” she said. “I am humbled, knowing I am among so many remarkable peers and mentors who inspire me daily.”

Dr. Bayat is an anesthesiology resident who obtained her medical degree in 2024. As the previous Perioperative Board Member and now vice-president of Resident Doctors of Saskatchewan (RDoS), she has represented residents provincially, ensuring their voices are heard in matters of training, wellness, and working conditions. She is also the RDoS representative on the SMA Board of Directors.

“When people describe Dr. Ava Bayat’s leadership, the same word comes up over and over: impact,” writes one of her nominators. “Whether in the OR, the classroom, or the community, she brings a mix of compassion, sharp thinking, and a relentless drive to make things better.”

Dr. Bayat believes her nomination for the award reflects her commitment to advocating for resident wellness and education, and for working collaboratively to strengthen the training environment.

“I try to focus not only on larger initiatives but also on the small, everyday things that can make residency a little better for everyone,” she said. “I have been fortunate to learn from outstanding mentors and colleagues.”

Dr. Bayat’s leadership extends into research and education. She has contributed to a postoperative delirium pathway for elderly patients with cognitive impairment and is a Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research trainee advancing patient-oriented research. She is also engaged in teaching, helping develop pain management and opioid stewardship sessions for internal medicine residents, ultrasound in anesthesia video resources, and helping in arterial line placement training for respiratory therapists.

“Dr. Bayat’s leadership is not confined to formal titles,” a nominator says. “In clinical practice, she is recognized as a ‘pack leader and pace setter’ by her colleagues and faculty. Staff from both on-service and off-service rotations consistently note her exceptional work ethic, independence, and professionalism.”

She is a consistent, behind-the-scenes presence for her colleagues, coordinating events and ensuring call rooms are always stocked with snacks. Beyond her professional roles, her advocacy includes expanding the police and crisis team in Saskatchewan, increasing funding for harm reduction sites, and passing a provincial mask mandate resolution during the pandemic at the 2020 Fall Representative Assembly.

“Whether at the bedside or on the provincial stage, Dr. Bayat embodies the ideals of care, quality, and service that define this award,” a nominator writes.

Dr. Bayat notes she has been fortunate during her career to date to be involved in initiatives that aim to improve residency training, foster mentorship, and create a stronger sense of community within medicine. “These opportunities have been deeply rewarding and have reinforced my passion for leadership alongside clinical work.”

Advocate for medical students Zoey Bourgeois receives 2025 Student Leader of the Year Award

Zoey Bourgeois was “shocked” when she learned she is the recipient of the SMA’s 2025 Student Leader of the Year Award.

“There are so many incredible students doing meaningful work, so to be recognized among them is truly humbling,” she said.

“Medical school is demanding, but the friendships, mentorship, and experiences I’ve had have been the highlight of the journey,” she continued. “This award motivates me to continue contributing to the communities that have shaped and supported me. I’ve been fortunate to be part of teams that care deeply about student wellness, equitable admissions, and Indigenous health, and I see this recognition as a reflection of our collective efforts.”

Bourgeois served as the wellness representative for the College of Medicine, and the third and now fourth year rep. She has been on the Admissions Committee since 2022, where she has advocated for equitable admissions processes for Indigenous applicants. She is also an active member of the Indigenous Medical Students Association of Saskatchewan.

She has received numerous prestigious awards, including the College of Medicine Mentor of the Year award in 2025, College of Medicine “MVP Saskatoon” Award in 2024 and 2025, and the CFMS-MD Financial Leadership Award (2024).

She has served as a panel member for the CMA’s Health Care Unburdened Grant Program, is actively a part of the Planning Committee for the Canadian Conference on Physician Health and is a peer mentor for several students.

“The most rewarding part of medical school for me has been the sense of community,” she said. “Growing together as classmates over these four years has been a privilege, and I’ve found the most meaning in the work we’ve done collectively.

“My wellness advocacy has been especially fulfilling, because it involves actively problem-solving to make the student experience healthier and more sustainable,” she continued. “I’ve also really valued my time on the Admissions Committee, where I had the opportunity to help shape the future of medicine and contribute to the success of the next generation of students. Most importantly, I want to raise my hands to the Indigenous community in the College of Medicine. They have always lifted me up, supported me, and reminded me of the strength that comes from working together. For that, I am truly grateful.”

Bourgeois goes above and beyond providing leadership and service in everything she does, a nominator says. “She is supportive and encouraging to other students and is an excellent role model for all. Zoey is truly an amazing person and is most deserving of this award.”

“What sets Zoey apart is not only the breadth of her involvement but the depth of her impact,” another nominator writes. “Whether mentoring youth, advocating for Indigenous health, or contributing to national medical initiatives, she leads with integrity, compassion, and a clear vision for a more equitable and inclusive health care system.”