Dear colleagues,
As we near the end of 2024, I’ve been reflecting on the amazing work that’s been done by the DFCM community this year. From collaborating with patients more deeply in all our departmental work, to harnessing AI to reduce administrative burden in family practices, to expanding the geographic range of our education programs into even more communities that need us, we’ve spent 2024 doing amazing things, and we should all be proud—of ourselves and of each other.
Our provincial and national conversations have also moved significantly as the importance of family medicine hits the front pages and commitments to address our challenges become increasingly specific. Much of this is thanks to the incredible dedication and persistence of the academic family medicine community—which includes you. I feel strongly that as we turn the page on 2024, we are moving increasingly from a narrative of crisis to a narrative of hope, which is a welcome shift.
Nevertheless, looking forward to 2025, there will still be much to do. I’m grateful to be working alongside the world’s best in the field (you) to achieve our shared vision of “outstanding primary care for all, powered by world-leading research, education and innovation.” Whether you contributed this year by inspiring a medical student in your office to consider a career in family medicine, reviewing residency applications, contributing to quality improvement or research projects, sitting on a committee, or any of the other thousands of ways that our learners and faculty participate in our work, thank you. And happy holidays!