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Dr. Rithesh Ram

Home
Canada
Drumheller, AB
Dr. Rithesh Ram

Physician, President, Founder of Riverside Medical & Family Man. Specialty: Family Medicine, Epidemio

12/05/2025

One of the biggest challenges in primary care is the assumption that because your doctor has a computer in front of them, they can see everything about your health history.

I wish that were true.

But in reality, Alberta’s systems are not fully connected.
Your family doctor often can’t see that you were just in the ER.
Or that you saw another specialist last week.
Or that a test was ordered in another clinic.

There’s no single, seamless record that tells your whole story.

That’s why it makes such a difference when you share your medical history, recent visits, and family information at every appointment - even if it feels repetitive.

You’re not repeating yourself.
You’re helping us give you more comprehensive, better care.

Until our systems catch up, your voice is the most reliable connection we have.
—
Dr. Ram
Born in Alberta. Rural Generalist. Dedicated to Accessible, Responsible Care.
🩺

12/03/2025

Canada’s updated guidelines now recognize weight-loss drugs as safe and effective.
Here’s why that matters:

For too long, we’ve clung to the idea that “lifestyle changes” should always come first - and sometimes only. Eat better. Move more. Sleep well.

Of course those things matter. But by insisting lifestyle is the only answer, we delay patients from accessing treatments that could immediately reduce their risk factors.

Updated guidelines now recommend that medications be offered alongside lifestyle supports - not as a last resort.

This isn’t about giving up on healthy living. It’s about being realistic. Because here’s the truth:
✔️ More than 50% of Canadian adults meet the BMI qualifiers in the new report.
✔️ Many face barriers - time, cost, caregiving responsibilities - that make “just change your lifestyle” an oversimplified answer.
✔️ Most patients don’t want to be on medication forever. They want a healthier foundation to build from.

We’ve already seen this shift with ADHD. Where once medication was discouraged, the Canadian Pediatric Society now recommends both supports and medication together.

Obesity care deserves the same approach.
Because patients don’t need shame. They need options.

👉 If more than half of Canadians qualify, is it time we reframe how we talk about obesity altogether?
–––
Pragmatic about Alberta’s healthcare challenges.
Relentless about fixing what’s broken - to make medicine more honest, human, and sustainable.

Rural Generalist Doctor | Educator | Advocate

11/28/2025

We shame patients for being healthy. Let’s talk about that.

Somewhere along the way, our system started treating reassurance like a waste of resources.

If the tests show nothing - it’s seen as inefficiency.
If a patient comes in scared, and we rule out something serious - it’s seen as wasting time.

But when we do find something, no one questions the cost.
That’s backwards.

The truth is, I’m in the business of finding nothing.

That’s actually what good medicine looks like.
When you come in with chest pain, back pain, or unexplained symptoms, my first goal is to make sure there’s nothing more serious behind it.

If the answer is “nothing,” that’s not failure - that’s success.

It means you’re safe. It means we can move on to other ways of helping you feel better.

But as a system, we’ve started to shame people for being cautious - for seeking care and finding out they’re okay.

We need to change that conversation.
Because sometimes, nothing is the best news a patient could ever get.
—
Dr. Rithesh Ram
Rural Generalist | Advocate for Sustainable Care | Human

11/26/2025

When you’re scared, uncertain, or worried about your child - of course you’re going to search for answers.

Parents seeking help for their child.
Patients searching for answers at midnight.

Where do they turn first?
Not to their doctor. Not even to another human.
They go online.
They ask Google.
They turn to AI.

And here’s the thing: I don’t fault them for it.

Even if we had perfect access - same-day appointments, short ER waits, doctors on every corner - people would still do this. Because that’s how every other service industry works in this day and age: you start with technology, not a person.

Healthcare is no different.

That means our job isn’t to scold patients for looking things up. It’s to prepare for the reality that by the time they walk into our exam rooms, they’ve already done their homework. Sometimes, they may even know more about their specific concern than a medical professional sitting across from them.

This isn’t a failure of the system. It’s the world we live in.
It’s something we need to integrate into how we train future physicians.

Because the future of healthcare isn’t about preventing patients from using Google or AI.

It’s about equipping doctors to meet them there.

👉 How do you think medical education should adapt to prepare physicians for patients who come armed with Google and AI?
–––
Pragmatic about Alberta’s healthcare challenges.
Relentless about fixing what’s broken - to make medicine more honest, human, and sustainable.
Rural Generalist Doctor | Educator | Advocate

11/21/2025

Preventative care gets talked about all the time.
But here’s the truth - you can’t have it without vaccines.

You can’t build a prevention-first system while sending mixed messages about immunization.

It takes everyone - government, healthcare professionals, municipalities, communities - standing behind the same message:

Vaccination is how we save lives.
Vaccination is how we save money.
Vaccination is how we make things better.

When we water that message down, we all pay the price.
There can’t be “both sides” when it comes to prevention.

There’s one message: go get vaccinated.

If you choose not to, there are consequences - for you, for your family, and for the system trying to keep you safe.

That’s not about blame.
That’s about ownership.

Because true preventative care means taking responsibility before the crisis happens.
—
Dr. Rithesh Ram
Rural Generalist | Advocate for Sustainable Care | Human

11/19/2025

There’s been a lot of talk about Alberta’s plan to let people pay privately for diagnostic or screening tests - things like MRIs, CTs, or full-body scans - without needing a doctor’s referral.

As a physician I want people to be proactive about their health. This is happening in many jurisdictions around the world where early detection is saving lives and easing pressure on the system over time.

But proactive choice shouldn’t create new gaps.

The right guardrails will be essential and let us expand access - without putting additional strain on the system.

With thoughtful oversight, this change could help Albertans take a more active role in their health while keeping our public system strong.

That’s a balance worth aiming for.

—
Dr. Ram
Relentless about fixing what’s broken - to make medicine more honest, human, and sustainable.

Born in Alberta | Rural Generalist | Dedicated to Accessible, Responsible Care

11/15/2025

In healthcare we talk a lot about prevention - but we’ve started treating it like someone else’s job.

Prevention is the foundation of a healthy society.

But somewhere along the way, we stopped treating it like a shared responsibility.
Right now, prevention is measured as a system metric.
Physicians get reports on who’s up to date on cancer screenings - and who isn’t.

But what those reports don’t show is who refused the test, who didn’t have time, or who simply chose not to go.

We’ve created a culture where the healthcare system takes all the blame - and the public takes none of the ownership.

Prevention isn’t passive.
It’s not something the government or your doctor “does for you.”

It’s something we all do together - with honesty, effort, and accountability.
Real prevention only works when everyone shows up for it.
—
Dr. Rithesh Ram
Rural Generalist | Advocate for Sustainable Care | Human.

11/13/2025

Advocacy belongs to all of us.

Whether you’re a patient, a physician, or a student learning the ropes - advocacy is part of your role.

As patients, we advocate for ourselves and our loved ones.

As physicians, we advocate for our patients and our profession.

And as educators, we advocate for the next generation of care providers.

Over the past year, one of the accomplishments I’m most proud of is seeing the recognition of the rural generalist finally take root - showing up in government documents, Alberta Medical Association discussions, and policy conversations across the province.

It’s a crucial first step.

Because rural generalists are the lifeblood of rural medicine - carrying the broadest skill set and the deepest commitment to community health.

But advocacy can’t stop here. The importance of what we do must continue to be heard, valued, and supported - for the future of rural healthcare in Alberta and beyond.

👉 What does advocacy look like to you - in your work, your community, or your own healthcare journey?

–––

Pragmatic about Alberta’s healthcare challenges.

Relentless about fixing what’s broken - to make medicine more honest, human, and sustainable.

Rural Generalist Doctor | Educator | Advocate

11/07/2025

Here’s something I say often - and I mean it:

If you don’t advocate for yourself in the healthcare system, you risk getting lost in it.

I don’t say that to scare people.
I say it because I’ve seen it happen. Every week.

Before becoming a physician, I witnessed loved ones falling through the cracks, being ignored, and dying as a consequence.

If you’re not asking questions, following up, keeping records, or seeking second opinions when something doesn’t sit right… the system may not do it for you.

That’s not a reflection of individual caregivers. It’s a reflection of how the system is built:

Fragmented communication
Staff stretched thin
Patients handed off between specialties and settings
Decisions made in silos

So no - you don’t need to have a medical degree.

But you do need to speak up, stay informed, and ask for clarity.

And if someone you love is in hospital?

Be there. Take notes. Ask questions. It matters more than you think.

The system does a good job at saving lives at obvious critical traumatic moments.
But it struggles with what comes before and after - prevention, recovery, coordination, quality of life.

That’s where personal advocacy helps fill the gaps the system leaves behind.

___

Born and raised in Alberta, I’m a rural generalist, educator, and advocate working on the frontlines and behind the scenes to make medicine more honest, human, and sustainable.

11/05/2025

Never waste a good crisis.

One of the best parts of my work is having learners with us - in the clinic, in the hospital, and everywhere in between.

Most days, my wife and I are outnumbered by the number of medical learners we have. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Between us, we care for over 4,000 patients, accept walk-ins daily (whether they’re our patients or not).

It’s busy.

It’s demanding.

And it’s exactly why having learners matters.

Because every learner adds capacity - not just for today, but for the future.

They help us serve more patients.

They bring energy, curiosity, and new ideas that remind us why we chose this work in the first place.

Most importantly, they become the next generation of care providers our system desperately needs.

Teaching isn’t just about education - it’s about sustainability. It’s how we recruit, retain, and re-energize the profession for the long term.

A close friend of mine always says: “Never waste a good crisis.”

If we’re facing a crisis due to a shortage of healthcare professionals, then let’s use it as an opportunity to build stronger systems - by becoming educational hubs where learners at every stage can grow, contribute, and experience what real medicine looks like.

Because the future of healthcare depends on what - and who - we’re teaching today.

👉 What’s one way your organization or community could create more opportunities for learning, mentorship, or training in healthcare?

–––

Pragmatic about Alberta’s healthcare challenges.

Relentless about fixing what’s broken - to make medicine more honest, human, and sustainable.

Rural Generalist Doctor | Educator | Advocate

10/31/2025

Sometimes the scenic route is the right one.

Google Maps said this was the “fastest way” from Crowsnest Pass to Claresholm.

Turns out, it was 30 km of winding gravel, random cows, and not another soul in sight.

At first, we almost turned around.

Then I realized - this is Alberta.

The unexpected roads.

The fields that seem to stretch forever.

The quiet that reminds you what space feels like.

We stopped the car, got out, and took a photo.

It wasn’t planned - just one of those moments that reminds you how much of this province you don’t see when you’re speeding down the main highway.

That’s what my work across rural Alberta has taught me:

There’s so much beauty, wisdom, and strength happening off the map.

Outside the cities.

Beyond the “main routes.”

In the small towns and communities that keep our province running - often unseen, but never unimportant.

👉 Maybe the best parts of Alberta - and of life - aren’t on the direct route at all.
What are your thoughts about that?

–––

Pragmatic about Alberta’s healthcare challenges.

Relentless about fixing what’s broken - to make medicine more honest, human, and sustainable.

Rural Generalist Doctor | Educator | Advocate

10/29/2025

I didn’t plan to open my own clinic. But I also didn’t plan to compromise how I believe medicine should be practiced.

Sometimes, the only option is to build the thing that doesn’t yet exist.

In 9 weeks, I found a space, renovated it, opened the doors - and had 1,000 patients sign up within the first month.

Why?

Because patients are looking for something different.

And so are many physicians.

I didn’t leave my previous group practice because I wanted to go solo.
I left because the model didn’t align with how I think, teach, and deliver care.

So I built something new.

A practice focused on honesty, continuity, autonomy, and real human connection - not just billing codes and referral medicine where you hand off the majority of patient problems to someone else.

It’s not easy. But it’s worth it.

And I believe more physicians are ready to do things differently - if we give them the freedom and support to try.

___

Born and raised in Alberta, I’m a rural generalist, educator, and advocate working on the frontlines and behind the scenes to make medicine more honest, human, and sustainable.

Address

PO Box 1990 180 Riverside Drive East
Drumheller, AB
T0J0Y0

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5pm
	6pm - 8pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5pm
Friday	8:30am - 5pm

Website

https://www.riversidemedical.ca/contact-us

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DR. RITHESH RAM

PHYSICIAN, PRESIDENT, FOUNDER & FAMILY MAN

Specialty: Family Medicine, Epidemiology, Teaching, Medical Leadership

Special interests: Emergency Care, Mental Health, Chronic Pain,

biographical background:

Dr. Rithesh Ram is a family physician in Drumheller, Alberta. He is an AHS staff physician in the Central Zone. He was born and raised in Camrose, Alberta.

Dr Ram is passionate about teaching, and is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine where he is the residency training lead for Drumheller. He also recently became the Director of the UCLIC Program (University of Calgary Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship) which is a research-based, educational experience that allows medical students to learn in the continuum of patient care throughout southern Alberta.

In rural medicine, Dr. Ram works in multiple locations including: his primary care network (including chronic pain clinic), acute care in the hospital, in the emergency department, in the operating room, and in long term care. He is currently the Clinical Lead for Acute Care and Emergency at the Drumheller Health Centre.

Dr. Ram, aside from his MD, has a BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alberta and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Calgary. He is currently Vice Chair of his PCN, a recent addition to the executive of the CZMSA (Central Zone Medical Staff Association), on the board of the Alberta Medical Association’s Health Issues Council, and a primary care representative on Toward Optimized Practice (TOP) clinical practice guidelines. Dr Ram is also involved with the $400 million dollar AHS Provincial Clinical Information System (CIS) as the Provincial Knowledge Lead for Primary Care.

Dr. Ram resides in Drumheller with his family. Dr. Ram enjoys reading endless stories to his children, walking his dog amongst the hoodoos, curling during the season, and remaining active on a daily basis (even just doing push-ups while on call when there is even the shortest break).

Favorite quotes by Sir William Osler: Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability. We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from life. The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.