Dr. Christine Polimeni, Vice-Dean Office of Continuing Competency and Assessment is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Karen Appel in the portfolio of Director, Clinician Assessment Program effective February 1, 2021.
Dr. Appel completed her medical doctorate at the University of Manitoba in 2006 and pursued a residency program in northern/rural family medicine through the University of British Columbia. In 2008, she worked with the Northern Medical Unit and the Government of Nunavut to provide medical care in various nursing stations and northern hospitals.
In 2013, Dr. Appel transitioned her practice to primarily care for patients at Kildonan Medical Centre and Seven Oaks General Hospital. More recently, she has expanded her administrative roles to include the family medicine site lead for Seven Oaks General Hospital as well as the family medicine regional specialty lead for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
Dr. Appel has worked with the University of Manitoba in a variety of positions, including teaching within undergraduate and post-graduate programs in the Max Rady College of Medicine for the past 10 years. She currently holds the title of assistant professor in the department of family medicine.
In 2020, Dr. Appel achieved her graduate certificate in change management through Royal Roads University. She has served as a medical advisor to the clinician assessment program for the past two years. She is looking forward to expanding her experience in the role as director for the clinician assessment program.
The Office of Continuing Competency and Assessment would like to thank Dr. Natalie MacLeod Schroeder for her exceptional work as outgoing director of the clinician assessment program. Over the last five years, Dr. Macleod Schroeder has overseen the expansion of the program to incorporate assessments and remediation programs to health care professionals across four of five colleges at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
She spearheaded implementation of high stakes examinations for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and physiotherapists, and expanded re-entry opportunities for health professionals. She was also instrumental in leading the RFHS committee on training opportunities for Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs), which culminated in the achievement of federal grant funding for a new online educational hub for internationally trained health professionals.
The Office of Continuing Competency and Assessment is delighted that she will continue to serve within the office as the new director for this highly anticipated program.