|
Dr. Joseph Michael Balaton is originally from Saskatoon and is still living and practicing in Saskatoon. In fact, he was born in the old Saskatoon City Hospital and has been a resident of Saskatoon all his life. He completed medical school in 1981, receiving an MD degree with distinction. He completed an internship at the old Saskatoon City Hospital and a family medicine residency in Saskatoon at the University of Saskatchewan in 1983. Currently he is a senior member and a fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been practising in Saskatoon since 1983.
During his second year of Family Medicine, he did a Family Medicine elective with his father and joined him in his practice of family medicine in 1983. Later, his sister and brother also joined him and their father in family practice, for a total of four “Dr. J. Balaton” working together in their clinic for many years.
“This was, I feel, a great accomplishment and was indeed truly a family practice. The same clinic which was started by my father 62 years ago is still functioning under my direction for the last 40 years, and to this day, there are still patients that have been attending from the early 1960’s.”
Dr. Balaton is proud to have been an aviation medical examiner for the past 30 years or so, and to have been one of only two doctors providing marine medicals in Saskatchewan for the past four years or so.
“I fondly remember the good old days of practicing family medicine in Saskatoon, which I feel is a lot different today. I miss the collegiality of providing patient care at the old Saskatoon City Hospital, working closely with the older specialist doctors there and getting advice on the wards and in the coffee room. As well, I miss collaborating more closely with specialists in my early practice years. I fondly remember working with my father, seeing our patients together on the wards at Saskatoon City Hospital, seeing and treating patients in the ER, and later admitting them to the hospital. I also fondly remember doing a lot of surgical assisting in the 1980’s and the early 1990’s. I even fondly remember being the roster doctor at the old City Hospital emergency room and remember doing two non-concurrent 24-hour shifts in the ER. In the old days, the ER roster doctors did not have to be in hospital at night. Family practice has certainly changed over the past 40 years and sadly is more office-based now. Nonetheless, I still routinely visit my patients once per week when they are admitted to the hospital to keep informed of their medical illness and the medical care they receive there.
I also feel very fortunate to have been taught by great teachers and medical role models over the years. I remember with fondness all my mentors and specialist colleagues who have passed on. They truly shaped my medical training and knowledge to this day. Most of my energy over the years has been directed to direct patient care for my patients and I am particularly proud of delivering truly family medicine services, looking after whole families for the past 40 years.”
Outside of medicine, Dr. Balaton enjoys gardening, fishing, and sailing his MacGregor 26 on Lake Diefenbaker. He has three children, of which one daughter is an anesthesiologist, and one son has a PhD in medical genetics. He is particularly proud of his 5 grandchildren and enjoys spending time with them.
Back to top
|
|
Originally from a farming background in Grenfell, SK, Dr. Eileen Dahl graduated from the U of S College of Medicine (1981) and completed a rotating internship at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon before her debut in group family practice at Lawson Heights Medical Clinic (1982) and as a clinical lecturer in the Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology (2000) and of Family Medicine (2010). In 1994, she accepted her first of various leadership roles with the Saskatoon Health Region and later the Saskatchewan Health Authority, where she is currently working as a .4FTE Saskatoon Area Chief of Staff. She continues to work in a group family practice and urgent care clinic at Erindale Health Centre.
Over the years, she furthered her education by completing the Physician Management Institute CMA Levels I – IV (1998) and obtained her Certification (1995) and Fellowship (2006) with the Canadian College of Family Physicians, followed by courses in Physician Leadership and Obstetrical/Labor Risk Management.
Some of her proudest achievements are:
- In her current job as the Area Chief of Staff for Saskatoon for the SHA, she leads a Quality Improvement project to improve communication between acute care and the community by emphasizing the need for completion of the Discharge Summary at the time of Discharge. All Departments continue to participate with a 93% improvement in the completion of timely records between 2019 and 2022.
- In 2000, the Saskatchewan Chapter of the Canadian College of Family Physicians bestowed upon her the award of Saskatchewan Family Physician of the year, an honor of which she remains very proud.
- From 1994-2000, the Saskatoon Health Region selected her to be the Chief of the city-wide Saskatoon Department of Family Medicine in which the Family Medicine Departments of the 3 acute care sites in Saskatoon amalgamated into one city-wide department. This was a monumental task as there was significant controversy at the time, but the sites eventually became a unified department.
“My fondest memories relate to Labor and Delivery. Birth is a miracle, and it is humbling to be part of such a special time when a new baby arrives. It is an honor to celebrate with the parents, grandparents and nursing staff. I have had the privilege to deliver many moms whom I delivered as infants. It is heart-warming to hug the parents and the grandparents as they have been part of my practice for 40 years and we all know each other well. No other career avails a provider to such an intimate family experience and celebration.”
She gives accolades to her staff who have had to reschedule and juggle appointments to allow her to attend Labor and Delivery. “Without caring staff in my practice, such as Liz who answers the phone and Sheila, my long-time medical office assistant, it would not have been possible to enjoy this lengthy and fulfilling career. I have had the good fortune to be surrounded by incredible staff who care about patients and are willing to go the extra mile to help them,” she says.
At home, her pride and joy is her young grandson whom she is fortunate enough to babysit weekly. “Watching Rhodes learn new skills and new words is heartwarming. He loves music, enjoys books and has a great sense of humor. After the long haul with Covid, it is wonderful to have my children, Delan, Lauren (DIL) and Brendan together again to share birthdays and holiday celebrations. One of my favorite activities is ballroom dancing with my partner, Doug, as it is a great social activity and keeps one active and creative. Fortunately, it is impossible to multi-task when you are dancing as the dance steps require concentration.”
Dr. Dahl served as a committee member who worked with the Saskatoon City Police and Saskatoon Health Region to establish a sexual assault response team in 1999; as a manager for Saskatoon Minor Hockey Teams; and volunteered at the pre-school and school when her sons were younger.
Back to top
|
|
Dr. Craig Elmer graduated from the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan in 1981, then did a one-year internship at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon. After completing his internship, returned to his native town of Prince Albert where he joined the Prince Albert Medical Clinic.
“I have spent my entire career in this clinic,” he says. “I am grateful for having had very amicable personal and professional relationships with the many physicians who I have worked with in our clinic over the years. Some of my fondest memories are of our Christmas parties where I was forced to eat with my fingers at a medieval feast, and wear tights and reindeer antlers.”
Contrary to one of his brothers’ bet, he is still very happily married to Marilyn, and they are now celebrating their 43rd year together. “Our two wonderful children have blessed us with the most handsome and smartest two grandsons that you can imagine!”, he boasts.
Prior to the pandemic, Dr. Elmer and his wife were very fortunate to have done a lot of travelling. They now split their time between their home in Prince Albert and their cabin at Candle Lake.
Back to top
|
|
To view the physician profile for Dr. Endsin, click here.
Back to top
|
 |
To view the physician profile for Dr. Kappel, click here.
Back to top
|
 |
To view the physician profile for Dr. Katz, click here.
Back to top
|
 |
To view the physician profile for Dr. Large, click here.
Back to top
|
|
Dr. Marlys Misfeldt is originally from Melfort, Saskatchewan. She obtained her medical Degree from the University of Saskatchewan, including her Diploma in Sport Medicine, and has been in private community practice in Saskatoon since 1982 as a general practitioner, and specializing in Sport Medicine.
She has been recognized by SaskSport as volunteer of the year, Huskie Athletics as a Friend of the College, Saskatoon High School Athletics, Saskatoon Hilltops and the Knights of Columbus Games, to name a few, in recognition of her almost 40 years of volunteering.
As a family physician, she is proud to have been welcomed into the lives of many patients, with invitations to weddings, christenings of babies she has delivered, and family gatherings.
“There are many experiences as a family doctor that come to mind but one that particularly meant so much to me occurred a few years ago. A pharmacist faxed me to tell me about an encounter he had had with one of my elderly patients.
The patient’s medications for his congestive heart failure required refills and the pharmacist suggested he could just fax the request to me. The patient advised that the pharmacist obviously had not met me, and he would schedule an appointment as just seeing me and my smile was worth as much as the medication in his health care.”
Dr. Misfeldt remembers in particular one visit where a three-year-old boy came in with his right elbow “dislocated”. He held his right arm stiffly at his side with his hand pronated, palm to the floor. She asked him if he could show her his palm, hoping he would try to turn his forearm. She would then assist, and his elbow would relocate. Instead, he looked at her for a moment, turned his back to her, and flexed at the waist, putting his little bum high in the air, with his arm still at his side and his palm directly pointing at her. He then asked her, “Can you see it now?” And of course she could!
It resulted in laughter, but she still had to assist him supinate his wrist facing her to reduce the elbow.
Dr. Misfeldt is proud to have volunteered countless hours on the side lines of sporting events and in meetings, establishing sport medicine as a viable subspeciality within our province, and of having worked on a body image video to establish positive body image that was incorporated into the school curriculum in grades 6-9.
“My husband and I have four children and six grandchildren. Our four children are active volunteers in their communities. I am very proud that they have chosen to volunteer as well.”
She enjoys photography, taking photos of the smallest things such as bees, insides of flowers or the snowflakes and frost. She has a black belt in karate and has volunteered as medical judge at provincial, national and international events. She lifts weights four to five times per week. Her walks are her pre-clinic preparation, and she will walk no matter the temperature.
Back to top
|
 |
To view the physician profile for Dr. Persaud, click here.
Back to top
|
 |
Dr. Madhuri Singh graduated from medical school in Delhi, India in 1964. She practiced for five years in Bihar, India before moving to the United Kingdom for work and post graduate training (1969 to 1972) and performed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology while there. After a brief posting back in Bihar, she returned to the UK to complete her D.A. (1979) in London and became a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow, 1982) while working at Isle of Thanet District Hospital, Hull Royal Infirmary, St. Richard’s Hospital, and Princess Alexandra Hospital. Canada beckoned in 1982, and so she relocated her young family to work as a resident in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Saskatchewan until June 1985. After working as a locum physician at the Cumberland Medical Clinic, she opened a private practice, Taylor Street Medical Clinic, with her late husband, Dr. Gaya Singh, a psychiatrist. They provided family medicine care, including prenatal, labor and delivery, as well as psychiatric care to the underserved population of Saskatoon until his passing, and where she would continue for a total of over 30 years (1989-2019).
In 2009, she opened the GAMA Family Medicine and Minor Emergency Center in honor of her late husband, Dr. Gaya Singh. This was at a time when there was little to no health care in the bedroom community of Warman, Saskatchewan. This provided residents north of Saskatoon the only opportunity for walk-in, minor emergency, x-ray, family physicians, and pharmacy services in the area.
“I had a patient come in for a routine prenatal visit. Upon examination she was 8 cm dilated and in active labor. The patient seemed to be unaware of her situation, and I called 911 immediately. I left the clinic in the ambulance with my patient, and it wasn’t until the healthy baby was delivered (which was less than 1 hour later) that I remembered my waiting room full of patients waiting to be seen back at my office. This goes to show how unpredictable labor and delivery can be. I have always had the most supportive and caring patients throughout my career that did understand the emergency I was facing.”
She continues on to say, “I have been so lucky to have had caring staff who have helped me manage my business, along with my patients in my medical practices. I have had some patients for nearly 40 years since I opened my practice in 1989. I had delivered their children, and their grandchildren. Unfortunately, I had to give up delivery before I made it to the great-grandchildren stage.”
Ever since she was a young girl, medicine and health care has been a large part of who she is and how she chooses to spend her time. What little spare time she did have, she spent with her 3 children, late mother, and late husband. “We would have large family get-togethers with Indian cuisine, dancing, and laughs.”
Dr. Singh enjoys cooking, baking, and sewing.
“I cherish looking back at how many wonderful memories that healthcare has provided to me. I will forever be grateful to all the caring and wonderful people I have met and the knowledge that I have received in the almost 60 years that I have been in medicine. I greatly appreciated the designation you are providing me with as it is very nearing time for me to hang up my stethoscope and white coat for good, to hand down to the next generation… which some I have come to realize I helped deliver into the world through obstetrical care.”
Back to top
|
|
Dr. Edward Tse was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Montreal. After obtaining his Bachelor of Engineering in 1971 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he obtained his MDCM at McGill University in 1976 followed by a urology residency in 1981. Specializing in Urology, he first practiced in his field in Moose Jaw from 1982 to 1986, then moved his practice to Regina in 1987 where he still provides services today. He is also currently a clinical professor with the University of Saskatchewan and currently still lives in Regina. Some of the highlights of his career include performing the first laparoscopic nephrectomy in Canada in 1992, and the first laparoscopic prostatectomy in Canada in 2000.
He recalls one comical operational malfunction: “While operating one day, my pager went off. I asked the nurse to retrieve my pager which was hanging on my waist under my surgical gown. She found the pager but while removing it, accidentally untied the string of my pants, which then descended to my toes. And I was unable to pull my pants up until the end of the procedure! Lesson to learn to all surgeons: Don’t forget your underpants before you put on your surgical attire!”
Back to top
|
| |
|
| |
To view past recipients of the Senior Life Designation Award, click here . |