Spring is the favourite time of year for many, with the promise of summer looming, associated with sunny and restful days! Today is also our Department’s Academic Day, a special event to close our 50th anniversary celebrations and combining presentations by our residents, our graduate students and our Practice-Based Research Network!
This week I co-authored an Op-ed in La Presse with 10 other directors of university departments and family medicine residency programs in Quebec, in response to the government’s PL106. We are protesting the disastrous effects that the PL 106 would have on family medicine education in Quebec and are highlighting our clinician teachers’ essential role in the healthcare system. .
The spring hosts multiple festive events to honour the work we have done this academic year! Some of the exciting events that took place over the past month include:
1. The Dr. Hirsh Rosenfeld Distinguished Public Lecture in Family Medicine, given by Dr. Isabelle Leblanc. Read more.
2. Palliative Care Week from May 4-10, with a fun-filled bowling night!
3. Our Undergraduate Medical Education thank you event in the Department on May 20.
4. A Faculty Development Event at the new GMF-U at the Lakeshore General Hospital on May 23.
5. The Family Medicine Resident Graduation Ceremony on May 29. Photos to follow next month.
6. Spring Convocation on May 27: congratulations to our graduate students!
7. Two students from Campus Outaouais were on Radio-Canada as part of the World Family Doctor Day. .
8. An Asian Heritage celebration organized by the EDI committee in our Graduate Studies Program on May 22.
As usual, many people this month received awards:
- Dr. Douglass Dalton received the Excellence Award from the Quebec College of Family Physicians.
- Dr. Alexis Ricard former resident from Val d’Or won the Nadine St. Pierre Award from the Quebec College of Family Physicians.
- Dr. Dominique Archambault won the Dr. Jean-Paul Gendron award from l'Association des médecins omnipraticiens du sud-ouest du Québec.
In the final selection of our 50th anniversary Family Medicine Heroes, Founding Members Edition, I am delighted to honour the following people:
- Dr. Ellen Rosenberg: Advancing Equity in Primary Care Communication
- Dr. Michael Malus: Champion of Adolescent Mental Health
I hope you have enjoyed the tributes to our Department members over this year!
I would like to highlight these events coming up in June for your interest:
- The Faculty Honour List for Education Excellence on June 12 at which the Department will have two members receiving awards: Dr. Douglass Dalton and Dr. Catherine Jarvis. The individuals names to the Honour List will be celebrated at the Faculty Honour List Symposium from 4-5.30pm, followed by a wine and cheese cocktail reception.
- The FMER-PRAM Crossroad Panel Discussions: Shared Decision-Making in Family Medicine Education and Practice: Register here.
- The Opening Ceremony of the GMF-U in Val d’Or on June 5.
I look forward to celebrating our amazing Department with many of you at these occasions!
Finally, the is conducting a survey, in partnership with the Canadian Medical Association, to find out what Canadians think about their experiences of primary care and what needs to be improved. Help us gather the views of as many people as possible via this survey link:
Very warmly as always,
Marion
