May 2020 | Pour accéder à la version française de ce bulletin, cliquez ici .
Message from the Interim Chair
As we enter the third month of the 'new normal', I sincerely want to thank you for your continued efforts in supporting your peers, your patients and your department. I continue to be impressed by your passion and continued contribution during these unprecedented times.
This month, we shared with you the launch of the  DFM Strong awareness campaign. Whether we are in the midst of a global pandemic or not,  you are our leaders  in Family Medicine. You deliver excellent education, innovative research and strong advocacy in support of high quality sustainable primary care.

We celebrated all of you on May 19 for World Family Doctor Day. We acknowledge your contributions to keeping our communities healthy especially during these times.
 We are the DFM family, we are #DFMstrong .
I am also proud of our talented team for taking the opportunity to think outside of the box as it relates to virtual learning. We  hosted an introductory DFM Innovations in MedEd webinar with faculty members, residents, medical students and faculty peers earlier this month ( summary and recording). If you have some spare time and wish to join a workgroup, I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to contact me directly at chairdfm@uottawa.ca.

As we prepare to welcome new faculty members to our ranks, we are planning tools like orientation checklists, mentorship supports and faculty development. We want to better connect new faculty to what they might need and want. Faculty members, kindly complete this brief  bilingual survey and tell us:  what do YOU wish you were told when you first started here? We are particularly interested in hearing the  voices of faculty members who started in the last 5 years. Share your voice and help us make this a successful transition for all our new clinicians, teachers, researchers, administrators and faculty members!

Lastly, the Dean invites you to attend the President’s virtual town hall on June 2, an occasion that uOttawa leaders have devoted solely to the Faculty of Medicine. Take advantage of this golden opportunity to discuss anything that is on your mind with President Frémont and the University VPs. All faculty, learners and staff are welcome to register!

We wish those who are celebrating a Happy Eid Mubarak on May 23!
Important updates in PG

CaRMS 2021
Next year’s CaRMS timelines have changed. This will mean that instead of conducting interviews at the end of January, interviews will be held in March. In addition, they will all be conducted virtually, including those for local candidates. The AFMC has released the match timeline for the 2021-R1 Match:

  • Last Day of the Application Period: February 7, 2021
  • File Review Period: February 8 to March 5, 2021
  • Virtual Interview Period: March 8 to March 28, 2021
  • Second Iteration Match Day being no later than: May 18, 2021

The DFM will be working on remote ways to ensure scheduling and interviewing processes to enable a successful match for 2021.

Resident Orientation
On July 1 2020, we will welcome 73 incoming PGY1s virtually. The DFM Resident Orientation will take place on June 29, and the PGME Resident Orientation (all departments) on June 30.

Electives
Electives are back on! PGME is allowing for electives both in and out of the Ottawa region.

Notice from CPSO
After much collaboration and advocating on behalf of our residents, the College will issue a restricted certificate to any 2020 final year resident who has finished their training and is exam eligible. Although these certificates require supervision, the application process has been modified to accurately reflect the lower level of supervision required. Thank you to all who participated in addressing the unique needs of this group!

CFPC Funding
The CFPC is looking at the possibility of providing funding for 2021 graduates, if additional training is needed. This would apply for scenarios where residents have met their competencies, but may feel as if more confidence could be attained in certain areas.

17th Annual Pediatric Emergency Medicine Conference
This virtual conference highlights the latest trends in the practice of pediatric emergency medicine in urban and rural settings. Course Content and Registration
Do you have a project that you need help with?

DFM faculty members: Do you have a project that you need help with? Do you have a lit review you would like to see get done? This is your opportunity to seek assistance from our residents!

In planning for the new cohort of residents joining us on July 1st,  our research team is updating the list of potential and existing Family Medicine Resident Scholarly Project (FMRSP) scholarly and research projects opportunities. If you have a project that would welcome a resident, please send the name of the project, a two sentence description and the name of the contact person to  sfmartel@uottawa.ca  by June 5, 2020.

The list will be shared on Brightspace with all residents to help them select their FMRSP topic.
Important updates in UG

First and second year medical students will complete their classes in a few weeks. We are wishing them all a wonderful summer!

Our third year medical students have started doing their academic training last week. We want to thank our DFM physicians who are involved in giving some of the lectures. We are hoping that students will restart in clinic in July. If you are interested in having students at that time, please communicate with Donna Williams at ugfmclerk@uottawa.ca .

Congratulations to our fourth year medical students who were supposed to celebrate their graduation on May 15th! A virtual graduation ceremony will take place in June. We are pleased to have m any of them choosing to become family physicians as a career! Good luck to all students!
Membership Applications for Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care - Deadline Extension

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline to submit applications for membership with the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (CTFPHC)   has been extended to   June 30, 2020  (this date could fall under review). Please see the attached document for more information. Questions?  ctfphc.admin@mcgill.ca .
Do you want to play a game?

Are you bored? Need something to do? Is the monotony of working from home getting to you? The endless commute from bedroom to den and back, with pitstops in the kitchen, racking up dozens if not hundreds of steps per week, and wearing out your slippers? The vacation destinations of Puerto Backyardas or Living Las Living Room no longer have that excitement factor? Do you know how to operate a TV remote? Are you a mobile phone game playing wizard? Have you read a book? Well if you have answered yes to any of these questions, you are the expert we are looking for .

Join the DFM Innovations in MedEd working group to find out how we can leverage technology to improve teaching in a fun and serious way – think Star Trek and Star Wars.
The working groups will each perform needs and gaps analysis to determine where best to deploy new technologies and improve the learning experience. In order for these working groups to be successful and deliver outcomes, we need YOU!
PGME Professionalism Subcommittee

The PGME office is seeking a CCFP certified faculty member to sit on the Professionalism Subcommittee for a three year membership, renewable once. Applicants are asked to send their CV to pgmecom@uottawa.ca.
Introducing the new Faculty of Medicine Assistant Dean Social Accountability

The DFM's  Dr. Claire Kendall has been appointed Assistant Dean of Social Accountability at the Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Kendall will be coordinating and supporting initiatives across the Faculty by working closely with our affiliated hospitals and other partners. Join us in congratulating Dr. Kendall on her new appointment!
Trouble obtaining PPE?

Community-based family physicians may be having issues obtaining PPE. To improve your access to PPE supply information, Ontario Health East launched a centralized East Region PPE Information Hub webpage. Click below to access your local LHIN urgent supply request form:

Interview with PARO Clinical Teaching Award Recipient Dr. Jason Leclair

Dr. Jason Leclair has a primary care practice at the Central Ottawa Family Medicine Associates and is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa. Dr. Leclair has a community family medicine resident at his office and is a co-director of the Family Medicine Inpatient Teaching Services at The Ottawa Hospital. He also practices ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy at the Dr. Beaupré Vein Clinic and is a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Phlebology. He completed his BSc, medical school, and residency training all at the University of Ottawa. His main interests include medical education, hospital metrics, and evidence-based practices in sclerotherapy.
Death rates at for-profit nursing homes significantly higher than non-profits

By: QP Briefing

"People are dying in Ontario's for-profit long-term care homes at a "significantly higher" rate than those that are run as non-profits, a health advocacy group has found. A review of provincial statistics by QP Briefing found the same. The results mirror several international studies that find poorer health outcomes, on average, in for-profit facilities in Ontario and around the world... “ This is a result that’s been shown fairly consistently," said  Dr. Peter Tanuseputro , a University of Ottawa professor and seniors' care expert who co-authored the 2015 study on Ontario homes."
DFM is seeking candidates for 3 full time academic physician positions

As the successful candidate, your outstanding academic record and unique skill set, which may include expertise in scholarship, patient care, obstetrics, research and leadership, will enrich our fully accredited Postgraduate program.

Qualified applicants must hold a current CCFP certification, valid CMPA coverage and be eligible for licensure in Ontario. Bilingualism is an asset.

Submit your CV and cover letter by to Dr. Clare Liddy at  hrdfm@uottawa.ca. We will continue accepting applications until the positions are filled.
Unique Aspects of Cardiovascular Health in Women Webinar

On  Thursday May 28, 2020, between 12:00 and 1:00 pm, the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Faculty of Medicine will welcome Dr. Thais Coutinho, Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine who will be presenting on unique aspects of cardiovascular health in women.
Community Journal Club done virtually!

A special thank you to Dr. Nina Nguyen, PGY1 resident, for successfully leading the first virtual community Journal Club on May 6. We had great attendance and wide representation from community residents and staff, and current and incoming PGY3 residents!

Dr. Nguyen led a lively and informative discussion on screening for depression in primary care while considering the harms and benefits of screening, feasibility of screening, and possible strategies in primary care to facilitate screening and subsequent follow up measures using Canadian and American guidelines. We look forward to engaging in more EBM discussions in the near future and welcoming our incoming PGY1s!
Study paints grim picture of Canada's care-home mortality rates

By: Ottawa Citizen

"The study — titled Mortality associated with COVID-19 outbreaks in care homes: early international evidence — shows that 62 per cent of Canada’s COVID-19 deaths have occurred in long-term care or retirement homes, slightly more than in Norway and Ireland, which each registered 60 per cent of their deaths in care homes. Of the countries surveyed that had recorded at least 100 COVID-19 deaths, Hungary had the lowest rate, at 19 per cent.

One reason for that is the measures Hong Kong took after its experience in the 2003 SARS outbreak, said  Dr. Amy Hsu , one of the report’s authors and an Investigator at Ottawa’s Bruyère Research Institute."
DFM staff update

Join us in welcoming Renelle Trepanier in her new position as the Montfort Unit Coordinator! We have successfully recruited Kaishu Wang , our new CO-OP student, to fill the role of Finance Officer and help Victoria out over the summer.

We are currently recruiting for the Business and IT Coordinator as the position remains unfilled.

Join us in welcoming Ireen Savoy from the uOttawa Work-Study Program! She will be joining our team as the Communications Intern this summer. We want to acknowledge Yasmine Robinson 's great work this winter term. We wish her the best in her CO-OP placement with Health Canada this summer.
Why we care: saving family practice in the community

An opinion piece by  Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth for the OMA.
Update your electronic signature block

Join us in  adding this bilingual logo  to your electronic  signature blocks (template)  and share it within your teams! For those of you who are interested, you are more than welcome to use the DFM Strong  Facebook profile picture frame  in the language of your choice ( English  or  French ).

We are the DFM family, we are #DFMstrong.
BEaTS Research Radio podcast feature

In case you missed it, our faculty member, Dr. Doug Manuel, shared his thoughts on public health in times of COVID-19 on the BEaTS Research Radio podcast!
Reality check: Experts caution against early research on nicotine and COVID-19

By: Q107

While there’s some weight in looking at the relationship between these cell receptors, it’s all just a guess right now, said  Andrew Pipe  of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, the leading Canadian expert on smoking cessation...
COVID-19 ushering in a digital health revolution: Ottawa-area doctor

By: Ottawa Matters

Health providers and patients are in the midst of a digital health revolution. The adaptations and lessons we are learning in real time will help shape the future of health care for all Canadians. Even after this crisis has eased, there is no doubt that health care will be permanently changed, and very likely for the better... Dr. Wally Archibald  says, "Even after this crisis has eased, there is no doubt that health care will be permanently changed, and very likely for the better."
New interim Faculty Affairs Director

We'd like to welcome  Dr. Bill Hogg, our  new interim Faculty Affairs Director, who will be supporting faculty members with the promotion process. Dr. Hogg is currently a Full Professor and the Senior Research Advisor at the Department of Family Medicine. For questions regarding the promotion process, please contact fadfm@uottawa.ca .
New book suggests intense connection, extraordinary communication among most important factors

By: CBC News

Dana Menard joined Windsor Morning host Tony Doucette by phone to discuss her new book Magnificent Sex: Lessons from Extraordinary Lovers, co-authored by University of Ottawa professor Peggy Kleinplatz .
We may be past the COVID-19 peak — but we'll still see more cases

By: CBC News

"I do believe we're in the post-peak period … when it comes to community-based infections," Dr. Vera Etches told reporters... Dr. Doug Manuel , an epidemiologist and data scientist at The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, led the city's COVID-19 modelling. He's urging his colleagues in the medical world for more timely and widespread use of hospitalization data to study the spread of COVID-19... But Manuel says even current hospital statistics should be delved into more deeply.
Congratulations to Dr. Claire Kendall!

Join us in congratulating  Dr. Claire Kendall, recipient of the  2020 Canadian Association for HIV Research (CAHR) and Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) Excellence in Research Award in the Epidemiology-Public Health track. The Excellence in Research Awards program highlights and celebrates the contributions of Canadian researchers in HIV/AIDS research in Canada and internationally and reflects Claire’s leadership on the Advancing Primary Care for Persons Living with HIV team.

Special kudos to  Ron Rosenes, a community scholar on the research team, who has made enormous contributions to this stream. His lifetime of contributions to HIV advocacy and contributions to various research teams including LHIV have earned him the prestigious  CAHR Red Ribbon Award. Congratulations to both!
The quest for better sleep continues with innovators dreaming up smarter slumber solutions
By: You Are Unltd

Without adequate caregiver support in place at home,  Dr. Frank Knoefel  was never happy discharging older people following major surgeries. At the same time, he noted how technology that allowed people to smart wire their homes remotely was on the rise, and got to thinking, “Why not take this technology and have a sociologically appropriate use for it?”
Why a flatter curve does not mean we’ve won the COVID-19 battle

By: CBC News

This column is an opinion by  James Downar , Maxwell Smith and Ross Upshur. Downar is head of the Division of Palliative Care at the University of Ottawa, and a critical care physician at The Ottawa Hospital.
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!
Kudos to Dr. Celeste Fung!

We'd like to recognize our faculty member and Medical Director of the St. Patrick's Home of Ottawa,  Dr. Celeste Fung, for her recent  feature in the Solving Healthcare podcast . She was invited to discuss the challenges of nursing home patients, especially during a global pandemic. She emphasized the strain on staff COVID-19 has had on long-term care, and how redeployment and virtual consults could have a significant impact on the care of nursing home patients.

Dr. Fung's passion for long-term care ignited when she completed an elective in long-term care as a family medicine resident at uOttawa. We love to see our alumni and now DFM members grow in their field of expertise! Thank you, Dr. Fung, for your enormous efforts in educating our community and leading these important discussions.
First virtual "Meet the Doctor" meeting

Last week, the My Ottawa Maternity Medical Associates (MOMMA) successfully hosted its first virtual  "Meet the Doctor" webinar! Several of  our faculty membersprovided family-centered maternity care and answered questions. Kudos to our resident,  Dr. Rebecca Warmington, whom prepared slides to educate patients about having a baby at TOH in the time of COVID-19.
Coronavirus scams: Simple steps to become savvy against online and email predators

Worldwide, there is a significant surge in email scams linked to COVID-19 and corona virus. For example, emails that seem to be from renowned organizations or health authorities with convincing subject lines about cures, safety tips or fundraising efforts are sometimes actually malicious, with links and attachments that contain malware.
Read more for updates from the Undergraduate Program, Postgraduate Program and Faculty Development.
Did you read our first issue of INNOVATION? We hope you enjoyed it -  Please share your feedback. All issues will be posted to our website.
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. 
For details on each event, please access the Virtual Campus . 

Wednesday, May 27: uOttawa President Town Hall

Thursday, May 28: Research Grand Rounds

Thursday, May 28: Faculty's Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Webinar on  Cardiovascular Health in Women

Thursday, June 4: RIO Day

Monday, June 15: Deadline NAPCRG Mid-Career Researcher Award


Tuesday, June 30: Deadline Faculty of Medicine Awards of Excellence

Monday, June 29: DFM Resident Orientation (virtual)

Tuesday, June 30: PGME Resident Orientation (virtual)

Wednesday, September 30: Deadline Teaching Skill Attainment Awards (TSAA)

Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4
Faculty of Medicine Homecoming Weekend and 75th Anniversary celebration gala

Monday, February 15, 2021: