Dr. Unjali Malhotra with her husband. (Submitted photo/ Secretary to Sen. Yvonne Boyer)

By paNOW Staff

Community leaders

Prince Albert born doctor awarded King’s Coronation medal

Feb 5, 2025 | 11:45 AM

A woman who helped lead the creation of the Malhotra NICU of the North at Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital, and whose work continues to benefit Prince Albert Grand Council, has been awarded the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal

Dr. Unjali Malhotra was presented with the award on Feb. 3, during a special ceremony in the Senate Chambers in Ottawa.

This distinction, given to individuals who have made significant contributions to Canada, recognizes Dr. Malhotra’s lifelong dedication to advancing access to equitable, and innovative healthcare solutions across the nation.

“It is humbling to receive such an award,” she said. “It’s truly an honour and a time to reflect upon decades of effort — not just by me, but also by the many people who have lifted me up, supported me, and supported the work.”

Dr. Unjali Malhotra with her mother. (Submitted/ Secretary to Sen. Yvonne Boyer)

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As the Medical Officer of Women’s Health for the First Nations Health Authority, Dr. Malhotra’s work includes transformative initiatives, including collaborating to ensure the feasibility and acceptability of the introduction of HPV self-collection to reduce cervical cancer rates among First Nations populations and leading the development of culturally safe consent tools aimed to prevent coerced sterilization in clinical settings. She testified on her groundbreaking work on consent processes at the Canadian Senate and informed provincial guidelines and regulations to protect patient autonomy.

A visionary in medical education, Dr. Malhotra co-founded women’s health residency programs for rural and remote providers at both the University of Manitoba and the University of British Columbia, enhancing training for physicians serving outside of urban centers. Her tenure as Medical Director at Options for Sexual Health saw the oversight of 60 clinics and the launch of innovative programs, such as affordable HPV vaccinations and public campaigns like “Heart Your Parts,” promoting body positivity and health awareness.

Dr. Malhotra’s dedication to the service of women’s health has earned her numerous accolades, including the National Reproductive Health Award, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Western Regional Award, and recognition as one of Canada’s 50 Most Inspiring Indo-Canadians.

She’s currently working in Kelowna, and is working on a project for Indigenous students with the Department of Education.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @princealbertnow