DFCM Faculty, Residents and Alumni Recognized by the Ontario College of Family Physicians

The Ontario College of Family Physicians (OFCP) has recognized University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) residents, faculty members and alumni for excellence in family medicine with Regional Family Physician of the Year and Resident of the Year awards. The announcements come during Family Doctor Week in Canada, which runs from November 12-17, and is an opportunity to acknowledge the vital work family physicians do to help keep Ontarians healthy. This includes working in primary care, hospitals, home and community care, long-term care and public health, as well as in research and academia.

Regional Family Physician of the Year award recipients are presented annually to seven Ontario family doctors – one from each region of the province – and recognize the provision of exemplary care to patients and passionate involvement in activities that contribute to excellence in family medicine.

Resident of the Year award recipients are recognized for outstanding clinical, research, leadership and teaching skills in a family medicine resident currently enrolled in a family medicine residency program in Ontario. A list of all awardees is posted on OCFP’s website.

Orillia’s Dr. Erika Catford named Regional Family Physician of the Year

Dr. Erika Catford of Orillia has been named a 2018 recipient of the Ontario College of Family Physicians Regional Family Physician of the Year Award. Dr. Catford is the award recipient for Central East and North Simcoe Muskoka. 

“Dr. Catford has been a leader in the community since starting her practice in Orillia,” said Josiah (Si) Lowry, Co-Chair, Mariposa House Hospice. “Her knowledge and understanding of palliative care has been a guiding light for all doctors in Orillia. She has worked tirelessly for the past two years to see the Hospice project through.”

Building a legacy of community activism, medical leadership and inspirational teaching

A central figure in Orillia’s medical community, Dr. Catford’s family medicine practice encompasses prenatal and birthing care, inpatient medical care, home visits and palliative care for her patients. She has initiated several programs to help patients, including a Health Portal to make booking appointments easier and a Diabetic Program where patients meet quarterly to share questions and results. She served as the Chief of Family medicine at Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital (OSMH) from 2015-2017 and was awarded the OSMH Board Award of Excellence for palliative care leadership.

Since 2008, Dr. Catford has helped to develop and improve 30 rural teaching sites in her role as Director of Rural Teaching Practice Program at the University of Toronto. Over 40 family medicine residents have benefited from rotations in her practice; and in 2012, she received the Hollister King Award for excellence in rural teaching. Dr. Catford’s passion for providing palliative care led her to champion the building of Mariposa House Hospice – a five-bed residential hospice in Orillia. As co-founder, she obtained provincial funding and land approvals, and kicked off an ambitious fundraising campaign.

“As an inspirational teacher and champion for rural medical practice, Dr. Catford embodies what it means to be a full spectrum family physician,” said Dr. Glenn Brown, OCFP President. “Her advocacy and dedication to improving hospice and palliative care has made her community stronger. It is a pleasure to acknowledge her contributions and achievements through this award.”

Toronto’s Dr. Stephanie Klein named Resident of the Year

“Dr. Klein has been a local leader and advocate for wellness among her colleagues and teachers,” said Dr. Rebecca Stoller, Assistant Professor, DFCM, University of Toronto. “Her wellness curriculum and initiatives have been greeted with very positive reviews from colleagues and teachers alike. I have no doubt her efforts and scholarly work will continue to improve resident wellness for years to come.”

An exceptional resident with a commitment to physician health and wellness

A graduate of University of Toronto’s medical school, Dr. Klein recently completed her family medicine residency at North York General Hospital (NYGH), where she served as co-chief Resident. Her passion for physician wellness led her to design and implement a wellness curriculum called GRIT: Gaining Resilience in Training as part of an education scholarship project for family medicine residents at NYGH. She has presented her work locally and at national conferences, with the goal of having the curriculum implemented in post graduate medicine programs across Canada. She has earned multiple awards for this work, as well as for a separate quality improvement project on reducing benzodiazepine use in the elderly.

Dr. Klein impressed her preceptors with her enthusiasm for taking on new clinical cases and demonstrating continuity of care with her patients. Her desire to enhance the residency experience earned her the respect and admiration of her peers. As co-chief resident, Dr. Klein introduced or enhanced many initiatives – including study sessions for second-year residents, extra oral practice exams and a mentorship program at NYGH. She has been widely praised for her teaching skills and her patience, approachability and ability to communicate information in an open and thoughtful manner.

“Dr. Klein’s leadership, advocacy and award-winning work on physician and resident wellness highlight her commitment to fostering a healthier profession and ultimately healthier patients,” said Dr. Glenn Brown, OCFP President. “It is a pleasure to acknowledge her contributions and achievements through this award.”

Toronto’s Dr. Tomislav Svoboda named Regional Family Physician of the Year

Dr. Tomislav Svoboda of Toronto has been named a 2018 recipient of the Ontario College of Family Physicians Regional Family Physician of the Year. Dr. Svoboda is the award recipient for Toronto Central and Central. 

“Collaborative, open and humble, Dr. Svoboda leads by example and the hundreds of men he has worked with at Seaton House know he genuinely cares about them and believes that their lives matter,” said Monica Waldman, Manager at Seaton House. “It is apparent to me every day how many lives Dr. Svoboda has - and continues to – save over the decades. He’s the real deal.”

A trailblazer in transforming patient care for the most vulnerable in Toronto

Dr. Svoboda’s entire 20-plus year career has been devoted to reinventing the care received by those that are homeless. He has introduced systematic and comprehensive care into the shelter system, delivering a unique combination of primary care, hospital and long-term care services, hospice and rehabilitation care, and population health, as well as addictions and psychiatric care.

Dr. Svoboda has also developed innovative programs and tools. For example, he led the development of electronic medical records that can electronically integrate care across agencies and the “Shelter Management Information System” used in all shelters across Toronto. These systems assist physicians and other service providers caring for those who are homeless as well as physician practices across the country.

Within months of working at Toronto’s largest shelter, Seaton House, Dr. Svoboda and the late Art Manuel, a leading manager at the time, developed the first shelter-based managed alcohol harm-reduction program in Canada. This innovative program has served as a model for similar sites across Canada and internationally. As Medical Director, Dr. Svoboda and his team established a 36-bed infirmary, which was integrated with the family medicine residency at St. Michael’s Hospital, and created a clinical experience that is sought-after by medical trainees nationwide. He founded Inner City Health Associates – a practice dedicated to caring for the homeless that started with 13 doctors providing medical services in six sites that has grown to over 90 physicians seeing patients in over 50 shelters and drop-ins across Toronto.

“Dr. Svoboda’s unwavering commitment to providing compassionate and medical care to those who are homeless in Toronto has inspired many other family physicians to pursue similar work,” said Dr. Glenn Brown, OCFP President. “His contributions extend beyond his own community and have been an inspiration to other jurisdictions across Canada and internationally. It is a privilege to celebrate his achievements through this award.”

The following faculty members have also been recognized with the following awards:

• Dr. Brian Watada – 2018 recipient of Regional Family Physician of the Year Award - did his undergraduate at U of T
• Dr. Caroline Collins – Award if Excellence recipient - trained in St. Joseph’s Hospital Family medicine program as part of U of T’s Family medicine program
• Medical Associates of Port Perry - Family Practice of the Year – General Practice

Congratulations to our award winners!