A message from CPSA Registrar & CEO Dr. Scott McLeod 

This past year has been a challenging one for many. Across our province, communities continue to grapple with physician access issues, while physicians and physician assistants face increasing demands and workloads. At the same time, our province is undergoing significant changes through the restructuring of health delivery services.

In the face of these challenges, CPSA has worked hard to remain both nimble and steadfast—adapting where needed while holding firm to our core responsibility: ensuring patients receive safe, competent care. Additionally, we remain focused on maintaining collaborative relationships with regulated members, government and other partners in health care. Above all else, CPSA is committed to understanding and contributing to healthcare solutions that prioritize the best interest of Albertans.

While this annual report is made up of numbers and charts that highlight what CPSA accomplished in 2024, I want to emphasize that these statistics are more than simple numbers; they represent true and tangible work that affects real people across our province. You will also find introductions to online articles that showcase the stories behind the statistics, and I encourage you to take time to read them.

With physician access concerns straining our healthcare system, CPSA has worked hard to do our part in finding and implementing solutions. In March 2024, CPSA expanded our sponsorship model, an integral step in the route to licensure for international medical graduates, to welcome individuals, organizations, corporations, municipalities and others to apply to sponsor family physician positions in their desired community. In November 2024, the program was further expanded to include applications to sponsor specialist physician positions. This expanded sponsorship model has increased the number of sponsored positions available and ultimately, increased the number of physicians practising across the province. I look forward to seeing how CPSA will continue to find ways to support the many Albertans in need of a healthcare provider in the years to come.

At its core, CPSA is a learning organization that embraces continuous quality improvement initiatives to ensure our programs grow to meet the ever-evolving needs of Albertans and our regulated members. After transforming our complaints process in 2024, our Professional Conduct team has continued to collect feedback and make improvements to ensure the complaints process is as user-friendly, efficient and accessible as possible.

As you read CPSA’s 2024 Annual Report, I hope the tangible statistics and real stories work together to demonstrate CPSA’s contributions to Alberta’s healthcare system. CPSA has built a strong foundation with a team that believes in the work we do and cares deeply about the best interests of Albertans.

With my retirement on the horizon, it has been bittersweet to reflect on 2024 as my last full year as Registrar & CEO of CPSA. As I pass the baton to my successor in 2025, I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure they are well-prepared to carry on facilitating innovative solutions that will continue to guide high-quality patient care through CPSA’s mission, strategic directions and initiatives.

I am proud of what our Council and CPSA team accomplished throughout 2024, and I am certain that we will continue to adapt and improve, helping Albertans feel confident in the health care they receive.

Dr. Scott McLeod