SGFP On-Call: Schedule Appointment with SGFP Leaders; AGM Reminder; and Strengthening Member Engagement

Dear SGFP Members,

Your experiences and leadership in family medicine continue to shape SGFP’s advocacy and priorities. I would like to highlight a couple of immediate engagement opportunities followed by a review of SGFP’s member engagement approach.

AGM Reminder

SGFP will be holding an in-person AGM, followed by a town hall, in Goderich on Thursday, September 17 at the Benmiller Inn. Please register by September 8.

On-Call Schedule Now Open

You can now schedule a time to meet with SGFP leaders in our next round of SGFP On-Call, available throughout September and October. Demand for these 1:1 conversations with SGFP leaders remains strong and one of the most meaningful ways for us to hear directly from you.

Why This Type of Engagement Matters

The format of engagement matters just as much as the content.

Focused, protected time with members allows us to hear the realities of family medicine with clarity and specificity: the pressures, the gaps, the successes, and the day-to-day challenges that often go unseen. These conversations give us the depth and nuance we need to advocate effectively on your behalf.

With very limited SGFP resources, we have had to make deliberate choices about how we hear from you. We have shifted to a combination of:

• One-to-one engagement through SGFP On-Call 
• Annual community outreach by SGFP leaders
• Annual in-person town hall (e.g., Goderich-2026; Belleville-2025; Thunder Bay-2024)
• Responding to numerous weekly emails
• Let’s Talk Billing Sessions – supported by OMA

Each of these gives us the most direct and impactful connection with so many of you.

Why We Shifted Away from Large Events

In the past, SGFP held large townhall-style events open to all members. With limited time, very few physicians were able to speak. You told us this format wasn’t optimal, and we listened.

Expanding Engagement in the Future

We also want to be transparent: increased SGFP revenue would allow us to expand our engagement capacity, both by strengthening our current approaches and by adding new ones. More resources mean more On‑Call availability, more community visits, and more opportunities to connect with members across the province.

If you are not already contributing to the SGFP constituency fee, you can make your $310 annual contribution any time through MyAccount, or by calling OMA membership toll-free at 1.800.268.7215. 

Your support directly strengthens our ability to engage meaningfully with members and to advocate effectively for family medicine. 

If You Have Concerns About Our Approach

If you have questions or concerns about how we engage, please reach out to us directly. Your feedback helps us refine our approach and ensure it meets the needs of family physicians across Ontario.

Thank you for your continued engagement and for the work you do every day to care for patients and strengthen our profession.

Warm Regards,

Dr. Dave Barber, Chair, SGFP

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