Two new family physicians now practising in Wabasca

WABASCA – Local residents have increased access to primary care with the arrival of two new family physicians now practising in the community.

Dr. Sharon Reece and Dr. Jonathan Mwanza are family medicine physicians practising out of the Wabasca Healthcare Centre and the Golden Opportunity Clinic.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Dr. Reece and Dr. Mwanza to the community,” says Dr. Brian Muir, Alberta Health Services (AHS) Associate Zone Medical Director. “Family physicians are an integral piece of the healthcare system and their addition to the team in Wabasca will be a great benefit to all local residents and their families.”

Wabasca now has a total of five full-time physicians practising in the community.

“It’s wonderful that both Dr. Reece and Dr. Mwanza are bringing their skills and expertise to Wabasca to serve patients and families in our region,” says Danielle Larivee, MLA for Lesser Slave Lake. “I’m proud that our government is working with our partners to help improve access to healthcare in rural communities, here in the north and across the province.”

Dr. Reece comes to Wabasca from Ontario, having been recruited through the ongoing efforts of AHS and its community partners. Completing her medical training and residency at the University of Toronto, Dr. Reece did locums in rural Ontario and Nunavut before coming to locum in Wabasca last year. She later accepted a full-time position here.

“It’s such a pleasure working in Wabasca,” she says. “We have such a great team.”

Dr. Mwanza is originally from Zambia, where he completed his primary medical degree. He spent time practising in South Africa, Western Australia and New Zealand before coming to Canada in 2007. Dr. Mwanza practised in Whitecourt before relocating to Edmonton in 2013. He arrived in Wabasca in November.

He and his wife, Pamela, have two grown sons, Chisomo and Daliso, and say they love to travel and visit new places.

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, and 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.