Chair's Message

Although July 1st marks the start of the year for our residents, it’s September when the academic year gets into full swing. Time has flown by, and it’s hard to believe we are already at the end of October. For the first Department newsletter of the 2022-23 year, I want to review some of the exciting things that happened in September, as well as highlight some upcoming events not to miss.

With pandemic restrictions easing, we have been able to return to hosting some in-person events. The McWhinney Lecture re-launched after a two-year hiatus. On September 21st we welcomed Dr. Lawrence Loh, the outgoing Medical Officer of Health, Region of Peel and incoming Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the College of Family Physicians of Canada as our keynote speaker. He indulged attendees in a fireside chat about the future of Family Medicine and delivered the McWhinney Lecture titled “Food for thought; feeding the medical soul: COVID-19 pandemic lessons and reflections.” While re-visiting some of the key learnings he took away from the pandemic, Dr. Loh linked many of his ideas back to the work and principles of Dr. McWhinney and the work we all do every day as Family Physicians.

It was also an extremely exciting time for our Graduate Studies Program as we were, once again, able to host the two-week onsite portion of the course work. Delivered in a hybrid fashion, from September 19 to 30, the Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine building was filled with energy as family physicians from across the world connected and learned together.

Within Undergraduate Medical Education, things are off to a fast start as the Longitudinal Clinical Elective for Meds 2025 has launched. From October 2022 until January 2023, these second-year students will have the opportunity to observe six half-days with family physicians across the region. This is an extremely important clinical experience that gives students early exposure to a career in Family Medicine. Thank you to everyone who is participating, and we look forward to your ongoing involvement when the first-year class (Meds 2026) are placed for their six half-days from January – May 2023.

Continuing Medical Education for practicing physicians is also a key activity of the Department of Family Medicine with monthly, CFPC accredited, Grand Rounds taking place the first Wednesday of each month. Grand Rounds are currently available virtually, but we hope to transition to hybrid delivery at some point this year. In September, we welcomed the dynamic duo of Drs. Summer and Payne for a COVID update. October Rounds featured Dr. Jaky Kueper who presented on “Preparing for a positive future with artificial intelligence in Ontario primary care.”

Upcoming Grand Rounds include:

  • November 2: An Overview of Symptom Management in Patients with End Stage Renal Disease presented by Dr. Kathleen Milne
  • December 7: Contemporary approaches to the initiation of Suboxone and Sublocade for the treatment of opioid use disorder presented by Dr. Adam Rocker

If you do not receive the invitations to Grand Rounds, please contact sheena.blasing@sjhc.london.on.ca to be added to our mailing list.

Although there are many other noteworthy activities to mention, the final one I would like to highlight is a special Palliative Care Grand Rounds occurring on Thursday, November 3, 8:30-9:30 a.m. On that day we are pleased to welcome Dr. Eduardo Bruera, from Texas, as the 2021 RCSPC Balfour M. Mount Visiting Professor in Palliative Medicine to present “The Changing Face of Palliative Care:  Moving from End-of-Life Care to Early Integration.” If you are interested in attending, please contact jenn.verhoeven@sjhc.london.on.ca to receive the ZOOM link.

Lasty, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the work you are doing as family physicians every day. The pandemic journey has been extremely trying, and this fall and winter will continue to bring new challenges. Please take advantage of opportunities to connect with others, ask how they are doing, and lend a listening ear.

Are there topics you would like to read about? Send suggestions anytime. smckay28@uwo.ca.