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SOGC Annual Clinical Meeting, Vancouver, June 22-27, 2006

Shortage of Ob/Gyns, Aboriginal Health Top SOGC President’s Agenda

Vancouver – In his inaugural address as the 63rd President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC), Dr. Donald Davis focused on the growing HR crisis in ob/gyns, as well as the pressing need to reach out to Aborignal communities to help improve sexual and reproductive health of Aboriginal women.

“The statistics are a call to action to all of us. They leave no doubt that more work needs to be done,” said Dr. Davis. “Aboriginal infant mortality is two to three times higher than the Canadian average.”

The SOGC has added Aboriginal Health to its top strategic goals for the next five years. SOGC will work with aboriginal communities to improve outcomes in maternal child care, increase the number of Aboriginal Health providers, identify and disseminate modes and pathways for innovative healthcare and to close the gaps between underserved women. The new strategic plan makes the SOGC the first organization of its kind to adopt improving Aboriginal Health as a strategic direction.

During his tenure as president, Dr. Davis’ will also focus on the growing shortage of Canadian obstetricians and gynaecologists, and the negative impact this shortage is having on the health of Canadian women. “You can’t put childbirth on a waiting list. We must continue to work at giving maternity care the resources needed to keep it safe and available in Canada,” said Dr. Davis. “The time is now for federal, provincial and territorial governments to address this health human resource deficiency.”

In 2005, about 1040 obstetricians attended nearly 265,000 of the 330,000 births that took place in Canada. In addition to the large proportion of Canadian specialists set to retire in the coming years, human resource trends have seen more specialists choosing to locate in major urban centres, and fewer specialists available for on-call care. In addition, the number of family physicians delivering babies is substantially reduced in many parts of Canada. The result is a trend away from community-based obstetrics.

Dr. Davis, an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Calgary and a practicing ob/gyn in Medicine Hat, was officially appointed SOGC President at the Society’s Annual Clinical Meeting in Vancouver today.

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About Dr. Donald Davis, 63rd President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)

Dr. Donald Davis is the 63rd President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC). Dr. Davis is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Calgary. He is also a practicing obstetrician/gynaecologist in his hometown Medicine Hat, where he has been providing care at Medicine Hat’s Medical Arts Centre and the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital since 1978. Dr. Davis is the SOGC’s 2005-2006 President-Elect, and SOGC President for the 2006-2007 term.

Dr. Davis received his medical degree from the University of Alberta in 1973 and completed his residency training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Louisiana State University and at Edmonton’s University Hospital from 1974-1978.

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About The SOGC:

The SOGC is one of Canada’s oldest national specialty organizations. Established in 1944, the Society’s mission is to promote excellence in the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology and to advance the health of women through leadership, advocacy, collaboration, outreach and education. The SOGC represents obstetricians/gynaecologists, family physicians, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in the field of sexual reproductive health

 

Last Updated April 19, 2007