Courtesy: AHS
High Level-born physician returns home to practise
HIGH LEVEL — Local and area residents now have improved access to primary care with the recruitment of another family physician for the community.
Dr. Taylor Nelson, a family medicine physician who was born and raised here, is now practising at the High Level Medical Clinic. Dr. Nelson joins a team of 10 other family medicine physicians in the community. She has special interests in obstetrics and pediatrics.
“In northern Alberta, we are grateful to have Dr. Nelson joining the medical team to deliver the care our area needs,” says Dan Williams, Peace River MLA and Minister of Mental Health and Addiction. “Her contributions to the community are a great example of the progress bring made to recruit physicians in rural and remote areas throughout the province.”
Dr. Nelson completed her medical training at the University of Alberta and her residency through the University of Alberta’s Rural North Program in Grande Prairie.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome Dr. Nelson home to High Level,” says Dr. Mark Forder, Associate Zone Medical Director for Alberta Health Services (AHS). “We are proud to have her back in the community. This goes to show that once medical students are exposed to the uniqueness of rural medicine, they are often keen to come back and work in our communities. This is a success story for the university and rural residency program.”
Dr. Nelson says she is excited to return home to High Level to begin her medical practice.
“I look forward to spending time with my family, making new friends in the community, being outdoors with my animals, and trail riding,” she says.
AHS continues to recruit for 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, the Rural Health Professions Action Plan, and independent physician attraction 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. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait-times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
