Latest news with #CPSA
The Star
10-08-2025
- Health
- The Star
NUMed sets regional benchmark with UKMLA-ready MBBS curriculum
AS global healthcare systems continue to converge on standards of excellence and mobility, the ability to practice medicine across borders is becoming increasingly desirable. One initiative that exemplifies this shift is the introduction of the United Kingdom Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) – a standardised exam required for all medical graduates wishing to practice in the UK. Recognising its global relevance, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) has integrated the UKMLA into its Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) curriculum. Students are consistently exposed to the UKMLA format throughout their studies. In early 2025, the university's Year 5 students sat for the UKMLA exams, achieving a pass rate of almost 100%. MBBS graduate Bhumika Jethnani noted that NUMed had prepared them well since the beginning. 'Our lecturers did a great job at ensuring we were ready for the two components of the UKMLA,' she shared. Understanding the UKMLA The UKMLA was officially implemented in the 2024/25 academic year by the UK's General Medical Council (GMC) to ensure that all doctors – no matter where they received their medical education – meet a consistent high standard of medical knowledge, clinical skills, and professional competency. The exam consists of two segments. The first is the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) which uses a computer to evaluate the candidate's ability to apply higher level thinking based on real-life scenarios. The Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA), on the other hand, examines their clinical and communication skills with real and simulated patients. Bhumika says NUMed lecturers prepared them well for both components of UKMLA. Both components ensure that newly qualified doctors entering the UK healthcare system are well-prepared for practice, while also setting the benchmark for high-quality, outcome-based medical education across the world. 'When the UKMLA was introduced, we took proactive steps to adjust our curriculum, such as rearranging the courses to make sure that our students are thoroughly prepared for the assessment's format and expectations,' explained NUMed's clinical affairs dean Professor Dr Harinarayan Radhakrishna. Regional trailblazer From the first year, students are introduced to the types of questions and scenarios they might face in the AKT and CPSA. This allows them to build familiarity and confidence, reducing the pressure of high-stakes exams later on. 'Our students are consistently exposed to the single best answer (SBA) format required by the UKMLA, as our exam questions are carefully designed to align with this standard, featuring clear, straightforward lead-in statements. 'We are proud to be the first university in the region to play a direct role in the development of the assessment. 'Several of our academic staff are actively collaborating with the UK team to ensure the smooth delivery of the assessment, contributing their expertise to enhance its effectiveness and alignment with clinical education standards,' Prof Harinarayan elaborated. 'At NUMed, the UKMLA functions as the final examination for MBBS students. This means that by the time you graduate, you've already passed the UKMLA – giving you confidence that you are fully prepared to enter the global medical field,' he added. To find out more go to email admissions@ call +607-555 3800, or WhatsApp +6011-1231 5411/+6012-784 9456. Additionally, explore NUMed's campus and academic pathways during its Open Day on Aug 16. To register, visit
CTV News
07-08-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Safe Water Calgary founder sanctioned for unprofessional conduct by College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta
Dr. Robert Dickson, the founder of Safe Water Calgary, was sanctioned by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta Thursday. The founder of Safe Water Calgary, Dr. Robert Dickson, was sanctioned for unprofessional conduct Thursday by the the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta. The decision came as a result of a January 2025 hearing. According to a CPSA media release, it related to comments on water supply fluoridation made in 2017, where it said Dickson 'impugned the credibility and integrity of specific medical and dental colleagues.' 'This does not align with the standards outlined in the Canadian Medical Association's Code of Ethics and Professionalism, which requires physicians to treat colleagues with dignity and respect,' the organization said in its release. The CPSA tribunal says it took care to balance Dr. Dickson's 'Charter-protected freedoms of thought, belief, opinion and expression' with the professional responsibilities of being a regulated physician. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta logo. (CPSA) Dickson acknowledged that his conduct towards his colleagues was unprofessional. As a result, Dickson received the following sanctions: a caution from the CPSA, as well as paying the full cost to take an online course about influence and advocacy. Dickson is also responsible for a portion of the costs of the investigation and hearing, totaling $6,250.
CTV News
14-07-2025
- CTV News
Two strangers connect over possible breach of private health-care information
Calgarians Tiffany Matson and Kurt Thiessen would never have met if Matson had not received private medical information of Thiessen's in the mail. Calgarians Tiffany Matson and Kurt Thiessen would never have met if Matson had not received private medical information of Thiessen's in the mail. Both had filed complaints with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) last year, and Matson says she has been awaiting a decision for months. Last week, she received a mail courier at her door that her mom signed off on. It was a letter from the CPSA. When she opened it, it was a cover letter with her name, address and case number. But as she began to read the letter, she found out it was not hers. 'Once I moved on to the second page, I started to notice they were talking about a physician that was not the physician in which I had a complaint about,' Matson told CTV News. 'As I read further down, I noticed that there was another patient's name. This was not my decision—this was not my appeal. This had nothing to do with me. So immediately, I went into investigation work.' That led her to Thiessen. 'When you get a cold call like that—someone's asking about personal information—it's kind of like, 'Who are you?'' said Thiessen. 'I was rather kind of taken aback by that. I was like, 'That's my personal and private information. Like, why do you have my information?' And she's telling me that she received a courier at the door and how her mom had signed for it and how she had gone on this hunt to find out who I was. 'She took that initiative to contact me, which is like, 'Thank you so very much.'' Thiessen received his letter from the CPSA; however, it appears it had been printed twice, as Matson also had a copy. Thiessen is a limo driver and was stabbed on June 28, 2020, in downtown Calgary. He says the college made 'an egregious mistake' by releasing his private information. 'I think somebody needs to know exactly right now what's going on, because how many other victims are there out there?' said Thiessen. Matson is concerned her letter may have also ended up in the wrong hands and is pleading with anyone who has it to contact her. 'If I had his package, where his information is in my package, then where is my report?' she said. 'I'm terrified of where my information is. This is really confidential information that I don't want out there floating around. And I hope that if somebody does have it, that they keep the same confidence that I did and don't share my results or my appeal with anybody.' Lorian Hardcastle, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary, said a situation like this 'could be one of two things.' 'It could really, truly be a one-off—a clerical error,' said Hardcastle. 'Or it could be a symptom of a broader pattern of carelessness when it comes to personal information and sending documents to those who have made complaints.' Hardcastle says the college publishes its decisions on its website, with the complainant's names redacted. However, in this case, private information has been shared with other people. 'I think that it's incumbent on the college to review this situation and to look at the failings that may have led to this happening and to put in place safeguards to prevent a similar situation in the future,' said Hardcastle. 'Human beings make mistakes, they make clerical errors, and so what we need are systems in place to make sure that those things don't happen.' Hardcastle adds that if this is a pattern of behaviour from the CPSA in Alberta, there could be further consequences. 'If this is part of a broader pattern or there are other individuals affected, then that's where potentially there'd be a rule for the privacy commissioner to review the information handling practices of the college and to make recommendations about what they can do in the future,' said Hardcastle. CTV News received a statement from the CPSA on Monday afternoon. The statement says the CPSA only learned of what happened on Monday morning. 'Even though these situations are rare, we understand how concerning they can be. We have opened an investigation to determine what happened and have contacted the appropriate parties for more information,' the CPSA said. 'CPSA regulates over 14,000 physicians and physician assistants in the province and serves all Albertans. We potentially correspond with hundreds of people a day and while we always strive to be accurate, errors can occur on rare occasions. 'In 2024, CPSA had 10 reported privacy breaches, with none meeting the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta's (OIPC) reporting requirements.' The CPSA says the protection of privacy is a responsibility it takes very seriously. 'We are committed to following privacy protocols and in the event of a breach, we take steps to contain it as quickly as possible, document the breach and conduct an assessment to determine risk of harm. If the risk of harm is significant, we notify the individuals impacted and when required, file a report with the OIPC,' the CPSA said. 'We have a public privacy and confidentiality policy available on our website that is compliant with privacy legislation and outlines our responsibilities and accountability to the public. 'If a physician or member of the public suspects a privacy breach may have occurred, we ask that they immediately reach out to CPSA so we can follow our process and minimize further inadvertent spread of confidential information.'
CTV News
24-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
CPSA overturns sanctions against Medicine Hat doctor
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta has overturned sanctions against a Medicine Hat doctor following an appeal of his tribunal decision. (Pexels/Gustavo Fring) The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta has lifted the sanctions imposed on a Medicine Hat doctor who was suspended from his practice for more than a year over allegations he had inappropriate contact with a vulnerable patient. The CPSA said Dr. Ian Gebhardt was sanctioned following a hearing last year in connection with an incident in June 2017. The college heard that Gebhardt touched a developmentally delayed patient in a sexual manner. The patient's mother testified before the tribunal and Gebhardt's practice permit was suspended for 20 months. He was also handed an indefinite chaperone condition, which would require him to have another person present at all of his patient interactions. 'Serious sanctions' Gebhardt appealed the sanctions, calling them 'unfair and unreasonable,' the CPSA said. During the appeal, heard in March, the CPSA said the suspension and chaperone order were both 'serious sanctions' that the complaints director said were necessary given the nature of the alleged misconduct. It also heard that the evidence that Gebhardt's counsel learned about the complainant during cross-examination was given little weight on the outcome of the case. 'Dr. Gebhardt asserted that the hearing tribunal made errors by denying him the ability to test (the patient)'s direct evidence through cross-examination, by relying on hearsay evidence to compensate for the lack of direct evidence and in applying undue scrutiny to Dr. Gebhardt's evidence,' the CPSA's council review panel said. 'Never know with certainty what happened' The panel also mentioned that the credibility of the complainant was questionable, given that he could not give clear answers about the incident and lied to 'avoid getting into trouble.' 'The hearing tribunal rejected the possibility that had blended his memory of his visit with Dr. Gebhardt with memories of sexual interactions with other individuals,' the panel said. 'The panel is mindful that we will never know with certainty what happened on June 6, 2017, but the standard of proof requires evidence to be 'clear, convincing and cogent to satisfy the balance of probabilities test.' 'The evidence in support of the allegation did not meet that standard.'
CTV News
19-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
CPSA streamlines registration for new foreign doctors from ‘approved' countries
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta is streamlining the process for foreign doctors to acquire licences in Alberta. (Pexels/Antoni Shkraba Studio) Newly graduated doctors coming from an approved list of countries will have an easier time acquiring a licence in Alberta, officials said Wednesday. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) said all foreign-trained doctors from a list of approved jurisdictions whose credentials match Canadian standards will be eligible for full licences. The CPSA says the move is part of its Accelerated Jurisdiction Route, which has proven to support strong physician performance and safe patient outcomes. 'We are reducing barriers while maintaining the standards that Albertans count on and deserve. We believe it's a practical, thoughtful approach to strengthening our health-care system and ensuring timely access to safe, competent care,' said Dr. Scott McLeod, CPSA registrar and CEO, in a news release. The approved jurisdictions include medical schools in the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The CPSA says the change aims to modernize registration and ensure 'equitable access' for all qualified international medical graduates. 'Strengthen Alberta's health workforce' Adriana LaGrange, Alberta's minister of primary and preventative health services, says she is pleased with the CPSA's update. 'This initiative will strengthen Alberta's health workforce, reduce red tape and ensure qualified individuals can work in our province,' she said in a statement. Further details on the foreign institutions approved by the CPSA can be found online.
