On September 17th, the ACFP team had the honour of visiting Edmonton-based Shifa Medical Clinic to personally present them with a well-deserved award – the ACFP Awards 2025 Patient’s Medical Home (PMH) – Outstanding Family Practice.
Walking through the doors of the clinic, the team was met by the frontline staff, whose generous smiles conveyed their warmth and anticipation for what was to come. After all, it was not just another day at work, but a moment of recognition and meaningful celebration.
Established in 2014, Shifa Medical Clinic has built strong community ties as a member of the Edmonton Southside Primary Care Network (PCN).
“Shifa Medical Clinic has been creating and nurturing a truly caring, efficient, and accessible Patient’s Medical Home – one that puts the needs of patients and the communities at the centre of care. Through its dedicated team, the clinic has ensured smooth operations to serve patients through its evening and weekend coverage,” said Dr. Dinesh Witharana, Secretary of the ACFP Board of Directors, who presented the award to the clinic.
Shifa Medical Clinic team – the 2025 ACFP Patient’s Medical Home Outstanding Family Practice
The PMH is a model of care that supports the trusted relationships between patients and family physicians and other health care providers, enabling the best possible health outcomes for each person, practice population, and the community being served.
Ali Kamal, Director of the clinic, said: “From the beginning, the clinic’s focus has always been physician-driven, patient-focused, and community-centred. When the clinic became part of the PCN Southside, then the medical home kicked in and amazingly all the physicians we had and the frontline staff [worked together to make it happen]. I am thankful to the Alberta College of Family Physicians for recognizing the clinic.”
Dr. Dinesh Witharana, Secretary of the ACFP, Board of Directors, presents the ACFP Award to Ali Kamal, Director of Shifa Medical Clinic.
Since adopting the Patient’s Medical Home model, the clinic has seen remarkable improvement in patient access and continuity of care. By fostering team-based collaboration and streamlining its workflows, patients now experience shorter wait times and more personalized, comprehensive care.
The PMH award is a testament to the clinic’s dedication in striving to be a leader in the community in South Edmonton, adapting to the ever-changing needs of its patients and creating innovative solutions to community problems.
“Shifa Medical Clinic has tried to keep its doors open for as long as possible. The team works hard to provide extended hours for access when a lot of community clinics are closed. The clinic is open into the evenings on all weekdays, weekends, and on all statutory holidays, including Christmas and New Years as it sees the need to do its small part to offload the already burdened acute care system,” notes Dr. Kaili Harvie, who nominated the clinic.
Congratulations again to Shifa Medical Clinic!
About the Award
For more than ten years, the Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP) has presented the ACFP Awards in recognition of family physicians, family medicine residents, medical students, and clinics wo have made excellent contributions to family medicine. Each year, a clinic that has demonstrated exceptional patient and community care is awarded the ACFP Patient’s Medical Home (PMH) Outstanding Family Practice award.
