August 1, 2023
Northern Lights Regional Health Centre recruited Dr. Sarup Sridharan to be the facility’s fourth permanent, full-time orthopedic surgeon earlier this year. He began practising at the hospital in March.
Dr. Mansour Abolghasemian joined the orthopedic surgical team at Northern Lights Regional Health Centre last September. Originally from Iran, he completed his residency there and further honed his skills through fellowships in Canada, Europe and Iran.
Story by Logan Clow
FORT McMURRAY — While working in Fort McMurray as a locum orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Sarup Sridharan came to love the community as an ideal place to work and raise his young family.
After his time at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre (NLRHC) as a locum between August 2022 and January 2023, Alberta Health Services (AHS) recruited Dr. Sridharan as the hospital’s fourth, permanent full-time orthopedic surgeon.
“I chose to work here in Fort McMurray as I had an excellent experience (here) during my locum,” says Dr. Sridharan, who moved here from the Edmonton area with his family in February. “The entire team at the hospital was welcoming and incredible to work with — and the community offers many possibilities.”
Dr. Sridharan says Fort McMurray offers an array of opportunities be active outdoors with his family. He likes to explore local parks and trails with his wife and young son, as well as visit local recreation facilities such as MacDonald Island Park. He also loves sports, including hockey, cycling and cross-country skiing.
Originally from India, Dr. Sridharan’s family brought him to Lloydminster, Alberta, at the age of nine. He completed his medical training at the University of Alberta, and his surgical residency at the University of Calgary. He specializes in foot/ankle, pediatric and general orthopedics. He began practising at NLRHC in March.
“I enjoy all aspects of orthopedics,” he adds. “The best part of my job is helping patients with their injuries and getting them back to their lives with more function and less pain.”
Another recent recruit, Dr. Mansour Abolghasemian, joined the hospital’s orthopedic surgical team last September.
"I’m fortunate to have been offered a position in Fort McMurray that aligns perfectly with my expertise,” he says. “My wife, young daughter, and I have embraced this beautiful city and its welcoming, collegial environment. We have already established a strong sense of belonging, truly making Fort McMurray our home.”
An experienced surgeon who’s garnered international recognition for his contributions to the field of arthroplasty, Dr. Abolghasemian moved to Fort McMurray from Toronto. Originally from Iran, he completed his residency there, and further honed his skills through fellowships in Canada, Europe and Iran.
“I chose to specialize in complex trauma, arthroplasty and hip and pelvis surgery areas where I could make a significant difference,” Dr. Abolghasemian adds. “However, my commitment extends beyond these specialties, as I find joy in helping patients across the entire spectrum of orthopedic care.”
Dr. Andrei Manolescu and Dr. Irfan Qureshi are the hospital’s other orthopedic surgeons.
AHS’ recruitment efforts align with the Alberta Surgical Initiative (ASI). This initiative, developed in partnership with Alberta Health, is a plan that strives to ensure that all Albertans receive their scheduled surgeries within clinically appropriate targets. (Read more about this initiative.)
“We identified a need within the community to enhance and expand our orthopedic surgical service offerings,” says Dr. Fauzia Haq Nawaz, Facility Medical Director, NLRHC and Willow Square Continuing Care Centre.
“Thanks to our recruitment efforts, we’re pleased to meet the needs of the community with the recent hirings of Dr. Sridharan and Dr. Abolghasemian.
“All four orthopedic surgeons bring a wealth of expertise, skills and surgical specialties — and we’re fortunate to have them with us. Having a full complement of orthopedic surgeons decreases surgical wait times and ensures we’re able to offer most types of orthopedic surgeries right here in Fort McMurray.”
On average, 10-12 orthopedic surgeries are completed each day at NLRHC. Procedures vary between emergency and scheduled (elective) surgeries.
While NLRHC can offer most orthopedic surgeries, in rare circumstances some patients requiring specialized surgical care related to multi-trauma, malignant bone tumors and/or pediatric spine cases may be referred to another healthcare facility.
Local residents Jennifer Sandmoen and William Oldford recently shared their experiences and gratitude for their surgical team. View their video stories.
Patients can access orthopedic surgeries through referral from their primary care physician or the emergency department. See wait time information.
