September 2020 | Pour accéder à la version française de ce bulletin, cliquez ici.
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Message from the Interim Chair
I hope you were able to enjoy the summer and take time to relax with family and friends in spite of COVID-19. With the start of the fall season, I have been reflecting on the big DFM family that we are and I want to thank you for all your hard work and dedication in the continued delivery of our amazing teaching and scholarly programs in Family Medicine. Please consider connecting with your colleagues by attending our Fall Faculty Development Half-Days coming up on September 24 and 25.
Moving forward, we have started on the development of the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan as we determine our Strategic Direction for the Department. As we consider our successes, I challenge us to consider what Family Medicine will look like in the next 20-30 years and ask ourselves, how can we prepare our learners for this future? I encourage you to review some of the recommendations included here in this recent white paper on primary care reform in Ontario. Feel free to share your ideas with us as we develop our strategic direction.
I'd like to thank Dr. Carol Geller, outgoing Director of Academic Support and Remediation, for her outstanding support and advocacy of our Family Medicine residents. While her time with the DFM came to an end at the end of August, her positive influence on our program will remain and we will continue to liaise with her as she continues her role as the Director of Academic Support at the Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) office.
I would also like to thank Lynn Chaaban, Communications Manager, for her hard work and support over the course of the past year. Her contributions to the Department during her temporary assignment were invaluable and she will be missed! Emma Dickinson will be returning from maternity leave on September 28, at which point she will be working closely with Lynn over the following weeks in transitioning into the role in a post-COVID era. Lynn will be returning to her permanent position at the PGME office on October 14.
Recruitment
The DFM is seeking a Program Director for our Enhanced Skills Family Practice Addiction Medicine program. The Program Director will liaise with Program Directors of other specialty services to discuss resident evaluations, curriculum development, including training opportunities and to resolve conflicts pertaining to these rotations. Interested applicants are to submit their CV and cover letter to Dr. Lindsay Bradley, Director, PGY3 Enhanced Skills for Family Practice (ESFP) at hrdfm@uottawa.ca.
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Important updates in PG
CaRMS 2021
The CaRMS working group has began brainstorming our approach to our first virtual CaRMS event. If you’d like to participate please contact Kim Rozon. We will need support from faculty, residents and staff to ensure another successful match!
Graduation Certificates
The Faculty of Medicine will be distributing graduation certificates via mail due to circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and the work from home environment. A reminder to all to keep DFM aware of any changes to your mailing address by emailing pgy2dfm@uottawa.ca so that certificates can be delivered.
New Academic Year 2020-2021
A new year is underway and we’d like to take the time to not only welcome our new residents starting their first year of training but to thank all of our residents and faculty members for adapting to the new learning environment. Virtual care has allowed us to continue to deliver safe and effective care while continuing to provide learner-centered medical education.
SOOs Practice Exam - September 24, 2020
Simulated office orals (SOOs) are being held later this month on September 24, 2020 from 8am - 12pm. This year, due to the pandemic, they will take place virtually and/or in-person depending on a resident's unit. The standardization session will take place the evening before the SOOs.
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Important updates in UG
Our undergraduate program held an interactive, online bootcamp for the upcoming medical students on August 28th. This innovative program introduced students to the varied and diverse opportunities in family medicine. Two sessions were held; one for our Francophone students and one for our Anglophone students. A special thank you to all the physicians and residents involved in this project! We would also like to welcome the incoming class of medical students.
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A special message from the Senior Leadership Team at DFM
Join us in congratulating Dr. Clare Liddy, Interim Chair of the DFM, on her recent academic promotion to Full Professor! Find below a special message from the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in recognition of her achievement.
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"Dr. Liddy, congratulations on a very well-merited promotion to Full Professor! Promotion happens when you demonstrate a focus, and international recognition of your efforts - you have accomplished that in spades and supported the work of so many others along the way. Well done! Your years of hard work, innovation, creativity, and passion have paid off. The long hours and intellectual effort that this promotion recognizes has allowed the entirety of our Department to stand even taller. You are an inspirational leader for us all at the Department and we are lucky to have you as Chair. Thank you for all your hard work and we are happy to celebrate virtually this impressive accomplishment!" |
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Apply now! DFM New Innovator Award
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Aim of Program: To support excellence in family medicine research (health services and education) with an ultimate view to improve health and-or patient care.
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Award: Up to $50,000 per year for 3 years.
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Eligibility: Holds or in the process of applying for a primary academic appointment with the uOttawa DFM at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor. Holds an advance degree (Master's or PhD) with research training or is enrolled in an advance degree program. Is not currently and has not been the recipient of DFM research support/awards in the last three years. Maintains an active clinical practice as a Family Physician.
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Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care
The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care is seeking to identify candidates for membership. Members volunteer their time and expertise for a four-year term to contribute to the development and promotion of these guidelines. Deadline: October 30, 2020
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uOttawa first university in Ontario to announce on-campus COVID-19 testing centre
The University of Ottawa will be the first Ontario university to open its own COVID-19 assessment centre dedicated to its on-campus community. The new testing centre is one of a series of measures that the University of Ottawa has taken to ensure the health and safety of its campus population as it prepares to resume on-campus academic and research activities this fall. In September, uOttawa will welcome back two thirds of its researchers, approximately 5,000 students who are enrolled in courses that have in-person learning requirements, as well as a small number of Faculty members and staff.
“Once the centre is up and running at full capacity, the hope is that the uOttawa assessment centre will also help lighten the load carried by other testing facilities in the city,” says Frémont.
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Teaching Skills Attainment Awards: Have your training as a medical educator recognized!
Why not have your training in medical education recognized through the Teaching Skills Attainment Award (TSAA) program? The TSAA application deadline is September 30, 2020. The Department of Family Medicine has many celebrated medical educators: since 2007, one quarter (32 of the 129) of TSAAs awarded in the whole Faculty of Medicine have been granted to Family Medicine faculty.
Join the ranks of skilled clinician teachers who have already received one or more TSAAs including Drs. Isabel Burnier, Safaa El Bialy, Alison Eyre, Carol Geller, Margaret Gluszynski, Martha Holt, Mary Johnston, Lara Kent, Frances Kilbertus, Katherine Lariviere, Kay Lee, Angela Laughton, Stephanie Malherbe, Susanne McKim, Alan Ng, Eoghan O’Shea, David Ponka, Parisa Rezaiefar, Sarah Rice, Millaray Sanchez-Campos, Jolanda Turley, Gary Viner, Richard Waldolf, Megan Williams, Eric Wooltorton and Deidre Young.
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Meet our new Senior Research Associate!
A warm welcome to Dr. Sara Rose Taylor who joins the DFM family as the Senior Research Associate! Dr. Sara Rose Taylor holds a PhD in Global Governance from Wilfrid Laurier University, specializing in global social governance which includes health, gender, and education. Her dissertation explored how approaches to measurement and evaluation are used to govern global social policy. She also holds in MA in Economics from Queen’s University. Before joining the Bruyère Research Institute, Dr. Rose Taylor was the Principal Researcher and Policy Analyst at the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) for Tobacco Control. Her work at FCA included writing the World Health Organization’s Guide to reporting on the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in Voluntary National Reviews, among other projects.
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New BJGP Open publication!
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CFPC webinar on Courageous Conversations: Shining a light on racism in medical education
The CFPC webinar on Courageous Conversations: Shining a light on racism in medical education is now available and free to steam!
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Faces of Health Care, Interview with LaRon
By: Healthy Debate
“It’s useful to ask people to think about the implications of saying, ‘I am not discriminating against anybody so I don’t have a role in this.’ People must see that they are being complicit in a system that privileges whiteness and criminalizes blackness and indigenous people.”
Racism in the health care system is not new, and yet it is still shocking to hear the experiences of certain health care professionals. Healthy Debate ran a two-part interview with LaRon, a public health nurse practitioner and researcher working in Canada, the United States and Africa. With his experience as a Black man in different health care industries, he shares his take on racism and health care.
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Faculty Wellness Program
It’s okay to ask for help. In these unprecedented times, the Faculty Wellness Program (FWP) remains committed to the well-being of our Faculty. Free confidential counselling sessions remain available via video conferencing or tele conferencing. See what the FWP can offer you. Contact wellness@uOttawa.ca to schedule an appointment with our Professional Counsellor.
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Heather Woods and Dr. Wooltorton make podcast greatness
Director of Faculty Development, Dr. Eric Wooltorton, was the guest on Heather Woods' podcast Sel in Action. They discussed the social and emotional skills that physicians, educators, and students are leveraging during their practice.
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City still on knifes edge as expert warns of
Covid hospital surge
By: Ottawa Citizen
"Dr. Doug Manuel and his team make projections for the COVID-19 outbreak in Ottawa where, he likes to say, we are still living on the knife’s edge. And the numbers from last week, absolutely, cut pretty deep. Modelling led by the epidemiologist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute predicts the city would need 600 hospital beds in December to care for patients suffering from the novel coronavirus."
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Weighing Children in School: No Good Can Come of It
By: Medscape
“The United Kingdom's National Obesity Forum has apparently decided that returning to school this fall in the middle of a pandemic isn't stressful enough for kids, and is recommending that its National Child Measurement Programme be expanded to have 4- to 5-year-old and 10- to 11-year-old children weighed when they return to the classroom — and then weighed again in the spring — in a bid to tackle COVID-related gains. Dr. Yoni Freedhoff shares his thoughts on the matter.”
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Biking fundraiser zooms in on isolated seniors
By: uOttawa
Ride to Connect started out in June as a grassroots fundraiser where seven uOttawa medical school friends decided to collectively bike the distance across Canada to raise money to help seniors combat social isolation during COVID-19.
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We’re proud of our docs!
Here at the Department of Family Medicine, we love to recognize our own successes, but we love it even more when the public sees how amazing our staff and doctors truly are!
Dr. Farhad Motamedi got a shoutout last week by Stuntman Stu who has over 10.5K followers on social media! We love that families love our doctors as much as we do! Let's continue to lead by example in the community and uphold the quality of service we know we can provide.
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How COVID-19 is impacting the health of kids in Canada
By: The Loop
COVID-19 has brought on many trials and tribulations in our communities and families these past couple months. At the heart of these communities, the health and safety of children has always been the main priority. Dr. Yoni Freedhoff discusses symptoms, transmission, and the effect on mental health for children during the era of COVID-19.
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Live-Stream Webinar: The COVID-19 Pivot: Approaches to the global pandemic from an international perspective
Held on May 21st, this live-stream webinar gathered physicians from three different countries to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in their area and on their clinical practices. Hosted by DFM faculty member, Dr. David Ponka, Director at the Besrour Centre for Global Family Medicine, it included guests from the United States, Spain and India. Listen to the webinar now!
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#TIFM
We are proud to share with you the launch of the This is Family Medicine (TIFM) medical student-led campaign, in collaboration with the DFM and the uOttawa Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG)! The TIFM objective is to redefine the perception of Family Medicine by acknowledging its importance and celebrating the contributions made by family physicians. Reach out to thisisfamilymedicine@gmail.com to share your achievements and/or experiences as a trainee or current family physician. List of topics of interest.
About: This is Family Medicine (TIFM) is an online campaign aimed at shifting the attitude towards Family Medicine amongst healthcare professionals and the general public. The TIFM campaign is spearheaded by Adam Payne and Emily Seale, medical students at the University of Ottawa and Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) executives, who created this platform to “redefine the perception of Family Medicine by acknowledging its importance and celebrating the diverse contributions family physicians have made.” This student-led initiative is presented in collaboration with The University of Ottawa’s FMIG and Department of Family Medicine.
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Who are we looking for? The TIFM team is looking for physicians, medical trainees, and patients who are interested in sharing their personal achievements, experiences, or opinions towards family medicine. Possible topics of interest include: current attitudes towards FM, patient interactions, scope of practice, multidisciplinary teams, access to care, and much more.
How to get involved: If you are interested in getting involved, please contact us at thisisfamilymedicine@gmail.com to share your achievements and/or experiences as a trainee or current family physician.
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Congratulations on the recent publication!
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Rolston: Not all of us carry the same privileges during the COVID-19 pandemic
By: Asiya Rolston for the Ottawa Citizen
"Before Canada closed its borders in March, I was on a trip to my home country, Pakistan. The safety and comfort of Canada when I returned made me feel very grateful but also guilty, as I knew that the difference between what I had, and what someone else didn’t, was just a matter of luck.
As I settled into my quarantine, I was struck by the daily barrage of fear and worries in my social circle and beyond. Many who had great jobs and secure living were extremely fearful. Surely the risk, I thought, was not going to be the same for everyone..."
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The inaugural Family Medicine Grand Rounds series will take place on September 24 from 8:00am to 9:00am. The recipients of the 2020 DFM Innovator Award will be leading this session ( Dr. Kheira Jolin-Dahel, Dr. Courtney Maskerine, Dr. Daniel Myran,Dr. Parisa Rezaiefar and Dr. Jatinderpreet Singh). |
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Annual Meeting of Members, Installation of OCFP President and Recognition of Family Physician of the Year
The OCFP's 58th Annual Meeting of Members will be held Friday September 25, 2020 as a virtual meeting via Zoom Webinar. Following the AMM, Dr. Elizabeth Muggah will be installed as OCFP President and the OCFP will recognize the 2020 Reg L. Perkin Ontario Family Physician of the Year recipient. Registration is required by September 22.
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Book wins 2021 SSTAR Consumer Book Award
Join us on congratulating Dr. Peggy Kleinplatz on her new book Magnificent Sex: Lessons from Extraordinary Lovers (Kleinplatz & Ménard, 2020), which has won her the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR) Consumer Book Award for 2021. This book, representing 15 years of research by the uOttawa Optimal Sexual Experiences Research Team, chronicles her translation research from the study of fulfilled, long-term couples to helping couples in therapy, distressed by low-no sexual desire/frequency, to enhance their sexual relations substantially. The award will be presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research in Tampa in 2021 (COVID permitting). Congratulations!
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The Small Research Grants Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived. Amount: $50,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. Application deadline: November 3, 2020.
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Management of Chronic Pain in 2020
The Faculty's Office of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) are proud to present Management of Chronic Pain in 2020, a virtual 1-day course on Monday, September 21, designed to provide family physicians and other primary health care professionals with relevant and up-to-date information about management of chronic pain.
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RSC Nomination Period Now Open
In order to establish the foundation for multiple initiatives, the Royal Society of Canada elects Fellows and Members while also making awards to highlight specific exceptional achievements. The nomination period for the 2021 cohort of RSC Members - New Fellows and Members of the RSC College - is now open, and it will remain open until December 1st, 2020, at 5:00 pm.
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For an updated guide with information about nominating someone to be a a Fellow of the RSC, click here.
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To nominate someone to be a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, click here
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For an updated guide with information about nominating someone to be a Member of the RSC College, click here.
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To nominate someone to be a member of the RSC College, click here.
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Back to school experts
By: CBC
"Both of Ottawa's english school boards have revealed some of their back-to-school plans for September. Parents now have to decide on whether to send their kids back to school, or opt for remote learning. As part of our panel of health and education experts, Dr. Doug Manuel is an epidemiologist. He will help you make the best decision when it comes to what kind of education you will choose for your kid during this upcoming COVID school year."
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Medical students volunteer to deliver groceries, prescriptions to isolated individuals
By: CTV News
"A group of medical and other university students is delivering more than diagnoses during this pandemic. They are volunteering their time to deliver groceries and prescriptions to those who are unable to get those things themselves. Many who are elderly or those who are immunocompromised are staying home, but they still need groceries."
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6 Tips for Teaching Online and In Person Simultaneously
In this article, authors Amy E. Crook and Travis W. Crook outline six strategies to promote meaningful engagement for online students while at the same time providing a rich in-person learning environment. Fundamentally, professors can take one of two approaches with their distanced students: they can simulate the in-person experience or differentiate online engagement.
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COVID Performers: Students put on virtual concerts for seniors
By: uOttawa
Loneliness and isolation are two of the devastating side-effects of the pandemic, with seniors and people living with physical or mental health issues being particularly affected. To combat this, two medical students started COVID Performers, an initiative which pairs volunteer student musicians with long-term care homes, palliative care facilities, mental health centres, and other healthcare institutions across Canada, so they can perform virtually for individuals or small groups.
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Dr. Sharon Johnston is leading a study to develop and teach a virtual concussion exam for family physicians. She will recruit 15 family physicians to learn the exam and trial it with their patients. If you are interested in participating in this research study, please contact: elegace@cheo.on.ca.
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Students support local families facing hardships heightened by COVID
By: uOttawa
When the COVID-19 pandemic sent Jenny Daccache and her fellow University of Ottawa MD classmates home from their hospital clerkships in March, many felt driven to pitch in to support the community through the crisis...
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Physician Health and Wellness in the time of COVID-19: the Canadian Medical Association’s initiatives and future direction
On September 24, 2020 at 12:00pm, the Office on Continuing Professional Development has invited Dr. Caroline Gérin-Lajoie, Executive Vice-president, Physician Wellness and Medical Culture, Canadian Medical Association, to host a webinar on Physician Health and Wellness in the time of COVID-19: the Canadian Medical Association’s initiatives and future direction. Join us to discuss wellness services available on campus and resources within the community, understand the principles of ‘recognize, response, refer’ and initiate changes in your local departments or divisions that will promote a healthier working environment.
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Share your story!
Learners, faculty and staff: Do you have a story of success, a tale of recovery or any other experience you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you!
As our learners, professors, clinicians, researchers and investigators, you wear many hats and represent several institutions. A gentle reminder to mention your affiliation with us when speaking with the media to facilitate us picking up your media mention. It brings us much pride to advertise your great work and support of the FM community!
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Thursday, September 24: SOO Exam
Thursday, September 24: Family Medicine Grand Rounds
Thursday, September 24: Faculty Development Half-Day (new faculty orientation)
Friday, September 25: Faculty Development Half-Day
Friday, October 2: Academic Day
Saturday, October 3: Mini RIO Day
Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4
Faculty of Medicine Homecoming Weekend and 75th Anniversary celebration gala
Monday, October 12: DFM office closed (Thanksgiving)
Thursday, October 22: Family Medicine Grand Rounds
Thursday, October 29: Faculty of Medicine Virtual Awards Ceremony
Friday, November 13: DFM Job Fair
Thursday, November 26: Family Medicine Grand Rounds
Friday, November 27: Academic Day
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Wednesday, December 23 to Friday, January 1: DFM office closed (Holiday break)
Friday, January 8: Academic Day
Thursday, January 28: Family Medicine Grand Rounds
Friday, February 5: Academic Day
Monday, February 15: DFM office closed (Family Day)
Thursday, February 25: SOO Exam
Thursday, February 25: Family Medicine Grand Rounds
Saturday April 17 to Tuesday, April 20: CCME
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Read more for updates from the Undergraduate Program, Postgraduate Program and Faculty Development.
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DFM job board
Visit our website for part-time and full-time positions available for physicians at external and affiliated clinics, as well as locum opportunities in Ottawa and across Canada.
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