Q & A with Family Physician of the Year Tina Korownyk

Family Physician of the Year Tina Korownyk. Photo supplied.

Christina (Tina) Korownyk, a professor and chair in the Department of Family Medicine, has been awarded Family Physician of the Year by the Alberta College of Family Physicians.

The award recognizes outstanding family physicians who provide exceptional care to patients, make significant contributions to the health of the community and dedicate themselves to the education of future family doctors. Recipients are nominated by their peers.

Korownyk works as a family physician at the Northeast Community Health Centre and is also the director of Patients Experience Evidence Research (PEER), an organization that seeks to empower primary care through the use of the best evidence.

She is involved in graduate and undergraduate medical education in family medicine and is also co-director of the Evidence-Based Medicine Program for family medicine residents.

With nearly 20 years of dedication to family medicine and a strong commitment to teaching the next generation of family doctors, as well as enhancing primary care through research, Korownyk continues to make a significant positive impact on health care in Alberta.

We asked her a few questions about her work and her award.

What does this award mean to you?

It is a very humbling award to receive. It highlights the amazing teams I work with in my clinic, in PEER, and at the University of Alberta. A strong, well-functioning team is such a blessing.  Receiving this award makes me acutely aware of how many family physicians are out there doing all the things this award embodies on a daily basis. Many of them are working quietly away doing amazing things. 

What are you currently working on?

As the chair of the Department of Family Medicine, I’m part of a team that is looking at improving our connection with our community preceptors. Preceptors contribute so much to our program by educating and mentoring the next generation of physicians. We want to ensure they feel appreciated and connected to our department. We also continue to advocate for primary care reform — for current family physicians and those of the future.

What inspires you to work in family medicine?

I love the breadth of family medicine; every day is a new day. It requires a broad knowledge base and strong problem-solving skills. It is never boring. I also really enjoy getting to know my patients and their families over the long term. You learn what is important to them and how you can assist them along their journey. That is such a fantastic part of family medicine.

What would you tell any current MD students thinking about entering family medicine?

I would say that family medicine is the absolute foundation of a strong health-care system. All the evidence looking at health-care systems supports the fact that with a strong primary care system, everyone does better. In family medicine, we have the opportunity to impact people on an individual and community level. We also have the opportunity to be the trusted quarterback in a complex and often overwhelming system. Like a good friend of mine says, if you want to save lives, become a family physician!