Naved's Story

Dr. Naved Ali is a Family Physician specializing in Addiction Medicine who works in Burnaby, Vancouver and on the North Shore of Vancouver. He also works for the Physician Health Program as an intake physician.

While Dr. Ali does not run a PAW group, he is a passionate advocate of the concept and wants to get information about PAW groups to as many physicians as possible – for good reason, he says.

“These groups are important because physicians are no healthier than the general population and suffer from addiction, depression and other health issues just like anyone else. Historically, doctors have been in denial about their own health issues. They do not believe they are as vulnerable as others. Or perhaps they feel that, as physicians, they can self-treat or minimize a particular problem. For instance, if you have high cholesterol, you know what the treatment is and can get a prescription from a colleague and save time. But that is bad medicine.”

These feelings of invincibility could play a role in the startling reality that most physicians do not have their own doctor, he says. And that is where PAW comes in.  “A PAW group can be effective in getting on members’ cases about having their own doctor.”

PAW groups could also discuss another challenge particular to physicians – how to be a “patient.” The flip side, he notes, is that it is sometimes difficult for a doctor to treat another physician. “If you are a general practitioner and your patient is a cardiologist with a heart problem, he is going to know a lot more about it than you are.”

Dr. Ali acknowledges that PAW groups need not be restricted to providing support for physicians battling serious health issues only. “Healthy doctors need ‘tune-ups’ too, and PAW groups can provide those.”

He recognizes the challenges in establishing support groups such as PAW. For instance, if a doctor wishes to seek help, he or she must find a replacement doctor for patients. That can be difficult, and if one is not found, patients’ appointments may be cancelled or rebooked. Furthermore, as self-employed people, physicians don’t get any sick time. “If you don’t work, you don’t get paid.”

However, he believes the benefits of PAW groups far outweigh the challenges. One of the best predictors of a PAW group’s success, he adds, is having a member or leader who champions the group and wants it to succeed. “If you don’t schedule time for your physical and mental well-being, there will be consequences.”

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