Dr. Stephanie Efua Saturday on breaking barriers and building sustainable solutions

Breaking down barriers to women’s health care remains a key challenge in modern medicine, especially in communities with inadequate access to this care. While many healthcare options are often available in urban centers, rural areas still need to improve their access to specialist healthcare, particularly in maternity and women’s health.

The Alberta College of Family Physicians recently recognized achievements in developing sustainable health care solutions with a Recognition of Excellence award, highlighting the importance of effective approaches in filling these gaps in health care.

Dr. Stephanie Efua Sobotie, the recipient of this distinction, brings unique experience in developing healthcare solutions in a variety of settings. From responding to critical needs at Kuntanase Government Hospital in Ghana, where she established a blood bank after personally donating blood to save a patient’s life, to helping develop a maternity program in Kindersley, Saskatchewan, her work demonstrates the impact of targeted care initiatives health.

Today, as a family physician with a Certificate of Additional Competency in Obstetric Surgery at Bow Trail Medical Clinic in Calgary and a clinical lecturer at the Cumming School of Medicine, he continues to address challenges related to healthcare accessibility. We sat down with Dr. Sobotie to explore what it takes to create compelling health care solutions and how combining rural and urban health care experiences can improve health care delivery.

Dr. Sobotie, what does “redefining women’s health care” mean to you, as the first woman doctor in your family?

As we consider redefining women’s health care, I envision creating a truly accessible system that addresses unique medical needs that have historically been overlooked. This vision arose early in my life when I noticed that I could be the first female doctor in my family.

At Bow Trail Medical Clinic in Calgary, we have built a women’s clinic that goes beyond primary care to address comprehensive health issues at every stage of life. But meaningful change also requires reaching communities that are not adequately supported. At the Kuntanase Government Hospital in Ghana, we implemented a program that successfully reduced the maternal mortality rate in the Ashanti region. This work continued in Canada, where we focused on providing essential services in areas with limited access to health care.

Redefining healthcare also means preparing future generations of healthcare professionals. Through my role at the Cumming School of Medicine, I work to ensure future healthcare providers understand the importance of supporting women’s health needs and creating sustainable, accessible systems of care.

From Ghana to Canada, you have seen different challenges in medicine. What obstacles do you think still exist for women in healthcare – both for doctors and patients?

From my experience working in various healthcare systems, I have observed that access to specialist care remains a significant challenge, especially in rural and underdeveloped areas. This became evident during my stay at the Kuntanase Government Hospital, where we faced critical resource constraints – for example, the lack of a blood bank, which could have had devastating consequences for women requiring immediate care.

Barriers still exist for women physicians in certain specialized fields. Although I initially wanted to specialize in trauma and orthopedic surgery, my journey led me to family medicine where I could make the most significant impact. However, I have completed additional qualifications such as the Certificate of Additional Competence in Obstetric Surgical Skills to provide comprehensive care, particularly in underserved areas.

From my current perspective at a women’s clinic in Calgary, I see that these challenges manifest differently, but persist even in well-resourced facilities. For example, the availability of mental health support remains a key issue.

I have witnessed firsthand how delays in accessing mental health services can have serious consequences for patients. These experiences have shaped my approach to creating more inclusive and comprehensive healthcare programs that address immediate medical needs and long-term well-being support.

As part of Bow Trail Medical Clinic, you helped create a specialized women’s health department. What unique health care challenges do you hope to address with this initiative?

Through our women’s clinic in Calgary, we address several key needs that I have identified throughout my career. Having worked as a primary care physician in rural and urban areas, I have seen how important it is to provide women with comprehensive health care beyond basic medical services.

Our clinic focuses on providing continuous care throughout a woman’s life. Hospital privileges allow me to offer full maternity care, including surgical deliveries if needed. This comprehensive approach is critical given my experience building midwifery programs from Ghana to Saskatchewan, where I have seen how integrated care can significantly improve outcomes.

Additionally, based on my experience as a GP with skills in obstetric surgery, I recognized the need to provide specialist services that bridge the gap between primary care and specialist obstetrics. This is especially important because our goal is to reduce barriers to access to high-quality health care. We are creating a model where women can receive coordinated care, from routine check-ups to more complex procedures, all in a familiar and supportive environment.”

You received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Alberta College of Family Physicians for your contributions to family medicine. How does this experience help you create a more inclusive healthcare environment?

Recognizing excellence has strengthened my commitment to building inclusive health systems. This distinction reflects our success in implementing the comprehensive approaches to care that I have developed throughout my career. As a Family Practice Assessor with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, I work to ensure high standards of care in a variety of medical settings.

This experience, combined with my clinical teaching at the Cumming School of Medicine, helps me promote inclusive practices among the next generation of physicians.

You have created sustainable health solutions in a variety of settings, from establishing a blood bank at Kuntanase Hospital to developing the maternity program at Kindersley. How do these projects help overcome systemic barriers to access to health care?

Each project resulted from real, urgent needs that I witnessed firsthand. I will never forget that critical moment in Kuntanase when I had to donate blood to save a patient with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. This experience wasn’t just about saving one life – it exposed a systemic gap that needed to be filled.

Establishing a blood bank was not just about creating a facility; the idea was to ensure that no other woman would find herself in the same life-threatening situation due to lack of resources.

In Kindersley, Saskatchewan, we faced a variety of challenges but fundamental issues related to access to care. Expanding the midwifery program wasn’t just about adding services – it was about creating pathways for family physicians to learn advanced midwifery skills that provide sustainable care in rural communities.

Working in such diverse environments, I have learned that sustainable solutions must be driven by local needs, while maintaining consistent quality standards.

These experiences taught me that overcoming barriers to health care isn’t just about building facilities or programs – it’s about understanding community needs, training providers, and creating systems that can continue to serve people long after initial implementation. Whether it’s Ghana or Canada, the principles remain the same:

• Listen to the community.
• Identify critical gaps.
• Create solutions that will stand the test of time.

Your recent article in WJARR and future publications in Arjonline discuss important aspects of women’s health. How is your research helping to change the approach to women’s health care?

This research grew directly out of my experience working with patients and observing how physical trauma during childbirth can have a lasting impact on both mental and physical well-being. By publishing these findings, we help highlight the interconnected nature of women’s health issues.

This is especially important for health care providers in urban and rural areas, where understanding these connections can lead to better patient care. Research also confirms what I have implemented in practice – the importance of considering both immediate medical needs and long-term well-being in women’s health care.

These publications contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting a more integrated approach to women’s health care. These approaches go beyond treating isolated symptoms and focus on understanding and meeting the full spectrum of women’s health needs.

What health barriers for women do you plan to overcome in the near future?

I want to help people who previously did not have access to high-quality medicines. Drawing on my experiences from Ghana to Canada, my goal is to continue to develop sustainable health care programs in underserved communities, focusing on integrating mental health support with primary care services.

Through my teaching at the Cumming School of Medicine and my clinical practice, I am committed to training the next generation of health care professionals to understand and address the unique challenges women face in accessing comprehensive health care.

As we imagine medicine 10 years from now, what should a truly inclusive and sustainable healthcare system look like?

A truly inclusive and sustainable health care system should combine the best elements I have seen working in a variety of settings, from rural Ghana to urban Canada. It should provide every woman with access to comprehensive care, regardless of location.

This means integrating primary care with specialist services, particularly in underserved areas, while maintaining strong links between community clinics and larger medical centers. Mental health support should be readily available and providers should be trained to provide culturally competent care. Most importantly, it should be a system that grows and adapts to the community, ensuring long-term sustainability.