West Kelowna doctor receives national women’s health award

Local physician Dr. Unjali Malhotra was recently honoured by the Federation of Medical Women of Canada, earning an award for excellence in women’s healthcare research and education.

Malhotra, a menopause and women’s health physician based in West Kelowna, was awarded with the Enid Johnson MacLeod Award, which represents national recognition for her work to advance women’s healthcare across the country.

Malhotra, who hails from Prince Albert, Sask., and is the daughter of Dr. Lalita Malhotra, is well-known for her work to grow the women’s healthcare field. She founded the a rural and remote women’s health residency program at UBC, the first such program in B.C.

“She went on to create a residency selective/elective for UBC Family Medicine residents and has developed national curricula on contraception, consent, and HPV, mentoring hundreds of students and residents across the country,” read a press release on the matter, issued on Sept. 21.

“This recognition means so much because it speaks to what I’ve always believed: women’s health research and education aren’t separate from equity work, they are equity work” said Dr. Malhotra.

“I’m honoured to be recognized alongside the legacy of Dr. Enid MacLeod, and I share this with every woman who was willing to share their story with me, as well as medical learners, colleagues, and patients who have shaped how I think about care.”

Malhotra has contributed to multiple research and guideline projects nationally, including the Canadian and British Columbia HPV Guidelines, the Canadian Menopause Guidelines, the Canadian Contraception guidance as well as Coercion and Consent: A Guide for Facilitating Conversations with First Nations Patients.