Dr. Teresa Eliasson, Director of Physician Wellness
The following is a summary of the new leadership announcement prepared on behalf of Drs Andrew Shaw ( Department Chair), and Neil Klassen (DZCDH, Clinical Affairs & Wellness). You can also view the original document.
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We are pleased to congratulate Dr Teresa Eliasson on her new appointment as Director of Physician Wellness within the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine.
Dr. Eliasson completed her undergraduate training and medical school in Edmonton and her Family Medicine Residency at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. After her CCFP, she spent 4 years as a General Medical Officer and Flight Surgeon with DND. Subsequently, she joined her husband in northern Manitoba and worked as a family doctor there. She went to the University of Manitoba to complete her anesthesia residency and pediatric anesthesia fellowship. After returning back to Edmonton, she worked at the Grey Nun's Hospital and the Stollery Hospital. She then committed all of her clinical practice to pediatric anesthesia at the Stollery Hospital.
She founded the Office of Staff Wellbeing in 2011 feeling that "physician health" needed more attention. In 2018 she joined the AMA's Physician and Family Support Program (PFSP) as an assessment physician working in an on call rotation with 12 other physicians committed to supporting the health and wellness of Alberta physicians, residents, medical students and their families. She is presently working in collaboration with PFSP and CPSA on an informational package about Substance Use Disorders (SUD) in Physicians. This is in effort to de-stigmatize the medical condition and encourage affected individuals to seek treatment. She presently sits on CAS's - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She was a member of the advisory committee to AMA's Healthy Working Environments project. She is a member of CMA - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Community of Interest.
In her new role, Dr. Eliasson will work with Dr. Klassen to develop and implement a high quality, physician wellness program. This will include the development of a formal program, promoting faculty and resident engagement and continuing faculty development.
Congratulations Dr. Eliasson!