Dr. Crouse named SMA 2025 Physician of the Year
November 3, 2025, 11:34 am
Ashley Bochek
Local doctor Ettiene Crouse was awarded Family Physician of the Year by the Saskatchewan Medical Association. He was nominated by local colleagues and accepted the award in at the SMA Awards Banquet in Saskatoon October 24.
In the past, both Dr Schalk van der Merwe and Dr. Ross Kerkhoff, who have also served the community for decades, have been similarly recognized for their contributions.
Dr Crouse immigrated to Canada and began practicing medicine in Moosomin over 30 years ago.
“I was born is South Africa and came to Canada in 1994 as an immigrant to Moosomin, and I’m still here thirty-one years later. I studied in South Africa and worked for a few months in the UK. At the time when we came here it was more for travelling, but I loved it here and my wife loved it here, so we ended up coming back and staying.
“I was in surgery at the time, and my brother-in-law was telling me about helping somebody out in Moosomin. There wasn’t much work to be done back home, so I agreed to fly out for three or four months and it turned into over thirty years.”
Perfect fit in Moosomin
Dr Crouse says the community influenced his wife and him to stay in Moosomin three decades ago. “My wife and I both grew up in small towns and the size of Moosomin is perfect for us. The people and community are also so amazing. You can live anywhere in the world if you only care about temperature and weather, but it’s the people around you that make it home.”
Becoming a doctor
Dr Crouse says he always knew he wanted to be a doctor. “It was something I always wanted to do, and we actually lived right next to a doctor’s office in South Africa, so I sometimes went over there and would help out. Once I got to Canada, I applied for my medical licence here and got in, and from there it was pretty straightforward. I enjoy the community and knowing that my patients are my friends too. Knowing that I’m helping my friends every day makes me want to help and go for as long as I can. I’ve been a family physician in Moosomin for thirty years, and I think as long as my health allows, I’ll stay working in medicine.”
SMA Family Physician of the Year
Dr Crouse says local colleagues at the hospital and clinic nominated him for the award.
“The SMA has a nomination program for the Family Physician of the Year award, so a colleague must nominate you for you to be considered. It’s for all of Saskatchewan, and to be nominated by my colleagues in an honour.
“When they told me that I had won a prestigious award I wasn’t that interested because I’m not really someone for the limelight. But they insisted and sent me some details, and once I read further, I was shocked that I was selected.”
He says he has been committed to improving rural medicine over his decades of being a doctor in the area.
“I think that it was mainly for starting a successful family practice in a more rural community, and also for getting up to Saskatoon and Regina, trying to improve rural medicine.”
The Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) awards night was held in Saskatoon October 24, where Dr Crouse accepted his award alongside his family and some colleagues.
“It was a lot bigger than I expected!” Dr Crouse said. “I thought that I would walk up quickly, be awarded, then walk off, but when you walk onto the stage with lots of people there, including Dr. Kerkhoff, Dr. Van, and my son, it was very nerve-racking! I gave a small speech, and it was a very amazing thing to be awarded with. It was a very special evening that I wasn’t really prepared for, but it was excellent.”
Thankful for support
Dr Crouse says he is thankful for his colleagues and their nominations for the SMA award.
“I think that everyone who has nominated me deserves some recognition for helping me get to this point. I also think that my colleagues in the Town of Moosomin and the hospital staff are also responsible for nominating me and getting me to where I am today.”
Teamwork
Dr Crouse says medicine takes teamwork in rural communities.
“It’s an incredible honour, but I think that every one of my colleagues deserves the same as I do, so I feel a bit honoured that I was the only one recognized. Medicine is all about teamwork, between our clinic, the hospital, the Town of Moosomin and surrounding RM’s everybody plays a part, so it’s not just me it’s definitely the whole team.
“I strongly feel that it’s teamwork and that everyone in Moosomin should feel proud of this award. I’m just the one accepting it, but I think that the town should be proud because this award stands for our clinic, hospital, and our town.”
Recognizing rural physicians in Saskatchewan
Dr Crouse says it is important to recognize the hard work physicians do in rural communities to improve rural healthcare.
“I think that a lot of rural family physicians give a bit more back to the community and don’t expect much or anything in return. If you live in a smaller community and the patients you help every day are your friends and family, you get much more into your work and do your best every day. It makes the long hours, long days, and busy schedule all worth it knowing that you are helping others.”
He adds, “Knowing that I have a team behind me and working with me makes a big difference in a small town like Moosomin. You know that someone has your back and that you are working as a team to help those in need.”
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