Dr. Rithesh Ram's Credentials

Accepting New Patients

Yes, this doctor is accepting new patients

Biography

Growing up, Dr. Rithesh Ram, like many children, was fascinated with space and dreamed of one day being an astronaut. Fast forward to present day, while going into space still fascinates him (he did go through several rounds of the Canadian astronaut selection process), Rithesh now can’t imagine being anything other than a rural physician. Dr. Ram is formally trained as a family physician, but his passion and clinical responsibilities is that of a rural generalist in Drumheller, Alberta. Aside from his MD, he has a BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alberta and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Calgary. Dr Ram is passionate about teaching with clinical appointments at both the U of C and the U of A. He is also Director of the UCLIC Program (University of Calgary Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship) which is a research-based, educational experience that allows medical students to learn in the continuum of patient care throughout southern Alberta. Dr. Ram is highly involved in many leadership roles locally, provincially and nationally including treasurer of his PCN, chair of the Alberta Medical Association’s Health Issues Council, and Provincial Knowledge Lead for Primary Care for Connect Care / CKCN. And his favourite time of the day? Breakfast. “I make it a point to always be there with the family for breakfast.” With his busy schedule, Rithesh often doesn’t make it home early enough in the evening to eat dinner with his wife, two daughters, and son, but breakfast as a family usually works, even if it means everyone has to get up a little earlier to share that time together. Dr. Ram resides in Drumheller with his family. Dr. Ram enjoys reading endless stories to his children, walking his dogs amongst the hoodoos, curling during the season, and remaining active on a daily basis (even just doing push-ups while on call when there is even the shortest break).

Languages

• English

Education

• University of Calgary
• University of Alberta

Awards & Recognitions

• 2013 Canadian Medical Association Award for Young Leaders
• 2010 Canadian Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage (CAPIH) Silver Medal Award for Outstanding Medical Student or Resident
• 2009 – 2013 Leaders in Medicine Scholarship
• 2013 AMA/CMF Medical Student Bursary
• 2004 Delta Chi Chapter Luminary Award
• 2008 – 2010 Alberta Provincial CIHR Training Program in Bone and Joint Health
• 2010 Faculty of Graduate Studies Achievement Award: M ichael Lazar Community Service Award
• 2005 – 2006 Faculty of Graduate Studies Fee Remission Award
• 2006 Graduate Assistantship (Teaching) Award
• 2009 – 2013 Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) MD/PhD Studentship Award
• 2009 R. Tait MacKenzie and Kinemedics Award (CASM Conference Award for best paper written and presented)
• 2012 3M National Student Fellowship (shortlisted)
• 2005 – 2006 Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Graduate Studentship
• 2010 Faculty of Graduate Studies Graduate Travel Award
• 2012 Dr. Gary McPherson Leadership Scholarship
• 2006 Community Health Sciences Department Award
• 2004 – 2005 Kinesiology Departmental Award
• 2001 – 2002 Jason Lang Scholarship
• 2008 Graduate Assistantship (Teaching) Award (x2)
• 2007 Graduate Research Scholarship (GRS) (x2)
• 2011 F.D. Wilson Memorial Bursaries
• 2007 Graduate Assistantship (Teaching) Award (x2)
• 2011 American College of Physicians: Internal Medicine 2011 Research Poster Competition Winner
• 2009 & 2010 Graduate Citizenship Award for Student Leadership, Government of Alberta
• 2011 Laurence Decore Award for Student Leadership, Government of Alberta
• 2010 University of Calgary Arch Award: Future Alumni Award
• 2017 Business Professional of the Year. Drumheller Chamber of Commerce
• 2011 Canadian Federation of Medical Students/Royal Bank of Canada Leadership Scholarship
• 2017 “50 faces of our medical school”, 50th Anniversary Celebrations, Cumming School of Medicine
• 2019 Alberta’s Third Official Patient Medical Home: Riverside Medical. Government of Alberta.
• 2013 Post Secondary First: PSE Top 300
• 2009 Faculty of Graduate Studies Graduate Student Funding
• 2010 Faculty of Graduate Studies Graduate Student Funding
• 2005 – 2006 Alberta Government Graduate Student Scholarship
• 2009 Faculty of Graduate Studies Graduate Travel Award