Physician recruiting efforts in central Alberta have paid off with the announcement two new anesthesiologists will be treating patients here.
Dr. Mohamed Al Ismaili is already practising out of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, and Dr. Imraan Asmal is expected to join the hospital’s anesthesia team in mid-January. The new arrivals will boost to 17 the number of Red Deer anesthesiologists.
“This is wonderful news for the patients of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre,” says Health Minister and Red Deer-North MLA Adriana LaGrange.
“The recruitment of Dr. Al Ismaili and Dr. Asmal will improve access to surgical services for patients in Red Deer and across central Alberta,” she said, adding the government’s health-care recruitment efforts continue.
Alberta Health Services’ physician resource planners identify and pursue international and domestic physician recruitment opportunities, while working closely with various community partners and organizations.
Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan said the addition of two more anesthesiologists is good news for the province’s third-largest city.
Al Ismaili received his medical training at Sultan Qaboos University and College of Medicine in Oman and completed his residency training in anesthesia at the University of Ottawa, where he also completed fellowships in vascular and clinical anesthesia.
Prior to coming to Canada, he worked as a senior anesthesiologist at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital for 13 years, serving three years as head of Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care.
Al Ismaili, whose clinical interests are vascular anesthesia, ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia and perioperative (pre-operative, operative and post-operative) patient safety, had high praise for the city and hospital.
“When I came for a site visit last July, the perioperative team of nurses, respiratory therapists, surgeons and anesthesiologists were amazing,” he said in a statement. “Red Deer has all the amenities that one would look for, and I look forward to putting my cumulative knowledge and skills to use in serving this beautiful community and being part of an outstanding team.”
Outside of the operating room, he enjoys walking and biking with his children.
Asmal is currently a specialist anesthetist practising in Durban, South Africa. He has received bachelor degrees in medicine and surgery from the University of Cape Town, a diploma and fellowship in anesthesia from the College of Medicine of South Africa, and a master of medicine (anesthesia) from the University of Kwa Zulu Natal.
Asmal enjoys the arts, architecture and reading, and is looking forward to exploring some new wintertime hobbies.
“The city provides considerable benefits for families with young children,” he said. “There is a great sense of community in Red Deer, and we feel it will be a great place to raise our kids.”
