The incoming registrar and CEO of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba wants to work with the provincial government to help the organization become more transparent to the public in terms of doctor misconduct.
Dr. Ainslie Mihalchuk, who took over the role on July 1 after the retirement of Dr. Anna Ziomek, said the organization that oversees doctors will work with the health minister and the government.
“I believe we have to work with the government to try to understand what parts of transparency are important,” she said.
NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS
Dr. Ainslie Mihalchuk, who took over the registrar role on Monday, said the organization that oversees doctors will
work with the health minister and the government.
“I don’t think people can expect everything is transparent. I think there’s the need to protect health information and other circumstances in the processes, but I think it is part of the conversation with government to try and understand what can be done to improve the way that the public perceives what is happening and that they can feel confident and trust what is happening in our process.”
Over the last two years, the Free Press has reported extensively on the college’s handling of physician misconduct.
Critics and victims of abuse say the self-regulating body is overly secretive and protective of its own, putting physicians’ interests ahead of patients’ safety.
Earlier this year, the Free Press discovered the hearings were being held behind closed doors after one was held for a doctor convicted of sexual assault.
In April, health Minister Uzoma Asagwara introduced legislation that would force the college to hold public cancellation hearings for physicians convicted of crimes related to suitability to practise.
Mihalchuk said the provincial government is ultimately in control of the college’s rules.
“I think it is a better circumstance to be doing it with them than to have it done just by them,” she said.
“I’m hoping we can work together to try and understand what modern regulations look like and know it will serve the public in the way it is meaningful as well as encourage the profession to be their best.”
The college has self-regulated the province’s medical profession since 1871. The organization protects patients by making sure doctors provide quality medical care both safely and ethically.
Mihalchuk was born and raised in Winnipeg. Her mom is a pediatric nurse mother and her father is a blue-collar worker.
“I was always meant to help people, because (my mother) showed me that in spades,” she said. “I think that’s a big part of it, people first, always do what you can to help people.”
Mihalchuk graduated with a bachelor of science in biology at the University of Winnipeg in 1998 and a degree in psychology two years later.
She graduated as a doctor from the University of Manitoba in 2006 and became a family physician.
Mihalchuk was president of the Manitoba College of Family Physicians, chief medical officer of Concordia Hospital from 2013 to 2019, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s associate chief medical officer from 2017 to 2019 and interim chief medical officer from 2019 to 2020, before becoming the college’s assistant registrar in 2020 and deputy registrar in January.
“I’ve been working throughout all of my leadership roles,” Mihalchuk said. “I still have a small, but strong, contingent of patients.
“I found it has always been helpful… to see what it is like and where the challenges are and how we have to still do our best in those circumstances.”
Meanwhile, Ziomek isn’t the only long-term employee of the college to retire.
But while Mihalchuk said a total of 107 years of experience walked out the door through four retirements on June 28, the organization has a succession plan.
Dr. Guillaume Poliquin left the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg to become the college’s new assistant registrar of complaints and investigations.
He will start Aug. 6, replacing Dr. Karen Bullock Pries, who retired after 14 years in the role. An interim director will oversee the department throughout July.
As well, the director of registration retired after 37 years and the registration co-ordinator after 34 years.
“People who have come to work here have stayed for a long time,” Mihalchuk said. “We have long-term employees who have put in incredible careers (who are) retiring.
“My job is to manage all of that change… I cut my teeth in leadership at a time of health transformation. So, when I was really taking on bigger roles, it was all about how to help people through incredible periods of change. That is part of my skill set.”
kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Kevin Rollason
Reporter
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
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