WESTLOCK — Dr. Noel DaCunha, a family physician who has practiced medicine in the Westlock area for roughly 33 years and who is credited with delivering nearly 2,000 babies over that time, was presented last week with the 2023 Rhapsody Physician of the Year award by the Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP).
About 50 to 60 family members, friends, colleagues and other guests attended an Oct. 6 ceremony at the Westlock Inn where the Rhapsody award was presented to Dr. DaCunha, a couple of months after RhPAP announced he was the recipient.
Upon accepting the award, Dr. DaCunha said he wanted the event to be more than a celebration of himself, but also an illustration of all that rural family medicine has to offer.
“It is a combination of comprehensive and continuous multi-generational care for families in a supportive medical and social environment,” he said, adding that the benefits of practicing medicine in the Westlock area included year-round recreational activities, good local schools and being close enough to Edmonton “to not miss too many Oilers’ home games.”
“I hope what I am saying is having some impact on medical learners out there as they make their choices on their future careers,” he added. “It can’t get any better than this.”
Established in 2002, the Rhapsody Physician of the Year is one of two major awards handed out by RhPAP, the other being the Rhapsody Healthcare Heroes award that is given to a group of healthcare professionals.
To be eligible, a physician must have lived and practiced in a rural Alberta community with a population of 15,000 or less for at least 10 consecutive years. They must also have demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing medical knowledge, pushed the boundaries of medical practice and made notable contributions to the wellbeing of their community.
It was noted that Dr. DaCunha, who was born in India and grew up in Uganda, came to Alberta after receiving his schooling in England, where he also met his wife, Jackie. He practised medicine in the community of Mannville for four years before choosing to come to Westlock, a larger community where he could utilize more of his medical training, including obstetrics.
The fact that he had lived on four different continents was highlighted in both a tribute video filmed by RhPAP and by Dr. DaCunha in his final remarks, noting that he could say with some confidence that “rural Alberta is the best place in the world to live, work, raise a family, and be loved.”
RhPAP chief executive officer Tracy Sopkow, who acted as a master of ceremonies, said that after reviewing all the nominations, Dr. DaCunha was the selection committee’s unanimous choice.
“One of the nominators who submitted a letter said it best,” Sopkow said. “It reads, ‘For 32 years, he’s been a mentor, educator and extraordinary physician who tirelessly cares for multi-generational families by delivering our babies, caring for our families and compassionately attending to our great-grandparents. His dedication, active listening and exceptional bedside manner have built a lifelong trusted rapport with patients, residents and their families.’”
Sopko added that many of the nomination letters RhPAP received had common themes, highlighting Dr. DaCunha as a phenomenal mentor and teacher, the embodiment of what it means to be a rural physician, a committed volunteer and “a pretty decent golfer.”
Incidentally, the Rhapsody award comes with a $1,250 donation to be made to a non-profit organization providing service in the community. Dr. DaCunha chose Healthy Families Healthy Futures as the recipient.
Paying tribute
The evening featured a number of other speakers who paid tribute to Dr. DaCunha, the first being Town of Westlock mayor Ralph Leriger.
Leriger said that in a small community like Westlock, it would be common for a long-serving physician to look after multiple generations of the same family.
That was the case for himself, as Dr. DaCunha was the family physician for his parents (who, he noted, were both very fond of their doctor) and himself upon his return to Westlock back in 2010.
“As your patient, I’ve experienced firsthand your exceptional care and unwavering support. You’ve always taken the time to answer all my questions and listen to my concerns no matter how small they are. That caring and thorough professionalism has given me the confidence that I’ve needed in the moments that are difficult and that we all face,” Leriger said.
Dr. Stephanie Frigon and Dr. James Keay, both of who work with Dr. DaCunha at the Associate Medical Clinic, then delivered a light roast of their colleague, even presenting him with the gag gift of a bedpan.
However, Dr. Frigon also recalled how she, as an ICC (Integrated Community Clerkship) student, had met Dr. DaCunha 10 years ago and was brought out to his cabin at Long Island Lake.
“Jackie and Dr. DaCunha were such gracious hosts, and they welcomed us into their family. I immediately felt a sense of belonging,” she said. “I would say without hesitation that my year in ICC solidified my desire to practice rural family medicine, and I would like to say that’s in large part to having Dr. DaCunha as my primary preceptor.”
Dr. Frigon also praised her colleague for remaining calm in the most intimidating of situations, including a mom with a retained placenta and a baby in need of respiratory support.
"I marveled at the way he was able to keep cool in these situations that made me thankful I was the learner and not in charge,” she said.
Dr. Nicole Roshko then took the podium to give a tribute to Jackie DaCunha, noting that she has walked right beside her husband on a road that isn’t easy.
“It takes a lot of grace and a lot of patience to understand when your husband has to wake in the middle of the night to deliver a baby, or when he leaves dinner early because one of his patients passed away,” Dr. Roshko said. “It takes a lot of empathy to be there for your partner on the long, hard days I know Dr. DaCunha has had.”
The final tribute paid to Dr. DaCunha was a video which included interviews with patients, colleagues and even his wife Jackie, who noted his parents — both of who were also physicians — would be proud.
Dr. DaCunha thanked all of those who were involved in nominating him for the award, as well as the Town of Westlock and RhPAP.
He added that he could not do his work without the support of amazing clinic staff, the other physicians he works with, the health care workers at the Westlock Healthcare Centre and his wife.
