A Prince George doctor has been named the B.C. Family Physician of the Year.
Along with helping patients on a day-to-day basis, Dr. Catherine Textor as also been working extensively behind the scenes to improve health care in Prince George, according to the B.C. College of Family Physicians.
"Dr. Textor has worked diligently in her 10 years of practice in Prince George to preserve and improve full-service family medicine in the north," the BCCFP said in a statement issued Thursday.
"Through her work in the Division (Prince George Division of Family Practice) she has led a number of projects in a pursuit to improve medicine in the north. One such project is geared at improving access to psychiatric care in Northern B.C.
"She has also spearheaded the development of a Family Medicine Teaching Unit at the University Hospital of Northern B.C."
Textor has also been instrumental in bringing a healthcare centre to Parkwood Mall, slated to open next month. She was on hand in April when Premier John Horgan was in Prince George to announce the development.
Textor grew up on Vancouver Island and completed her undergraduate degree the University of Victoria before heading to medical school at University of British Columbia.
Inspired by the teaching she received at the Prince George site of the Family Medicine Residency Training Program, she became a full-service family doctor in this city in 2003.
She provides all aspects of family medicine including emergency room, obstetrical, long term, and palliative care.
Textor has also taught in the Northern Medical Program since its inception and was a preceptor in the Family Medicine Residency Program from 2003 to 2009. In addition, she is the Physician Lead at the Prince George Division of Family Practice.
Also, Vanderhoof physician Dr. Aryn Khan was awarded the First Five Years of Practice Award, which recognizes exceptional family physicianxs in the early stage of their career.
