At the heart of every ACFP Committee are dedicated volunteers who shape their work. They join with enthusiasm, commitment, and connection with their peers in the family medicine community.
This month, we are delighted to welcome Dr. Simran Sharma as the newest member of the Member Engagement and Recognition Committee (MERC). She joins us with curiosity, a system-level lens and experience, and a motivation to help build a strong membership for the ACFP.
Dr. Sharma is a new graduate family physician who completed her training at the University of Calgary (U of C) in 2025. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Public Health (MPH) at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and is now on her third-year in Public Health and Preventive Medicine residency at the U of C. Raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario, she is loving her Alberta residency adventure from exploring the mountains and walking trails to discovering the amazing food scene.
Why Volunteer for the MERC
“I am drawn to the MERC because I care about how the ACFP listens to members, responds to their evolving needs, and recognizes the many forms of contribution that sustain our profession,” says Dr. Sharma.
She adds: “I hope my experience working alongside incoming family physicians in Alberta helps me represent that breadth of perspectives and bring forward innovative, practical ideas to strengthen member engagement and recognition across the province.”
As a new family medicine graduate, Dr. Sharma is motivated to help build a strong “welcome and stay” pathway for early career physicians–understanding what new grads need, lowering barriers to getting involved, and creating strategies to retain, re-engage, and grow the younger membership.
As a member of the MERC, she will provide advice and support to ACFP’s member engagement initiatives and ensure recognition is inclusive, transparent, and reflective of family physicians across Alberta.
We’re excited to have Dr. Sharma on board and look forward to the energy and insights she’ll bring to the shared work of the MERC.
Get Engaged and Shape the Work Ahead
Have ideas you want to put into action? Joining a committee is a great way to do just that. Volunteer with MERC or any of our ACFP Committees to share your perspectives, connect with fellow members, and make meaningful contributions. Whether you are a new or long-time member, whatever your practice setting is, you are welcome to join us.
