Zielke gets King Charles Medal for contributions to health

By Lethbridge Herald on June 3, 2025.

Al Beeber
Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge cardiologist Dr. Sayeh Zielke has been honoured with a King Charles III Coronation medal.

The award was presented to Zielke “in recognition of significant contributions to enhancing assisted living services, improving the  quality of life for many individuals and fostering positive change in her community. In her care for patients, her support for community  initiatives and her dedication to life-saving health care, Dr. Zielke  exemplifies the values of excellence and service.”

The award was presented to her recently by Jason Nixon, Alberta  Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services.

In an Instagram post, Zielke wrote “this recognition means so much to me but it’s not something I’m achieving alone. I’m grateful beyond words for my family, team, colleagues, staff, mentors and the amazing community who have supported me throughout this journey….

“I’ll carry this moment with me always and I’ll continue doing the  work with the same heart that got me here,” the doctor wrote.

Zielke established her practice here in 2013 when she and husband Dale decided to make Lethbridge their home.

Zielke has led efforts to convince the Alberta government to build a cardiac care centre in the city, and in January she was tapped by the provincial government to chair the committee to establish Assisted Living Alberta.

The new agency, which became an official entity on April 1, is to  provide Albertans with access to a comprehensive system of continuing  care with a range of wraparound services including medical and non-medical supports, home care and social services. Also on that transition committee are Robin James, the Chief Administrative Officer  of Lethbridge Housing Authority, and Dr. David Stewart of Family Medical Centre here.

Since coming to Lethbridge in 2013, Zielke has been committed to not only improving service but lowering the mortality rate from heart  disease in southern Alberta.

While heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Canada, it’s the leading cause in southern Alberta with death from all cardiac issues being 26.6 per cent higher here than in the rest of the  province. There is also a 15.5 per cent higher risk factor of heart attack in southern Alberta compared to the rest of the province. In addition, the death rate in southern Alberta for diseases of the  circulatory system is 35.2 per cent.

About 1,300 local patients have to travel to Calgary to get interventional cardiology support and treatment. Zielke told The  Herald last fall it’s her mission to improve cardiac services for the entire South Zone of AHS.

“It’s been my whole mission – this is the hill I’m trying to die on –  to try to improve the care for our community by providing access to interventional cardiology, more resources, hiring more cardiologists  and basically developing the best, most excellent cardiac services for the entire South Zone, not just Lethbridge.”

In early April, the government announced that the 2025 provincial budget has $5 million to advance plans for enhanced cardiac and  intensive care services, including the cardiac catheterization lab at Chinook Regional Hospital and expanded intensive care units here and in Medicine Hat.”

The government accelerated the timeline for the cath lab last fall by one year and the 2025 budget includes funding for detailed planning to  prepare it for construction funding in a future budget.