Department of Family Medicine University of Alberta

Thank you to everyone who travelled to Hinton for our Rural Family Medicine Workshops, and to the wonderful humans that made it possible!!

The week was spent expanding skillsets, reconnecting with colleagues, and enjoying gorgeous mountain views. 🌲🏔️

Where will Family Medicine take you??

Applications open this week for our NEW Hospitalist Enhanced Skills Residency Program!!

We are looking for excellent, well-rounded candidates who excel in the principles of Family Medicine and are dedicated to mastering the field of Hospitalist Medicine.

Applicants to the incoming academic year must be graduated or in their PGY2 year in a Canadian postgraduate Family Medicine residency training program.

Application requirements can be found on our website.

If you thought you were lucky enough to have two incredible resident co-leads, well guess what… you’ve got THREE. Say hello to Akanksha Bhargava!! 🎉

Akanksha is a PGY2 Family Medicine resident, foodie, coffee lover, pilates-goer and Bollywood dance enthusiast.

“Family medicine drew me in because of the relationships — getting to know people over time. I have been lucky to work with some great mentors and co-residents who’ve shown me what good leadership in this field looks like, and co-leading FMRA felt like a chance to try to do the same for others.”

Welcome Akanksha!

✨Meet our new resident co-leads Arumann Dhillon and Kiera Keglowitsch!! ✨

Arumann is a PGY2 Family Medicine resident, avid reader, foodie, matcha enjoyer, and book club regular.

“What drew me to family medicine are the relationships, getting to be someone’s safe place and understanding the whole story of how they got to where they are. I’ve always believed in finding meaning in the present, rather than constantly reaching ahead. Residency is a part of life, not just a step that leads you to the final destination. Becoming lead resident lets me bring that philosophy into practice. To give the best of this experience to my co-residents while living it fully myself, present in every step rather than just counting down to what comes after.”

Kiera is a mom of two (almost three) little kiddos, an ex-professional ballet dancer and an obsessive knitter and yogi. She grew up in Edmonton and is truly living in the right place because she loves winter; from skiing and skating to crunchy winter walks and snowy picnics, to wooly knits and warm drinks. She has a special interest in lactation and infant nutrition and emergency medicine.

“I wanted to be a lead resident because I am passionate about primary care and building community and professional support in a field that can sometimes be isolating and undervalued. I thought getting involved in leadership and peer engagement while in residency would be a great way to start that work and build strong connections to carry forward. One other perspective I thought important to bring to the lead resident role is that of being in medical training while also being a parent. The average age of those accepted into medical school is rising and new trainees are increasingly coming into medicine with prior careers, which means they’re often also entering medical training with families or starting families while in training. Having had two babies in medical school and with a third on the way, I wanted to bring my perspective as a parent and the unique skills and challenges that offers, to the role of lead resident.”

Foundations Block 2026 may have come to a close, but the excitement is just beginning!

Now we get to watch our R1’s take this newfound confidence into real world clinical and hospital settings. Whether you’re assisting with a patient’s diagnoses and care, or simply navigating a week’s meal plan, we are confident that you are up to the task and then some. 🫵🏻💪🏽

Huge thanks are in order for everyone that worked tirelessly this last month to ensure Foundations ran smooth and true.

⭐️ Meet Dr. Leandra Wellmeier, our new Co-site Director of the Yukon Edmonton Pilot Family Medicine Residency Program!! ⭐️

She completed a Masters of Public Health and had a career in environmental health policy prior to pursuing medicine. These days, she brings a passion for the social and environmental determinants of health into her medical practice. After dabbling in almost every area of family medicine, she currently works in family practice, addictions medicine, and hospitalist work. Dr. Wellmeier loves teaching medical learners and sharing the breadth of opportunities in the field.

Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, skiing, camping, biking, and watching live music with her partner and two young daughters.

We are so pleased to welcome you to the University of Alberta DFM family!

Are you interested in Hospitalist Medicine?

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding field that demands clinical excellence, adaptability, compassion, and teamwork?

Our new hospitalist medicine residency program might be the right fit for you! Link in bio for more information!

How has everyone’s Foundations Block been so far?? While we often have an excellent view from the sidelines, hearing from you first hand would be even better 🫵🏻⭐️.

Want to get involved with showcasing the glitz, glam, and fam of your residency? Send us a DM and shine your spotlight on the very best of Family Medicine through resident-lead reels and takeovers.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Learning opportunities aplenty!

Our Enhanced Skills Information Sessions are your one stop shops for navigating world class, career expanding courses available to our residents.

Sign up through the link in bio ⭐️

Foundations 2026 is fully underway, so you know what that means… it’s time to welcome our newest resident group! Welcome to you all!! 🥳