Featured Doctor

VETTER, Dr Cheyanne

Canada – Polaris chair

Cheyanne Vetter is the chair of the WONCA North American Young Doctors' movement- Polaris.

What work do you do now?

I am currently a family medicine resident in Prince Albert Saskatchewan, Canada. My work is highly varied as my post graduate program has been specifically designed to train graduates to practice in rural Canada. I have a special interest in obstetrics, women’s health, and emergency medicine. The population and geography of Northern Saskatchewan makes every day interesting; There are unfortunately high rates of HIV in Saskatchewan (3x the Canadian national average), the majority of our population is rural, we serve many remote communities, and the aboriginal population faces major health inequities every day. I am lucky to train in a program that’s focus is on training comprehensive family physicians equipped with the skills to serve in rural and remote areas and respond to the needs of their community. Every day is a learning curve and right now I have amazing mentors to look up to.

Other interesting things you have done?

I was fortunate to participate in a United Nations Pilgrimage for Youth when I was 17; I truly believe it was that experience that ignited my passion for advocacy and global health. I became involved in medical leadership very early in medical school, it was a natural transition from growing up in a rural community where I was expected to participate in every activity. I became the chair of the family medicine club in my first year of medical school, chaired the research committee of the Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee and was the treasurer of the Reproductive Action Group.

What are your hopes in your new role as Polaris chair?

As the chair of Polaris, I really hope to continue to establish Polaris in North America as an organization specifically for young family physicians to support the continuous improvement of the specialty. With such strong academies in our region, I hope to work closely with them to establish projects of value for our membership- projects with academic merit, support networks for those of us facing the challenges of training and early practice, and to continue to showcase the value of family medicine to the communities we work in.

Your interests at work and privately.

My passions are medicine and rural life. I grew up on a cattle ranch in Alberta Canada and have a love for all things rural and outdoors; which is why rural comprehensive care is the perfect marriage of the two things I love the most. I am a true Canadian who can often be found playing hockey in the winter and at the lake in the summer.