New Brunswick Medical Society names new president

The New Brunswick Medical Society announced a new president Saturday, following the conclusion of their Annual General Meeting in Moncton.

Dr. Lynn Hansen, an anaesthesiologist in Fredericton, will take the reins from Dr. Robert Desjardins of Bathurst, also an anaesthesiologist.

“I’m looking forward to leading the New Brunswick Medical Society toward our long-term goal of sustainable health care,” said Dr. Hansen. “The time is ripe for New Brunswick doctors and patients to have a serious discussion about the long-term challenges we face.”

A graduate of Dalhousie University’s medical school, Dr. Hansen completed her residency in anaesthesiology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Since then, she has worked in the Department of Anaesthesia at Fredericton’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital.

“I originally thought I’d do a year of it, to give myself more confidence working the emergency room, but once I got in I enjoyed it and I just stayed there,” said Dr. Hansen.

Dr. Hansen currently holds appointments as Assistant Professor in the Discipline of Anaesthesia in the Faculties of Medicine at Dalhousie and Memorial Universities. She has been actively involved with the New Brunswick Medical Society since 1997, serving as secretary-treasurer for the Section of Anaesthesiology, district representative to the Board of Directors, and on both the Governance and Executive committees. She is also a past president of the Capital Region District Medical Society.

“I think it’s important for physicians to be leaders, in their profession and their communities,” said Dr. Hansen.

The New Brunswick Medical Society has recently released their Care First plan, containing solutions to the problems many health professionals face, and suggestions of how to attain them. The plan centres around the four themes of primary care, wait time reduction, front line worker initiatives, and healthy living.

“I’m so excited to be leading the discussion with patients on Care First,” said Dr. Hansen. “So much of what affects patient health takes place outside hospitals and doctors’ offices. This plan is important both to those working in health care and those who care about their health.”

As a physician athlete, Dr. Hansen makes time to take care of her own health, both physical and mental. She played recreational hockey, rugby, and soccer throughout university, and was recognized as Medicine’s “Female Athlete of the Year” three years in a row while attending Dalhousie University. She continues to play touch rugby and hockey with local teams, and said the activity helps to clear her mind if she feels stressed.

Media Contact:

Aleisha Bosch
Communications Officer
New Brunswick Medical Society
(506)458-8860
abosch@nbms.nb.ca