Alberta Health Services – Edmonton Rural Corridor, is actively recruiting a Family Medicine Physician to establish a full-time practice in the community of Athabasca. This position will provide services in Community Clinic, Emergency Room Coverage, Inpatient & Outpatient Services, and Long-Term Care.

Once chosen, the successful candidate may choose to operate their business by joining an existing practice or opening their own practice. This is the candidate’s independent business decision and will not be managed through the recruitment process.

Duties include but not limited to:

• Reside in and have as his/her primary residence within the community of Athabasca.
• Establish and maintain full-time community-based practice within the community.
• Obtain and maintain an AHS Medical Staff Appointment and appropriate privileges to provide the Services.
• Provide call assistance as per call schedules, including equal participation in the Emergency Department call schedule, as required.
• Abide by the AHS Medical Staff Bylaws, the AHS Medical Staff Rules and AHS policies.
• Participate in quality improvement programs and initiatives undertaken within the Department of Family Medicine.
• Participate in relevant Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs.
• Contribute to and participate in other administrative duties, as assigned.
• Work collaboratively with peers and care team colleagues in support of patient care.

Qualifications

Required

• Current Alberta Practice Permit or valid CPSA Letter of Eligibility to practice in the advertised position (proof of to be included with application).
• Rural Emergency Room Experience, offering services as the sole provider.
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) or willingness to obtain before starting the position.
• Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) or willingness to obtain before starting the position.

Desired

• Recent hands-on experience (within the past 2 years) in all areas of practice noted within the Description, as the sole provider.
• College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP) or willingness to obtain shortly after hire and/or within the contract term.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, and we thank all applicants for their interest; only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted. Preference will be given to applicants who do not require or have completed the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta Practice Ready Assessment (PRA); as well as applicants that are Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada.

Alberta Health Services hires on the basis of merit. We are committed to the principle of equity in employment. We welcome diversity and encourage applications from all qualified candidates, including persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and Indigenous persons.

Community Profile

Welcome to Athabasca – a beautiful Town serviced with urban amenities yet embracing a rural lifestyle.

Originally named Athabasca Landing, Athabasca is a town in Northern Alberta, located 145km north of Edmonton at the intersection of Highway 2 and Highway 55, on the banks of the Athabasca River.

Travel Time:

Edmonton to Cold Lake: 2 hrs
Calgary to Cold Lake: 4.5 hrs

The Town of Athabasca is the modern gateway to the new north country, its economic prospects, natural resource industries, tourism opportunities, natural beauty, and lifestyle choices.

The Athabasca Health Centre includes hospital facilities, long term care rooms, and a physiotherapist, which are all staffed by a wonderful group of healthcare workers and general practitioners, who are spread across two medical clinics in town. There is also a naturopathic doctor, a mental health specialist, wellness counsellors, chiropractors, massage therapists, a well-stocked health food and nutritional supplement store, along with Seniors Apartments and Lodges and an Extendicare.

Athabasca Hospital (Athabasca Healthcare Centre)
Inpatient Beds: 24
Continuing Care Beds: 23

Hospital Statistics per year (2024/25)

Discharges: 390
Emergency Room Visits: 12,297
Deliveries: 2

Leisure lifestyles, rural living options, retirement housing, and adult living choices are the trends of the future. Athabasca is well poised to meet this opportunity. The Town offers peaceful vistas, safe streets, and fresh air. There are pedestrian-friendly pathways and walking trails, including a wheelchair accessible Rotary Way at the riverfront, the Muskeg Creek ski and hiking trails, the new Trans-Canada trails south along the Tawatinaw River and north of the Athabasca River towards the Sawdy district and Smith. Leisure activities abound with hiking, birding, canoeing, kayaking, skiing, square dancing, pottery, drama, bingo and cards, art club, poetry clubs, swimming, curling, golfing, ice fishing, music society, snow mobile riding, and more.

The community offers a range of schooling options, for all grade levels, that fall under the regional and primarily rural school authority, Aspen Public Schools.

The Alice B. Donahue Library & Archives is dedicated to providing library and information services and materials to further the educational, recreational, and cultural needs of the residents of the Town and County of Athabasca, and to preserve the heritage of Athabasca and the region. The library offers free public computers and Internet access, in addition to borrowing books, e-books, digital newspapers and magazines, movies, and other resources. A variety of educational and literacy programming is available throughout the year for children to enjoy.

Those seeking healthy lifestyles can visit a fitness center, public pool, health food stores, physiotherapy and massage therapists, chiropractors, or jog or walk the Town’s trails and hills for health!

Athabasca is also blessed with a range of churches and faith communities, many service and community groups, a seniors’ drop-in center, a seniors’ lodge, long-term health care facilities, a veterinary clinic, a year-round Farmer’s Market, libraries and archives, art and pottery clubs, craft, and quilting groups, and more.

You’re sure to find a lifestyle that suits your needs in Athabasca!

https://www.visitathabasca.ca/