Undergraduate Report
Meet Dr. Silvia Orsini
The Department of Family Medicine would like to welcome Dr. Silvia Orsini to the role of Clerkship and Electives Director.
Born and raised in London, Ontario, Dr. Orsini attended Western University for undergraduate education before obtaining her MD degree in Ottawa, and completing her Family Medicine residency, with a third year in Obstetrics, in Toronto.
Following, she moved back to London with her husband and began a family. In 2005, Dr. Orsini opened her practice with two fellow physicians on a regular, fee for service model. Over the years the practice has transitioned to FHG, FHO, and then FHT, part of the London Family Health Team.
Early on in her practice, Dr. Orsini was involved in medical education as a CCFP examiner, aiding with medical school interviews, and teaching small group learning.
“I’ve always had an interest in teaching,” said Dr. Orsini. “Especially having completed a third year, and family medicine residency. I was used to students, the regular progression.”
While raising three children and practicing full-time, Dr. Orsini got involved with the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), leaving little time for teaching.
After seeing older family physicians, and how hard they were working, and reading about what people thought physicians were doing, Dr. Orsini felt compelled to get engaged.
“I felt like the folks at the OMA didn’t know what it was like to be a female family physician,” said Dr. Orsini. “I don’t practice the same as men, and, at that time, it felt like it was all men making the decisions.”
That dynamic sparked Dr. Orsini’s interest in leadership and she became determined to bring women and medicine together. For five years she organized a local London event which brought together a significant group of female family physicians.
An early adopter of the EMR, Dr. Orsini’s experience propelled her to start speaking up. To get her voice heard. To get involved.
She applied for a physician leadership program through the OMA.
“I learned a lot,” said Dr. Orsini. “I then felt compelled to give back to the OMA. They invested in me, and it pushed me further to work for them. I do want to make things better for family physicians.”
Which led to her role as Board Director of the Physician Services committee, working bi lateral with the ministry of health, enforcing, and overseeing the implementation of the agreement. She was Board Director for three years.
Ultimately, patient care is what inspires Dr. Orsini.
“Making things better for my patients, whatever I can do to make things better for them, is important to me,” said Dr. Orsini.
She believes that the relationship between physicians around patients is very important.
“Fostering our relationships within our community is huge,” said Dr. Orsini. “When you are trying to sort out problems, discourse is way better. It feels like you can get to a solution or resolution quicker. If I pick up the phone and call a physician directly I get a better outcome for my patient.”
Having come full circle, Dr. Orsini is looking to reconnect with the local community, and she believes it’s best to do that through teaching, and new grads.
“I’d like to pass on what will help them succeed, and their patients,” said Dr. Orsini.
Dr. Orsini has always been passionate about physicians and making things better for each other. Post pandemic, and in the current fractured environment, she is looking to bring people back together.
“It’s just a natural fit,” said Dr. Orsini in regards to taking on her new role. “With the OMA term ending, my interest in teaching, and having the time available now. My practice is busy enough, I have bits of time scooped out so I can teach and do leadership/administrative work.”
As she embarks on this new role, Dr. Orsini would like the third year clerkship rotation to be a very positive experience. She believes students can learn a lot and need to be exposed to what family doctors do, the breadth of the information they are responsible for, the type of patients they are dealing with, and the tools or resources they must work with.
“The good, the bad, and the ugly,” said Dr. Orsini. “I want the students to come through and get a sense of the breadth and the challenges we face and take that with them when they are dealing with family doctors in the future.”
If she catches herself introducing herself as “just a family doctor” Dr. Orsini remembers, “to some of my patients, I’m a very important person in their life."
Dr. Orsini sees herself as a bit of an outsider, a problem solver, eager to get to work.
Today Dr. Orsini lives in London with her husband, a lawyer in the city, and their three children, 14, 16, and 18 years old, who are involved in competitive sports.
“I’m doing a lot of driving, and watching a lot of basketball,” said Dr. Orsini. “I play soccer and am into cross fit now.”
Dr. Orsini feels she is coming on the other side of the working mother.
“I can see the light through the trees. We’re both busy, it’s been a lot of juggling over the years.”
