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Awards and Recognition Committee

Celebrating and Recognizing Our Peers

The Awards and Recognition Committee (ARC) is a standing committee that plays an important role in building awareness for the ACFP, its members, and the significant role the ACFP plays in advancing family practice in Alberta. The ARC recognizes, celebrates, and supports family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students in excellence in leadership, education, advocacy, and research. The Committee will help promote the ACFP Awards Program and will play a strong role in scanning viable candidates for national recognition through the College of Family Physicians’ Honours and Awards program.

Committee Members

  • Dr. David Pinzon (Chair), Edmonton
  • Dr. Noel DaCunha (Board Representative), Westlock
  • Dr. Cian Hackett, Edmonton
  • Dr. Priyanka Hansraj, Edmonton
  • Dr. Christine Kennedy, Fort McMurray
  • Dr. Jill Konkin, Edmonton
  • Dr. Vivek Kumar, Edmonton
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David Pinzon
Chair
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Noel Dacunha
President
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Priyanka Hansraj
Member-at-Large
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Cian Hackett
Member-at-Large
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Christine Kennedy
Member-at-Large
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Jill Konkin
Member-at-Large
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Vivek Kumar
Member-at-Large

Terms of Reference

The Awards and Recognition Committee (ARC) is an operational committee of the ACFP.

Purpose

This Committee recognizes, celebrates, and supports family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students in excellence in leadership, education, advocacy, and research; promotes the ACFP Awards Program; and plays a strong role in scanning viable candidates for national recognition through the College of Family Physicians’ Honours and Awards program.

Download the ARC Terms of Reference

Dr. David Pinzon

I am Dr. David Pinzon and I’m a Family Medicine resident at the University of Alberta and call Edmonton my home now for the last several years. I originally trained in Colombia and practiced medicine there before coming to Edmonton.

I joined the ACFP Awards and Recognition Committee because I believe in recognizing and promoting the great efforts our experienced or in-training Family Physicians are doing to improve education and patient care in Alberta.

I value the ACFP’s great effort and commitment in optimizing healthcare and the role of Family Physicians in Alberta.

Dr. Noel DaCunha

I’m Dr. Noel DaCunha and I live and work in Westlock, a small town an hour north of Edmonton. I have practised rural family medicine in Alberta for thirty-two years, having previously trained in London, England.  Teaching students and residents is one of my greatest joys and I embrace all that rural Alberta has to offer.

Since joining the board, I have grown to appreciate the challenges facing family medicine in Alberta and Canada and the need for strong leadership, advocacy, as well as well directed professional development programs and research.

I am proud of the leadership role that our board has taken with respect to the opioid crisis and our active engagement with the developing and rapidly changing primary care landscape in Alberta.

I enjoy being a Board member and a member of the Awards and Recognition Committee because it is very gratifying being a member of a team that supports our family physicians and is committed to improving the lives of all Albertans.

I joined the board because I felt I had accumulated sufficient knowledge and experience to add to the perspective of the board and hopefully make a positive contribution.

Dr. Priyanka Hansraj

I am a family physician in Edmonton. I completed medical school at University of Toronto and returned back home to Edmonton for my Family Medicine residency training at University of Alberta. In my spare time, I enjoy many arts and crafts hobbies particularly painting, sketching, knitting, and cross-stitch embroidery.

My experiences in this profession have shown me how talented and accomplished many of my colleagues are, whether it be medical students, residents, or staff physicians. I wanted to be a part of the group that gets to acknowledge and recognize such talent in our province.

What I value most about the work of the ACFP is its representation, advocacy, and commitment towards Family Medicine and overall patient care in Alberta.

Dr. Cian Hackett

I’m Dr. Cian Hackett. Since graduating from a rural family medicine residency program based in Red Deer, I have practiced full scope rural medicine in Rimbey, Alberta, along with teaching roles and locums in neighbouring communities. I enjoy biking, cross-country skiing, and live music.

I volunteered for this position because this committee allows me to recognize the achievements and dedication of my colleagues, the merits of whom never cease to awe. I am keen to promote excellence within family medicine and have a particular interest in diversity and equity.

What I value the most about the work of the ACFP is its commitment to patient-centered, generalist family medicine.

Dr. Christine Kennedy

I’m Dr. Christine Kennedy and I am a University of Calgary graduate who practices and lives with my family in Wood Buffalo Region of NE Alberta. 

I happily practice family medicine, public health and preventive medicine and occupational and environmental medicine. 

I have worked for PHAC, FNIHB and Health Canada, and have training and experience in mental health and addiction medicine, and have particular interest in the prevention and treatment of developmental trauma, through early childhood interventions and in promoting healing communities.

Dr. Jill Konkin

Committee Member

I’m Dr. Jill Konkin and I am currently Associate Dean, Community Engagement and Professor, Family Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at UofA. I practiced as a full-time rural generalist family physician for almost 20 years before taking an academic position and now do locums for rural generalists.

I believe it is very important to recognize colleagues for the good work that they do and this committee allows me the opportunity to contribute to identifying colleagues to be celebrated.

What I value about the ACFP is its advocacy for excellent patient care.

Dr. Vivek Kumar

I am a family physician in Edmonton. I am originally from the land of the Vedas. I completed medical school at the University of Calcutta, India and did my Family Medicine residency training at the University of Alberta. In my spare time, I enjoy reading books, listening to melodies, cooking, and playing with my two beautiful children.

I wanted to be a part of a group that acknowledges, appreciates, and cherishes the contributions of a family physician in various domains of healthcare. There are several amazing and inspiring family physicians out there in the community and recognizing their efforts is a wonderful way to demonstrate our appreciation and gratitude for their efforts.

I consider the ACFP to be a valuable platform and a great resource for fellow family physicians to connect and support each other. I feel that we can learn and benefit from each other’s experiences and contribute together to provide excellent care to our community.

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