Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
From house calls to jail calls, he's the top doctor
He's made house calls to the Big House.Dr. Darcy Johnson's payoff for treating inmates at Stony Mountain Penitentiary and serving on a number of boards, including his recent post as president of the Manitoba Medical Association, is the honour of being named family physician of the year in Manitoba.
The College of Family Physicians of Canada presents the award each year to the top family physician in each province. Johnson, a family physician in East Kildonan for more than 25 years, said he was excited and humbled when he learned he was getting the award for Manitoba.
"This is the top award that the CFPC presents so it's really nice to know my work has been appreciated," said Johnson. "I enjoy family medicine tremendously."
Johnson graduated in medicine from the University of Manitoba, got his certification in family medicine in 1983 and became a Fellow of the College in 2004. In addition to his practice in Winnipeg, Johnson has provided medical care at Stony Mountain Penitentiary since 1990. For the past several years, Johnson has also served on a national level through his work on the Canadian Medical Association's Council on Education and Workforce.
He said his involvement is motivated by his desire to improve the lot of the family physician.
"There is a shortage of family doctors in Winnipeg and the province," said Johnson. "There aren't enough graduating doctors who choose to go into family medicine. There need to be more changes made to make the working conditions for family physicians more attractive."
The average age of family physicians is 51. As well, the traditional ratio for family physicians to other practices has been 50/50, but currently only 35 per cent of medical graduates are choosing family practice. This leaves the profession at below replacement levels.
Johnson said much of this has to do with the "heavy lifting" in family practice. For example, there is far more paperwork than in other practices.
The Family Physicians of the Year Award recipients for each province are nominated by their peers, patients, colleagues and community leaders.
eva.cohen@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 28, 2009 B2
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