Meet Dr. Helen Dion: A compassionate approach to family medicine in Calgary

Dr. Helen Dion has built a strong reputation in Calgary as a compassionate and knowledgeable physician, with over a decade of experience in family medicine and a passion for health-care sustainability. She first established her practice at Panorama Hills Medicentres, where she provided high-quality, patient-focused care to individuals and families in the surrounding community.

Following the closure of the Panorama Hills clinic, Dr. Dion has transitioned her primary practice to Country Hills Medicentres—located just minutes away and adjacent to the Panorama Hills community. She also maintains an additional practice location at Mount Royal Medicentres, expanding her ability to provide full-spectrum, personalized care across Calgary.

Dr. Dion warmly thanks her long-standing patients from Panorama Hills who have chosen to continue their care with her and remain part of her practice. Your trust and loyalty mean a great deal. With her new clinic located just minutes away at Country Hills Medicentres, patients from Panorama Hills and nearby communities are encouraged to stay connected and continue receiving the same compassionate, attentive care they’ve come to know. Dr. Dion also welcomes new patients from the Country Hills and Mount Royal areas, and looks forward to building lasting relationships with families across Calgary.

The following interview, originally published in the Calgary Herald in March 2025, offers an in-depth look at Dr. Dion’s medical journey, professional qualifications, and her commitment to excellence in family medicine and health-care research. Please note that clinic references have been updated to reflect her current practice locations.

A passion for medicine and patient care

Q: Dr. Dion, can you tell us about your background and journey in medicine?

A: “Absolutely! I’m a dedicated and compassionate physician with over a decade of experience in the medical field. Medicine has always been my passion, and after completing my medical education, I pursued a path that allowed me to develop strong clinical expertise in both acute and primary care,” says Dr. Dion. 

“I am a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) and hold an active permit to practice in Alberta, where I am registered as a physician. I also completed a postgraduate certificate in Family Medicine and a postgraduate diploma in Pediatric Emergency Medicine from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, United Kingdom, which has further strengthened my ability to provide high-quality patient care.”

Rigorous Licensing processes in Alberta

Q: What was the process like for integrating into the Alberta healthcare system?

A: “As part of Alberta’s rigorous and comprehensive licensing program, I successfully completed both the Preliminary Clinical Assessment (PCA) and the Supervised Practice Assessment (SPA),” says Dr. Dion. 

“My PCA was conducted in rural Alberta and involved a broad scope of practice, including emergency, inpatient, acute and subacute care, long-term care and community clinic settings, where I worked under direct observation. My SPA involved independent practice in a rural Alberta community, where I was responsible for patient care, with regular supervision and chart reviews ensuring compliance with Alberta’s high medical standards.

“These assessments provided a thorough evaluation of my clinical skills, professionalism and ability to practice independently, reinforcing my qualifications to serve patients in Alberta.”

Expanding patient care in Calgary

Q: How has your practice evolved over the years?

A: “Early in my practice in Alberta, I worked in rural communities, where I provided medical care across various settings, including hospital-based care, emergency coverage, inpatient, acute care, and long-term care and community clinics. This experience allowed me to develop a strong foundation in managing a wide range of conditions across all patient age groups,” says Dr. Dion. 

“More recently, I transitioned to urban practice in Calgary, where I am currently a physician at Country Hills Medicentres Family Health Care Clinic. I continue to provide comprehensive, patient-focused care to individuals from pediatrics to geriatrics. While I have interests in women’s health, pediatric care and minor procedures, my practice encompasses the full spectrum of family medicine, ensuring that every patient receives personalized and attentive care tailored to their unique needs,” she continues. 

Bridging research and clinical practice

Q: Your expertise in clinical practice is well established, but you’ve also contributed to healthcare research. Can you tell us about your academic work and how it relates to your approach as a physician?

A: “In addition to my clinical practice, I have a strong interest in health-care sustainability and hospital management. My research focuses on enhancing energy efficiency and improving health-care governance to create better health-care environments for both patients and practitioners,” Dr. Dion shares. 

“I have co-authored peer-reviewed publications in leading scientific journals, including Benchmarking: An International Journal and Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, on topics related to sustainability and governance in health-care facilities.”

Comprehensive care at Country Hills Medicentres

Q: Can you share more about the medical services you offer at Country Hills Medicentres?

A: “At Country Hills Medicentres, my focus is on providing accessible, high-quality medical care to patients of all ages. I offer primary and preventive care, including visits for routine health concerns, annual check-ups, and comprehensive family care across all age groups—infants, children, adults, and seniors. I also provide chronic disease management for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma,” says Dr. Dion.

“Women’s health is a significant part of my practice, and I provide comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including Pap smears, contraceptive counselling, IUD removal and hormone therapy management. I also advise on all aspects of pregnancy, perform regular check-ups, and support postnatal care to ensure both mother and baby remain healthy. I also have a special interest in mental health, helping patients manage anxiety, depression and stress-related conditions through a holistic and patient-centred approach.”

“For those requiring minor procedures, I perform mole removals, skin biopsies, ear flushing, wound suturing and other routine treatments. Additionally, I provide medical reports, insurance forms, Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) assessments and driver’s medical examinations. When necessary, I also offer consultations for complex conditions and facilitate specialist referrals to ensure my patients receive the advanced care they need,” she continues.

“My practice is open to all patients, including men’s health, pediatric and newborn care, senior wellness, and mental health support. I am currently accepting new patients for meet-and-greet appointments and consultations. Walk-ins are welcome, and existing patients can schedule routine check-ups and follow-ups as needed, ensuring that those in need of care can access timely medical attention,” she continues.

Commitment to professional growth and advanced training

Q: How do you ensure that your medical knowledge and skills remain up to date?

A: “I am committed to lifelong learning and continuing medical education to provide my patients with the most up-to-date and effective treatments.”

“I have completed Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), as well as the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) clinical workshop at Hamilton Health Sciences in Ontario,” Dr. Dion continues. 

“Additionally, I have advanced training in orthopedic care, pain management and contraceptive methods, including hands-on training at the University of British Colombia in Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) and IUD insertions. My expertise also extends to joint and soft tissue injections, enhancing my ability to manage musculoskeletal conditions comprehensively, allowing me to provide a comprehensive approach to patient care.”

Patients seeking comprehensive, personalized care are invited to connect with Dr. Helen Dion at her primary clinic, Country Hills Medicentres. She is now welcoming new patients for in-person consultations and meet-and-greet appointments at this location. Existing patients—including those from Panorama Hills and nearby communities—are encouraged to continue their care at Country Hills, which is conveniently located just minutes away. Walk-ins are welcome, and patients may also book routine check-ups, follow-ups, consultations, or telehealth appointments as needed. To support patients across the city, Dr. Dion also offers in-person appointments at Mount Royal Medicentres.

You may schedule an appointment at either of the following locations:

Primary Practice Location:
Country Hills Medicentres
5149 Country Hills Blvd NW, Suite 220, Calgary, Alberta, T3A 5K8
📞 (403) 241-8848
🔗 https://www.medicentres.com/medicentre-locations/country-hills-medicentre/

Additional Practice Location:
Mount Royal Medicentres
1032 17 Ave SW, Suite 3, Calgary, Alberta, T2T 0A5
📞 (403) 229-1771
🔗 https://www.medicentres.com/medicentre-locations/mount-royal-medicentre/
🕒 Dr. Dion currently sees patients at Mount Royal Medicentres on Mondays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For ongoing health tips, updates, and to connect with Dr. Dion, follow her on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, or visit https://www.drhelendion.ca/.

Note: This profile includes adapted and tailored excerpts from an article originally published in the Calgary Herald (digital: March 14, 2025 | print: March 18, 2025).
Read the original article here: https://calgaryherald.com/sponsored/health-sponsored/meet-dr-helen-dion-a-compassionate-approach-to-family-medicine-in-calgary