(2) Re: Primary care is the focus of Simon Fraser University’s new School of Medicine

As presidents of the Section of General Internal Medicine and the BC Pediatrics Society, respectively, we would like to congratulate Dr David Price and his colleagues on the exciting progress toward opening Simon Fraser University’s new Stephens Family School of Medicine. We also warmly welcome the inaugural class of medical students and look forward to working with them as they begin their careers.

However, we believe it is important to clarify one point. While pediatricians and general internal medicine physicians care for patients with complex, often undifferentiated medical conditions, these are not primary care specialties, as described by Dr Price [BCMJ 2026;68:196-198] and in the Stephens Family School of Medicine’s mission and vision statements. General internists and pediatricians are consultant specialists who provide referral-based care after 4 to 5 years of postgraduate specialty training.

This distinction is more than semantic. Accurate understanding of general internal medicine and pediatrics in BC (and across Canada) has implications not only for patients and learners but also for physician workforce planning, remuneration, credentialing, licensure, and recognition of internationally trained physicians. As health care systems increasingly recruit physicians from different training backgrounds, precise terminology is essential to ensure that physicians are recognized for the roles and expertise for which they have been trained.

We are grateful that SFU has recognized the value of general internal medicine and pediatrics and the need to strengthen these chronically under-resourced specialties. As the new medical school takes shape, we look forward to helping educate the next generation of physicians and helping ensure that learners understand the unique and essential role that pediatrics and general internal medicine play in British Columbia’s health care system.
—Paul Hertz, MD, FRCPC
President, Section of General Internal Medicine
—Stephen Tsai, MD, FRCPC
President, BC Pediatric Society

This letter was submitted in response to “Primary care is the focus of Simon Fraser University’s new School of Medicine.” Read the author’s response in “Re: Primary care is the focus of Simon Fraser University’s new School of Medicine. Author replies.”