Celebrating the achievements of DFCM faculty, staff and learners

Each year, the Department of Family and Community Medicine gathers to celebrate the achievements of DFCM faculty, staff and learners who have made exceptional contributions to family medicine in clinical care, education and research.

Normally, this is an opportunity to meet, mingle and share DFCM stories. While the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us convening in the same room, 118 DFCM faculty, staff, friends and family members tuned in to mark the occasion over Zoom.

The event was a chance to welcome new faculty and acknowledge those whose contributions have been recognized through Program Awards, DFCM Awards of Excellence, External Awards and academic promotion. It was also an opportunity to hear from our newest full professors, Drs. Joyce Nyhof-Young, Rick Penciner and Joshua Tepper. And of course, Dr. Warren Rubenstein, our Academic Family Physician of the Year.

These talks were candid reflections on their personal journeys, from eager young clinicians to experienced leaders. All reiterated that these journeys are rarely linear and never happen in isolation. In fact, all highlighted the importance of a strong and varied support network as the foundation for success.

• Watch the 2020 DFCM Virtual Celebration Event

The event also honoured DFCM colleagues with over 35 years of service*. Individuals that have seen, and contributed to, many of the developments that have moved this Department to the forefront of academic family medicine.

While these awards celebrate the great work that has happened over the past year, the event also recognized the ongoing hard work and dedication to family medicine shown by all DFCM faculty in these unprecedented times.

“The DFCM Celebration Event is always a special evening, but this year felt particularly important,” says Interim Chair Dr. David Tannenbaum. “Despite joining through screens, the opportunity to connect, hear from inspirational speakers and applaud the incredible work happening in our Department was a much-needed reprise from the day-to-day challenges we are all facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. I would like to thank all of those who spoke, nominated award recipients and attended for making the event so special.”

The nomination deadline for 2021 DFCM Awards of Excellence is February 15. An overview of all DFCM and external awards is available on the DFCM website.

DFCM Virtual Celebration Event Recording

*Since the event it has been brought to our attention that the 35+ years of service slide is incomplete. We do our best to ensure accuracy but there may be omissions resulting from database issues. An updated list is currently being verified. If you haven’t already done so, please let dfcm.promotion@utoronto.ca know if your name is omitted.