Chair's Message
Welcome to summer. I can barely believe we are already a week into July. After a very busy June that saw our Department host several culminating events for the academic year, the Department of Family Medicine and its staff and faculty are right back to the hard work of training and teaching our new residents.
June saw our annual Resident Project Day – the opportunity for our graduating residents to present their research and quality improvement projects they have been working on for the past two years. We held our Graduation ceremony to celebrate our resident physicians who have completed their training, as well as the residents and faculty who won Departmental awards. Congratulations on everyone’s success. We also hosted in-person Departmental and Faculty Development meetings with staff and faculty and were able to enjoy some social time over breakfast and/or lunch.
I have such admiration and gratitude for everyone involved with the Department of Family Medicine and those who participate in training the next generation of physicians who will look after the rest of us aging folks. My address at resident Graduation reflected on many of the “thank yous” I have, and I wanted to share some of it with everyone:
“Firstly, thank you to the staff of the department of family medicine. Not only have they spent hours organizing our celebration tonight, they work day-in and day-out to organize clinical rotations, arrange academic half-days, support your resident projects, as well as countless other tasks that support the department faculty and all our learners. Thank you.
Secondly, thank you to the faculty who have spent the past few years teaching and mentoring you on what it takes, and what it means, to be a family physician. They have given you their time, shared their wisdom, and role modelled the joys and challenges of family medicine. Thank you.
Thirdly – thank you to the families, spouses, partners, children, and friends of our graduates tonight who have been supporting this group of remarkable new family physicians throughout their journey to reach this milestone in their medical career. Please know your unwavering support, encouragement, patience, and love have been essential to their success.
Lastly – thank you to our graduates. I am filled with immense pride and admiration tonight. Thank you for choosing a career in family medicine. The journey to becoming a family medicine physician is both a challenging and rewarding path. It requires not only a deep well of knowledge and technical skill but also a profound sense of empathy, resilience, and a genuine commitment to the well-being of your patients.
Your role in the healthcare system is pivotal. As family medicine physicians, you are often the first point of contact for patients. You are the ones who listen to their concerns, who build lasting relationships with them and their families, and who guide them through the complexities of the healthcare system. You are advocates, educators, and, above all, healers.
As you step into this next phase of your career, I encourage you to hold on to the values that have brought you to this moment. Continue to strive for excellence in clinical care. Stay curious and committed to lifelong learning. Medicine is an ever-evolving field, and your dedication to staying abreast of the latest advancements will not only benefit your patients but will also keep your passion for medicine alive.
Remember that excellence in clinical care is not just about learning and mastering the latest technologies or treatments. It is about seeing each patient as a whole person, understanding their unique circumstances, and tailoring your care to meet their individual needs. It is about practicing with humility, recognizing the limits of your knowledge, and seeking help when needed. It is about being a compassionate presence in moments of fear and uncertainty, offering not just medical expertise but also comfort and reassurance.
The impact you will have as family medicine physicians cannot be overstated. You have the power to make a profound difference in the lives of your patients and their communities. Your work will be filled with moments of great joy and fulfillment, as well as moments of challenge and heartache. Through it all, remember why you chose this path. Remember the patients whose lives you have touched during your training. Let their stories inspire you and remind you of the profound privilege it is to be a physician.
Despite all the noise about the crisis in health care, and particularly the crisis in family medicine, the future of healthcare is bright because of you. The communities you will serve are fortunate to have you. As you embark on this next chapter, know that you have the ability to make a lasting difference.”
I hope some of those words to our graduates will ring true with seasoned physicians as well. They did for me.
Wishing everyone a happy and safe summer. Please be sure to take some valuable downtime with family or friends.
As always, never hesitate to reach out to me at smckay28@uwo.ca with comments, questions, or concerns.
