Medical subspecialists play a critical part in providing the best health care possible for people across southern Saskatchewan. Their specialized training allows them to better understand and diagnose medical issues and determine targeted treatments for patients with serious and often complex medical conditions.

Hospitals of Regina Foundation is committed to ensuring there are highly trained experts within the group of skilled physicians working in Regina’s hospitals, which are major health care referral centres for approximately half a million people in southern Saskatchewan. In 2020, Hospitals of Regina Foundation launched a Fellowship Program to provide financial support to doctors looking to train for a subspecialty in their field of work.  Last year, the Foundation provided $280,000 in fellowship grants for three physicians, whose subspecialty training will greatly benefit health care treatment for southern Saskatchewan patients.  

Two of the doctors were radiologists Dr. Patricia Jo and Dr. Mohammed Nayeemuddin who pursued advanced breast imaging training. Dr. Jo completed her six-month fellowship at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver while Dr. Nayeemuddin trained at St. Joseph Health Centre in London, ON. Both completed their training in 2024 and are now back in Regina working full time.

The third recipient is Dr. Izn Shahab, a neurologist who is completing a one-year clinical fellowship in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and neuroinflammatory disease. He is training at the MS Clinic at the Saskatoon City Hospital. Dr. Shahab intends to open a similar clinic in Regina, to serve patients in our community. In discussing his fellowship training, Dr. Shahab noted that Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with three in 1,000 people living with the chronic disease.  

Dr. Jo and Dr. Shahab are from Regina and both are enthusiastic about the advantages of practicing a subspecialty in our city for the long term. It allows them to work the entire scope of their field as well as their subspecialty. It also presents them with opportunities to teach through the University of Saskatchewan. Additionally, they see the community as a great place to live and raise their families.

The Hospitals of Regina Foundation Fellowship Program provides financial support to selected physicians while they undertake their fellowship training. In exchange, the physician commits to practice their new subspecialty in Regina for a number of years upon completion of their training. Today, all fellowship grant recipients are still practicing right here at home, in Regina.