Year in Review
2024/25
About RhPAP
Established in 1991 by the Government of Alberta as the Alberta Rural Physician Action Plan, and originally focused on supporting practising rural physicians, RhPAP has grown to be a broader rural community health workforce attraction and retention resource, an ally with Alberta’s medical schools, as well as a trusted, collaborative partner for rural Alberta communities trying to achieve greater access to healthcare.
Who we are
For over 30 years, the Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) has supported the efforts of rural Albertans to maintain an accessible health workforce close to home. RhPAP is committed to fostering and building relationships with rural communities, stakeholders, partners, learners and each other to encourage better access to rural healthcare.
Vision
A stronger future where quality healthcare is accessible to rural Albertans.
Mission
To serve as a trusted voice, building solution-focused partnerships and delivering initiatives that support rural communities in their efforts to keep healthcare close to home.
Reflections
Tracy Sopkow, RhPAP CEO
Tracy Sopkow, RhPAP CEO
Message from the CEO
As we reflect on the accomplishments of 2024–25, I’m proud to share how RhPAP continues to build on its mission of supporting the attraction, integration, and retention of rural healthcare professionals and strengthening rural communities across Alberta.
Dr. Gavin Parker, Board of Directors Chair
Dr. Gavin Parker, Board of Directors Chair
Message from the Chair, Board of Directors
As we mark another year of progress and impact at RhPAP, I’m honoured to reflect not only on what we’ve achieved, but on where we’re headed.
The future of rural healthcare in Alberta depends on continued innovation, collaboration, and a strong commitment to community. With the launch of RhPAP’s 2025–2027 Strategic Plan, we are charting a clear course to support the healthcare workforce and the communities they serve—now and into the future.
For over 30 years, the Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) has supported the efforts of rural Albertans to maintain an accessible health workforce close to home. RhPAP is committed to fostering and building relationships with rural communities, stakeholders, partners, learners and each other to encourage better access to rural healthcare.
2024–25 Strategic pillars
RhPAP’s 2024–27 Strategic Plan is built around five key pillars that guide the efforts to strengthen rural healthcare in Alberta. These pillars reflect the commitment to supporting individuals throughout their healthcare career journey, empowering communities, investing in professionals, and demonstrating the impact of our work. Each pillar plays a vital role in helping keep healthcare close to home for rural Albertans.
|
High school |
Post-secondary |
Investing in health |
Creating community |
Demonstrating |
|---|
High school to healthcare
RhPAP inspires rural high school students to explore careers in healthcare and consider practicing in their home communities. RhPAP supports this through Let’s Go Rural events that offer hands-on exposure to healthcare careers, and the How Do I Get There? virtual series. Launched in 2024–25, which provides students in grades 9–12 with practical guidance on healthcare education and career planning. Together, these initiatives help build early awareness and lay the foundation for long-term rural healthcare attraction and retention.
RhPAP Let's Go Rural High School Event, Edson, AB
RhPAP Let's Go Rural High School Event, Edson, AB
Let's Go Rural! High School Events
Throughout the year, rural students took part in hands-on learning events that explored a wide range of healthcare careers. Held in schools, healthcare facilities, and community spaces, these experiences aim to spark interest in rural healthcare and highlight the opportunities available close to home.
"The hands-on activities (like injections, drawing blood, and suturing) were helpful to see what I liked, so I could focus my next steps on health professions that fit my interests."
|
Let's Go Rural! (LGR) High School Skills Events |
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|---|---|---|
|
10 |
LGR! High School Skills Events. |
|
|
331 |
Rural Alberta students attended |
|
|
88% |
Agree – LGR! High School Event increased their desire to work in rural healthcare. |
|
RhPAP’s “How Do I Get There?” webinar series.
RhPAP’s “How Do I Get There?” webinar series.
How Do I Get There? Webinars
Dreaming of becoming a nurse, physiotherapist, or midwife is a great start, but turning those dreams into reality can be challenging.
RhPAP’s “How Do I Get There?” webinar series and the newly launched A-Z Rural Health Careers webpage can help guide the way for high school students across the province.
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How Do I Get There? Webinars |
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|---|---|---|
|
411 |
Rural high school students attended four virtual information sessions. |
|
|
99% |
Agree – sessions provided valuable information to inform what health careers |
|
|
5 |
Career exploration sessions hosted – in collaboration with leading provincial |
|
RhPAP’s Let's Go Rural! High School Event, Manning, AB
RhPAP’s Let's Go Rural! High School Event, Manning, AB
RhPAP’s Let's Go Rural! High School Event, Rimbey, AB
RhPAP’s Let's Go Rural! High School Event, Rimbey, AB
RhPAP’s Let's Go Rural! High School Event, Vegreville, AB
RhPAP’s Let's Go Rural! High School Event, Vegreville, AB
RhPAP’s Let's Go Rural! High School Event, Pincher Creek, AB
RhPAP’s Let's Go Rural! High School Event, Pincher Creek, AB
Wetaskiwin, AB
Wetaskiwin, AB
RhPAP’s Let's Go Rural! High School Event, Two Hills, AB
RhPAP’s Let's Go Rural! High School Event, Two Hills, AB
RhPAP’s Let's Go Rural! High School Event, Hanna, AB
RhPAP’s Let's Go Rural! High School Event, Hanna, AB
Post-secondary to practice
RhPAP seeks to support post-secondary learners by providing tailored programs and supports that encourage exploration of rural learning opportunities and careers. By acting as a connector between learners and rural communities, and expanding financial support, RhPAP aims to facilitate the transition from education to rural practice. This approach ensures that students are well-prepared and motivated to serve in rural health settings upon graduation.
Let's Go Rural! Post-Secondary Events, Athabasca, AB
Let's Go Rural! Post-Secondary Events, Athabasca, AB
Let’s Go Rural! Post-Secondary Events
Post-Secondary learners had the opportunity to explore what it means to live, work, and play in rural Alberta.
"I had a blast. This experience confirmed my desire to practise in a rural community upon graduation. Being able to meet new residents and practising physicians was invaluable."
|
Let's Go Rural (LGR!) Post-Secondary Events |
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|---|---|---|
|
4 |
Events hosted. |
|
|
8 |
Different health disciplines participated. |
|
|
89 |
Post-secondary students participated in the LGR events. |
|
|
98% |
Agree – LGR! Post-secondary Events increased their desire to practise in a rural |
|
Dr. Ho and Dr. Kelly, Sundre, AB
Dr. Ho and Dr. Kelly, Sundre, AB
Rural mentorship: Dr. Erin Kelly loves rural medicine
Dr. Erin Kelly never expected to build a career in rural medicine, but one experience changed everything.
Growing up in Lethbridge, she developed a love for physiology, which led her to study medicine at the University of Calgary. Initially, she envisioned a career in internal medicine in an urban setting—until a physician encouraged her to do her final year of clerkship in Taber.
“I loved it,” she says. “It changed the course of my career.”
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Rural Mentorship Program |
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|---|---|---|
|
143 |
Shifts for medical learners to experience rural emergency care facilitated by 37 |
|
|
98% |
Students indicated overall satisfaction with the mentorship initiative |
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Athabasca, AB
Athabasca, AB
Accommodations: Room with a view a perk for rural medical learners
Their primary goal may be to study medicine, but medical students also learn a lesson on rural life when they stay at a Vermilion couple’s home.
“Most of the students I’ve had have never been to a rural place, not even to stay. They were born in the city and that’s where they stayed so not only do they learn the medical differences, but they also learn how it is to live here, how kind the people are, and how you eventually know everybody that’s coming to see you.”
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RhPAP accommodations |
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|---|---|---|
|
154 |
RhPAP leased accommodations. |
|
|
52 |
Rural communities with RhPAP leased accommodations. |
|
|
958 |
Post-secondary learners in health-related programs were |
|
Nurse return to rural nursing thanks to international bursary initiative
Angelica Romero’s dream to become a registered nurse (RN) has become true—again.
Romero recently began her role as an RN at Stettler Hospital and Care Centre following participation in the Bursary for Internationally Educated Nurses (BIEN) Program, an initiative funded by the Government of Alberta, Ministry of Advanced Education and administered by RhPAP since 2023.
BIEN was designed to support internationally educated nurses in bridging their current education to Canadian standards with bursary assistance of up to $30,000.
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Bursary for Internationally Educated Nurses (BIEN) |
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|---|---|---|
|
10,734 |
Months—equivalent to 894.5 years—of Return-of-Service* commitments have been secured, demonstrating a significant investment in rural healthcare capacity. |
|
|
256 |
Applications were approved. |
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2025 Rural Medical Student Award recipients
Rural Medical Student Awards were given to medical learners with rural roots and a strong interest in pursuing rural medicine. Forty-one students applied for the awards in 2025. The award provides a one-time contribution of $5,000 to assist with the student’s tuition, accommodation, living, and/or professional development expenses.
Let's Go Rural Post-Secondary Event, Flagstaff, AB
Let's Go Rural Post-Secondary Event, Flagstaff, AB
Let's Go Rural Post-Secondary Event, Beaver County, AB
Let's Go Rural Post-Secondary Event, Beaver County, AB
Let's Go Rural Post-Secondary Event, Beaver County, AB
Let's Go Rural Post-Secondary Event, Beaver County, AB
Let's Go Rural Post-Secondary Event, Drumheller, AB
Let's Go Rural Post-Secondary Event, Drumheller, AB
Let's Go Rural Post-Secondary Event, Flagstaff, AB
Let's Go Rural Post-Secondary Event, Flagstaff, AB
Let's Go Rural Post-Secondary Event, Drumheller, AB
Let's Go Rural Post-Secondary Event, Drumheller, AB
Let's Go Rural Post-Secondary Event, Beaver County, AB
Let's Go Rural Post-Secondary Event, Beaver County, AB
Investing in health professionals
Investing in the continuous development of rural health professionals is crucial in maintaining high quality care. RhPAP emphasizes continuing professional development, quality improvement, mentorship, and return-of-service programs. By enhancing skills and competencies, and providing support mechanisms, RhPAP ensures that rural health providers are equipped to meet the evolving needs of their communities.
Journal highlights domestic violence research project
A research project supported by RhPAP to empower rural nurses in effectively screening for domestic violence within their communities will appear in the Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing (CJEN) this summer.
“It’s one of those opportunities where it’s going to put rural Alberta on the world stage and show the amazing support and work that’s being done to enhance our rural teams.”
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RhPAP Supported Research |
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|---|---|---|
|
2 |
External research projects were funded. |
|
|
2 |
Internal projects were completed. |
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Physician Skills Enrichment Grant funds anesthesia training for Bonnyville doctor
Bonnyville area residents requiring anesthesia for surgeries and low-risk births will benefit from a local family physician who returned to his clinic with enhanced skills.
“My wife does obstetrics, so it seemed like a nice complement for that as we only have one doctor in our town right now that does epidurals. A lot of people will be transferred to different sites if we don’t have epidural coverage here."
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Physician Skills Enrichment Grant Program |
||
|---|---|---|
|
19 |
Physicians received funding to pursue continuing medical education opportunities. |
|
|
100% |
Of physicians utilized their special skills to better serve their rural Alberta |
|
STARS shock training day funded by RhPAP's Rural Education Fund included a physician, RNs, an LPN, a paramedic and med students, Westlock, AB.
STARS shock training day funded by RhPAP's Rural Education Fund included a physician, RNs, an LPN, a paramedic and med students, Westlock, AB.
RhPAP funds STARS training for Westlock health providers
Emergency departments in rural Alberta often see patients who are in shock. Treating them correctly can be the difference between life and death.
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Rural Education Fund (REF) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
630 |
Rural health professionals received funding. |
|
|
15 |
Health disciplines received funding to pursue team-based opportunities. |
|
Registered nurse Maggie Loucks, Edson, AB.
Registered nurse Maggie Loucks, Edson, AB.
RhPAP-funded course helps RN speed up diabetes care
A registered nurse from Edson hopes to ease the load on area physicians caring for diabetes patients following her completion of a course funded through RhPAP’s Rural Education and Advanced Learning (REAL) Program.
“Now I’m able to order lab work and basically autonomously manage someone’s diabetes care.”
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Rural Education and Advanced Learning (REAL) |
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|---|---|---|
|
68 |
Rural health professionals received funding to pursue continuing medical education |
|
|
11 |
Health disciplines received REAL funding. |
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Nurse practitioner, Sara Lee.
Nurse practitioner, Sara Lee.
Rural nurse practitioner appreciates trauma training
The nurse practitioner (NP) spends much of her time as a locum, providing temporary relief for health professionals who work in rural and remote areas of Alberta.
“I don’t have a heavy trauma background … so getting the trauma training was really important because it’s something that I have not had a ton of experience or history with.”
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General Emergency Medicine Skills (GEMS) course |
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|---|---|---|
|
21 |
Rural health professionals received GEMS training, including physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. |
|
|
6 |
Rural healthcare professionals completed a subsequent STARS in-person simulation |
|
Pembina River, AB | Amara Dirks Photography
Pembina River, AB | Amara Dirks Photography
Rural Physician Locum Services
RhPAP provides funding that allows Alberta Medical Association (AMA) Physician Locum Services® to offer short-term locum service for family physicians in rural areas.
Weekend Locum Program and the Seniors Weekend Program supports retention by reducing burnout, improving work-life balance, demonstrating system support, enhancing community stability, and making rural practice more attractive to new recruits.
873 locum requests were filled via the RhPAP-funded Weekend Locum Program and Seniors’ Weekend Locum Program (administered by AMA).
|
Physician Locum Services |
||
|---|---|---|
|
378 |
Completed requests |
|
|
95% |
Increase in completed requests over 10 years. |
|
|
Seniors Weekend Locum Services |
||
|---|---|---|
|
495 |
Completed requests |
|
|
38% |
Increase in completed requests over 10 years. |
|
Creating community capacity
Building strong relationships and networks is essential for attracting, integrating, and retaining rural health professionals. RhPAP focuses on fostering purposeful relationships with stakeholders and maintaining a diverse provincial attraction and retention network. By acting in a leadership role, RhPAP ensures communities are prepared to respond to current and future healthcare needs, thereby strengthening the overall rural health infrastructure.
Focus on fostering strong relationships
Champion and deliver initiatives to attract, integrate, and retain rural health professionals by fostering strong relationships.
Attraction, Integration and Retention Program
RhPAP’s Rural Community Attraction, Integration and Retention Program offers rural Alberta communities resources to support the attraction, retention, and integration of healthcare providers to their area.
RhPAP works closely with rural Alberta communities to attract, integrate, and retain healthcare professionals through our AIR (Attraction, Integration, and Retention) initiatives. This includes supporting local attraction and retention committees, offering grants, workshops, customized coaching, and providing tools like the attraction, integration and retention Toolkit to help communities build welcoming environments and long-term strategies for the sustainability of Alberta’s healthcare workforce.
"RhPAP is a great resource for our regional attraction and retention committee. Not just because of their financial support but also with the advice and experience that they provide us that allows us to make the best decisions for our communities."
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Attraction, Integration and Retention |
|
|---|---|
|
62 |
Attraction and retention committees supported by RhPAP. |
|
171 |
Communities supported through Attraction and retention committees. |
|
126 |
Healthcare professionals–47 physicians, 76 Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs), and three nurses—were successfully attracted and integrated into 37 rural Alberta communities. |
Alberta Rural Health Week BBQ, Viking, AB
Alberta Rural Health Week BBQ, Viking, AB
Alberta Rural Health Week, Athabasca/Boyle, AB
Alberta Rural Health Week, Athabasca/Boyle, AB
Alberta Rural Health Week, Ice Cream Bar, Smoky River, AB
Alberta Rural Health Week, Ice Cream Bar, Smoky River, AB
Alberta Rural Health Week, Tofield, Ryley, Beaver County, AB
Alberta Rural Health Week, Tofield, Ryley, Beaver County, AB
Alberta Rural Health Week, Viking, AB
Alberta Rural Health Week, Viking, AB
Alberta Rural Health Week, Smoky River, AB
Alberta Rural Health Week, Smoky River, AB
Alberta Rural Health Week, Rimbey, AB
Alberta Rural Health Week, Rimbey, AB
Demonstrating impact
To extend the reach and effectiveness, RhPAP aims to clarify and leverage the brand, highlighting its distinctive value proposition in keeping healthcare close to home. By effectively communicating our impact and leadership in rural healthcare, RhPAP seeks to increase awareness and recognition among stakeholders, ensuring sustained support and engagement.
Rhapsody Awards uplift rural communities
Appreciated. Recognized. Valued.
These were just a few of the words some Alberta health professionals described feeling after being awarded RhPAP’s coveted Rhapsody Awards, a recognition program that began in 2002.
“It was a great honour to be nominated for the award, and, of course, to win the award,” recalls Dr. Karen Lundgard, who has practised in Peace River for 45 years and continues to serve as associate zone medical director.
The family physician and rural generalist received the Rhapsody Physician Award in 2022. The Award recognizes the contributions of rural physicians, especially those unsung heroes, who provide Alberta rural communities with outstanding patient care and make notable contributions to medical practice and to their communities.
Dr. Lundgard says being nominated was special in itself, but winning and celebrating with friends, colleagues, and community members was the icing on the cake.
“I think it shows physicians that they are appreciated and that they are very valued in the community, and that their hard work does not go by without notice.”
|
Rhapsody Awards |
|
|---|---|
|
2 |
Rhapsody Award recipients were selected. |
|
15 |
Nominees celebrated representing rural communities in all zones of the province in 2025: Barrhead, Bonnyville, Edson, Lac La Biche, Milk River, Okotoks, Oyen, Ponoka, Spirit River, Sundre, |
Crowsnest Medical Clinic, recipients of the 2024 Rhapsody Healthcare Heroes Award.
Crowsnest Medical Clinic, recipients of the 2024 Rhapsody Healthcare Heroes Award.
Crowsnest Medical Clinic, recipients of the 2024 Rhapsody Healthcare Heroes Award.
Crowsnest Medical Clinic, recipients of the 2024 Rhapsody Healthcare Heroes Award.
Dr. Jaco Hoffman 2024 Rhapsody Physician Award recipient.
Dr. Jaco Hoffman 2024 Rhapsody Physician Award recipient.
Dr. Jaco Hoffman receives the 2024 Rhapsody Physician Award from Dr. Christine Ellis, RhPAP board member, at a special celebration event held in Olds on June 13, 2024.
Dr. Jaco Hoffman receives the 2024 Rhapsody Physician Award from Dr. Christine Ellis, RhPAP board member, at a special celebration event held in Olds on June 13, 2024.
Board of directors
Dr. Gavin Parker
Alberta Medical Association
Dr. Christine Ellis
Alberta Health Services
Dr. Nicole Cardinal
Alberta Medical Association
Dr. Michael Caffaro
College of Physicians
and Surgeons of Alberta
Dr. Babatunde Awakan
Alberta Medical Association
Elaine Finseth
Alberta Health Services
Amber Link
Public Member
Scott Boyer
Public Member
Ashley Woytuik
Public Member
Heidi Overguard
Public Member
Alexandre Grant
Public Member
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