Dr. Carol Geller and the Centretown Community Health Centre (CCHC) 

Moreover, the centre not only facilitates medical access for high-risk populations but also nurtures leadership among its residents. Dr. Geller emphasizes the importance of succession, enabling the next generation to assume roles in specialty clinics including those who are homeless, marginally housed or refugee claimants, expressing her hope to pass the baton in the coming years. “We are believers of the idea of succession, allowing the future generation to take over in some of the specialty clinics. It is beautiful because I hope to leave this clinic in a couple of years. I leave knowing that expertise is here and will only get bigger.” 
 

Despite its impactful work, the centre faces a pressing challenge: meeting the growing demand with limited resources. Dr. Geller underscores the ongoing need for creative funding solutions to sustain their services. Collaborative efforts with various organizations have helped navigate the surge in refugee claimants, yet resource constraints persist. Dr. Geller invites potential partners to join hands in addressing this critical issue.
 

Global Impact: A Conversation with Dr. Hugues Loemba

In 1993, he was offered a scholarship by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to pursue graduate studies in virology in Canada. In 1995, he completed a Master of Science Degree (M.Sc.) in Virology and Immunology at the Institut Armand-Frappier-INRS, in Laval, during which he worked on the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus, which belongs to the COVID-19 broad family of viruses (large family of Nidovirales virus). He studied the immune response to the structural proteins of the PRRS virus. His work on the humoral immune response to the PRRS virus has helped in the development of a vaccine against this virus, a cousin to the COVID-19 virus.

Dr. Loemba pursued his graduate studies in virology at McGill University's AIDS Centre, carrying out in-depth research into HIV and its variants, in particular, anti-viral drug-resistant mutants of the HIV subtype C virus. His work culminated in a Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine from McGill University in 2001, under the supervision of the renowned Dr. Mark Wainberg. While completing his Ph.D. studies in Virology, Dr. Loemba passed all Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examinations required for International medical graduates (IMG) to practice in Canada.
 

AI Research and Family Medicine: A Conversation with Dr. Sharon Johnston

Collaboration with healthcare providers plays a key role in her research. Dr. Johnston’s partnerships, such as with the 360 Concussion Care Clinic, have explored how digital communication can enhance mental health care. Their work has shown strong patient approval for messages addressing topics like seasonal mood changes, highlighting the potential of these tools to improve engagement.

Nuance is critical in patient communication, and Dr. Johnston emphasizes tailoring language and tone to suit different health topics. For example, advice on back pain prevention requires a distinct approach compared to discussions on cancer screening. Her research demonstrates how AI can support primary care teams by providing adaptable communication tools that maintain the quality of patient interactions while saving time.

Dr. Johnston’s work reflects a commitment to integrating innovative, patient-centered solutions into primary care. By combining AI’s potential with collaborative research, she is helping to address challenges in communication, accessibility, and provider workflows that will ultimately enhance patient outcomes.

Reflecting on the collaborative nature of her work, Dr. Johnston expressed gratitude for the primary care team’s willingness to engage with new technologies and share valuable feedback. She emphasized, “Advancing research is a collective effort. Each team that participates helps us refine tools that will ultimately support primary care as a whole.”

Through her research, Dr. Johnston aims to make communication tools a valuable extension of primary care, enhancing patient engagement and provider efficiency. By thoughtfully integrating digital solutions, Dr. Johnston envisions advancing primary care in ways that respond directly to the evolving needs of providers and the communities they serve.
 

Civic update

The Civic Academic Family Health Team is excited to highlight some developments at our site in the last year! As of April 1, 2025, Dr. Michael Malek, Assistant Professor, stepped down as the Unit Postgraduate Director after leading the residents and team for 6 years. Dr. Leah Smith, Assistant Professor, has taken the position and is looking forward to working more with the postgraduate team!

Our team has had numerous presentations at different events in recent months. Several of our physicians presented at the DFM Facutly Retreat that took place from April 25-27, 2025. Dr. Anna Wilkinson presented on Transitioning to HPV-Based Screening. Dr. Cummings, Assistant Professor, spoke on Showcasing the Future: Emerging Voices panel. Dr. Taunia Rifai, spoke with colleagues Dr. Justine Callahan, Assistant Professor, and Dr. Stefan de Laplante,Assistant Professor, on Gender Affirming Care. Dr. Laura Visentin, Assistant Professor, and Dr. Taunia Rifai were on a panel for Climate Change and Planetary Health.

Dr. Taunia Rifai, Dr. Leah Smith and Dr. Justine Callahan presented their “Addressing the Gap – Collaborative Efforts to Expand Gender Affirming Care in Ottawa, Ontario” at Meridith Marks Day on May 3, 2025! This group has also been holding quarterly events to help connect with physicians in their practices. The group had a large launch at NEST back on February 12, 2025.

From spring through fall, once a week, a group from the clinic heads out for Ice Cream Rounds! It’s a fun tradition where anyone who is interested can join for a sweet treat and a chance to catch up with colleagues outside of our usual work routines. It has been a great way for people to connect and enjoy a little break together.

In June, we will be saying goodbye to one of our long-term physicians, Dr. Tarun Prashar, Lecturer. He has been with us since he was a resident, from 2016-2018 he locumed with us and then joined us full-time in 2020. Tarun is moving back to Manitoba to be with his family. Thank you for everything over the years! We are so excited for you!

Taking over Dr. Prashar’s practice is Dr. Ashley Gerber. Dr. Gerber graduated residency in 2022 from uOttawa. We are looking forward to having her back on our team starting June 2025! 

Pembroke Update

The Pembroke Family Medicine Teaching Unit (PFMTU) is excited share with you some highlights from the past year. Please enjoy this update provided by Dr. Richard Johnson, recently reclassified to the rank of Assistant Professor with our Department in recognition of his educational achievements, a Family Doctor in Pembroke, Site Director of the Pembroke Residence Program, Chief of Family Practice at the Pembroke Regional Hospital, Clinical Lead of the Ottawa Valley OHT and Co-Chair of the Renfrew County and South Algonquin Primary Care Network. He is 10 years into practice having graduated from the Pembroke Residency Program. His passion is maximizing the health of residents in Renfrew County, and he is supported by his wife and 2 lovely kids who attempt to keep him balanced.

Growth to 6 residents per year: We have doubled down on our strategy to maximize the learner pipeline, given the high percentage of unattached patients, and high rate of retention of our graduates to Renfrew County (60%) 5 years out into practice. A further 95% of our graduates have stayed rural upon graduation. We all breathed a sigh of relief when we went fully matched for 6 residents in CaRMS this year.

Expansion: Our growth necessitated physical space. We are wrapping up an expansion to house further staff physicians and learners at our clinic in PRH, tower D.

Remote pilot: In their first and second year, we allow residents that match to our program to choose to spend 3 months in Deep River or Barry’s Bay with an excellent set of preceptors. This program has been tremendously popular: all residents last year chose to participate. After reviewing feedback, including some continuity of care challenges and how to equitably provide learning opportunities, we have decided to modify the program to 2 months per year with the full support of residents, staff and remote sites. We were excited to welcome additional preceptors in both communities: Dr. Michael Sage, Lecturer, in Deep River, and Dr. Steven Chen, Lecturer, in Barry’s Bay.

Indigenous curriculum: Our residents and some staff physicians participated in the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan locally created Indigenous cultural awareness training in February. It was eye opening and sad to hear just how much language and culture this community has lost, and that a community 30 minutes down the road from us continues to be under a boil water advisory. We thank the department for the funding so our residents could participate. We are also piloting some days where our residents work with Derek Frew, NP, who is the main clinician working at the Pikwakanagan FHT. Initial feedback has been very positive from all parties.

Created a gender affirming care clinic: Doniya Quenneville, R2, came into our program with an interest in this population and saw the gap in Renfrew County. With training and relationship building with the Centretown CHC, Doniya and one of our local preceptors, Dr. Sylvie Cantin, Lecturer, were able to start a small clinic. Doniya has just signed to stay on in Deep River when she graduates, which means this care should be more accessible to local patients. She can also help run the curriculum for our learners.

Evaluation fatigue: Our preceptors commented on some redundant resident evaluations and so we are putting the final touches on optimizing this process prior to rolling it out for the new R1s in July.
 

Riverside Update

The Riverside Academic team is happy to highlight some exciting developments at our site in the last year! Since July 2024, we have welcomed three new physicians to our unit: Dr. Osmaan Sheikh, Lecturer, who comes to us from B.C. and has a special interest in Medical Assistance in Dying; Dr. Jason Struyk, Lecturer, (a graduate of our program), whose focus is palliative care and procedures; and Dr. Jennifer Mitchell, Lecturer, (also a uOttawa graduate), who specializes in women's health and has already established a clinic at our site offering various procedures such as endometrial and vulvar biopsies, as well as menopause counselling. 

Our Academic team has made advancements in gender-affirming care over the last year. Dr. Justine Callahan, Lecturer, alongside her Civic colleagues Dr. Leah Smith, Assistant Professor and Dr. Taunia Rifai, Assistant Professor, have launched a Gender Affirming Care Clinic. This clinic has been instrumental in providing hormonal therapy and surgical consultations to our patients as well as patients in the community. Our residents rotate through this clinic every two weeks, gaining valuable exposure and building their competencies.

Cancer screening initiatives over the last year have resulted in over 150 women being screened for their cervical exams through special "Papapalooza" clinics during evening clinics with residents and staff. This has resolved our cervical cancer screening delay post-pandemic!