Through our collective efforts and commitment, we have developed into a strong, highly effective department with a shared goal since the beginning: to advance the discipline of Family Medicine. We have engaged leaders who lead with compassion and equity and strive to adapt and meet the ever-changing needs of our learners. This is especially important as our discipline undergoes transformation to resolve challenges within the primary care system in Ontario.
Our department was officially established in 1975 and recognized as a training program by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and housed within uOttawa’s Faculty of Medicine. There have been 10 Chairs, including today’s current Chair, Dr. Clare Liddy:
| Term | Chair |
|---|---|
| 1968-1970 | Dr. John Day |
| 1970-1975 | Dr. John Last |
| 1975-1981 | Dr. Campbell T. Lamont |
| 1981-1986 | Dr. Walter Rosser |
| 1986-1995 | Dr. John Forster |
| 1996-2005 | Dr. Nick Busing |
| 2005-2012 | Dr. Jacques Lemelin |
| 2012-2014 | Dr. Michael Hirsh (Interim) |
| 2014-2019 | Dr. Dianne Delva |
| 2019-current | Dr. Clare Liddy |
Note: the 2 chairs prior to 1975 were instrumental in the official establishment of our department, and hence are included in our department’s history.
Our department has grown steadily over the years. Today, we are the largest clinical department within the Faculty of Medicine with 675 faculty members, of whom 120 are primary preceptors for our 185 residents (PGY1 – PGY3) in our postgraduate training programs. Our department is supported by 45 administrative staff and a number of faculty members who fill key leadership roles.
Our research activities enhance the discipline to support the training of our learners, faculty and community members. Our research community of practice has grown to support interdisciplinary collaboration and promote junior investigators to become future leaders in research.
As the department has grown and evolved, so have our strategic priorities. We have seen the expansion of our programs and the advancement of our curriculum through quality improvement measures and reform. We continue to move forward with our two key areas of focus: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Indigenous Health. Our social accountability efforts have had an impact locally and beyond.
We thank our faculty, learners and staff who have made the DFM what it is today. We have a lot to be proud of! We look forward to celebrating this milestone at our upcoming Retreat in April and throughout the year.