The University of Toronto is strengthening education in mature women’s health to better equip primary care physicians to support women as they age. For millions, midlife involves far more than hot flashes. Symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, brain fog and a loss of confidence accompany perimenopause and menopause — yet they are frequently misunderstood, misdiagnosed or dismissed. As a result, many women navigate this stage of life feeling isolated, and are unaware that effective treatments and support exist.
A new philanthropic gift to the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Family and Community Medicine aims to change that. The Raymond Chang Fund in Mature Women’s Health will enhance training for family physicians at every stage of their careers — from residents to experienced practitioners — in an area that has long been underrepresented in medical education.
“Every woman deserves to be understood and supported,” says Brigette Chang, president of the Raymond Chang Foundation. “My hope is that this gift will strengthen physicians’ ability to care for women during this important stage of life and improve accessibility for all women.”
The need for change is significant. Women aged 40 and older make up more than a quarter of Canada’s population, yet many still encounter fragmented or inadequate care. As they manage menopause, chronic conditions and evolving mental and sexual health needs, they often face inconsistent medical advice, online misinformation, long wait times and limited access to specialized care.
Shirley Lee, acting chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, believes the fund’s emphasis on education will be transformative.
“This is an opportunity to elevate care for women in a more personalized and compassionate way,” Lee explains. “By focusing on educating our learners, as well as family physicians, we can place the latest evidence-based practices directly in the hands of family physicians, equipping them to support their patients with greater clarity and confidence.”
The fund will support the development of a comprehensive curriculum in mature women’s health for family medicine residents, ensuring new physicians enter practice with strong, evidence-based knowledge. This is especially important, as many early-career physicians may not share the lived experiences of their older patients. At the same time, many women may struggle to articulate their symptoms, which can delay diagnosis. With better training, clinicians can recognize patterns, ask the right questions and initiate meaningful conversations that lead to appropriate care.
In addition, the fund will expand continuing professional development opportunities for practicing physicians, helping them keep pace with rapidly evolving research. By translating complex evidence into practical, accessible tools, the initiative will support clinicians in delivering up-to-date care in everyday practice. This knowledge also empowers physicians to better educate their patients, enabling women to understand their bodies, recognize what is normal or concerning, and actively participate in their health care decisions.
Strengthening expertise in primary care is key, as this is where most women receive the majority of their health care. By equipping primary care physicians with deeper expertise in mature women’s health, the Raymond Chang Fund will ensure that many concerns can be effectively assessed and managed within family medicine, where most women already receive the bulk of their care. This not only improves patient experience but also helps streamline the health-care system by shortening wait times and ensuring timely access to specialized care when needed.
The impact of this initiative will be far-reaching. More than 400 learners take part in the two-year residency program at any given time. The department is also connected to more than 2,300 primary care faculty members and 1,300 learners at all levels across 18+ hospital sites, four integrated community sites and more than 40 teaching practices that provide learners with a mix of urban, suburban and rural clinical training. They also offer a dedicated Women’s Health Fellowship program, and their continuing professional development programs engage hundreds of physicians each month.
“This new training can help all women receive the full level of attentive, informed care they need and deserve,” Lee says. “The Raymond Chang Fund in Mature Women’s Health is that opportunity to give family physicians the tools they need to go on this journey with their patients, and to celebrate where they are in life.”
