Our faculty is comprised of dedicated health care professionals who love what they do, and who strive to build the same core competencies in tomorrow’s physicians. We provide a flexible learning environment in both official languages with diverse opportunities in urban, rural, remote and international settings.
The DFM Residency Program is fully accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
As leaders in Family Medicine, we deliver an excellent education, innovative research, and strong advocacy in support of high-quality primary care in both official languages.
Through dedicated engagement and commitment, we advance the discipline of family medicine and prepare learners to excel as Family Physicians by:
Compassion, diversity, inclusion, integrity, professionalism, respect, social accountability, sustainability, transparency, wellness.
As leaders in Family Medicine education and research, the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa is privileged to offer excellent teaching and learning opportunities in both official languages, across urban and rural settings in the National Capital Region. It is an honour to serve as Interim Chair of the largest clinical department in the Faculty of Medicine and to work alongside an outstanding community of faculty members, learners, researchers and staff.
Education remains at the heart of our mission. Our fully accredited, learner‑centred residency program prepares future family physicians to meet the evolving needs of patients and communities. We also engage undergraduate learners by promoting Family Medicine, highlighting its central role in the healthcare system and encouraging medical students to pursue rewarding careers as family physicians. Guided by societal and patient needs, we continue to advance program delivery, embrace innovation, and strengthen partnerships during a time of ongoing transition and opportunity.
Our research is practice-based and grounded in family medicine, with a focus on improving care where it is delivered – in clinics, learning environments and communities. Led by clinician‑scientists and investigators across the department, including those at the C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, our work addresses real‑world issues and priorities, such as access to care, continuity, quality improvement, virtual care and medical education. This work informs medical education, supports innovation and strengthens the quality and delivery of primary care.
Social accountability is a defining priority across our education, research and clinical work. We strive to address health inequities and improve access to care, particularly for Indigenous, Francophone, rural and remote, inner‑city, and other underserved communities. As the number of unattached patients continues to grow in our region, we remain actively engaged in strengthening primary care solutions that respond to community needs with purpose and equity.
We continue to translate our strategy into meaningful action, with initiatives across our four pillars, including mentorship, AI-enhanced learning, primary care innovation, research and community engagement. We are proud of our progress in advancing inclusive excellence, mental health and wellness, diversity, responsible governance, and environmental stewardship – strengthening our programs, partnerships, and commitment to the communities we serve.
Family Medicine is a resilient and adaptive discipline, more essential than ever. Leading change and shaping the future of primary care is a collective effort, and I am grateful to be part of this work with such a dedicated community. I invite you to explore our website and learn more about how the Department of Family Medicine is advancing care, education and research for the communities we serve.
Sincerely,
Dr. Bill Hogg
Interim Chair, Department of Family Medicine
The successful outcome of our 2024 accreditation review confirms that our department continues to lead in advancing the discipline of Family Medicine and providing an exceptional bilingual program for its diverse learners.
This mandatory exercise, carried out by our peers from across the country, ensures that we are delivering a residency program that meets the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s (CFPC) accreditation standards. The outcome was excellent, reflecting our entire team's dedication and quality of work to meet these standards. Both the Enhanced Skills program and the core Family Medicine program were fully accredited.
Of note, the CFPC commended several Leading Practice Innovations:
The purpose of the accreditation of residency programs by the CFPC Accreditation Committee is two-fold:
To attest to the educational quality of accredited programs
To ensure sufficient uniformity and portability to allow residents from across Canada to qualify for the CFPC examinations as residency eligible candidates.
To learn more about CFPC accreditation, visit the CFPC website.
The Department of Family Medicine is affiliated with the following groups and organizations. Learn more on their individual websites.
Bruyère Health Research Institute (BRI)
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI)
