Finding my way

Family practice is hard and, if you are reading this, you probably already know that. While I have had the honour of working at the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) for 4 years, I am also a practising family physician in Montréal, Que. There’s no easy way of saying it: It’s been rough. My patients’ problems have become more complex over the years while resources have become scarcer. Administrative work buries me. At a time in my life when I thought I might be able to slow down a bit, I’m working more than ever. Sound familiar? And then came the forced adoption of Quebec’s Bill 2.¹ I spend too much time scrolling social media and reading the heartbreaking stories of my colleagues in this province, feeling their pain and frustration.

When Dr Mike Allan, Chief Executive Officer of the CFPC, asked if I wanted to contribute an article to Canadian Family Physician, I said yes immediately but, as the days drifted by, I was surprised that inspiration wasn’t coming to me. What was I going to write about when I was feeling empty? But something interesting happened when I recently attended Family Medicine Forum (FMF). I came into the conference feeling discouraged and disconnected. However, over the next 4 days, my outlook changed: Keynote speakers spoke about issues that touched my heart: unity, hope, connection, and healing. As attendees, we wore blue ribbons as a symbol of support for Quebec physicians. Tears were shed. Strangers told me they were sorry for what we were experiencing in my province, offering smiles and encouragement.

As the conference went on, I found myself thinking about my professional life not with frustration, but with gratitude, something I thought I had lost. I thought about the people who have accompanied me along the way: my amazing colleagues, both in the clinic and at the CFPC, who have provided advice, laughter, and hugs; our trainees, who bring enthusiasm and fresh perspectives; my family, who have been my personal cheer squad and lifeline; and, of course, my patients, who have given me the privilege of being in their lives.

I could continue looking at the state of our profession with sadness and frustration. We all go there from time to time. But FMF reminded me that my colleagues are my extended family, and the CFPC is not just my employer, but my true professional home. None of us are alone. While things may be tough at times, I know one thing for certain: As family doctors, we love what we do, and we will find our way.

Notes

Spotlight

Dr Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, a physician and medical educator, was appointed to the Senate in 2018, representing the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).

Senator Ravalia was born and raised in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) before immigrating to Canada in 1984 to practise family medicine in Twillingate, NL.

His passion for teaching led to an appointment at Memorial University, enhancing a distributed medical education program for the province, and committees’ work with the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Medical Council of Canada.

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