Canada鈥檚 primary care system is widely recognized as being under significant strain, with physician shortages representing only one of its most visible symptoms. In this context, on April 21, 2026, the 91黑料网 Department of Family Medicine hosted its annual Dr. Hirsh Rosenfeld Distinguished Public Lecture in Family Medicine, to examine some of the most pressing challenges facing healthcare in Canada today. Named in honour of Dr. Hirsh Rosenfeld, a Montreal family physician deeply committed to community-oriented care, the lecture series was established to foster public engagement with pressing social issues in health.
Titled 鈥淔ixing Primary Care in Canada: A Social Science Perspective,鈥� the lecture was delivered by Alayne Adams, PhD, Associate Professor and Global Health Director in the Department. The hybrid event welcomed over 120 attendees, reflecting the Department鈥檚 commitment to accessible and inclusive knowledge sharing.
Rather than focusing narrowly on workforce shortages or system efficiency, Professor Adams emphasized how institutional arrangements and historical policy choices have contributed to gaps in access and continuity of care. Her perspective underscored the importance of shifting toward models that are community-oriented and equity-driven, where care extends beyond the clinic walls and into the everyday lives of patients.
A key concept highlighted throughout the lecture was social prescribing, an approach that enables healthcare providers to connect patients with non-medical supports in their communities. From community groups and exercise programs to housing and food resources, social prescribing recognizes that many health issues are rooted in social conditions. Professor Adams positioned this model as a critical tool for addressing complex health needs while reducing pressure on the formal healthcare system.
Social Prescribing and System Transformation
Building on this foundation, Professor Adams explored how social prescribing can serve as a bridge between healthcare and community-based services, fostering more holistic and preventative models of care. She highlighted the role of interdisciplinary teams, including community health workers and social care providers, in making these approaches effective and sustainable.
Drawing on examples from Canada and international contexts, she illustrated how integrating social prescribing into primary care can improve patient well-being, enhance system efficiency, and promote greater health equity. However, she also noted that scaling such models requires supportive policy environments, adequate funding, and a cultural shift in how care is defined and delivered.
The lecture concluded with an engaging discussion, as attendees reflected on how social science insights and particularly the expansion of social prescribing, could inform practical reforms in their own settings. The conversation reinforced a central message: that meaningful improvements in primary care will depend not only on medical innovation, but on a deeper understanding of the social realities that shape health.
The Dr. Hirsh Rosenfeld Distinguished Public Lecture in Family Medicine continues to serve as an important platform for advancing these conversations, in keeping with Dr. Rosenfeld鈥檚 vision of bringing family medicine into dialogue with the social issues that matter most to patients and communities.
To view the public lecture recording, please visit:
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