The CFPC welcomes its new President, Dr Marie-Dominique Beaulieu

Dr Marie-Dominique Beaulieu of Montreal, Que, a dedicated family physician and primary care researcher, was welcomed as the 59th President of the CFPC at the installation ceremony on November 16, 2012, during the annual Family Medicine Forum held this year in Toronto, Ont.

As a young woman growing up in Quebec city, Que, Marie-Dominique always knew that a family medicine career was the right choice for her. She has always enjoyed connecting with people on various levels and knew that a career as a family doctor would allow her to foster such relationships.

Marie-Dominique completed her medical degree and family medicine residency at Laval University in Quebec. In 1978, she received her Certification in Family Medicine from the CFPC and trained as a research fellow at McGill’s Kellogg Centre for Advanced Studies in Primary Care in Montreal. She completed her master’s degree in epidemiology at Laval in 1982. In 1990, she became a Fellow of the CFPC.

Marie-Dominique practises comprehensive family medicine at the Clinique de médecine familiale Notre-Dame du Centre de santé et de services sociaux Jeanne-Mance, a family medicine group. Her career spans 34 years. She enjoys the variety of care that she provides for her patients and the special relationships that she has made over the years with her patients and colleagues.

Among numerous leadership roles with the University of Montreal, Marie-Dominique serves as Professor for the Department of Family Medicine. From 2004 to 2008, she served as Visiting Professor at the Centre of General Medicine with l’Université catholique de Louvain in Brussels, Belgium.

Marie-Dominique has a special interest in primary care research and is affiliated with the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre. She is currently working on several research grant projects including one on the support and deployment of nurse practitioners in Quebec, and one on the effects of depression on self-care capacity in patients with diabetes. Her research focuses on the implementation of primary care reform in Quebec and, specifically, on the development of family medicine groups and interventions to foster high-quality care. Since 2010, Marie-Dominique has served with the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux. She has also been involved in the development of clinical practice guidelines and policies at the national and provincial levels.

Marie-Dominique has enjoyed many roles with the CFPC throughout her career that have enhanced her first-hand knowledge and experience of the College, its programs, and its services. She became a member of the CFPC’s National Executive Committee in 2010 and filled the roles of Honorary Secretary-Treasurer followed by President-Elect and Chair of the Board. She is currently a member of the CFPC’s Finance and Audit Committee, the Governance Advisory Committee, and the Collaborative Action Committee on Intra-professionalism.

During her term as President, Marie-Dominique looks forward to continuing her involvement with the Executive Committee and to contributing to the key initiatives that are important to the CFPC, as well as the health care system and those it serves. Among others, these initiatives include the new Triple C curriculum, the Section of Family Physicians with Special Interests or Focused Practices, and initiatives that support patient-centred care, such as the Patient’s Medical Home.

“I believe that it’s important to include the patient perspective in the College’s efforts to enhance health care in Canada,” explains Marie-Dominique. “It will help us achieve our vision for a more patient-centred system and give Canadians a voice in their health care and treatment options. Allowing patients to be more involved in the decision-making process will foster positive doctor-patient partnerships and subsequently build a stronger health care system.”

In 2005, Marie-Dominique was acknowledged as the Family Physician of the Year for the province of Quebec by the Collège québécois des médecins de famille, and received the national Reg L. Perkin Award from the CFPC.

Outside of work, Marie-Dominique enjoys outdoor activities with her husband, Laurier Boucher. She plays tennis and goes cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and cycling. She and Laurier travel to Japan to visit her youngest stepson, Frédéric, and his wife, Yuko. Marie-Dominique also enjoys reading and spending time at the family’s country house in Charlevoix, Que, with her other stepsons, François and Luc, as well as her godson, Samuel.