New family physician soon to be practising in Athabasca

ATHABASCA – Local residents have increased access to primary care with the arrival of a new family physician soon to be practising in the community.

Dr. Ryan Schaub is a family medicine physician who will be working out of the Athabasca Professional Building beginning Aug. 6.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Dr. Schaub to the community,” says Dr. Leon Burger, Community Medical Director for Alberta Health Services (AHS) in Athabasca. “Rural family medicine physicians are an important part of our healthcare team, as they are most often our patients’ first point of contact with clinical services. Dr Schaub originally hails from this area and has spent some time with us before during his clinical rotations. We know that he will be a great addition to our medical team. His particular clinical skills and qualifications are a valuable asset to our community. We want to welcome him and his family. We’re looking forward to working with them and wish them the very best for the future.”

A general practitioner, Dr. Schaub becomes the ninth family physician practising in town. He comes to Athabasca from Lac La Biche.

Dr. Schaub completed his medical training at the University of Alberta (U of A) before doing his medical residency at the Grande Prairie Rural Family Medicine Residency (a division of the U of A’s Rural Alberta North (RAN) program designed to train rural general practitioners). As part of that residency rotation, Dr. Schaub spent six months in Athabasca, getting to know the community and healthcare team.

“My wife and I are both from Lac La Biche and we wanted to be close to home,” he says, noting they enjoy rural living. “When I was growing up and you went to the doctor, you went to the general practitioner. It’s always what I envisioned I would be.”

Dr Schaub and his wife Colleen, who are expecting their first child this fall, are looking forward to learning more about their new community.

“I’m very excited about the new fitness and aquatic centre in Athabasca,” he says. “We love to do anything that keeps us moving and will be looking for classes/activities/groups for young parents.”

AHS continues to recruit for family physicians across northern Alberta to meet community needs.

AHS has physician resource planners who are dedicated to identifying and pursuing international and domestic physician recruitment opportunities. They work closely with various community partners and organizations such as local Health Advisory Councils, the Rural Health Professions Action Plan and independent physician recruitment and retention committees.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.