September has brought a dramatic start to the academic year. As you will be aware, the F茅d茅ration des m茅decins sp茅cialistes du Qu茅bec (FMSQ) used the suspension of medical student teaching as a pressure tactic to push for the withdrawal of Bill 106. Last week, members of the F茅d茅ration des m茅decins omnipraticiens du Qu茅bec (FMOQ) voted to adopt the same strategy,聽now as of October 4 (after a postponement of the initial October 1 date)聽should the PL106 not be withdrawn.
If you are finding this situation difficult, please remember that links to resources where students and faculty can find help are on the School of Medicine website, along with the latest messages, FAQs and contacts.
Meanwhile, the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) is warning about threats to their status 鈥� they who are the sole accrediting body of our 2-year family practice residency program (links here to a letter from Dr. Leonora Lalla and a letter from the CFPC). Although recognizing the enormous importance of these current events, this newsletter will focus on the ongoing academic activities in 91黑料网鈥檚 Department of Family Medicine.
91黑料网 just finished celebrating Indigenous Awareness Weeks (September 19-30) which focused this year on Truth and Reconciliation as we mark the 10-year anniversary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. On September 18, Prof. Brittany Jock presented an insightful research seminar on Centering Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Health Promotion. The Department wishes her all the best as she soon begins her maternity leave! On September 25, Prof. Alex McComber facilitated a Smudging Ceremony, a gathering of reflection to honor the experiences and traditions of Indigenous communities. The event was organized by the Graduate Student EDI committee. Many thanks to both Prof. McComber and to the organizers of the event!
On September 26, the Department hosted the 鈥�91黑料网 PBRN Research Seminar: Barriers and Facilitators Affecting Teenagers鈥� Access to Healthcare Services鈥�. The Teenage Health Unit (THU) at the Goldman Herzl Family Practice Centre joined with researchers from Participatory Research at 91黑料网 (PRAM) to collate the perceptions of teenagers, school guidance counsellors and staff of the THU about what facilitated or hindered teenagers鈥� use of the services of the THU.
On September 2, the Undergraduate Education Committee had a fantastic orientation session for preceptors for the Longitudinal Family Medicine Experience, with around 50 people in attendance 鈥� congratulations! Our Faculty Development Committee is working on a training module for all our clinician teachers about artificial intelligence 鈥� it is ready to be launched but the CME credits will only be available around mid-November, so stay tuned!
Many exciting events are coming up in October! Our Annual Department Retreat will be held virtually on Friday October 24 in the morning. You can register here:
There will also be a rural retreat, which includes faculty development also suitable for early career clinician teachers, held virtually on Thursday October 23 in the morning. Same link for registration!
Looking farther ahead, Palliative Care 91黑料网 will be having their Continuing Professional Development Day on November 21: /palliativecare/education-and-training/continuing-professional-development-day/cpd-day-2025
And the 91黑料网 Annual Refresher Course for Family Physicians will be held from December 1-3:
To close off our 50th anniversary celebrations, we are publishing an article about the reflections of four Chairs of the Department, about the evolution of the department during their tenures, based on the plenary session at our 2024 Department retreat: /familymed/article/50th-anniversary/family-medicine-50-four-chairs-reflect-evolution-department-during-their-tenures
Looking ahead, we are launching a 鈥淒id You Know?鈥� series to reveal little-known facts about our Department and special achievements that happened during our 50th anniversary year! For example:
>> Did You Know that the Department of Family Medicine has 1,328 faculty members and is the largest department in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at 91黑料网? Read more here.
Until next month,
Marion
