FMF: Canada’s premier medical conference

Twelve years ago the CFPC Board decided to combine its 2 annual conferences—the springtime scientific assembly and fall’s Section of Teachers’ meeting—into a single conference called Family Medicine Forum (FMF). The goal was to create a meeting where family doctors from all over Canada would gather to learn and share their experiences and challenges as clinicians, teachers, researchers, and contributors to Canada’s health system. At that time, the annual scientific assemblies and section meetings had each been attracting 350 to 500 registrants. The first FMF, held in Ottawa, Ont, in 2000, drew 1001 delegates, and FMF has continued to grow ever since, with successful meetings in Vancouver, BC; Calgary, Alta; Winnipeg, Man; Toronto, Ont; Quebec city, Que; and Montreal, Que—where in 2011 a record 3600 physicians and 4500 total attendees came, firmly establishing FMF as one of Canada’s premier medical meetings. Based on feedback from our members and FMF attendees, the planners of each FMF dedicate themselves to putting together the best possible CME program, ensuring that attendees have the opportunity to update their knowledge and skills and to interact with colleagues from across the country.

Feedback from delegates has been overwhelmingly positive with respect to both the quality of CME sessions and the opportunity FMF provides to meet new colleagues and rekindle old friendships. It has been exciting to see increased participation by medical students, family medicine residents, and family physicians new to practice, along with allied health professionals who work with family physicians. These attendees benefit from sessions designed especially for them, as well as from interaction with the many family physicians in attendance—an interaction our members tell us they find mutually enriching.

In 2012 FMF will take place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, within walking distance of many hotels, shopping centres, and historic sites. It will be cohosted by the CFPC, the Ontario College of Family Physicians, and our Sections of Teachers and Researchers. The program will feature outstanding keynote addresses, followed by an impressive menu of general sessions and workshops. The Ontario College’s Scientific Program Planning Committee has done an outstanding job reviewing the submitted abstracts and selecting a cross section of presentations to meet the learning priorities identified by our members.

This year FMF will include early-morning networking breakfasts for members who have identified specific areas of interest and asked us to help them meet, interact with, and learn from colleagues with similar clinical and practice profiles. These members have also identified topics for FMF’s formal education sessions in palliative care, sport and exercise medicine, maternity care, GP anesthesia, pain management, addictions, respiratory medicine, emergency department and in-hospital care, mental health, global health, developmental disabilities, child and adolescent health, prison medicine, and care of the elderly. All FMF registrants may attend these sessions—they are designed for all family physicians with the goal of incorporating what is learned into comprehensive family practice. While there will always be some family physicians with careers devoted to specific areas of care in order to meet community needs, our vision is for a future in which most family physicians with special interests will include them as part of broad-scope family practice. We envision Patient’s Medical Home practices where each patient will have a personal family physician providing most care and access to other family doctors within the same practice or in the community with specific interests and skills, ensuring delivery of a comprehensive range of services. The FMF will provide opportunities each year for family doctors to meet and learn more about how they can maintain their comprehensive care practices by embracing this vision.

In 2012 FMF will also feature 40 Mainpro-C courses and general “hot topic” sessions focused on updates in a range of clinical areas. The popular demonstration theatres, featuring clinical procedures, and the humanities theatre, where family physicians share their broader social and artistic expressions, will be returning.

Every year FMF is also the focal point for Family Doctor Week in Canada, when Canadians are reminded of the important contributions made by family physicians to health care in Canada. During FMF we recognize Canada’s 10 Family Physicians of the Year, one named by each of our Chapters, for outstanding achievements in patient care, teaching, and research. Each symbolizes the excellent work being done by thousands of family physicians in rural, remote, and urban centres throughout the nation.

More FMF information is available on the CFPC website. Registration opens July 3, but it would be wise to mark your calendars and start making plans to attend now. This year will once again be an outstanding CME experience and an opportunity to interact with hundreds of other family physicians and allied health professionals. Come and join in on a celebration of the career you have chosen and the vital role you play in caring for the people of Canada.

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