I hope all Department members will have a chance to enjoy some true rest and relaxation, with a total disconnect from their electronic devices, over the end-of-year holidays. Our holiday party late last month allowed many of us to ring in the festive season with good food, delicious drinks, and karaoke music!
On December 4, the Department’s educational leaders in undergraduate medical education, postgraduate medical education, and faculty development, visited the Department's new university family medicine group (FMG-U) at the Lakeshore General Hospital that will welcome its first residents in July 2025! That site has a dynamic young team of keen clinician teachers who are eager to continue to teach clinical clerks and to meet their first set of residents!
On December 11, the post-graduate team visited the Vaudreuil-Soulanges FMG-U, which opened in July 2024 with two residents. There too we have a fabulous team of clinician teachers who are preparing to expand their number of learners in combination with the opening of the new hospital, scheduled for 2027.
At the time of writing, the graduate studies program is preparing a retreat for December 17, at which they will review the curriculum for the Master’s and PhD programs in the department. I wish them fruitful and rich discussions!
The faculty development team is continuing its series of workshops to help faculty members attain promotion from faculty lecturer to assistant professor, with the second of three sessions having run on December 13. If you are interested in participating in future iterations of these workshops, please contact: facdevcme.fammed [at] mcgill.ca
As part of the 50th anniversary, the Department is running a 5 Words campaign. All Department members, as well as our students, our patients, and the public are invited to participate (take part here). We are also taking nominations for your family medicine heroes as part of the 50th anniversary! We have even modified the questions and word count to make it even easier. .
This month we are highlighting:
- Ann Continelli for Residency Affairs at the Herzl. Read more.
- Katia Faustini for the Clerkship Program. Read more.
- Bertand Lebouché for Better HIV Care. Read more.
As a reminder, on January 15, the Department of Family Medicine will be hosting a townhall meeting with Dr. Lesley Fellows, Vice-President (Health Affairs) and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, who will present the strategic planning exercise Together for Better Health. We are encouraging people to send in their questions ahead of time by January 8. .
Wishing you all health, joy, and peace in your final weeks of 2024, and for the whole New Year 2025!
Very warmly,
Marion
