Past COVID-19 Community of Practice sessions

The COVID-19 Community of Practice is a space for family physicians across Ontario to connect and learn from each other. Approximately once a month, practicing family physicians share their perspectives on COVID-related topics ranging from implementing virtual care, to organizing community collaborations, and supporting patients with mental health and addiction. These one-hour webinars are interactive and questions from participants are answered in real-time where possible. Each session is recorded and shared after the event, including links to notable resources.

This COVID-19 Community of Practice is a joint initiative from the University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) and the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP).

Please visit the DFCM events page for upcoming sessions.

Self-learning program

The COVID-19 CoP session materials, including recordings, tools, and resources are available as self-learning modules. 

This one-credit-per-hour Group Learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 80 credits.

To participate in this self-learning:

  • Select the dates/sessions you wish to participate in. You are welcome to complete as many sessions as you wish.
  • Watch the video recording of the live session.
  • Review the session tools and resources.
  • Complete the self-learning post-session activity, click the button below.

Past sessions

Each item below includes session details, the webinar recording and linked resources.

COVID-19 and Measles Updates, and Supporting Primary Care (Feb 23, 2024)

Watch the video recording

Listen to the audio recording 

Panelists:                                                   

  • Dr. Megan Devlin, Infectious Disease Physician, St. Joseph's Health Care and London Health Sciences Centre; Assistant Professor, Infectious Diseases, Western University, London, Ontario
  • Dr. Elizabeth Muggah, Senior Clinical Advisor, Primary Care, Population Health and Value-based Health Systems, Ontario Health

Host:

  • Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge, ON

Moderator:

  • Dr. Eleanor Colledge, CPD Program Director, University of Toronto and Family Physician, South East Toronto Family Health Team, Toronto, ON

Resources:

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck - Feb 23, 2024

COVID-19 CoP Resource List - Feb 23, 2024

COVID-19 CoP Q & A - Feb 23, 2024

Long COVID and Lipid Guidelines (Feb 9, 2024)

Watch the video recording 

Listen to the audio recording 

Panelists:                                                     

Host:

  • Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge, ON

Co-Moderators:

Resources: 

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck - Feb 9, 2024

COVID-19 CoP Resource List - Feb 9, 2024

COVID-19 Q & A - Feb 9, 2024

COVID-19 Updates and Managing Respiratory Illness in Kids (Jan 19, 2024)

Watch the video recording 

Listen to the audio recording 

Panelists:                                                           

  • Dr. Alon Vaisman, Infectious Diseases and Infection Control Physician, University Health Network, Toronto, ON
  • Dr. Tasha Stoltz, Pediatrician, Kitchener, ON
  • Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Toronto, ON

Host:

  • Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge, ON

Moderators:

  • Dr. Ali Damji, Division Head, Primary Care, Trillium Health Partners and Family Physician, Credit Valley Family Health Team, Mississauga, ON

Resources:

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck - January 19, 2024

COVID-19 CoP Resources - January 19, 2024

COVID-19 CoP Q & A - January 19, 2024

Winter virus season and changes to breast cancer screening in Ontario (Dec 15, 2023)

Watch the video recording 

Listen to the audio recording 

Panelists:                                                           

Host:

  • Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge, ON

Co-Moderators:

Resources: 

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck - December 15, 2023

COVID-19 CoP Resources - December 15, 2023

COVID-19 CoP Q & A - December 15, 2023

COVID-19 Updates and the New Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program (Nov 17, 2023)

Watch the video recording 

Listen to the audio recording 

Panelists:

Dr. Gerald Evans, Infectious Disease Specialist and Chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON 

Dr. Paul Kurdyak, Professor and Chair, Addictions and Mental Health Policy Research in the Department of Psychiatry and Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON 

Dr. Leah Skory, Physician, Barrie Community Health Centre, Barrie, ON

Host:

Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital,  Cambridge, ON 

Moderator:

Dr. Ali Damji, Division Head, Primary Care, Trillium Health Partners and Family Physician, Credit Valley Family Health Team, Mississauga, ON

Resources:

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck - November 17, 2023

COVID-19 CoP Resources - November 17, 2023

COVID-19 CoP Q & A - November 17, 2023

Respiratory and Flu Season: Counselling Kids and Balancing Workload (Oct 27, 2023)

Watch the video recording 

Listen to the audio recording

Panelists:

  • Dr. Joan Chan, Family Physician, Guelph Family Health Team, Guelph, ON
  • Dr. Janine McCready, Infectious Disease Physician, Michael Garron Hospital, Toronto, ON
  • Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Toronto, ON

Host:

  • Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge, ON

Moderator:

  • Dr. Tara Kiran, Fidani Chair of Improvement and Innovation, University of Toronto and Family Physician, St. Michael’s Academic Family Health Team, Toronto, ON

Resources:

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck - October 27, 2023

COVID-19 CoP Resources - October 27, 2023

COVID-19 CoP Q & A - October 27, 2023

Update on COVID-19, influenza and RSV vaccines (Oct 6, 2023)

Watch the video recording

Listen to the audio recording 

Panelists

Dr. Zain Chagla, Co-Medical Director Infection Control and Head of Infectious Diseases Service, Infectious Disease Physician, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON 

Dr. Elizabeth Muggah, Senior Clinical Advisor, Primary Care, Population Health and Value-based Health Systems, Ontario Health

Host

Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital,  Cambridge, ON 

Moderator

Dr. Ali Damji, Division Head, Primary Care, Trillium Health Partners and Family Physician, Credit Valley Family Health Team, Mississauga, ON

Resources: 

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck - October 6, 2023

COVID-19 CoP Resource List - October 6, 2023

COVID-19 CoP Q & A - October 6, 2023

Preparing for the fall (Sept 15, 2023)

Watch the video recording 

Listen to the audio recording 

Panelists:

• Dr. Kieran Michael Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health and Assistant Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Health, Office of Chief Medical Officer of Health, Public Health Division, Toronto, ON


• Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Toronto, ON

Host:

Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital,  Cambridge, ON 

Moderator:

Dr. Tara Kiran, Fidani Chair of Improvement and Innovation, University of Toronto and Family Physician, St. Michael’s Academic Family Health Team, Toronto, ON

Resources: 

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck - Sept 15, 2023

COVID-19 CoP Resource List - Sept 15, 2023

COVID-19 CoP Q & A - Sept 15, 2023

COVID Updates and Addressing Physician Burnout (July 28, 2023)

Watch the video recording 

Listen to the audio recording

Panelists

Dr. Allison McGeer, Infectious Disease Specialist, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON 

Dr. Mamta Gautam, Psychiatrist, The Ottawa Hospital; President & CEO, PEAK MD Inc., Ottawa, ON

Host

Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital,  Cambridge, ON 

Moderator

Dr. Tara Kiran, Fidani Chair of Improvement and Innovation, University of Toronto and Family Physician, St. Michael’s Academic Family Health Team, Toronto, ON

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck (July 28, 2023)

COVID-19 CoP Resource List (July 28, 2023)

COVID-19 CoP Q & A (July 28, 2023)

COVID Updates and AI to alleviate admin burden (July 7, 2023)

Watch the video recording

Listen to the audio recording 

Panelists

Dr. Gerald Evans, Infectious Disease Specialist and Chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
 

Dr. Noah Crampton, Clinician investigator, Toronto Western Family Health Team (Bathurst Site) and Lecturer, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

Host

Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital,  Cambridge, ON 

Moderator

Dr. Ali Damji, Division Head, Primary Care, Trillium Health Partners and Family Physician, Credit Valley Family Health Team, Mississauga, ON

Resources: 

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck (July 7, 2023) 

COVID-19 CoP Resource List (July 7, 2023)

COVID-19 CoP Q & A (July 7, 2023)

COVID-19 Updates and Solutions for our Family Practice Challenges (June 16, 2023)

Watch the video recording

Listen to the audio recording 

Panelists

Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Toronto, ON
Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge, ON

Moderator

Dr. Tara Kiran, Fidani Chair of Improvement and Innovation, University of Toronto and Family Physician, St. Michael’s Academic Family Health Team, Toronto, ON

Resources: 

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck (June 16, 2023) 

COVID-19 CoP Resource List (June 16, 2023)

COVID-19 CoP Q and A (June 16, 2023)

COVID updates and ChatGPT (May 26, 2023)

Watch the video recording

Listen to the audio recording 

Panelists:

Dr. Susy Hota, Infectious Disease Specialist, University Health Network and Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON 

Dr. Ian Pun, Family Physician and Rouge Valley FHO, Dept of Family Practice, Scarborough Health Network, Toronto, ON 

Anne Dabrowski, Director, Information Services, Centre for Effective Practice, Toronto, ON

Co-hosts:

Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge, ON 

Dr. Liz Muggah, Senior Clinical Advisor, Primary Care, Ontario Health; Family Physician, Bruyère Family Health Team, Ottawa, ON

Moderator:

Dr. Ali Damji, Division Head, Primary Care, Trillium Health Partners and Family Physician, Credit Valley Family Health Team, Mississauga, ON

Resources: 

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck (May 26, 2023)

COVID-19 CoP Resources (May 26, 2023)

COVID-19 CoP Q & A (May 26, 2023)

Vaccine preventable diseases and e-consults (May 5, 2023)

Watch the video recording 

Listen to the audio recording 

Panelists:

Dr. Sarah Wilson, Public Health Physician, Public Health Ontario; Associate Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto 

Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Toronto, ON   Dr.

Marilyn Crabtree, Clinical Lead – Great River OHT/ESO du Grand Fleuve  

Co-host:

Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge, ON  

Co-Moderator:

Dr. Ali Damji, Division Head, Primary Care, Trillium Health Partners and Family Physician, Credit Valley Family Health Team, Mississauga, ON

Resources: 

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck (May 5, 2023)

COVID-19 CoP Resource List (May 5, 2023) 

COVID-19 CoP Q and A (May 5, 2023)

COVID updates and tips from the Charting Coach (April 14, 2023)

Watch the video recording

Listen to the audio recording 

Panelists

Dr. Sarah Smith, Rural Family Physician, Alberta, Charting Coach for Physicians 

Dr. Janine McCready, Infectious Disease Physician, Michael Garron Hospital, Toronto, ON   

Co-hosts

Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge, ON 

Dr. Liz Muggah, Senior Clinical Advisor, Primary Care, Ontario Health; Family Physician, Bruyère Family Health Team, Ottawa, ON  

Co-Moderators

Dr. Tara Kiran, Fidani Chair of Improvement and Innovation, University of Toronto and Family Physician, St. Michael’s Academic Family Health Team, Toronto, ON

Resources:

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck (April 14, 2023) 

COVID-19 CoP Resource List (April 14, 2023) 

COVID-19 CoP Q and A (April 14, 2023)

IPAC, boosters and digital tools for practice (March 24, 2023)

Watch the video recording 

Listen to the audio recording 

Panelists

Dr. Chandi Chandrasena, Chief Medical Officer, OntarioMD, Toronto, ON 

Dr. Michelle Science, Medical Advisor, IPAC, The Hospital for Sick Children; IPAC Physician, Health Protection, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON  

Co-hosts

Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge, ON 

Dr. Liz Muggah, Senior Clinical Advisor, Primary Care, Ontario Health; Family Physician, Bruyère Family Health Team, Ottawa, ON  

Moderator

Dr. Ali Damji, Division Head, Primary Care, Trillium Health Partners and Family Physician, Credit Valley Family Health Team, Mississauga, ON

Resources:

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck (March 24, 2023)

COVID-19 CoP Resource List (March 24, 2023)

COVID-19 CoP Q and A (March 24, 2023)

Long Covid (February 24, 2023)

Watch the video recording 

Listen to the audio recording 

Panelists:

Dr. Gary Bloch, Family Physician, St. Michael’s Hospital and Inner City Health Associates; Associate Professor at the University of Toronto; AMS Phoenix Fellow and Senior Fellow, Wellesley Institute, Toronto, ON 

Dr. Kieran Quinn, General Internal Medicine and Palliative Care Clinician-Scientist, Sinai Health; General Internal Medicine and Palliative Care, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON  

Co-host:

Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge, ON

Moderator:

Dr. Tara Kiran, Fidani Chair of Improvement and Innovation, University of Toronto and Family Physician, St. Michael’s Academic Family Health Team, Toronto, ON

Resources:

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck (Feb 24, 2023) 

COVID-19 CoP Resource List (Feb 24, 2023)

COVID-19 CoP Q and A (Feb 24, 2023)

COVID Vaccinations and digital supports (February 3, 2023)

View the video recording

Listen to the audio recording

Panelists:

Dr. Mohamed Alarakhia, Managing Director, eHealth Centre of Excellence, Kitchener, ON 

Dr. Allison McGeer, Infectious Disease Specialist, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON 

Dr. Fareen Karachiwalla, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health | Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Public Health  

Co-host:

Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge, ON   

Moderator:

Dr. Tara Kiran, Fidani Chair of Improvement and Innovation, University of Toronto and Family Physician, St. Michael’s Academic Family Health Team, Toronto, ON

Resources:

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck (Feb 3, 2023) 

COVID-19 CoP Resource List (Feb 3, 2023) 

COVID-19 CoP Q and A (Feb 3, 2023)

E-Health Digital Health Catalogue (Feb 3, 2023)

COVID Therapeutics (Jan 20, 2023)

View the video recording

Listen to the audio recording

Panelists:

Dr. Andrew Pinto, Director of the Upstream Lab, Public Health and Preventive Medicine Specialist and Family Physician, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON 

Dr. Gerald Evans, Infectious Disease Specialist and Chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON 

Mr. Norm Umali, Pharmacist, VHA Home HealthCare, Toronto, ON  

Co-hosts:

Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, OCFP President, Family Physician, Two Rivers Family Health Team, Chief of Family Medicine, Cambridge, ON 

Dr. Liz Muggah, Senior Clinical Advisor, Primary Care, Ontario Health; Family Physician, Bruyère Family Health Team, Ottawa  

Co-moderators:

Dr. Tara Kiran, Fidani Chair of Improvement and Innovation, University of Toronto and Family Physician, St. Michael’s Academic Family Health Team, Toronto, ON 

Dr. Ali Damji, Division Head, Primary Care, Trillium Health Partners and Family Physician, Credit Valley Family Health Team, Mississauga, ON

Resources:

COVID-19 CoP Slide Deck (Jan 20, 2023)

COVID-19 CoP Resource List (Jan 20, 2023) 

COVID-19 CoP Q and A (Jan 20, 2023)

CanTreatCOVID FAQs (Jan 20, 2023)