Lifelong Learning – Jim Emmett – Impressions of Nunavut’s People from a Visiting Physicians Experiences

Lifelong Learning

Date/Time
Date(s) - Mon Jan 10 2022
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Notes:

Presented by: Jim Emmett

Dr Jim Emmett practiced family medicine – in other words, “people” practice – in Calgary over 40 years, from the mid 1970’s, retiring early in the 21st century. He shared his practice with his wife, Dr Josie Wilson, and many of his personal and professional adventures are “we” experiences as they collaborated on life as a team. A major happy medical event was the privilege of delivering the children of 3 women who he had also delivered.

Born in Saskatchewan, Jim grew up in Toronto, Ontario. He settled in Calgary, Alberta after medical school and bachelor life in the Vancouver, British Columbia region. An early experience with Heiltsuk people in Bella Bella, British Columbia, caring for people in a community setting for a single month, was a career defining moment which led to opportunities working with the Stoney Nakoda First Nation in Morley, Alberta, and eventually time in Nunavut working with the Inuit. Much of his time was spent in the Nunavut capital of Iqaluit, at the Qikiqtani General Hospital, though he was also posted all over Baffin Island, the northern shores of Hudson’s Bay, and communities along the Arctic Ocean.

In addition to raising three children with Josie, Jim taught at the University of Calgary, with a teaching focus on the art of physical examination and the doctor-patient relationship. He is an avid mountain biker and hiker, and has made Canmore his full time home since 2000.

Join Dr. Jim Emmett as he shares his impressions, stories and reflections of working in community based family medicine in Iqaluit and small Nunavut communities as a late-career physician. Jim had the privilege of traveling to Nunavut with his wife, Dr. Josie Wilson, on over 30 occasions over 15 years to work for the Government of Nunavut Health Authority, and one final time following Josie’s passing in 2018, providing locum coverage and temporary care in the Emergency Room and in remote communities. Jim has worked and visited most communities in the Northern Arctic.

Through sharing his stories, a few sure to raise the hair on your head, Jim will illustrate his admiration for the Inuit people, the realities they face, their innovative coping skills and a reflection of their culture and social situation. The focus will be the Nunavut people themselves. Jim’s stories are laced with humour, the unexpected, and a few profound questions. He wishes to acknowledge both the Inuit people for the gift of these experiences, as well his late wife Josie – for a majority of his northern time, she was with him – a hurricane of energy and focus, and a kind persistent definite partner. These stories are shared in her spirit.