Resident Physician of the Month

Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of  Alberta

Hi, I’m Preety, a PGY-3 in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Alberta. I was born and raised in East Vancouver and completed my undergraduate degree in Health Sciences with a minor in Indigenous Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, where I also played varsity basketball in the U Sports league. The strong sense of community in Prince George made a lasting impact on me, and I chose to stay to complete medical school through UBC’s Northern Medical Program before moving to Edmonton for residency.

My experience as a former athlete continues to shape how I approach medicine. The trust, communication, and leadership required on the court closely mirror the collaborative nature of surgical training and patient care. As a visible minority, child of immigrants, and non-Indigenous settler, I’m deeply committed to advocating for marginalized women and underserved populations. Alongside my co-residents, I helped co-found the Advocacy Committee in our department, and together we’ve led several initiatives in partnership with local organizations, most recently hosting educational events for newcomer and refugee women on topics related to women’s health.

I’m passionate about reproductive justice, inclusive medical education, and creating a culture of equity within our field. I feel incredibly grateful for the support of my co-residents, faculty, and the broader Edmonton community—each of whom has helped me grow, both personally and professionally, during this journey.

Outside of medicine, I love staying active, weight training, practicing my golf swing, and spending time with my friends and family.

Thank you to PARA and my co-residents for this recognition.

A colleague shared this about Dr. Nijjar:

"Preety is an essential member of our OB/GYN team. She is hands down one of the hardest-working residents I have come across. Her careful attention to detail and her constant drive to be the best version of herself is something I appreciate about her as a person. She is dedicated to her patients and colleagues. I have seen her grow from an R1 to a well-rounded R3 and I am proud to call her my colleague. She is a person who radiates compassion and is an excellent role model to our junior residents. She has been warm and welcoming to our new incoming year. Her compassion extends beyond the Royal Alexandra Hospital. She is helping to organize fundraising for our upcoming Ovarian Cancer Walk and is always one of the first to volunteer for resident and program events. She has recently been voted as our new SOGC representative. She is patient and empathetic with patients, providing the warmth necessary for strong patient-physician relationships. I have seen these interactions firsthand and know our patients on the ward are getting excellent care. I had the pleasure to first assist her in multiple cesarean sections as lead resident. Her careful dissection of tissues demonstrated to me that she respected the responsibility we take on as resident surgeons. I would be lucky to have her as my doctor; she can deliver my baby anytime!"

Thank you to everyone who has submitted nominations for the Resident of the Month award! We have received an overwhelming number of nominations and are temporarily pausing new submissions at this time.
 
We appreciate your enthusiasm in recognizing the incredible work of your colleagues. Stay tuned for updates as we process the current nominations.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Ravneet Sekhon.