Jenn D'Mello

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Candidate statement

I am a physician at the Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH) in Calgary, where I've worked clinically in Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Child Maltreatment for 11 years. I'm a clinical assistant professor at the University of Calgary and teach at the undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing medical education levels. For the past 5 years I have been the Deputy Section Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at ACH.
I wish to join CMPA Council because over the course of my career it’s become clear to me that CMPA’s core values align closely with aspects of medicine that are meaningful to me- specifically providing safe patient care and providing support to my colleagues in a stressful and demanding profession. Additionally, CMPA excels at driving meaningful change and shaping Canada’s Health Care System, which is something I want to be a part of.
I have unique experience within the medico-legal system as my work in child maltreatment has required me to provide court testimony as a medical expert for multiple criminal trials. CMPA’s assistance in preparing me to testify in a high-profile trial was invaluable and is what initially piqued my interest in becoming more involved with CMPA.
I have additional experience in my role as Deputy Section Chief that would be an asset. I sit on our emergency department’s Quality Assurance Committee and review and respond to patient concerns related to care provided in our department. These reviews have given me an appreciation for the importance of implementing systems to provide safer patient care and avoid medical errors balanced with a recognition that not all patient’s expectations are realistic or appropriate to meet. These reviews can be distressing to physicians, and I have developed a skillset in responding to them that enables improved patient care and satisfaction for the patients and their families, but also maintains healthcare provider wellness and job satisfaction.
Our healthcare system is in a crisis and physician well-being is at an all-time low. I have extensive experience and success addressing physician well-being locally in my leadership roles and my colleagues have described me as a decisive, collaborative, trustworthy and transparent leader with exceptional communication, professionalism, and conflict resolution skills.
If elected to CMPA council I hope to continue to focus on well-being and job satisfaction for physicians across Canada.