A celebration by family doctors, for family doctors

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)’s annual Family Medicine Forum, better known as FMF, is just around the corner. The premier national family medicine event takes place from November 5 to 8, 2025, in Winnipeg, Man, and is packed with content for just about everyone. Last year, FMF completed a consultation process as part of an ongoing business quality improvement initiative. Future options for the event were then presented to the CFPC Board of Directors for consideration. After considerable deliberation, the CFPC Board of Directors decided FMF should strive to celebrate family medicine through an exceptional continuing professional development (CPD) event. What does this mean for members of the CFPC?

About 20 years ago, I noticed that speakers at typical family medicine CPD events were rarely family physicians. I offered this observation to Dr Doug Klein, who worked at the University of Alberta’s CPD office in Edmonton. He thought the observation was likely accurate, but concluded there was no research to support this. As a result, Dr Klein, I, and our colleagues completed a study confirming only 1 in 6 presenters at Canadian family medicine conferences were family doctors.¹ About a decade later, I was advocating for family medicine presenters in CPD and Jennifer Campbell, Director of Conferences and Events at the CFPC who also oversees FMF, pointed out that FMF was already there: FMF is “by family doctors, for family doctors.”

I’ve attended more than half of the FMFs since my graduation. I’ve presented research, received an award, given a number of talks including a keynote speech, competed in a Dangerous Ideas Soapbox session, attended various discussions, and—of course—enjoyed the host cities with friends and colleagues. I’ve spent my career advocating for family medicine in medical schools, residency, CPD, research, and leadership, but it was not until FMF 2024 when I was the CFPC’s Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer that the CFPC Board of Directors’ celebration of the event hit home. It was an honour to be on the convocation stage to place the hoods on new members and other honourees, some of whom I have known and respected throughout their careers. As individuals took the stage and had their names read out loud, the audience applauded and cheered. As a graduate crossed the stage to receive the hood, I asked if he had family with him, to which he replied, “No.” As I put the hood on him I said, “You do now.” I may have teared up a bit, but as a man older than 50, I would swear it was allergies!

FMF is a great learning event and a wonderful celebration of family medicine. It has been a regular part of my year each year and helped strengthen my attachment to family medicine. I hope you can join us this year to learn and celebrate together.

Notes

Spotlight

Dr Samantha Harper is a rural generalist family physician in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL, home of Memorial University’s Northern Newfoundland and Labrador family medicine (NorFam) residency stream. A NorFam preceptor and graduate herself, Dr Harper was drawn to rural practice—whether it’s an air ambulance medical evacuation to a remote coastal community, or a call to labour and delivery for an impending birth, no 2 days are the same. Outside of work, Dr Harper enjoys participating in multi-day adventure races in wild locations and is working to obtain her Yachtmaster certification so she can solo sail around the beautiful coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador.

• Copyright © 2025 the College of Family Physicians of Canada