Dr. Antonia Stang knew early that her future would involve people. What she did not yet know was how deeply one example would shape her sense of what was possible.
As a child, she was cared for by a pediatrician who left a lasting impression. The physician was one of the first female graduates from her medical school - top of her class, intelligent, kind, confident. At the time, Dr. Stang didn’t have the language to describe why that mattered. Looking back, she understands how powerful it was to see a woman excelling in a role she admired.
That early influence, combined with a desire to make a meaningful difference, led her into medicine and ultimately to pediatrics. From there, pediatric emergency medicine felt like the right fit. The pace, variety and procedural nature of the work kept her engaged and the learning never stopped. “I learn something new every shift.” she says. A mentor once advised her to choose the field where she felt most challenged. Pediatric emergency medicine met that standard.
When Dr. Stang came to Alberta, she noticed something different right away. She had trained in environments where decisions were often justified with “because that’s how we do it here.” In Alberta, she encountered a culture of innovation, curiosity and openness to change. That mindset resonated immediately.
Just as importantly, she found mentors who encouraged her not only to pursue interests in quality improvement, patient safety and research, but to lead in those spaces. With that support, Alberta became the place where she could help build programs, support teams and contribute to improving care for children. “It became clear early on that this was where I could grow - and contribute.” she says.
Her career has not been without challenges. A recurring one has been confronting assumptions about who is “supposed” to succeed. As she was finishing residency and exploring academic career options, a senior leader in another province told her he did not believe women could be successful researchers because of “competing priorities.” He dismissed her research idea as unpublishable and told her she was unlikely to receive protected academic time.
The conversation was discouraging, but it also clarified something. “If someone was going to define my potential, it wasn’t going to be him.” she says.
In the years that followed, she focused her energy on the work. Her residency project was published and became the foundation of her master’s thesis. She was offered protected research time at multiple institutions - including his - and secured CIHR funding early in her career. More than the accomplishments themselves, the experience reshaped how she viewed moments of bias. They were not roadblocks, but motivation.
Those lessons now inform how she mentors others. She is deliberate about ensuring no one questions their potential simply because they don’t fit an expected mold of what a leader, researcher or physician should look like.
Residency gave her a strong clinical foundation and taught her to think under pressure, communicate clearly and care for patients and families. But with distance, she sees how much the scope of medicine has expanded. “When I look at today’s residency programs, I sometimes wish I could train again,” she says, noting that the emphasis on social determinants of health, equity, planetary health and advocacy is far stronger now than when she trained. “These are essential competencies for modern practice and residents today graduate with a breadth of knowledge that reflects the evolving world around them.”
Clinical practice, however, is where those lessons come to life. The moments that have stayed with her most are not defined by diagnoses or procedures, but by watching senior trainees and attending physicians advocate for patients and families, navigate conflict and handle high-stakes situations with professionalism, compassion and respect. Those examples continue to shape how she approaches difficult conversations and complex care.
Looking ahead, Dr. Stang sees healthcare at a fascinating point. Technological innovation, including artificial intelligence, is accelerating, while workforce shortages and resource constraints continue to intensify. How care is delivered - and by whom - will need to evolve quickly.
She believes resident physicians and early-career doctors will be central to that transformation. They bring adaptability, fresh perspectives and a willingness to challenge the status quo. Those qualities, she says, will be essential in redesigning the system and shaping the future of care in Alberta.
When she reflects on what she is most proud of, it is not a single title or achievement. It is the collective work of teams. Whether during resuscitations in the emergency department, collaborating with frontline caregivers and leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic or working with multidisciplinary teams at the Alberta Children’s Hospital to manage respiratory surges, the shared commitment and teamwork stand out most.
As PARA marks its 50th anniversary, Dr. Stang shares advice she hopes resident physicians will carry with them.
“Thank you for choosing a career in medicine,” she says. “It is not an easy path, but it is an incredibly meaningful one. Find the area of medicine that excites you, surround yourself with colleagues who inspire you and hold onto your curiosity, empathy and sense of purpose.”
And when doubt comes from others, she offers one final piece of advice: when someone suggests that “someone like you can’t do X,” take it as a sign that you are exactly where you should be - and then go prove them wrong.
