Member dedication, passion highlight of presidency

Mike Green

doi:10.46747/cfp.7010669

What I loved most about my time as CFPC President was talking to members and discovering their passion for family medicine. Despite facing challenges in practices and within health systems, they truly love being family doctors and are committed to their communities and making the practice of family medicine sustainable. I was not surprised by this dedication, and I loved constantly hearing about members’ commitment, regardless of where they lived.

As my role as CFPC President ends, I thank members for the opportunity to help lead the CFPC through this transition year. As mentioned in my first President’s Message in December 2023,¹ priorities identified at the CFPC’s Annual Meeting of Members in November 2023 defined my term. By the end of my term in October 2024, I will have visited every Chapter, rebuilding relationships with staff and members. The Chapters do an incredible job engaging provincial governments and advocating for the practice of family medicine. They are equal partners in our commitment to improving family medicine in Canada.

The CFPC is also working to improve its relationship with francophone members by creating an inclusive and supportive professional home. In July 2024, Dr Leonora Lalla was named CFPC Deputy Chief Executive Officer.² Dr Lalla is committed to ensuring “our Quebec Chapter and our French-speaking members across Canada are fully supported.”² The CFPC also relaunched the French Language Working Group.

Members told the CFPC transparency, engagement, and communication are important. The CFPC has done much work over the past year to fulfill this request. Dr Michael Allan became the new CFPC Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer in May 2024. He recently introduced Mike Drop, a short column on the CFPC website where he will update members on College issues. This year, the CFPC opted to implement short-to-medium-term strategic priorities for the next 3 years, with the intention of creating a new long-term strategic plan after the ongoing governance review is complete.

The CFPC is also advocating for the practice of family medicine as a whole, including calling for fair remuneration for members. So far, there are new provincial agreements for family physicians in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.³ The CFPC continues to advocate for decreased administrative burden, including eliminating completion of federal forms.⁴

Amid ongoing activities at the CFPC, it is still important to ensure Canadians understand the crucial role family doctors play in our health care system. Family doctors are unique, providing comprehensive and compassionate care to Canadians at all stages of their lives. It is this role for which the CFPC will continue to advocate, ensuring members are acknowledged for what they do for the health and well-being of Canadians while being fairly compensated and maintaining work-life balance, which includes collaboration in team-based care.

I would like to acknowledge the CFPC’s President-Elect, Dr Carrie Bernard, who will be officially installed as CFPC President at Family Medicine Forum in November 2024. Dr Bernard is committed to the CFPC and its members. She recently took a 3-week French immersion course to prepare for her presidency and has decades of experience as a comprehensive family doctor and researcher. Please join me in welcoming Dr Bernard to her new role!