Written by Toni Lavigne-Conway | Special to the Valley Gazette
At the 32nd Annual Rural and Remote Medicine Conference, held recently in Winnipeg, Manitoba, one of our local physicians, Dr. Jason Malinowski was honoured with national recognition.
Each year, The Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC) proudly recognizes individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to rural medicine in Canada. Dr. Malinowski was one of eleven rural physicians honoured this year with the Rural Service Award.
Dr Gabe Woollam, Chair of the Nominations and Awards Committee noted “It is a true privilege to recognize this year’s award recipients. Across rural and remote communities, physicians continue to provide outstanding care, often in demanding and resource-limited environments. These awards honour individuals whose work reflects the core values of rural medicine—clinical excellence, leadership, mentorship, community involvement, and a deep commitment to service.”
Born in Oshawa and raised in suburban Toronto, Dr. Malinoski’s life took a meaningful turn when his family moved to a farm in Beaverton when he was fifteen. It was there, he says, he first developed an appreciation for rural life.
He later pursued a career in medicine and he was inspired by his training and experiences to seek out opportunities to work as a family physician in a rural setting. As fate would have it, he met and eventually married a lovely nurse named Andrea Stein from Palmer Rapids who introduced him to the Madawaska Valley, the place they would later call home.
At the time, St. Francis Memorial Hospital was in the early stages of developing a medical clinic to house its family physicians and was actively recruiting. After meeting with hospital representatives and learning that their long-term vision included the development of hospice/palliative care services, Jason saw an opportunity to put his fellowship training to meaningful use and help drive some of the strategies around palliative care.
If you are already an online subscriber, CLICK HERE to access your subscription and read the full story.
If you wish to subscribe online, CLICK HERE, or you can pick up a copy of the May 21, 2025 Valley Gazette for the complete story.
About the Author
