2026 Award Recipients

BC Family Physician of the Year: Dr. Anita Ka-Fai Wong

Dr. Anita Ka-Fai Wong has spent 32 years in family medicine building lasting impact. Based in Langley, BC, she works full-time in community family practice locums while serving as medical director at the Langley Foundry, where she provides gender-affirming care, mental health, and sexual health services to youth in the community. "With this nomination I hope to celebrate the achievements of someone who has quietly nurtured, taught, influenced and led physicians and care in her community without fanfare," wrote one of her nominators.

Trained at the University of Manitoba for medical school and McMaster University for her family medicine residency, Dr. Wong has carried a deep commitment to team-based care throughout her practice. At the Langley Foundry she delivers care directly to young patients, mentors family medicine residents and fosters other medical clinic sites as they open. Her nominators describe her impact as foundational: "In the past year she worked extremely hard creating foundational frameworks and policies for gender-affirming care for the Langley Foundry and delivering such care herself to this most vulnerable youth patient population, such that the legacy of her leadership will carry on through further generations of Foundry and Langley Family Physician directors."

There is a consistent thread through her career, one of her nominators said: "no matter the practice, patients constantly state they appreciate her compassion, knowledge, empathy and experience." That dependability extends to the teams she has helped build and sustain. "This has included building a team of dedicated individuals and helping to set and improve on the standards of caring for youth with psychiatric, gender or lack of primary care access issues. It is a challenging area to work in, but her leadership and encouragement have led to an effective team of family physicians, as well as allied health providers."

Outside of medicine, Dr. Wong brings that same instinct for bringing people together into her community life. She has a love for organizing events: from the Home Concerts she hosted before the pandemic, to medical recruitment gatherings she now holds at her home. Currently, she is also helping coordinate her 35th medical school reunion at the University of Manitoba.

First Five Years of Practice Award: Dr. Mannan Wang

Before medicine, Dr. Mannan Wang studied kinesiology and physiology, a foundation that is evident nearly four years into his family medicine practice. Based in New Westminster, he runs a longitudinal family practice at Care4You Medical Clinic and provides maternity and newborn care as a family physician obstetrician at Royal Columbian Hospital and the Primary Care OB Clinic. "Dr. Wang consistently delivers patient-centred, relationship-based care," wrote one nominator. "He approaches each patient with empathy, curiosity, and respect, ensuring that care plans are responsive not only to best clinical practices but also to patients' lived realities."

Much of that care happens in the spaces between appointments: during the coordination, follow-ups and navigation across systems that don't always connect. "Dr. Wang takes the time to listen deeply, advocate effectively, and coordinate care across fragmented services. This work is often invisible, but truly essential to achieving meaningful health outcomes for our diverse patient population." He has channelled that awareness into systemic work too: through the Fraser Northwest Division of Family Practice and PCOC, he is engaged in projects to improve patient attachment to primary care after hospital discharge and to promote equitable maternity care for new immigrants, while also advocating for family physician obstetricians working at Royal Columbian Hospital.

Teaching has also become a central part of his practice. As a clinical instructor at UBC, he supervises medical students and residents regularly, and his nominators describe an environment that makes learning feel possible. "He is generous with his knowledge and time... his approach fosters psychological safety and curiosity, helping to build a learning culture within his practice environment." For someone early in his career, his nominators note that he "brings a thoughtful, grounded perspective informed by frontline experience,” and that in a period when many new physicians are navigating burnout and transitions, he has remained steady in his values and his commitment to the community around him.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Wang is grateful for his happy family of five – his wife, their son and daughter, and the family's dog, Mr. Cosmo.

First Five Years of Practice Award: Dr. Jacqueline Erickson

Dr. Jacqueline Erickson didn't plan to stay in Campbell River, but after completing her family medicine residency at the Strathcona site, she and her partner fell in love with the area and the medical community they'd found there. Today, a year and a half later, she is still there, and her reach has extended further north. Her practice focuses on low-barrier primary care and addiction medicine for people in Campbell River facing significant psychosocial barriers, including housing instability, mental health challenges, and substance use issues, and she travels monthly to Port Hardy to provide addiction medicine services to communities across Northern Vancouver Island.

Dr. Erickson and two of her colleagues have partnered with Island Health and the Pata'yi Primary Care Team to bring addiction medicine services to Port Hardy and several surrounding Indigenous communities, while working to develop relationships with other remote communities that have been affected by the overdose crisis, "She has been building bridges with local Indigenous nations through multiple conversations and simply showing up consistently with a curious and open mind," said one nominator.

The qualities her nominators return to are the ones that tend not to show up on a CV. "She provides low-barrier, trauma-informed care that prioritizes dignity, trust, and continuity, consistently meeting patients where they are at." That same quality extends to the teams around her; she is described as someone who creates spaces where interdisciplinary teams can do their best work: " Dr. Erickson is humble and kind, and always ensures that team members feel heard, valued, and supported."

Outside of medicine, Dr. Erickson and her partner spend their time in the outdoors, mountain biking and skiing with a close group of friends on the land they've made their home.

My Family Doctor Award: Dr. Sharmila Yang (Surrey)

Dr. Sharmila Yang grew up in New York and moved to BC in 2011, the same year she began practicing medicine here. She completed her medical degree at Ross University, her residency at Weill Cornell Medicine, and a geriatric fellowship at New York University. Now based in Surrey, she provides longitudinal care at Gateway Medical Clinic in Newton and serves as medical director at a long-term care facility in Fleetwood, with a scope that includes long-term and convalescent care.

Her work is focused in senior care. She sits on the Long-Term Care Initiative Steering Committee and has participated in the Home Health Surrey Service Model Redesign focus group. She is also a current trainee in Cohort 16 of the SFU Beedie School of Business leadership program through the FPSC LMDP. "She exemplifies the importance and critical role of family doctors in our medical system and community," wrote one nominator.

Her patients speak to the quality and thoroughness of her care across all ages: "In her interactions with my parents, she has always thoroughly worked them up for their chief concerns and practiced with a golden standard of care." Teaching is also a consistent part of her practice; her nominators note that even in a busy clinic, "she takes the time to fully review cases with trainees and ensure a good teaching experience."

Outside of medicine, Dr. Yang is interested in environmental and planetary health and how to provide more sustainably minded patient care. She is grateful for the support of her husband Lawrence and their two children.

My Family Doctor Award: Dr. Miranda Du Preez (Kamloops)

Dr. Miranda Du Preez qualified at the University of Pretoria and practiced in South Africa before beginning her Canadian career in the rural community of Logan Lake, where she spent six and a half years before relocating to Kamloops in 2008 to take over the practice of her Canadian mentor, Dr. Shirley Sze. She is certified through the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP), is a Fellow of the College (FCFP), and her scope reflects her commitment to longitudinal care: prenatal, long-term, and hospice care alongside her regular family practice.

What her patients write about most isn't only her medical expertise, but everything around it. "Dr. Du Preez doesn't just treat symptoms; she cares for people in their full humanity, ensuring concerns are heard, needs are met, and no one feels alone." She researches when needed, advocates fiercely, and stays available for them through some of life's hardest moments. "She has been our lifeline, our advocate, and our source of comfort time and again."

Her nominations are full of people who feel heard and looked after. "Dr. Du Preez has made me and my family feel profoundly cared for; seen as whole people whose lives, stresses, and relationships deeply influence our health." Another nominator echoed that: "This holistic approach builds real trust and makes every visit feel supportive and empowering rather than transactional."

My Family Doctor Award: Dr. Lindsay Hawkins (Victoria)

Dr. Lindsay Hawkins completed her medical training at the University of Toronto and has been practicing in Victoria since 2012. She sees patients of all ages in her community-based family practice and serves as physician lead for the Victoria Primary Care Network, connecting allied care supports to community family physicians.

Steadiness is the word her nominators keep coming back to. "Even when the situation became complex and emotionally charged, she remained calm, clear, and compassionate." When faced with difficult cases, she doesn't create distance: "She told me openly that she would network with colleagues, consult specialists, and do her own research to ensure I received the best possible care. That humility and initiative meant more to me than she may realize." Another nominator put it plainly: "She approached my case not as a burden, but as a responsibility she was prepared to grow into."

"Family medicine is demanding, complex, and often under-recognized work. Physicians like Dr. Hawkins carry enormous responsibility quietly and consistently. She does not seek praise, but she absolutely deserves recognition."

Outside of work, Dr. Hawkins spends her time with her two teenagers and her supportive husband.

My Family Doctor Award: Dr. Stephan Ferreira (Prince George)

Dr. Stephan Ferreira has been practicing medicine for 43 years. He was born in South Africa, where he earned his Bachelor's in anatomy and genetics in 1977, his medical degree (MBChB) in 1982, and his Master's in family practice in 1990, all at the University of Pretoria. After residency he spent two years at 1 Military Hospital, followed by further training at Kroonstad as Senior Medical Officer across family practice, emergency care, obstetrics, general surgery, paediatrics, and psychiatry. He also worked as a physician in Kruger National Park, where he gained experience in tropical medicine. He practiced in South Africa for 15 years before relocating to Canada in 1997, working first in Saskatchewan, then in Churchill and Manitou, Manitoba, before settling in Prince George in 2000, where he has lived for the past 26 years.

His credentials reflect a career built on continuous learning. In 2005, he received his CCFP designation, his CFPC Fellowship in 2016, his Certificate of Added Competence in Addiction Medicine in 2019, and his Fellowship of the American Society of Addiction Medicine in 2020. He holds lifetime membership of the American Board of Addiction Medicine. He is also a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Family Practice at UBC, served as head of family practice in Prince George from 2008 to 2010, and has been an examiner and coordinator for the College of Family Physicians of Canada's simulated oral office exams since 2006. He led recruitment for Northern Health in 2007 and chaired the hospital practice solutions committee for approximately 15 years.

Today, Dr. Ferreira sees patients at Two Rivers Medical Centre, where he works with two other physicians and residents. He also runs addiction medicine clinics at the Nechako Addiction Centre twice a week and serves as lead of substance use disorder and harm reduction at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia, providing consults across the hospital and taking addiction medicine calls frequently. He also headed the sexual assault team at the hospital for approximately 20 years. "His dedication extends far beyond his clinical duties. He invests in people, in learning, and in strengthening the future of care in the community."

His patients describe him as someone who has never stopped showing up. "Good steady doctors like Dr. Ferreira just plug along day after day doing their work. It might not seem heroic to the outsider, but to the lives he positively influences, it means the world." His nominators also describe him as a physician who "balances medical excellence with genuine compassion, kindness, and respect, making patients feel safe, supported, and prioritized," and who "treats patients as partners, empowering us with information, respect, and thoughtful guidance."

Outside of medicine, Dr. Ferreira and his wife enjoy camping, hiking, and biking, and make time to camp with their grandkids at the lake.

My Family Doctor Award: Dr. Winnie Su (Vancouver)

Dr. Winnie Su grew up in East Vancouver's Grandview Woodlands neighbourhood and has spent her entire 24-year career close to home, practicing full-scope family medicine in Kitsilano. She graduated from UBC medical school in 2000, where she was awarded the Hamber Scholarship in Medicine, and completed her family medicine residency at the Greater Vancouver site in 2002. For 17 of those years, she also practiced family medicine obstetrics at BC Women's Hospital, at times delivering more than 80 babies a year. As of January 2026, she serves as UBC Family Medicine Director for the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program for Years 1 and 2, and has been a preceptor for the residency program since 2007.

Longitudinal care is both her practice model and her philosophy. She has cared for multi-generational families over the decades, in some cases up to four generations, and delivered all eight great-grandchildren in one family. "Knowing her patients over time allows her to develop important insight into how their relationships, employment, financial and living circumstances may affect their illnesses and responses to treatment," wrote one of her nominators. And the depth of those relationships is what shapes the core of her work. "When she is with you, she is fully present," pointed another nominator. "Despite the demands of a very busy practice, she creates an environment in which I have never once felt rushed."

Her patients describe her as someone whose commitment goes beyond what is required. "She does not default to what is easiest. She does whatever is needed." One nominator, a patient of more than 20 years, put it this way: "She has changed my life in ways she may never fully know, not only through medical expertise but through her passion, belief, and care.

Teaching has also been part of her practice: she has mentored medical students and residents throughout her career, many of whom have gone on to become colleagues and lifelong friends and ran prenatal classes out of her office for many years. She is also a member of the Primary Care Network Steering Committee for Vancouver PCN 4.

Outside of work, Dr. Su finds joy in reading, drawing, and exploring the outdoors with her husband and three children. Her faith and a deep gratitude for all that she has is, in her own words, her source of joy and passion.

R2 Resident Award: Dr. Daniel Budgell

Dr. Daniel Budgell arrived at his family medicine residency at St. Paul's Hospital with a long road behind him. Before studying medicine, he completed a BSc in Biology and a BS in Nursing, and spent 21 years working in international development, including the establishment of several primary care clinics in Tanzania and Malawi. That background shapes his practice. "Daniel's commitment to equitable care and social justice is both local and global," wrote one nominator. "He is clear in his intention to practice full-scope Family Medicine in an inner-city setting, serving patients who face structural barriers, stigma, and complex medical and social needs."

His nominators also describe a resident who brings awareness into every patient encounter. "He demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the social determinants of health and integrates this into everyday clinical practice." He goes out of his way for patients facing barriers to accessing care, advocating for them and supporting their access to specialist services. He is equally valued within his team: "He has developed into a strong team player who is respected by all members of our working group. He handles difficult consultations expertly."

Outside of medicine, Dr. Budgell is a devoted fan of Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers, a passion he shares with his mother. He is looking forward to taking her to Dodgers Stadium for Ohtani bobblehead night once his residency concludes.

R2 Resident Award: Dr. Jeffrey Ding

Dr. Jeffrey Ding completed his medical degree at UBC and is a resident in the Vancouver Fraser Family Medicine Residency Program. Alongside his clinical training, he has built a strong body of work in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in healthcare. Since 2017, he has been part of an academic research group focused on EDI, through which he has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and co-edited a textbook published by Elsevier, "Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Healthcare: From Knowledge to Practice," which brings together interdisciplinary perspectives on advancing EDI in clinical practice, education, and health systems. He has also helped deliver EDI workshops through Doctors of BC and other physician organizations.

His nominators highlight someone for whom this work is not separate from clinical practice but woven into it. "His integration of cultural competence into everyday clinical practice strengthens therapeutic relationships and reflects the core principles of relationship-centred family medicine." He has mentored students from underrepresented backgrounds in medicine, providing guidance in research methodology, manuscript development, and academic progression. "Jeffrey has helped illuminate how structural inequities ultimately shape patient outcomes."

He is described as someone who brings a clear sense of values to both patient care and systems-level work. “I have witnessed his sustained and deeply rooted commitment to advancing equity within healthcare, which lies at the core of comprehensive family medicine.” Another highlighted his work as reflecting “loyalty to and stewardship of family medicine, recognizing the need to continually evaluate and improve systems to remain socially accountable.”

R2 Resident Award: Dr. Joban Bal

Dr. Joban Bal completed his medical degree at UBC as a Wesbrook Scholar, an honour awarded to only 20 of more than 53,000 students and is currently a resident at the Surrey South Fraser site of the UBC Family Medicine Residency Program.

Thirteen years ago, he founded the One Blood For Life Foundation, which has since recruited over 4,430 blood donors and 2,260 stem cell registrants. "Through culturally fluent and bilingual engagement, he has addressed misconceptions and historical barriers to participation, emphasizing first-time donors becoming active lifelong contributors to the Canadian health system."

He has led initiatives to increase ethnic diversity in stem cell registries, established a provincial youth council of 32 secondary and post-secondary leaders, served as Past President of the UBC Medicine South Asian Health Club, and conducted over 43 bilingual media interviews to build trust in the healthcare system among underrepresented populations. He advises health technology startups, the SFU School of Medicine Learners Advisory Council, the UBC Family Medicine Provincial Resident Selection Committee, and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and served as the resident spokesperson for the official UBC Family Medicine CaRMS welcome video.

"His work is not episodic or performative; it is values-driven, sustained over 13 years now, and grounded in a deep sense of responsibility to communities that have historically faced barriers to participation and representation in healthcare, the very same ones that he grew up in." He invests time in mentoring medical students and pre-medical trainees: "Learners seek him out for his grounded advice, careful listening, and ability to foster psychological safety and belonging, particularly for those from underrepresented backgrounds."

He is a recipient of the CMA's Tim Smith Scholarship as a National Health Fellow and a BC Business 30 Under 30 award recipient.

Dr. Manoo and Jean Gurjar Award: Dr. Yonabeth Nava de Escalante

Dr. Yonabeth Nava de Escalante completed her medical degree at Universidad Central de Venezuela, followed by postgraduate training in pediatric surgery, before making her way to Canada. Here, she pursued a Master of Public Health at UBC and worked with the BC Office of the Provincial Health Officer under Dr. Bonnie Henry and Dr. Danièle Behn Smith. She is now completing her family medicine residency through UBC's Rural Immersion Program at the Chetwynd and Tumbler Ridge site. "From the moment Yonabeth arrived in the South Peace and began working in Chetwynd, she demonstrated an unwavering commitment to rural medicine," wrote one of her nominators.

She is currently involved in three research projects: a study on pain management during IUD placement, the B-FR3IEND Study on rural physician recruitment and retention, and work to strengthen the Chickadee Collaborative Maternity Model, which supports team-based maternity care in the South Peace region."Her passion for improving population health is deeply rooted in a community-driven approach and research," noted one nominator. Another was more direct: "It has always been about improving patient care and helping our most disadvantaged patients."

Community integration also comes up repeatedly in her nominations. "Dr. Nava has shown exceptional dedication to community engagement and responsiveness. She is deeply integrated into our communities across the South Peace." She practises, they say, "with kindness, thoughtfulness, and excellent communication, approaching work with an equity lens, particularly when serving diverse and underserved populations."

Outside of medicine, Dr. Nava de Escalante has embraced life in Northern BC: camping and hiking with her family and dogs, reading by the fire on cold nights, and watching the northern lights from her hot tub. Having her extended family visit and share in that life has made the experience even more meaningful.

Dr. Manoo and Jean Gurjar Award: Dr. Ricky Tsang

Dr. Ricky Tsang completed two undergraduate degrees at UBC: one in Integrated Sciences and another in Food, Nutrition, and Health before earning his MD there as well. He is currently a resident in the Prince George Urban program and will begin the Master of Health Professions Education program at UBC CHES in July 2026.

His clinical approach is grounded in shared decision-making. "He develops management plans that are realistic and aligned with what matters most to the individual... He explains his clinical reasoning in a way that supports informed choices." The same is true of how he works within teams and across systems, one of his nominators notes: "Dr. Tsang is a trusted leader among his peers and within interprofessional teams. Clinically, he leads by example, communicating clearly, collaborating respectfully, and proactively coordinating with hospital and community resources to ensure safe, patient-centred continuity of care."

Dr. Tsang is currently researching urban-rural patient perspectives on the use of AI medical scribes in family medicine. He is a board member at the Children's Organ Transplant Society, where he advocates for vulnerable families across BC who are awaiting or have received an organ transplant, ensuring their medical, nutritional, psychological, and social needs are supported. He also mentors students through the Beedie Luminaries Program, the Cmolik Foundation, and the LFS Mentorship Program at UBC. One nominator noted that his quality improvement work reflects "an honest goal of practice improvement" and a genuine commitment to ensuring patients receive comprehensive, equitable care.

When he is not working, Dr. Tsang likes to travel with his partner, Chloee.