BestPractice
A CANADIAN MEDICAL FOUNDATION PUBLICATION
AUTUMN 2014
Canadian Physician Health Institute Raises Awareness of the
Health and Well-being Challenges Facing Physicians Today
International Conference on Physician Health
The International Conference on
Physician Health (ICPH) took
place in London, England from
September 15 to 17, 2014.
There was a strong Canadian
presence at this conference, which
is co-hosted by the American
Medical Association (AMA),
Canadian Medical Association
(CMA) and British Medical
Association (BMA). Registrants
from Canada made up more than
25 per cent of the delegates!
Opening remarks were provided
by Dr. Robert Wah, president of
the AMA; Ilora Finlay, Baroness
Finlay of Llandaff, professor of
palliative medicine and president
of the BMA; and Dr. Chris
Simpson, president of the CMA.
In his remarks, Dr. Simpson
highlighted the efforts of the
Canadian Physician Health
Institute (CPHI) to advance
physician health and well-being:
“As the president of the CMA, one
of my top priorities is to foster the
well-being of Canada’s medical
profession. CMA’s continued
support and commitment to the
profession is clearly identified in
its 2015-2017 Strategic Plan to
“improve physician health and
well-being.”
In 2012, the Canadian Physician
Health Institute, a national
program governed by the CMA,
the Canadian Medical Foundation
and Canada’s provincial and
territorial medical associations,
was created.
The institute works to promote
physician health and wellness and
takes a pan-Canadian approach to
offer equitable access to physician
health services for all physicians,
regardless of their location or what
stage they’ve reached in their career.”
~ Dr. Chris Simpson, International
Conference on Physician Health, 2014
Canadian researchers gave
several presentations on topics
related to physician health and
well-being. The Canadian
contributions included an
overview of the evolution of
the CPHI.
The Canadian Medical
Foundation sponsored the
welcome reception, which
featured a film encouraging
social discussion of the health
challenges we all face – including
physicians – as we age.
This meeting was the 23rd such
conference since the series began
in 1975, and the second hosted
by the BMA. This year’s theme
was Milestones and Transitions
– Maintaining the Balance.
The next International
Conference on Physician Health
will be held in Boston in 2016. Q
The Canadian Medical Foundation’s
General Council Draw Winner!
The Canadian Medical Foundation (CMF) is pleased to announce
that Dr. Anna Reid is the winner of our draw at General Council.
Delegates were able to enter this draw by visiting our booth at
General Council and filling out a ballot.
Dr. Reid received two round-trip vouchers for travel anywhere
Porter Airlines flies!
These tickets were generously donated for this
draw by Porter Airlines. Q
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Canadian Medical Foundation’s Ninth Annual Signature Golf Tournament
Raises More Than $350,000 for Charitable Programs
The Canadian Medical
Foundation (CMF) is pleased
to announce that more than
$350,000 was raised for our
charitable programs at the
2014 Annual Signature Golf
Tournament!
Over the past nine years ,with
the help of partners like MD
Physician Services, CMF is
proud to have raised more
than $2 million through this
must-attend charitable event,
making it one of the most
successful events of its kind in
North America.
Funds raised at this tournament
will go toward our charitable
programs to provide much-
needed funding in areas such as
physician health and well-being
initiatives, bursaries for medical
students, and physicians’
philanthropic, research and
medical outreach priorities.
The weather was more
cooperative for this year as a full
field of guests enjoyed a delicious
lunch and dinner and a full
round of golf. Other activities
included the Subaru Hole-in-One
and a silent auction hosted by
DreamWorld Events.
Prizes were awarded for Men’s
and Ladies’ Longest Drive and
Closest to the Pin, as well at
Top Foursome and Most Honest
Foursome.
CMF extends a sincere thank you
to each of our sponsors and
donors who helped to make this
year’s tournament such a success.
As well, special thanks to our
presenting sponsor: Franklin
Templeton Institutional.
Thank you to our 9th Annual Signature Golf Tournament Sponsors!
CMF also extends sincere thanks
to the MD Physician Services
golf committee and volunteers
who continue to help make the
CMF’s Annual Signature Golf
Tournament a yearly success. Q
The Canadian Medical
Foundation at
General Council
The Canadian Medical Foundation
(CMF) was pleased to take part in
General Council 2014!
During General Council 2014, CMF
was especially busy connecting with
physicians from across Canada and
engaging in meaningful discussions about
how CMF can support physicians from
coast to coast to coast! We connected with
physicians from across Canada through
the following activities:
medicalfoundation.ca
t
our CME-accredited education session
focusing on physician burnout and
compassion fatigue
t
our luncheon which featured an expert
speaker who shared techniques for
managing challenging workplaces
t
our information booth which
highlighted how we are supporting
physicians across Canada
t
our breakfast for spouses and
companions; and also
t
our participation in Walk the Doc to
promote physician health! Q
North/South Doctors’ Golf Tournament Raises
Over $64,000 for Medical Student Bursaries!
Physicians Tee Off in Support of Alberta’s Next Generation of Physicians
Physicians, medical students, residents and
community leaders from across Alberta hit the
links July 28 at the Red Deer Golf and Country
Club for the 87th Annual North/South
Doctors’ Golf Tournament.
The Canadian Medical
Foundation Welcomes
New Trustees to our Board
The Canadian Medical Foundation (CMF)
is pleased to announce that Dr. Ruth
Collins-Nakai has been elected to a second
term as Chair of the CMF Board of Trustees.
The CMF is also pleased to welcome the
following new Trustees to our Board:
This long-running tournament, co-hosted by
the Canadian Medical Foundation, the College
of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta and
Alberta Medical Association, raises funds for
Alberta medical student bursaries and
physician health programs.
t Dr. Jane Brooks
t Dr. William Cunningham
t Dr. John Gray
t Major Anna Grodecki
t Dr. Hugh Scully
Golfers enjoyed 18 holes of golf, a buffet
breakfast, BBQ lunch, a silent auction and
many draw prizes.
These new Trustees join the following
Trustees whom are continuing their terms:
Congratulations to the skill and draw prize
winners, and thank you to everyone who
participated.
A special thank you to all tournament
sponsors for their generous support, including: The Canadian Medical Foundation (CMF)
provides funding for medical students in need
Presenting sponsor: TD Insurance Meloche
through bursaries and scholarships, as part of
Monnex
our efforts to support the health and wellBirdie sponsors: Sun Life Financial and
being of physicians across Canada at every
MD Physician Services
stage of their careers. For more information
about how the CMF is supporting Canadian
Par sponsors: Pivitol Research, Alberta
physicians, please visit our website:
Blue Cross, Mardon Group Insurance,
www.medicalfoundation.ca. Q
Bennett Jones and McLennan Ross
t Dr. Manon Charbonneau
t Dr. Ruth Collins-Nakai (Chair)
t Mr. Michael Gormley
t Ms. Michelle Masson
t Dr. Amit Monga, PhD
t Mr. Jean Schnob
t Mr. Tim Smith
t Dr. Ian Warrack
Biographies for our Trustees are
available on our website:
www.medicalfoundation.ca. Q
The Canadian Medical Foundation’s General Council 2014 Education Session
“Beyond Self-Care: Physician Burnout and Compassion Fatigue – What Works?”
At General Council 2014,
the Canadian Medical
Foundation’s education
session focused on
physician burnout and
compassion fatigue.
Compassion fatigue expert
Françoise Mathieu spoke
to physicians about the
risks they face, the cost to
their own health and
well-being, the cost to the
health care system, and
strategies for coping with
burnout and compassion
fatigue.
Attendees raved about the
value of the session and
many made a note to
attend next year’s as well.
Dr. Alika Lafontaine, an
anesthesiologist in Alberta,
was one of the attendees.
Françoise Mathieu,
speaker at the CMF education session
“One of the reasons why I
came is I’d like some advice
with how to deal with it.
We’re all trying to balance,
trying to take care of
ourselves,” he said.
“I think it’s an issue that
affects all physicians.”
medicalfoundation.ca
tion.ca
Dr. Lafontaine noted it is not uncommon for
physicians to just keep working, working,
working until they eventually break.
“Sometimes we feel like we need to be stronger
than we actually are,” he said. “You let things go
on and on without reaching for help.”
Physician health and well-being is the CMF’s
top strategic priority and the focus of many
of our initiatives. To learn more about
these initiatives please visit our website:
www.medicalfoundation.ca. Q
The Canadian Medical
Foundation Supports the
John McCrae Statue Project
Canadian Medical
Foundation Continues to
Support Medical Students
The Canadian Medical Foundation (CMF) was
pleased to join the Canadian Medical Association
(CMA) in supporting the John McCrae Statue
Project by making a contribution to this initiative
during a presentation to General Tom Lawson at
General Council 2014.
The CMF is pleased to help honour one of
Canada’s most well-known military physicians.
About the John McCrae Statue Project
The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, in
partnership with the Royal Canadian Medical
Service, has created the John McCrae Statue
Project to honour Major John McCrae, who served
as Second-in-Command and as Brigade Surgeon,
1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery
in World War I.
In honour of Major John McCrae, a statue will be
placed in Ottawa, Ontario. Q
The Canadian Medical Foundation
(CMF) is pleased to announce a
grant has been made in the
amount of $60.000 to Indspire.
The grant is part of our ongoing
program to fund bursaries for
deserving and under-advantaged
Indigenous students wishing to
pursue a medical education.
The CMF is proud of every
Indspire bursary and scholarship
recipient and encourages them
on their path to be true leaders in
the development of Aboriginal
health in Canada. To learn more
about our program, which
provides financial aid for medical
students, visit our website:
www.medicalfoundation.ca.
Indspire is a national charity that
is dedicated to raising funds that
deliver programs and provide the
necessary tools for Indigenous
peoples, especially youth, to
achieve their potential. Q
Join the Canadian Medical Foundation on Social Media!
Please take a moment to explore our new
and revitalized social media accounts and let
us know what you think:
We look forward to connecting with you on
social media to share how our volunteer-led,
physician-directed efforts are:
tmaking a difference in the health and
well-being of physicians across Canada;
tproviding financial aid for deserving
medical students;
Did You Know?
tOne out of every 10 physicians will become
dependent on psychoactive drugs or alcohol.
t6QUP50% of physicians report anxiety,
sleeplessness or depression (significantly
higher than in other professions).
Source: Primary Prevention Resources and Programs for Physicians in
Canada. Mary Colbourn-Smith, June 2010.
t1IZTJDJBOCVSOPVUJO$BOBEBJTFTUJNBUFEUP
cost the health care system hundreds of
millions of dollars annually.
Source: An Estimate of the Cost of Burnout on Early Retirement and
Reduction in Clinical Hours of Practicing Physicians in Canada. Carolyn S.
Dewa, Philip Jacobs, Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Desmond Loong, 2014.
You Can Support Your Physician Colleagues
In Need, Right Now!
100% of your donation to the Canadian
Medical Foundation supports physicians in
need throughout every stage of their career, in
every part of Canada.
Donate Today!
About Indspire
The Canadian Medical Foundation (CMF)
is pleased to announce that we are now live
on social media!
Physician Health and Well-Being
in Canada
tenabling valuable medical research;
tproviding medical outreach; and
tsupporting physicians’ philanthropic
initiatives.
All of which we believe makes for a stronger
health care system for Canadians from coast
to coast to coast.
We Also Look Forward to Hearing From You
How do you see are our charitable efforts
benefiting the physician community and the
healthcare system? How are you involved
with the Canadian Medical Foundation? Q
Please Help
Online: medicalfoundation.ca
Phone: 1.866.530.4979
Mail: Fill out this form and mail to:
Canadian Medical Foundation
1870 Alta Vista Dr., Ottawa, ON K1G 6R7
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CMF/05/13 Charitable Registration #: 119219327RR0001
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