BCMA Annual Report

In the BCMA's 2012/2013 Annual Report, we focus on a handful of physicians from around the province who have benefited from the BCMA's valuable services and programs. Their stories represent just some of the many ways the BCMA supports its members and helps improve life for BC physicians.

Dr. Stephen Ashwell's story is featured below. 

Supporting Specialized Training for GPs

Philosophically, Dr Stephen Ashwell of Dawson Creek believes doctors have a special duty to look after the sickest people. It’s also what he finds most gratifying in his practice as a family physician with specialized training in oncology. 

“I really like my work with cancer patients,” says Ashwell. “These are people with a serious, life-threatening condition, and I know if I can be confident in my practice I can help them through it.”

Ashwell received his oncology training in 2005, with the support of the BCMA/Ministry of Health Rural Education Action Plan (REAP). 

“I thought we needed more cancer care help in Dawson Creek, so I applied to the BCMA for educational support,” says Ashwell. Through REAP he received funding to cover his salary, the cost of hiring a locum, and travel costs while he attended four two-week periods of oncology training. 

“I wouldn’t have done this training if the REAP program hadn’t been there,” says Ashwell. “When you’re running a practice, you can’t just shut it down for a couple of weeks. But with this program, everything worked out very well.”  

Ashwell estimates he has about 40 cancer patients at any one time and devotes up to a quarter of his practice to oncology care, providing chemotherapy and follow-up care and whatever else he can do to help patients avoid the need to visit  the regional cancer centre in Prince George – a five-hour drive away.

In times past, Ashworth says GPs in rural areas often provided chemotherapy for their cancer patients, doing it as best they could. Today, however, oncology care is fully systemized and governed by protocols.   

“I follow the BC Cancer Agency’s protocols for all the treatment I provide,” says Ashwell.  “That means cancer patients in Dawson Creek get the same treatments as patients in Vancouver or anywhere else in the province.”