BC at GC: Home sweet home

Issue: BCMJ, vol. 58, No. 8, October 2016, Page 469 News
By: Eric Cadesky, MDCM, CCFP, FCFP

Last year I wrote about the ways that your colleagues represented you and Doctors of BC at the Canadian Medical Association General Council in Halifax. This year we had the pleasure of hosting the “Medical Parliament of Canada” in Vancouver as Dr Granger Avery from Port McNeill was installed as president of the Canadian Medical Association.

As usual, Doctors of BC was one of the most active delegations. Supported by our expert policy team of Helen Thi and Deborah Viccars, we proposed many motions that were then voted into national policy on important issues such as immunization, climate change, resident and student health, indigenous health, and health care reform. Videos on most of these motions can be seen at https://youtube.com/user/CanadianMedicalAssoc/videos?shelf_id=14&sort=dd&view=0.

Your Doctors of BC president, Dr Alan Ruddiman, welcomed General Council and set a tone of unity and respect by acknowledging the difficulties faced by doctors in different provinces and the need to focus on the common goal of providing the best care. We also heard from British Columbia’s Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr Terry Lake, and federal Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr Jane Philpott, who both reciprocated Dr Ruddiman’s invitation by affirming their willingness to collaborate with doctors.

Another theme of General Council was the need to better support and empower those in the first 15: medical students, residents, and early-career physicians. Indeed, the Doctors of BC caucus was one of the most diverse in the 149 years of General Council with 10 of the 33 delegates coming from the first-15 group. They spoke eloquently and passionately and provided unique perspectives on important issues. I have seen our young colleagues and the future is bright.

Next year will be the 150th General Council of the Canadian Medical Association and it will be held in Quebec City. Watch for calls to apply to be part of the Doctors of BC delegation. Also check your inbox in upcoming months for calls for nominations to recognize colleagues and mentors for national awards.

As always, we welcome your input and hope that you continue to be part of our efforts to promote improved health for all. When it comes to improving health policy, we are better together.
—Eric Cadesky, MD, CM
Chair of the General Assembly, Doctors of BC

Eric Cadesky, MDCM, CCFP, FCFP. BC at GC: Home sweet home. BCMJ, Vol. 58, No. 8, October, 2016, Page(s) 469 - News.


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