Dr. Lise Babin has worked as a family physician in Dieppe, New Brunswick since 1996, while also serving as a clinical teaching professor, mentor and tutor with the Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick, Université de Sherbrooke. She was Director of the New Brunswick Francophone Family Medicine Teaching Program from 2014 to 2022.
Dr. Babin grew up in Richibucto. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Moncton in 1990 and earned her medical degree from Laval University in 1994, before completing her residency in family medicine at the University of Sherbrooke in 1996.
She has been active with the New Brunswick Medical Society (NBMS) for many years as a member of the Choosing Wisely New Brunswick Steering Committee, the Primary Care Access Task Force and the NBMS Executive. She joined the Board of Directors in 2018 and was nominated as President-elect in 2023.
At the 2024 NBMS Physician Summit, Dr. Babin was installed as President of the New Brunswick Medical Society.
OPUSMD recently spoke to Dr. Babin about her new role and what she hopes to accomplish as President.
OPUSMD: When did you know you wanted to be a physician?
DR. BABIN: I honestly do not remember ever wanting to do anything else.
OPUSMD: Can you tell us why you chose to establish your practice in New Brunswick, and what has kept you here?
DR. BABIN: Never in my mind did I think of going elsewhere to practice. My family is here, so I was always sure I would come back. New Brunswick is a great place to practice medicine, even with some of its challenges, and it is a great place to live as well. So based on all those factors, there was never much chance of me ending up anywhere else.
OPUSMD: In the time you’ve been practising in New Brunswick, how would you say the state of healthcare has changed?
DR. BABIN: What I love most about medicine has not changed, and that is the relationships that I have with my patients. What is becoming more and more challenging is the complexity of treating chronic diseases and managing patients that have several different diseases. And simply not having the necessary resources available to properly take care of these patients has made the practice of medicine more difficult. In spite of these challenges, I still love going to work in the morning.
OPUSMD: Why did you decide to take on the role of NBMS President at this time?
DR. BABIN: I have been on the Board of Directors for quite a few years, and I have been involved in a number of other NBMS committees as well. I think the role of the President is an important one and I appreciate that it is the image of physicians in New Brunswick. I believe strongly in how healthcare should be delivered, and I believe strongly in how physicians should be supported in their role as healthcare providers in New Brunswick. It is exciting for me to know that being President will allow me to contribute to improving working conditions for my colleagues. Also, I look forward to working with our partners to help create a more resilient health-care system where all New Brunswickers have access to quality care.
OPUSMD: What are some of your goals as president?
DR. BABIN: During her term, Dr. Keating did such a wonderful job with regards to pushing for primary care transformation. I want to keep that momentum going, so we have to keep applying pressure and working to improve primary healthcare. But at the same time, I also want to make sure not to neglect our specialist colleagues. Especially with negotiations coming up in the next year, as much as I think primary care is important, we also need to focus on our other colleagues and push to improve their working conditions as well, and to at least bring them on par with other provinces.
I also think the NBMS has worked hard to increase member engagement during the past year, and I would like to see us keep making that a priority.
Physician retention, and all that encompasses also needs to be a primary concern. We must improve working conditions, which certainly includes economic factors, but also support services, access to resources, and a major focus on physician wellness. I am a big believer in healthy lifestyle, preventive medicine, and the importance of mental health. As much as we, as physicians, promote these concepts in our conversations with patients, we often forget to practice them in our own lives, so we need to continue the work we have been doing through NBMS Wellness and keep looking for ways to expand and promote our programs.
OPUSMD: Outside of medicine, what are your interests or hobbies?
DR. BABIN: I have a lot of different hobbies and interests, and I feel like they are important to my own sense of wellbeing. I really enjoy being outdoors, and I love running, boating, doing yoga and spending time with my family and friends. I also have a passion for cooking, and I aspire to become a vegan chef after I retire from medicine.
OPUSMD: Is there anything else you’d like to say to your physician colleagues?
DR. BABIN: I would just like to add that I am very happy to be taking on the position. I am looking forward to working with the great staff at the NBMS and engaging with colleagues across the province. It should be an interesting year and a half, with two elections, contract negotiations, governance changes, and a new format and timing for the AGM – I am just excited to get started.
Jim Johnson, Communications Specialist
