Contributed

Cypress Health Region

The Cypress Health Region is excited to introduce Dr. Jayanath Ratnayake as the community of Maple Creek’s newest physician. Dr. Ratnayake’s successful recruitment provides the Maple Creek Primary Health Care Clinic with a complement of four physicians and two Nurse Practitioners.

Dr. Ratnayake joins the region from South Africa after previously practicing in Mafikeng. Mafikeng is the capital of the country’s North-West Province. It is approximately 250 kilometers west of Johannesburg and has a population of nearly 50,000.

He has received his ‘Temporary License’ from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) and will be joining the medical staff in Maple Creek later this month. Joined by his wife and two children, this will be the first time the experienced physician will reside in Canada, something that the region anticipates will be a smooth transition for him.

“Dr. Ratnayake will be an excellent addition to our medical staff in the community of Maple Creek and is excited to begin practicing in Canada,” commented Cypress Health’s Medical Affairs Coordinator Grant Browne. “The Ratnayake family has been busy exploring Maple Creek and area since their arrival and is anxious to become active members of the community. Since this is their first place of residence in Canada, we are confident that the residents will welcome them and ease their transition into an entirely new culture.”

Dr. Ratnayake will be supported by the Primary Health Care Clinic’s mentorship group as he becomes familiar with Canadian medicine practices. He will join Dr. Rajan Govender, Dr. Ivo Radevski, and Dr. Kabuya (“Joe”) Mudingayi, as well as Nurse Practitioners Dawn Kalinowski and Helene Leis at the clinic.

Maple Creek’s newest addition to the medical team will begin seeing clients in the Primary Health Care Clinic on March 18th.