Member Interest Groups Section (MIGS)

MIGS resources

2SLGBTQ+ Health

Chair: Dr. Thea Weisdorf (Ontario)
Vice Chair: Dr. Andrew Organek (Ontario)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the 2SLGBTQ+ Health member interest group:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2023	Podcast: HIV in the aging population	Part of the FM Rounds Podcast Series. Join Dr. Gordon Arbess, as he shares his expertise on 2SLGBTQ+ health through an examination of the diagnosis of HIV among the elderly and other STIs common within the community.	CFPCLearn Spotify Apple Music
2023	Podcasts: Gender-affirming care and 2SLGBTQ+ health	Dr. Sarah Fraser hosts Dr. Thea Weisdorf and Dr. Andrew Organek on the CFP podcast to discuss gender-affirming care and 2SLGBTQ+ health.	Podcast: Part 1 Podcast: Part 2
2023	June 2023 Pride-themed issue of CFP	The CFP published a Pride-themed issue in June. Check out the articles related to 2SLGBTQ+ health!	CFP issue
2022	CFPC Pride	A web page highlighting the work family physicians have done to support people in 2SLGBTQ+ communities including resources for family physicians looking to expand their knowledge and ability to ensure all patients feel welcome and safe	Website
2022	Cancer Screening in Transgender and Gender-Diverse Patients	A podcast by Dr. Thea Weisdorf and Dr. Andrew Organek discussing cancer screening in transgender and gender-diverse patients	Podcast
2022	LGBTQI+ Refugee Health: What Family Physicians Need to Know	A webinar hosted by the 2SLGBTQI+ and Global Health Member Interest Groups discussing LGBTQI+ refugee health	Video

Addiction Medicine

Chair: Dr. Mandy Manak (British Columbia)
Vice Chair: Dr. Andrew Lodge (Manitoba)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Addiction Medicine MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2023	Practical Approach to Gambling Disorder for Family Physicians	An open-source document to serve as a quick reference booklet to help family physicians at all stages of their careers recognize and treat gambling disorder.	PDF
2022	Supporting Substance Use Recovery in Primary Care	In this episode of Family Medicine Rounds, Dr. David Martell and Dr. Melissa Holowaty discuss the concept of recovery within addiction medicine and how primary care can support their patients in recovery from substance use disorders.	Podcast
2021	Practical Approach to Substance Use Disorders for the Family Physician	Booklet and infographic to help family physicians recognize and treat common substance use disorders (those related to nicotine, alcohol, and opioids)	Booklet PDF Infographic PDF
2021	Let’s Talk About Opioids	Videos and resources to educate patients about opioids and their potentially devastating effects when used improperly	Videos
2020	Position Statement on Access to Opioid Agonist Treatment		Web page
2020	Chronic non-cancer pain management and opioid resources	Web page containing links to resources pertaining to chronic non-cancer pain management and opioid prescribing resources	Web page
2017	2017 Canadian Opioid Prescribing Guideline	PDF poster detailing the key points of the 2017 Canadian Opioid Prescribing Guideline	PDF
2017	Safe prescribing practices for addictive medications and management of substance use disorders in primary care: A pocket reference for primary care providers	A quick-reference tool for primary care providers on implementing best practices for prescribing potentially addictive medications and managing substance use disorders	PDF

Cancer Care

Chair: Dr. Gen Chaput (Quebec)
Vice Chair: Dr. Jeanette Boyd (British Columbia)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Cancer Care MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2023	“Demystifying breast cancer”	The first question a patient often asks their family physician after receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer is “What will my treatment be?” This article helps family physicians answer this complex question.	CFP article
2023	“Lung cancer crash course”	This article provides family physicians with a crash course on the range of possible therapies and outcomes in the treatment of lung cancer.	CFP article
2023	“Common oncologic emergencies”	This article reviews the presentation and management of three common oncologic emergencies: malignant spinal cord compression, superior vena cava obstruction, and febrile neutropenia.	CFP article
2022	“Vaccination considerations for patients receiving cancer therapy”	This article reviews vaccination in patients who are receiving cancer treatment, including safety, timing, and optimization of response to vaccination.	CFP article
2022	“Targeted cancer therapies: Clinical pearls for primary care”	This article discusses how targeted therapy works, why specific therapies may or may not be options, and what adverse effects are possible.	CFP article
2022	“Mitigating COVID-19's impact of missed and delayed cancer diagnoses”	A commentary paper and supporting patient and provider infographics highlighting the impact of COVID-19 on cancer diagnoses and how family physicians can mitigate the effects	CFP article Provider Infographic Patient Infographic
2022	“Endocrine therapies for breast and prostate cancers”	This article provides an overview of endocrine therapy, with a focus on breast and prostate cancer agents	CFP article
2022	“Chemotherapy basics for family physicians”	A summary of chemotherapy essentials for family physicians	CFP article
2021	Canadian Cancer Screening Updates	This webinar reviews recent developments in screening for lung, breast, colon, and cervical cancers	CFPCLearn (webinar)
2021	“Radiotherapy: Clinical pearls for primary care”	This article provides a summary of the basic principles, techniques, indications, and side effects of radiotherapy	CFP article
2021	“Immunotherapy”	This article summarizes the basic principles of immunotherapy, cancers commonly treated by immunotherapy, how it is administered, and its side effects	CFP article
2021	The Spectrum of Cancer Care from a Family Physician Perspective	A series of webinars and podcasts covering the spectrum of cancer care from a family physician perspective. Topics include tips for expediting cancer diagnosis, cognitive and psychosocial impacts for cancer survivors, surveillance and recurrence prevention, and long-term side effects of cancer therapy	CFPCLearn (webinars and podcasts)
2021	“Cancer diagnosis in primary care: Six steps to reducing the diagnostic interval”	A six-step guide to help primary care providers decrease the diagnostic interval and enable a more positive patient outcome	CFP article
2021	“Cancer screening in Canada: What’s in, what’s out, what’s coming”	Summary of current screening guidelines for prostate, lung, colorectal, cervical, ovarian, and breast cancers and clinical pearls for practice	CFP article
2019	Breast Cancer Survivorship Tool	Tool designed to educate family physicians and empower their patients who have completed curative therapy for breast cancer to follow their own care	Fillable PDF

Chair: Dr. Pierre-Paul Tellier (Quebec)
Affiliated Conjoint Committee: Joint Action Committee on Child and Adolescent Health

The Child and Adolescent Health Member Interest Group was established under the Section of Family Physicians with Special Interests or Focused Practices in 2011 (now known as the Member Interest Groups Section) and includes the work of the Joint Action Committee on Child and Adolescent Health (JACCAH), which was established in 1997.

JACCAH is a conjoint committee that includes representation from the CFPC by the chair of the Child and Adolescent MIG and from the Canadian Paediatric Society.

The shared objective of JACCAH is to ensure that children and adolescents receive the highest standard of medical care. To achieve this goal, these organizations have established a Joint Action Committee to initiate priorities for addressing the most urgent health needs of children and adolescents.

The purpose of this Joint Action Committee is to provide a unified voice for both organizations.

Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Child and Adolescent Health MIG and/or JACCAH:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2023	“Adolescent medicine training in postgraduate family medicine education: A scoping review”	Adolescents and young adults require age-appropriate health care services delivered by clinicians with expertise in adolescent medicine. This scoping review published in the International Journal of Adolescent Health and Medicine maps the breadth and depth of the current evidence about adolescent medicine training for family medicine residents.	Article
2022	Caring for Your Sexual and Gender-Diverse Youth	A podcast by Dr. Pierre-Paul Tellier discussing caring for sexual and gender-diverse youth	Podcast

Chronic Pain

Chair: Dr. Lori Montgomery (Alberta)
Vice Chair: Dr. Karen Appel (Manitoba)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Chronic Pain MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2022	Healthy Lifestyle Tips for Managing Your Chronic Pain	Learn about quick and easy tips from Dr. Lydia Hatcher to use in your office visit when dealing with patients with chronic pain. You don’t need more time, just more effective ways to help that don’t involve medication or expensive therapies.	Podcast
2022	PEER Simplified Chronic Pain Guideline: Management of low back, osteoarthritic, and neuropathic pain	A podcast by Dr. Lori Montgomery reviewing the most recent guideline for management of chronic pain in family medicine.	Podcast
2022	Lignes directrices simplifiées de PEER sur la douleur chronique (Only available in French)	Gestion de la douleur chronique lombaire, arthrosique et neuropathique en première ligne Discussion des nouvelles lignes directrice simplifiées de PEER sur la douleur chronique. La gestion de la douleur lombaire, arthrosique et neuropathique sont discutées.	Podcast
2021	Simplifying Non-Pharmacological Treatments for Chronic Pain	A series of webinars and podcasts with supporting infographics covering four non-pharmacological treatments for chronic pain: mindfulness, cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, and movement	CFPCLearn (webinars and podcasts) Mindfulness infographic Cognitive behavioural therapy infographic Motivational interviewing infographic Movement infographic
2019	“Managing opioid use disorder in primary care: PEER simplified guideline”	Clinical practice guideline for a simplified approach to managing opioid use disorder in primary care	CFP article
2018	Medical Cannabinoids Guideline Summary	Two-page infographic summary of simplified guideline for prescribing medical cannabinoids in primary care	PDF
2018	“Simplified guideline for prescribing medical cannabinoids in primary care”		CFP article
2017	Chronic Pain and Opioid Resources	Document with links to external resources and practice support (e.g., guidelines, clinical support/mentorship networks, courses, etc.)	PDF

Dermatology

Chair: Dr. Craig Crippen (British Columbia)
Vice Chair: Dr. Olusoji Adewole (Alberta)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Dermatology MIG:

Year Title Description Links

N/A Coming soon

Developmental Disabilities

Chair: Dr. Ian Casson (Northwest Territories)
Vice Chair: Dr. Alicia Thatcher (Saskatchewan)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Developmental Disabilities MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2023	Podcast: IDD Health check Tool	Part of the FM Rounds Podcast Series. Dr. Ian Casson joins us to provide his expert insight into IDD Health Check, a primary care tool for comprehensive health assessments of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.	CFPCLearn Spotify Apple Music
Coming Soon	Developmental Disabilities Webinar Series	A five-part webinar series in which each episode will be case-based, chosen and presented by a family physician, and, in some cases, supported by other specialists, as appropriate to the topic.	Coming soon!
2023	Health Check Tool	A practice guide for implementing the updated Health Check Tool into clinical practice to enhance feasibility.	Web page
2019	CFP Second special issue on primary care of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, focusing on care later in life		CFP supplement link
2018	“Primary care of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: 2018 consensus guidelines”		CFP article
2018	CFP Special issue on primary care of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities		CFP supplement link

Emergency Medicine

Chair: Dr. Jock Murray (Nova Scotia)
Vice Chair: Dr. Sarah Foohey (Ontario)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Emergency Medicine MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2022	Emergency Medicine Virtual Simulation Olympics	A virtual simulation event at FMF where teams of family medicine residents competed in three rounds of friendly competition diagnosing and treating patients	Video

Enhanced Surgical Skills

Chair: Dr. Ryan Falk (Northwest Territories)
Vice Chair: Dr. Nicole Ebert (British Columbia)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Enhanced Surgical Skills MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2022	Rural anesthesia, surgery, and obstetric care in Canada	Dr. Nick Pimlott interviews Dr. Stuart Iglesias, a retired rural family physician with anesthesia and surgical skills and a tireless champion for high-quality rural and remote medical care in Canada.	Podcast
2022	“Consensus statement on networks for high-quality rural anesthesia, surgery, and obstetric care in Canada”	A consensus statement that describes the essential components of well-resourced and high-functioning multidisciplinary networks that support high-quality anesthesia, surgery, and maternity care for rural Canadians delivered as close to home as possible	CFP article
2015	Enhanced Surgical Skills playlist	YouTube playlist of videos demonstrating surgical procedures curated by the ESS MIG Chair	YouTube

Family Practice Anesthesia

Chair: Dr. Nadia Alam (Ontario)
Affiliated conjoint committee: Collaborative Advisory Group for General and Family Practice Anesthesia (CAGA)

The Family Practice Anesthesia MIG was established under the Section of Family Physicians with Special Interests or Focused Practices in 2011 (now known as the Member Interest Groups Section) and includes the work of the Collaborative Advisory Group for General and Family Practice Anesthesia (CAGA). CAGA facilitates discussions and communication between the CFPC, the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada, and the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society about issues relevant to members. The chair of the Family Practice Anesthesia MIG serves as the CFPC representative on CAGA.

Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Family Practice Anesthesia MIG and/or CAGA:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2022	Rural anesthesia, surgery, and obstetric care in Canada	Dr. Nick Pimlott interviews Dr. Stuart Iglesias, a retired rural family physician with anesthesia and surgical skills and a tireless champion for high-quality rural and remote medical care in Canada.	Podcast
2022	“Consensus statement on networks for high-quality rural anesthesia, surgery, and obstetric care in Canada”	A consensus statement that describes the essential components of well-resourced and high-functioning multidisciplinary networks that support high-quality anesthesia, surgery, and maternity care for rural Canadians, delivered as close to home as possible	CFP article

Gastrointestinal and Digestive Health

Chair: Dr. Val Ginzburg (Ontario)
Vice Chair: Dr. Joel Kroeker (Ontario)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Gastrointestinal and Digestive Health member interest group:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2023	Podcast: Watery Diarrhea	Part of the FM Rounds Podcast Series. Dr. Val Ginzburg discusses the topic of watery diarrhea as a common gastrointestinal and digestive health issue in family medicine practice.	CFPCLearn Spotify Apple Music

Global Health

Chair: Dr. Mona Haidar (Ontario)
Vice Chair: Dr. Yasmin Majeed (Alberta)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Global Health MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2022	Global Health Webinar Series 2022	A series of webinars examining advancing health equity in family medicine.	Webinar 1: “LGBTQI+ Refugee Health: What Family Physicians Need to Know”
2020/2021	Webinar series explores caring for vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic	In 2020/2021 the Global Health member Interest group hosted a three-part webinar series exploring the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations and the provision of care for these populations during the pandemic. These webinars were recorded and can be viewed using the links provided.	Webinar 1: “Serving Refugee and Immigrant Populations During COVID-19” Webinar 2: “Caring for the Homeless Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic” Webinar 3: “The Impact of COVID-19 on Prison Populations”
2017	“Practicing family medicine in a new world order”	Article from several members of the Global Health MIG and colleagues	CFP article

Health Care of the Elderly

Chair: Dr. Sidney Feldman (Ontario)
Vice Chair: Dr. Vivian Ewa (Alberta)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Health Care of the Elderly MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2017	Clinical Snippet: Rapid Screening Tools for Dementia and Depression	A brief overview of rapid screening tools available to family physicians to assist with patients who may present with depression and dementia	PDF
2017	Clinical Snippet: Driving Retirement	A brief overview of discussions with patients and their families about driving retirement	PDF

Health and Environment

Chair: Dr. Domenica Tambasco (Ontario)
Vice Chair: Dr. Larry Barzelai (British Columbia)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Health and Environment Member Interest Group:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2023	Podcast: Taking an Environmental Exposure History	Part of the FM Rounds Podcast Series. Listen as Dr. Domenica Tambasco and Dr. Victor Ng discuss how environmental exposures have a significant impact on health and well-being, and how family physicians play a crucial role identifying and managing these exposures.	CFPCLearn Spotify Apple Music

Hospital Medicine

Chair: Dr. Ovie Albert (Saskatchewan)
Vice Chair: Dr. Eddy Malouf (Quebec)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Hospital Medicine MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2023	Hospital Medicine Mini-Series	This four-part webinar series covers the following topics: Diversity Of Career Paths With Hospital Medicine Determining Level of Intervention in the Time of COVID-19 Building Up Academics at Your Hospital Work-Life Balance in Hospital Medicine Also available as a podcast.	Link to video and podcast series

Maternity and Newborn Care

Chair: Dr. Milena Forte (Ontario)
Vice Chair: Dr. Sanja Kostov (Alberta)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Maternity and Newborn Care MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2023	Teaching Perinatal Care: A Practical Guide	Written by experienced family doctors, midwives, and obstetricians, this book offers insightful advice, step-by-step teaching guides, and helpful visual models for all educators involved in teaching their learners about the care in the perinatal period.	Book
Coming Soon	Anthology of Family Medicine Birth Stories	A collection of stories and poems of birth stories from primary care providers to promote and raise the visibility of the valuable work that family physicians provide in caring for patients through their birth journeys.
2022	“The medical learner perspective: Family medicine obstetrics as a specialty choice”	This Canadian Family Physician piece explores current medical learners’ experiences in discovering the specialty of family medicine obstetrics (FM-OB) and how medical students suggest better integration of FM-OB into the undergraduate medical curriculum.	CFP article
2017	Priority Topics and Key Features for the Assessment of Competence in Intrapartum and Perinatal Care	Document outlines what to assess to determine competence in intrapartum and perinatal care for family medicine using the CFPC’s traditional approach of developing priority topics, procedures, and key features	PDF

Mental Health

Chair: Dr. Javed Alloo (Ontario)
Affiliated conjoint committee: Collaborative Working Group on Shared Mental Health Care (CWGSMHC)

The Mental Health Member Interest Group (MIG) represents the interests of all CFPC members providing mental health care, including those for whom this is part of their broad scope family practice and those with a special interest or focused practice.

The Mental Health MIG was established under the Section of Family Physicians with Special Interests or Focused Practices (SIFP) in 2010—now known as the Member Interest Groups Section—and includes the work of the Collaborative Working Group on Shared Mental Health Care (CWGSMHC), which was established in 1997. The CWGSMHC is a conjoint committee that includes representation from the CFPC and the Canadian Psychiatric Association. The chair of the Mental Health MIG serves as the CFPC representative on the CWGSMHC.

The shared objective of the CWGSMHC is to work collaboratively to enhance the quality of health care for all Canadians with mental illness or emotional problems. Its members continue to implement strategies identified in “The Evolution of Collaborative Mental Health Care in Canada: A Shared Vision for the Future,” their 2011 CPA/CFPC position paper.

Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Mental Health MIG and/or the CWGSMHC:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2023	“Collaborative mental health care in Canada: Challenges, opportunities, and new directions”	A position paper by the Collaborative Working Group on Shared Mental Health Care (CWGSMHC) to provide guidance to providers, administrators, educators, researchers, and funders to accelerate the introduction of more standardized, evidence-supported approaches to care, and to enhance our understanding of the role of collaboration in addressing wider issues facing any health care system.	Article
2023	“Collaborative mental health care: Engaging health systems to support a team-based approach”	A commentary emphasizing key elements from the position paper as it relates to family medicine, providing practical tips for family physicians to support collaborative care in their practice.	CFP article
2018	Best Advice guide: Recovery-Oriented Mental Health and Addiction Care in the Patient’s Medical Home	Provides guidance to family physicians and their teams offering mental health and addiction treatment services using a recovery-oriented approach	Web page Full PDF Summary guide PDF
N/A	CFPC/CPA Collaborative Mental Health Care Awards	Highlight important work being done in in Canada to improve access to effective mental health care, enhance mental health service delivery, and increase family physicians’ capacity to identify and meet the mental health care needs of their patients	Web page

Occupational Medicine

Chair: Dr. Burton McCann (Nova Scotia)
Vice Chair: Dr. Alfredo Tura (British Columbia)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Occupational Medicine MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2023	Best Advice guide: Resources and Considerations in Providing Care to Veterans, 2nd Edition	The document highlights considerations to address the key health needs of Veteran patients while sharing best practices, practical tips, and more patient-centric resources, including inserts on equity-seeking and under-represented Veteran groups.	Book
2020	Clinical Snippet: Handling patient requests for accommodation at work related to the COVID-19 pandemic		PDF
2018	Clinical snippets ebook	A compilation of clinical snippets written by members of the Occupational Medicine Member Interest Group, covering topics such as identifying occupational health hazards, concussion in the workplace, and the family physician’s role in return to work.	PDF

Palliative Care

Chair: Dr. Amit Arya (Ontario)
Vice Chair: Dr. Carmen Johnson (Saskatchewan)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Palliative Care MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
2022	Delirium at End of Life: The dying brain	New research has improved new insights into the pathophysiology of neurotransmitter derangement in the delirious brain. Hear how these derangements contribute to the morbidity and mortality of delirium.	Podcast
2018	Speak Up! Advance Care Planning Infographic	Developed in collaboration with Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association to increase awareness among family physicians about advance care planning and help start conversations with patients about this subject	PDF

Physician Wellness and Resilience

Chair: Dr. Erin Bearss (Ontario)
Vice Chair: Dr. Sarah Kim (Ontario)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Physician Wellness and Resilience MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
Coming Soon	Mindful self-compassion infographics to support patients and providers
2024	Physician Wellness Retreat	A retreat focused on physician wellness scheduled for May 23 – 26, 2024, and taking place in Kananaskis, Alberta.	Coming Soon

Prison Health

Chair: Dr. Claire Bodkin (Ontario)
Vice Chair: Dr. Nooshin Nikoo (British Columbia)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Prison Health MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
Coming Soon	Health Advocacy for the Role of Confronting Solitary Confinement	This tool kit defines a new standard of care that empowers family physicians and other health care providers in supporting patients exposed to the inhumane practice of solitary confinement, and advocates for its abolition.
2022	Caring for Patients Who Are Detained in Community Settings	In this episode of Family Medicine Rounds, Dr. Claire Bodkin explores how racism, colonization, and other forms of oppression shape who is seeking health care while detained by law enforcement, and how family physicians can provide high-quality care to this patient population.	Podcast
2020	Position Statement on Access to Opioid Agonist Treatment		Web page PDF (Information release)
2019	CFPC Position Statement: A call to limit the detention of immigrants		PDF
2017	CFPC endorsed CCPHE document Guidelines for Family Physicians Working with Formerly Incarcerated People		PDF
Original: 2016 Reviewed: 2022	Position Statement on Healthcare Service Delivery in Prison		PDF
Original: 2016 Reviewed: 2022	Position Statement on Solitary Confinement		PDF
2016	Best Practices for the Recruitment and Retention of Physicians in Correctional Facilities		PDF
2016	Working as a Physician in Correctional Facilities in Canada		PDF

Sport and Exercise Medicine

Chair: Dr. Lisa Liang (Ontario)
Vice Chair: Dr. Nitai Gelber (Ontario)
Resources developed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Sport and Exercise Medicine MIG:

Year	Title	Description	Links
Coming Soon	MSK Practical Examination Techniques	An ebook outlining musculoskeletal practical examination techniques for family physicians.
2019	Position Statement: Physical Activity Assessment and Counselling: A key determinant of health for every Canadian		PDF
2017	Joint Position Statement: The Role of Family Physicians and Physicians with Added Competencies in Sport and Exercise Medicine in a Public Health Approach to Concussions		PDF

What's new

New tool helps improve health care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)

Developed in partnership with eHealth Centre of Excellence and Surrey Place, the IDD Health Check helps physicians provide more efficient and effective preventive care for patients with IDD.
Learn more about the tool.

MIGS Annual Report
June 2022 to March 2023

We’re pleased to announce the launch of a new member interest group:

Gastrointestinal and Digestive Health Member Interest Group:
Led by Dr. Val Ginzburg (Chair) and Dr. Joel Kroeker (Vice-chair), this group aims to establish quality education and standards for provision of gastrointestinal services by primary care providers across Canada.

We are proud to support Let’s Clear the Air; a new campaign to raise awareness about the importance of breathing tests for those with suspected asthma or COPD.

This initiative aims to encourage thoughtful conversations between clinicians and patients who have received a diagnosis of asthma or COPD. The goal is to avoid unnecessary treatment and misdiagnosis that can occur without a proper breathing test.

To help get these conversations started, resources have been developed for patients and clinicians.

How do I join the Member Interest Groups Section?

To join the Member Interest Groups Section please follow the steps listed below. There will be no added fees or other requirements expected of you to become part of this College activity. You will receive a welcome email inviting you to sign up for MiGroups and informing you that you’ve been added to the MIGS contact list to receive our newsletter and other important information.

Log into your account through the CFPC Portal.
Go to “My Account.”
Select “Account Preferences.”
Click “Sections.” All member interest groups are listed there and you can choose any or all from the list that you would be interested in joining.

MIGS Strategic Plan 2020–2025

We are excited to announce the release of the first strategic plan of the Member Interest Groups Section (MIGS), which covers the period of 2020 to 2025. MIGS was created through a redesign of the Section of Communities of Practice in Family Medicine. Our areas of focus have been streamlined to encompass thought leadership, practice support, education/training, and policy/advocacy. We look forward to implementing this plan to continue supporting each of you in your practice.

Criteria and Application Request Form to Establish a New Member Interest Group

Do you have an idea for a new member interest group for the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)? We’ve developed a new form to guide you through the application process.

The CFPC created the Member Interest Groups Section (MIGS) to connect members with similar practice interests. We currently have 21 member interest groups that give family physicians opportunities to share information and develop helpful practice tools. But because family medicine is a dynamic field, we recognize that emerging topics may arise that could warrant the establishment of new member interest groups. This is your opportunity to help shape the future.

Our application form provides the criteria that the CFPC and the MIGS Council will use to review proposals for new member interest groups. We designed the questions to help you explain the need for a new member interest group, demonstrate support for its creation, and provide examples of the kind of work the group would do.

If you have any questions about the form or the criteria, please contact [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!

Who we are

Member Interest Groups (MIGs) link CFPC members across Canada who have similar practice interests to foster professional peer connections and to explore/address issues that affect family medicine.

The Member Interest Groups Section (MIGS) is designed to support the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s (CFPC’s) dedication to providing a professional home for family physicians across a diversity of clinical and non-clinical interests and practice types. Currently the Section comprises 21 different member interest groups (MIGs). Established by family physicians for family physicians, MIGs link members with similar practice interests to share information, make connections, and develop and access practice supports and educational material.

All CFPC members are encouraged to affiliate with at least one MIG that connects with their clinical work and interests. Currently over 11,000 CFPC members have expressed an interest in topics represented by one of the 21 MIGs. The updated MIGS structure and technological enhancements provide greater opportunities for members to regularly connect, collaborate, and work with colleagues across the country. These will also allow for the creation of new groups.

The MIGS supports CFPC members in their practices by:

Providing a professional home for family physicians across a diversity of practice types and across clinical and non-clinical interests
Connecting members with similar practice interests across Canada to share information, learn, develop, and access practice-related resources
Creating, contributing to, and delivering educational programs ranging from undergraduate medical education to continuing professional development, clinical resources, and guidelines
Helping to inform and assist the CFPC’s advocacy efforts

Sign up

Log in to your membership profile and indicate which MIGs are of interest to you. There will be no added fees or other requirements expected of you to become part of this College activity. You will receive a welcome email inviting you to sign up for MiGroups and be added to contact list to receive our newsletter and other important information.

Council Members

Dr. Benjamin Schiff

(Chair, 2023–2026)
MD CM, CCFP, FCFP

Dr. Muna Chowdhury

MD, CCFP, FCFP

Dr. Genevieve Chaput

MD, MEd, CCFP(PC)

Dr. Ovie Albert

MBBS, LMCC, CCFP, MSc (Occ Med)

Dr. Naila Kassam

MD, MBA, CCFP

Dr. Burton McCann

MD, JD, CCFP, CIME, CCBOM, FCFP, FACOEM

Dr. Lori Montgomery

CCFP, FCFP, CHE

Dr. Nooshin Nikoo

MD, MHSc , CCFP

Dr. Sarah Kim

MD, CCFP(SEM), FCFP, MHSc, BA

Frequently asked questions

What is MIGS? Why does this group exist within the CFPC?
MIGS is the short form for the Member Interest Groups Section. This Section reflects that family medicine is dedicated to comprehensive care and that family physicians will have different skill sets and interests and will work in communities with different needs.

The Section is made up of different Member Interest Groups (MIGs) that connect family physicians who work within or have a strong interest in one or more specific areas of practice. The MIGs help to:
- Develop and provide education, both to physicians who identify as belonging to a community of practice and to the broader membership (including residents and medical students)
- Give Section members a powerful voice in national and international discussions
- Advocate for system changes to support physicians who work within an area of practice
- Support College members in their day-to-day practices
- Facilitate communication and increase engagement among College members who have similar practice interests
What are the current Member Interest Groups (MIGs)?

Currently, there are 21 recognized MIGs.
How do the MIGs serve me?
- By building networks of members within these domains of practice to enable communication and to share information
- By developing policies relevant to these areas of practice
- By advocating on behalf of family physicians who include the area of care in their practices
- By recommending and developing continuing professional development activities, including for the Annual Scientific
Assembly program at Family Medicine Forum
- By serving as a resource for the Section of Teachers regarding core content for the family medicine residency curriculum
- By assisting with practice support tools and policies to enhance the practice life of members
How do I sign up?
There are a few ways you can register to become a member of a MIG:
- Indicate your area of interest on your CFPC membership renewal form
- Sign-up sheets are available at the CFPC booth at FMF
- Send an email indicating your areas of interest to [email protected]
How do I create a new MIG?

Criteria and Application Request Form to Establish a New Member Interest Group

Do you have an idea for a new member interest group for the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)? We’ve developed a new form to guide you through the application process.

The CFPC created the Member Interest Groups Section (MIGS) to connect members with similar practice interests. We currently have 21 member interest groups that give family physicians opportunities to share information and develop helpful practice tools. But because family medicine is a dynamic field, we recognize that emerging topics may arise that could warrant the establishment of new member interest groups. This is your opportunity to help shape the future.

Our application form provides the criteria that the CFPC and the MIGS Council will use to review proposals for new member interest groups. We designed the questions to help you explain the need for a new member interest group, demonstrate support for its creation, and provide examples of the kind of work the group would do.

If you have any questions about the form or the criteria, please contact [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!
What’s the difference—or the connection—between the MIGS and CACs?

There is no direct link between Certificates of Added Competence (CACs) and the MIGS. A CAC is a certificate issued in recognition of specific competencies in a domain of care. The MIGS is a much broader entity: a home within the College for all those physicians who belong to an identifiable member interest group. The MIGS recognizes 21 interest groups, seven of which happen to match areas that have already been approved for CACs.

You do not have to possess a CAC to be part of a MIG, nor do you have to belong to a MIG to hold a CAC. Read more about CACs.

Contact us

You can reach the MIGS team at [email protected].
Contact the CFPC by phone at (905) 629-0900 or 1-800-387-6197 and ask for the MIGS team.

MIGS team

Victor Ng, MD, CCFP (EM), MSc, MHPE – Associate Director, Programs and Practice Support
TBD – MIGS Physician Advisor
Stephanie Truelove, PhD – MIGS Project Manager
Julie Turmel, PhD – MIGS Assistant Manager
André Girouard - MIGS Engagement Coordinator
Rania Alalem – MIGS Coordinator