2025 Rhapsody Award Nominees

Honoring Rural Healthcare Champions: Meet the 2025 Rhapsody Award Nominees

Every year, the Rhapsody Awards celebrate the individuals and teams making a significant difference in rural healthcare across Alberta. These nominees exemplify dedication, compassion, and innovation within their communities. We’re proud to present the 2025 nominees—exceptional individuals and groups whose contributions embody the spirit of rural care.

Physician Award Nominees

Dr. Debbie Dehlen, Lac La Biche

A long-time Lac La Biche physician is being recognized for her commitment to living and leading by example in the northeastern Alberta community. “The past few years have truly been a challenge with the reduced number of doctors and nursing staff in our community,” writes Sharon Behnke. Read her full story.

Dr. Robert A. Halse, Ponoka

It is hard to keep up with Ponoka family physician Dr. Robert Halse.Whether he is seeing patients, sharing his expertise with colleagues and learners, working as a rural health advocate or volunteering in the community, Dr. Halse is always on the move. Read his full story.

Dr. Cecile Lavoie, Bonnyville

Compassionate to patients, an exceptional mentor, amazing cook and treat maker. These are just a few of the attributes describing Bonnyville’s Dr. Cecile Lavoie.Her colleagues and the community recently nominated the long-time physician for a 2025 RhPAP Rhapsody Physician Award. Read her full story.

Dr. Firdaus Mydeen, Westlock

Dr. Firdaus Mydeen is a natural talent for building positive connections. Whether the Westlock physician is meeting with a patient, collaborating with colleagues, or lobbying for rural healthcare, Dr. Mydeen is the real deal. Read his full story.

Dr. Roderick Oishi, Edson

Dr. Roderick Oishi is considered a local legend around Edson. Whether he is performing surgery, recruiting new health professionals, or even modelling in a fashion show for an upcoming healthcare fundraiser, Dr. Oishi has deep ties to his community. Read his full story.

Dr. Hermanus Potgieter, Viking

It’s hard to know where Viking’s Dr. Hermanus Potgieter is going to turn up. He might be behind the chutes at local rodeos, monitoring a patient under anesthesia, driving a parade float, or delivering a baby. The long-time physician plays a key role in both healthcare and community building. Read his full story.

Dr. Ron Spice, Okotoks

Few people answer their phone when they are on a vacation from work thousands of kilometres away. Okotoks’ Dr. Ron Spice may be one of the rare ones. Dr. Spice not only answered his phone, but he advised and reassured Dr. Ana-Maria Oelschig, medical director of the Foothills Country Hospice – Okotoks, when she frantically reached out to her colleague for advice on a patient in crisis. Read his full story.

Dr. Wesley Steed, Taber

Dr. Wesley Steed will find a way to help – even if it means firing up his snowmobile in a blizzard to get to the hospital. That is just the kind of man Dr. Steed is, say several Taber area residents, colleagues, and friends who banded together to support his nomination for a 2025 RhPAP Rhapsody Physician Award. Read his full story.

Healthcare Heroes Award Nominees

Barrhead Community Cancer Centre, Barrhead

Barrhead and area cancer patients are in excellent hands in their home community. Thanks to the Barrhead Community Cancer Centre (BCCC) team, area residents have been able to access local chemotherapy and other cancer treatments along with emotional, financial, environmental, and social wellness support in their own community instead of having to travel to larger centres. Read the full story.

Site manager at Myron Thompson Health Centre, Chantal Crawford, Sundre

A forward-thinking registered nurse (RN) from Sundre is being hailed as a rural healthcare hero. Chantal Crawford, who currently serves as site manager at the Myron Thompson Health Centre, thrives on challenges and isn’t afraid to try new initiatives to improve patient care and assist her staff. Read her full story.

Duo Pharmacists, Dionne Hjelsing & Divyang Patel, Spirit River

A pair of pharmacists in Spirit River navigated through challenging healthcare times by working cooperatively for the community’s benefit. Pharmacists Dionne Hjelsing and Divyang Patel were recently nominated for a 2025 RhPAP Rhapsody Healthcare Heroes Award with backing from the community, its leaders, and health professionals. Read their full story.

Physician assistant, Mark Simons, Milk River

“Dr. Mark” Simons may not officially be a doctor, but he’s truly become a cornerstone to healthcare in the Milk River area. Rather, he is a military trained physician assistant (PA) who has practised near the US border in the communities of Milk River, Coutts, the County of Warner, County of Forty Mile, and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park since 2013. Read his full story.

Myron Thompson Health Centre, Lab and Diagnostic Imaging, Sundre

An upbeat healthcare group in Sundre is being recognized for stepping outside their responsibilities during challenging times to help colleagues and patients. Read the full story.

Site manager at Big Country Hospital, Shelaine Woods, Oyen

A registered nurse (RN) is being credited with stabilizing healthcare services in her community after a period of acute bed and emergency department closures at the local hospital due to staff shortages. Read her full story.

Wabamun Medical Clinic, Tammy St. Louis and Christina Hykawy, Wabamun

A medical clinic team reflects the rural spirit as they keep a lakeside community’s healthcare needs in the forefront once again. Nurse practitioner Tammy St. Louis and office assistant Christina Hykawy provide care at the Wabamun Medical Clinic, located in the lakeside hamlet of Wabamun, about an hour west of Edmonton. Read the full story.

Rural Communities