Sometimes, it's good to just to remember why we do what we do. Beyond the daily grind, uncertain short term professional outlook (in Ontario), and sudden jolts of gut wrenching stress it is still a exciting, often joyful challenge and always a privilege to work in medicine.
This link is to the OMA's Ontario's Doctors site which is set up to celebrate Doctor's Day this year.
I like the hashtag for this year. #DocsRock
I hope our PGY2 QBOL residents are "rocking" their licensing exams this week.
Documenting the start of the new Queen's Family Medicine training site based in the Region of Durham and the hospitals of Lakeridge Health. Here, you will be able to find out about what we offer as a site in terms of curriculum, communities, and activities.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Plans for the Summer of 2015?
I am still trying to decide what to do with this blog. I don't know if annually showing photos of the Toolbox activities, simulation labs, etc. every year is the best use of this space. If you have any suggestions, please do leave a comment or contact me.
Rest assured, the QBOL site is doing well. There is a lot of activity as our second years prepare their research posters and presentations and then prepare to face their exam.
We have had great interest in our site during this year's CaRMS process and it is always a true pleasure to meet so many future colleagues through our information sessions and interviews.
Here is something different which is happening in our area this summer: the Pan Am Games. This link is a request for volunteers for the games if you should happen to be in the area this summer.
Monday, June 30, 2014
Congratulations to our first group of QBOL FM graduates!
It's June 30th so that means it's finally time to say goodbye to our first group of QBOL FM graduates! I'm happy to report that our residents were very successful in their licensing exams and are ready to move on to the next phases in their careers. For some, it's additional third year training and for others, starting into practice. From all, I expect big things! You have been a wonderful group to work with over the past two years.
We had a couple lovely events last week to mark this special occasion: a local QBOL celebration that was well attended by both residents and preceptors at the Brock House in Whitby and a formal graduation ceremony followed by a DFM party with awards presentations in Kingston.
I was ecstatic to see Dr. Aubrey Kassirer earn this year's Dr. Donald Potvin Memorial Award from the Department of Family Medicine for his outstanding work, never-ending enthusiasm, and positive role-modeling as an exemplary community Family Medicine Preceptor.
It's been over four years of work to get to this point. Starting with a great group of residents helped our site enormously but I know we would not have had nearly this amount of early success without the efforts of all our preceptors here, especially the members of my Site Committee, and to our many wonderful supports from the main site in Kingston, especially Dr. Karen Schultz, Queen's Family Medicine Program Director.
But honestly, there isn't the time to even try to find some laurels to rest on as we prepare to welcome our next batch of QBOL residents in a couple days!
Have a safe and happy Canada Day tomorrow, everyone!
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| QBOL residents and preceptors - a great team! |
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| Of course there was cake! |
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| Our residents at the graduation party in Kingston. |
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| Some nice things being said about Dr. Kassirer. |
But honestly, there isn't the time to even try to find some laurels to rest on as we prepare to welcome our next batch of QBOL residents in a couple days!
Have a safe and happy Canada Day tomorrow, everyone!
Monday, June 16, 2014
2014 Fiesta Week is here!
It's the week after Father's Day which means Fiesta Week is again upon us here in Oshawa. This year, it's a milestone 40th anniversary for Fiesta Week! Congratulations to everybody who has been involved with this vibrant event over the years.
I usually make mention of this as my favourite festival in Oshawa during my recruitment speeches so this year, I thought I would take the time to post a link to the actual Fiesta Week website.
This is a fantastic opportunity for people to enjoy a cultural and food exchange at the fifteen pavilions set up throughout the area this week. The performances are always entertaining and you can't help but come away with a deeper appreciation for the various multicultural roots that nourish Oshawa.
If you are in the area, please stop by at least one of the pavilions for lunch or dinner (purchased Fiesta Week passports are required for evening meals and performances) this week. You won't be disappointed!
I usually make mention of this as my favourite festival in Oshawa during my recruitment speeches so this year, I thought I would take the time to post a link to the actual Fiesta Week website.
This is a fantastic opportunity for people to enjoy a cultural and food exchange at the fifteen pavilions set up throughout the area this week. The performances are always entertaining and you can't help but come away with a deeper appreciation for the various multicultural roots that nourish Oshawa.
If you are in the area, please stop by at least one of the pavilions for lunch or dinner (purchased Fiesta Week passports are required for evening meals and performances) this week. You won't be disappointed!
Friday, June 13, 2014
New PGY-1s to start in July!
Posted on behalf of Nathalie:
Congratulations to our new residents starting at QBOL! July 2014 marks our third year “up and running.” We're all excited and eager to meet the incoming class in July :)
The first month is fittingly known as the "toolbox" month, preparing residents for what's ahead. During this month, residents will attend orientation activities (including a scavenger hunt through Durham!), complete training courses, and be introduced to the various longitudinal experiences that will be interspersed with their family medicine clinics throughout residency. Then we will unleash their enthusiastic energy upon the Durham region, as they start to see patients and continue their paths towards becoming independent, wonderful family physicians!
Many people in Oshawa and Bowmanville are still pleasantly surprised to learn that there are Queen's family medicine residents based in Durham for their entire residency training, as previously Queen's only sent residents on time-limited rotations. However, as our QBOL program continues to bring in new residents, we'll continue to spread the word! Welcome QBOL class of 2016!
Nathalie
QBOL Site Chief Resident, 2014-15
Thursday, March 6, 2014
2014 Primary Care Research Day
Last week, I had the good fortune to be able to attend Primary Care Research Day which was presented by the Centre for Studies in Primary Care and the Department of Family Medicine at Queen's University at the Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront on February 27, 2014.
This is the first year that we have had residents from QBOL presenting their research projects at Research Day. As in previous years, I was extremely impressed by the various projects that all of the residents are able to produce during their time at Queen's - there is always a few new things I take away from the projects. But it really added something for me seeing QBOL residents up with their posters and presentations. I think I was having something similar to a "proud parent" moment all day...
Speaking of proud parent feelings, Dr. Trisha Rys, was prepared to present her poster on: Aboriginal advocacy but instead had to attend to her own, more pressing parenting issue. Congratulations on your new addition!
Dr. Chemanthi Kalen presented a poster (and web module) entitled: Approach to acne scar management for the family physician.
Dr. Corey Boimer presented: Digital nerve block techniques - a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Dr. Kate Newton presented: Factors influencing choice of residency site: does curriculum organization matter?
Dr. Kevin Lam presented: Exploring the complexity conundrum for Ontario family physicians in care of the elderly: a cross sectional study.
Dr. Stephanie Marshall presented her poster: Management of infertility in primary care: current practice trends in Durham region.
I found all of their projects very informative (but I may be biased). It is great to see some family practice research starting locally. I think this will be the catalyst for even more scholarly activity in family medicine here in Durham Region.
Then, to top the day off, two of our residents won Research Day awards! Dr. Kalen for best poster and Dr. Boimer for best review. Again, what a phenomenal inaugural research day showing by QBOL. We are blessed to have such a fantastic group of residents here!
Finally, I want to close by thanking Dr. Michael Ward who is our QBOL Research lead. The quality of his guidance and his infectious enthusiasm for research certainly shone through in all of the projects that came from our site. Congratulations, Mike!
This is the first year that we have had residents from QBOL presenting their research projects at Research Day. As in previous years, I was extremely impressed by the various projects that all of the residents are able to produce during their time at Queen's - there is always a few new things I take away from the projects. But it really added something for me seeing QBOL residents up with their posters and presentations. I think I was having something similar to a "proud parent" moment all day...
Speaking of proud parent feelings, Dr. Trisha Rys, was prepared to present her poster on: Aboriginal advocacy but instead had to attend to her own, more pressing parenting issue. Congratulations on your new addition!
Dr. Chemanthi Kalen presented a poster (and web module) entitled: Approach to acne scar management for the family physician.
Dr. Corey Boimer presented: Digital nerve block techniques - a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Dr. Kate Newton presented: Factors influencing choice of residency site: does curriculum organization matter?
Dr. Kevin Lam presented: Exploring the complexity conundrum for Ontario family physicians in care of the elderly: a cross sectional study.
Dr. Stephanie Marshall presented her poster: Management of infertility in primary care: current practice trends in Durham region.
I found all of their projects very informative (but I may be biased). It is great to see some family practice research starting locally. I think this will be the catalyst for even more scholarly activity in family medicine here in Durham Region.
Then, to top the day off, two of our residents won Research Day awards! Dr. Kalen for best poster and Dr. Boimer for best review. Again, what a phenomenal inaugural research day showing by QBOL. We are blessed to have such a fantastic group of residents here!
Finally, I want to close by thanking Dr. Michael Ward who is our QBOL Research lead. The quality of his guidance and his infectious enthusiasm for research certainly shone through in all of the projects that came from our site. Congratulations, Mike!
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
CaRMS Results 2014
Well, it was a banner day for QBOL and the general Queen's DFM in terms of our CaRMS results this year. All of our Family Medicine sites / programs matched fully in the first round!
For QBOL, I know this is a reflection of the amount and quality of work that our preceptors and residents put in, not just on the CaRMS interview days, but every day as we all work to make our site the best it can be. So thanks to everyone who has helped us to come so far over the past two years, especially everyone on our Site Committee.
I look forward to getting in touch with our incoming class and getting to know you all better and figuring out how we can best help you on your paths to independent practice.
What better way than to celebrate with QBOL cake?
For QBOL, I know this is a reflection of the amount and quality of work that our preceptors and residents put in, not just on the CaRMS interview days, but every day as we all work to make our site the best it can be. So thanks to everyone who has helped us to come so far over the past two years, especially everyone on our Site Committee.
I look forward to getting in touch with our incoming class and getting to know you all better and figuring out how we can best help you on your paths to independent practice.
What better way than to celebrate with QBOL cake?
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