Transitions

New ways of working

The College has also seen other important transitions since the pandemic began. We have been working remotely for almost 2 years now, and we are making the first steps to introduce a new way of working with a hybrid of in-person and virtual events and meetings going forward for our staff, board, and committees. I have been impressed with the College staff’s effective and nimble efforts to allow us to continue to meet virtually since the beginning of the pandemic. Although nothing can replace the feelings of connection that come with meeting in person, there are also many positives to meeting virtually that we have realized and will continue to capitalize on. A considerable reduction in air travel over the past 2 years has seen the College save (as a rough estimate) 224 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, allowing us to make considerable steps toward reducing our carbon footprint, and these reductions will be sustained into the future. Working remotely has also benefited the College from an equity lens. It opens our doors more widely for highly skilled employees to join the College even if they live beyond commuting distance or elsewhere in Canada. I expect over time for this impact to grow as the College gains experience and comfort with remote work.

Pivoting

Outside the pandemic, we are also continuing our transition away from health care and pharmaceutical industry support of continuing professional development for our members. I am proud of the board for taking a principled stand in supporting an entirely pharma-free Family Medicine Forum and Canadian Family Physician by 2024.

Another transition is generational. On the final day of Family Medicine Forum there is a tradition in the form of the Past-Presidents’ Breakfast. It is a special event where previous CFPC Presidents and Chief Executive Officers welcome the newly appointed President and share their advice and ideas for the year to come. It was an honour to have the opportunity to meet so many influential family physician colleagues at the event this year. Dr Ruth Wilson, CFPC President from 2007 to 2008, noted that my Presidency marks a distinct transition to a younger generation of family physicians. Family physicians have always been at the forefront of advocacy for their patients and their communities, and I see in my generation a renewed and urgent focus on social accountability and, in particular, advocacy related to the lack of investment by our federal and provincial governments in programs that can truly address the social determinants of health for our most in-need patients.

However, I must note the very important transitions in clinical practice that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has forced over the past 2 years, and which we as a profession should be immensely proud of achieving. Universally across the country, and in places where virtual care was previously minimal or nonexistent, you have pivoted to providing safe and effective remote and virtual care in the context of rapidly changing and very challenging constraints placed on your practices. Now, again, you are adjusting to your own “new way of working” with a hybrid of in-person and virtual care that almost none of us trained for. The College and I commend you for this critically important work, and we join you in looking at how these transitions will affect care in the future.