Clinic News

Sep 22, 2020 Special Announcements

2020 Saskatchewan Family Physician of the Year Award

Dr. Paula Schwann completed medical school in 1987 and her family medicine residency in 1989 at the University of Saskatchewan.  She obtained her fellowship with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) in 2004.  She completed 4 PMI courses through the CMA, and graduated from The Leadership Institute in 2005.  Paula commenced her full-service family medical practice with Herold Road Family Physicians in Saskatoon in 1989, which included an active obstetrical practice until 2015.

Medical education has always been dear to Paula’s heart.  Her long involvement with the physician education process started early in her career when she enthusiastically engaged in undergraduate and resident teaching as a clinical instructor.  She is a U of S College of Medicine faculty member. She served as an LMCC and CFPC examiner; is a past member of the National Committee for CPD, setting medical education standards for family physicians; was a a national and provincial accreditor for CPD programs; is a reviewer for the Canadian Task Force for Preventative Health; and has served on numerous committees through the College of Medicine.  She worked on the Chronic Disease Management Committee of the Saskatoon Health Region for 15 years and the Physician Referral Action Committee for In Motion.  She served as an investigator for CPSS for the Preliminary Inquiry Committee and as a member of the ECG Committee for 24 years.

Paula proudly served on the Saskatchewan College of Family Physicians Board of Directors from 2003 – 2018; including 9 years in an executive capacity.  During her tenure as President, she guided the organization into a new era presiding over a financial reorganization, the recruitment of the first Executive Director, negotiating a lease, and lending her creative talents in the architectural and interior design of new office space. She served as a planning committee member for the Family Medicine Conference for 25 years.  Paula was the 2017 recipient of the Dr. Michael Krochak Award for outstanding contributions to family medicine in Saskatchewan.

Paula’s father, Dr. Paul Schwann, was a pioneer in the promotion of exercise for the prevention and treatment of disease.  She has followed in her father’s footsteps in promoting a physically active lifestyle with her patients.  She believes in leading by example and is a dedicated participant in an exercise group that meets with a personal trainer three times a week at the U of S PAC for the past 14 years.  Paula and her “exercise buddies” have been featured twice in the U of S newsletter as an example of “Leadership in Fitness” for students, faculty and colleagues at the U of S.  She is an avid cyclist, skier, swimmer, yoga enthusiast, and runner, completing the Queen City Half-Marathon 10 times.

Paula has been a volunteer in her community, serving on preschool executives, as a Beaver Leader, a volunteer with Sask Alpine and the Saskatchewan Winter Games, a Level 1 Alpine Canada Official, a canvasser for the Canadian Cancer Society, United Way and the MS Society; and an active organizer of all her College of Medicine class reunions.  Paula and David have been married for 36 years and are proud parents to Paul and Mark.