Dr. Elizabeth Watt Retiring after Helping Transform Youth Healthcare in Abbotsford

“Dr. Watt has been an unstoppable force when it comes to transforming healthcare to be youth-friendly, holistic and comprehensive,” said Simone Maassen, Archway Manager of Youth and Health Services.

“Without her expertise, compassion and her long-term dedication to excellence, AYHC would not have been possible, and our community might not have even been a good candidate for a Foundry location. She’s instilled this compassion and excellence into everyone she works with and because Dr. Watt is also fun, and makes the hard work fun, she’s helped build an amazing primary care team.”

Transforming Care for Youth in Abbotsford

These days, youth can easily access doctors and nurse practitioners through a youth-specific clinic at Foundry Abbotsford. Staff are experienced and trained in providing compassionate, trauma-informed, evidence-based care for a range of medical issues ranging from birth control to the common cold.

It’s a far cry from the early 2000’s when youth workers in Abbotsford used to spend hours each week trying to help their clients access medical care. When they did find care, it was sometimes judgmental or ill-suited to the needs of vulnerable youth.

Recognizing that they needed a new model of care, representatives from Archway, Child and Youth Mental Health, the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Impact, the Abbotsford Division of Family Practice, the University of the Fraser Valley, the Abbotsford School District, Abbotsford Youth Commission and local faith groups began discussions.

As an Archway Board member from 2003 – 2015, Dr. Watt was a vital voice in these discussions on how to provide care.

When the AHYC opened in November 2010 Dr. Watt was the lead physician. The centre only operated four hours a week at the beginning and relied on volunteers and temporary locations.

In 2016, the AYHC took the first steps towards exploring what would eventually be a BC-wide collaborative and integrated youth health and wellness model. Today, these centres, located across the province, are known as Foundry and offer equitable access to integrated health and social services.

When Foundry Abbotsford opened in 2018, Dr. Watt transitioned to her current role as Medical Director.

Pivotal Role at Foundry Abbotsford

As the Medical Director of Foundry Abbotsford, Dr. Elizabeth Watt played a pivotal role in overseeing the healthcare services provided to youth in the community. Her responsibilities included managing the primary care clinic, ensuring physicians deliver mental health services, coordinating with various community service providers, and supervising medical residents.

As a supervisor, Dr. Watt played a crucial role in guiding the next generation of healthcare practitioners by sharing her practical experience and extensive knowledge on the complexities of youth healthcare. Foundry’s emphasis on prevention provides medical students with a distinct experience compared to traditional pediatric offices.

“They come through Foundry and they see a very different presentation because at Foundry, we are trying to prevent hospitalizations, and we need more primary care physicians who know how to deal with prevention.”

Family Roots: A Source of Inspiration

Dr. Elizabeth Watt (middle left) in 1962 with her father, mother and three siblings in Bella Coola just on their way to go on a family vacation. Old Bella Coola Hospital in the background.

Dr. Elizabeth Watt’s journey in helping establish and lead Foundry Abbotsford is deeply rooted in her family’s legacy of healthcare pioneers. Her father, a general practitioner who commenced his career with the United Church of Canada, shaped her perspective and approach to medicine. He worked in small villages, often as the sole doctor, for church hospitals across Canada.

Her father’s career took a significant turn when he assumed the role of administrator for these church hospitals, advocating for their cause for over 26 years. Dr. Watt feels proud to have been raised by someone who was not only a medical practitioner but a tireless advocate for small hospitals in remote communities. These experiences, spending summers in different towns, exposed her to a unique, community-oriented form of medicine.

“My father was responsible for recruiting doctors to work at the church hospitals and sometimes he was the only doctor in town. He just had a radio phone in his office and that’s how the hospitals would get a hold of him. If he was really remote, the hospitals would radio any farms along the road and if my father saw a cardboard box sitting in the middle of the road, that would mean he was needed back at the hospital. There weren’t cell phones or pagers back then to communicate so they worked with what they had.”

Hearing her father’s stories has instilled the idea that communities and individuals can take initiative in providing healthcare solutions.

“I hope these types of stories like my father’s aren’t lost in today’s day and age. It’s about community and I’ve gained a lot of inspiration from how these pioneers worked.”

Decades of Dedication

Dr. Watt has been a practicing doctor since 1987 and worked initially in Bella Coola, Bella Bella, Vancouver, and eventually in Abbotsford starting in 1988 at places like the Cannon Clinic, Gateway Health & Wellness Centre, Fraser Valley Institute Correctional Services, and Peardonville House. Her commitment to Abbotsford over 35 years has earned her recognition and accolades over the span of her career.

Some of her awards include the Award of Excellence by the King Haven/Peardonville House Society in 2009, the order of Abbotsford and Citizen of the year in 2013, and a Certificate of Recognition for excellence in resident education in 2015 (see more awards on side bar). Dr. Watt was nominated for this award by the residents of the UBC Dept. of Family Practice who have gone through AYHC or Foundry during their training and have helped with the volume and care of patients.

At the Victoria Premier’s Awards in 2014. From left to right: Krista Kenessey (AYHC), Mark Wardhall (MCFD-CYMH), Dr. Elizabeth Watt (AYHC), Holden Chu (MCFD), Simone Maassen (ACS), Eric VanEgmond (MCFD), Joanne Hamm (AYHC), Paul Enns (MCFD-CYMH), Brian Gross (IMPACT), Shairose Jinnah (ACS).​

Plans for Retirement

With such a strong impact on her community, it is with mixed feelings that Dr. Watt retires from Foundry Abbotsford.

Beyond her professional life, Dr. Watt plans for a slower pace of life in retirement. Her family’s cabin, perched on an island accessible only by boat, will become a haven for relaxation and meaningful projects. Along with her husband, she intends to immerse herself in nature, taking advantage of the tranquility and beauty that surrounds their remote retreat.

When reflecting on what she will miss the most, Dr. Watt singles out the people and the vibrant healthcare community she has been a part of throughout her career. Her passion lies in frontline work and the interactions with individuals who have been dedicated to making a difference.

“It’s all about the people that you work with, and the organizations and people that support the work that you do. I’ll miss all the people I’ve worked with and how passionate they are to make changes and support individuals that need a helping hand.”

As Dr. Elizabeth Watt steps into retirement, she leaves a legacy and positive impact on youth, the healthcare community, and the organizations she has been a part of. The community, in turn, will remember her as a compassionate advocate for change and overcoming challenges with resilience and grace.

“In my 17 years of working at Archway, I have not met anyone as committed, dedicated, nor compassionate as Dr. Watt!” shared Shairose Jinnah, Archway Director of Counselling, Child, Youth & Family Services.

“She has been an anchor, visionary and a solid ambassador to everything we have achieved for youth thus far. It was my utmost privilege working and dreaming with Dr. Watt and our other partners committed to seeing a Youth Health Centre come to fruition. Thank you, Dr. Watt, for being our Youth Health Centre and Foundry champion! You will always remain a founding member and have a place in all of our hearts!”