DFCM’s Dr. Curtis Handford named Ontario Family Physician of the Year

Dr. Handford, a DFCM faculty member of 15 years, has received the OCFP’s highest honour, The Reg L. Perkin Family Physician of the Year Award. This award is presented annually to a family doctor who provides exceptional patient care and improves the health of communities and well-being of society. Dr. Handford exemplifies these qualities and the vital role of family physicians across Ontario – as clinicians, advocates, teachers, and researchers.

Dignity and respect amid complexity

Described as humble, thoughtful, and generous, Dr. Handford, who practices comprehensive family medicine in downtown Toronto, counts many of the most vulnerable among his patients. He is known for his ability to build trust with his patients – many of whom face significant barriers in accessing care.

“Dr. Handford treats his patients with equal respect and dignity,” says Dr. Lauren Welsh, a former trainee and now colleague in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital. “His ability to build relationships with his patients is core to his ability to deliver compassionate and patient-centred care.”

Teacher and mentor

Teaching family medicine at the University of Toronto, Dr. Handford has mentored students from across Canada in a “sought after” elective in Inner City family medicine at St. Michael’s, influencing many to choose a career in family medicine.

His contributions also extend to the field of addiction medicine. While working at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Dr. Handford led the development of a Clinical Practice Guideline for the use of buprenorphine/naloxone as an opioid maintenance treatment, the first of its kind in Canada. This guideline has been endorsed by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been listed by the Agency for Health Research and Quality in the US and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the UK. From this guideline, he also developed an accredited and nationally peer-reviewed buprenorphine/naloxone online course for clinicians.

Over four years as the Primary Care Clinical Lead for the Toronto Central LHIN’s Mid-East sub-region and now as Medical Director of the Primary and Community Care Program at St. Michael’s, Dr. Handford collaborates with local primary care providers, community partners and acute care stakeholders to improve care systems for local patients and their caregivers.

“Despite all of these many impressive accomplishments, Dr. Handford remains a humble and generous colleague who consistently demonstrates an exemplary level of thoughtfulness, collegiality and professionalism to which we can all aspire,” says Dr. Karen Weyman, the Site Chief at St. Michael’s Hospital Department of Family and Community Medicine. “I feel deeply privileged to have Dr. Curtis Handford as my colleague, Deputy Chief and member of our Department.”