Dr. Jaelene Mannerfeldt: It takes a team!

Read time: 4 minutes

By CPSA Council Chair Dr. Jaelene Mannerfeldt

December marks the end of the calendar year and the end of my time as an elected physician member on CPSA Council. So much has happened since I started as a Council member in January 2019.

When I was first elected, I was planning a climb on Mount Kilimanjaro, which I completed on Feb. 4, 2019. The one life lesson I learned on this trip was the importance of teamwork for a successful climb.

In reflecting on my time with CPSA Council, we have also, in some ways, climbed several mountains. There have been many challenges and changes since 2019. Again, Council and the CPSA team have worked together to face the challenge and have come out stronger.

Some of these changes include the composition of the Council membership. The Council has fewer members than in 2019 and now there are 50% elected physician members and 50% appointed public members. It has taken a couple of years to achieve this mix, however, we are now at this 50/50 split, providing Council with a diversity of perspectives around the table.

There was a Governance Review that was completed in 2022 and the recommendations made have been implemented over the past couple of years. Part of this process was developing the Council Culture Agreement, which was signed and agreed to in January 2024. Having this agreement front and centre at every Council meeting has helped develop a culture of openness, respect, inclusion and listening for all discussions. Everyone is committed to working within the Culture Agreement.

One of the biggest mountains we climbed was the COVID-19 pandemic and learning to collaborate virtually. I know I struggled with finding my footing at the ZOOM table, but the team was patient and kind to each other, and we kept the work of CPSA Council moving forward. We continued to make decisions regarding the safe delivery of medical care to Albertans. CPSA’s Committee Meetings and Hearings also moved to virtual meetings, and the team moved forward. Thankfully, we have all been able to transition back to in-person Council meetings, but we continue to have the hybrid option available when individuals cannot attend in person. Committee meetings are now a mixture of virtual and in person and hearings have transitioned to being predominately virtual.

At the Council table, we have worked with the CPSA team to accelerate the route to licensure for internationally trained physicians coming to Alberta to practice. The sponsorship model for these physicians has also changed and now we have more sponsored positions available in Alberta. This will hopefully help alleviate some of the stress for Albertans trying to find physicians to help care for their medical needs.

Our governments have also changed over the past six years. CPSA has worked diligently to respond to government needs while ensuring Albertans receive safe medical care. I would like to acknowledge the work of our Registrar, Dr. Scott McLeod, who has focused on working with the government to build a strong team of physicians across the province. Thank you, Scott, for doing this critical work—CPSA’s mandate plays a significant role in guiding our actions at the Council table.

As I close out 2024 as Chair of CPSA Council, I would like to thank the Leadership Team at CPSA for the work you do every day to ensure Council has the right information to provide good governance to CPSA. Thank you for answering the phone calls, the emails and the text messages, when necessary. I would like to specifically acknowledge the work of Kerry-Ann McPherson, Program Manager, Governance and Michael Neth, Chief of Staff. You have both kept me informed and worked with me over the year. I have enjoyed my time at the Leadership meetings and have learned a lot about the various units within CPSA and how each works to keep Albertans safe within their medical homes. Thank you for welcoming me to the table.

To the Executive Committee, Patrick Etokudo (Vice-Chair) and Daisy Fung (Member-at-large), I wish to express my gratitude for your availability and for the conversations we have had. You have supported me and taken over some of my responsibilities when life threw a curve ball. You have been a great team to work with and I am grateful for the opportunity I had to work with each of you. Your questions, your insights and your commitment to CPSA show the strength of our team.

As physicians, we do challenging work within the Alberta healthcare system. I wish to acknowledge the work each of you do every day. You show up. You advocate for your patients. You are kind. You are skilled. You are compassionate. You care for your patients. Without your work and dedication, we would not have the health care in Alberta that we have. I know it is not perfect, but despite the challenges, you are doing the work needed by our patients.

It has been an honour to serve as a physician member on CPSA Council for the past six years. Thank you for your support and encouragement. To those of you who have thought about running for Council, I encourage you to raise your hand. There are many opportunities at CPSA to participate in the work of serving Albertans to ensure the safe delivery of medical care in our province. Your participation in the governance of physicians is the key to making Alberta a safe medical environment for patients. We need your voice at the table. You are part of the team.

I had the opportunity to travel back to Tanzania in November to work with physicians in Mwanza. As the plane lifted off the ground at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Mount Kilimanjaro was on the right side of the plane, peeking below the clouds. The memories of my climb came back to me. It took a team to accomplish that goal.

It is the same in our professional lives. We face many mountains. Whatever the mountain you choose to climb, remember, it takes a team.

To each of you, I wish the best for the upcoming holiday season and into the New Year, 2025.

Jaelene Mannerfeldt

Dr. Mannerfeldt is currently practising in Calgary as an OBGYN at the Rockyview General Hospital, PedsGyn at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary and provides OBGYN support to the High River Hospital and surrounding communities. She is a strong advocate for women in medicine, fierce patient advocate, mentor for students and faculty and a lifelong learner.