WELCOME to srpc.ca Providing leadership for rural physicians
99.8% of Canada's 10 million square kilometres are rural by area. 31.4% of Canada’s population or roughly 9
million people live in predominantly rural regions. Towns under 10,000 account for 22.2% of the population, and
yet they are served by only 10.1% of physicians. Canada's larger rural and regional centres 10,000 to 100,000
population constitute 15.9% of the population and have only 11.9% of the physician pool. With sub specialists
and high technology of large cities distant, country doctors work in small groups in settings which require a
broad spectrum of clinical skills.
We find that the care we can provide for our patients and communities is very rewarding. We enjoy a great
variety of practice that often includes obstetrics, surgery, anaesthetics and emergency medicine together with
hospital access and care of the acutely ill. Socially we feel a part of our communities and enjoy outdoor living
with many recreational opportunities. We would be isolated if it were not for our efforts to improve this often
neglected and impoverished sector of the health care system. We are the SRPC.
While there are many CME activities that interest Rural Doctors, there are very few with a rural focus. Our CME section highlights upcoming SRPC sponsored events and others that have this rural focus and conform to our ethics policy with regard
to CME.
Order the Manual of Rural Practice today! Highly accessible, the work has practical approaches to many of the procedures that a rural doctor may provide. Now Shipping the Second Printing!
We have an annotated library of downloadable documents that express opinion or contain data that can be helpful to you in practicing rural medicine and in coping with health care reform as it impacts rural areas. This library is a means of sharing information with others.
This page will give you an overview of all the pies the SRPC has it's fingers in. And will give you an idea of how you can get more involved.
SRPC Member Spotlight Dr Braam de Klerk, President
Dr. De Klerk obtained his medical degree (MB ChB) in South Africa and continued to augment his skills, while practicing medicine. He obtained diplomas in Obstetrics, Anesthesia and Child Health, as well as the LMCC when he moved to Canada.
In 2010 Dr. De Klerk received the Order of Canada for his 20 years' dedication as a physician, teacher and advocate of health care in Canada's North and in rural communities. Dr. De Klerk is a founding member of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC) and was awarded the Fellowship in Rural and Remote Medicine in 2010. He has trained students and resident doctors from McGill University, the University of British Columbia, other Canadian universities, as well as students from all over the world. In 2009 he was honored as Teacher/Preceptor of the Year by UBC Rural Program. In 2006, he received Northwest Territories Premier’s Award for Excellence that honours employees who show excellence, innovation and dedication in their work.
