SGFP Election Results, Digital Health Priorities & New Opportunities to Lead

Dear SGFP members,

SGFP & OMA Election Results

Thank you for your continued trust in me as Chair of the Section on General and Family Practice. It means a great deal, and your SGFP Executive remains focused on fighting for what family doctors need to do their best work caring for patients. Together, we'll keep pushing for real changes that make family medicine in Ontario a career where doctors thrive, and patients get the care they deserve.

The complete election results are now available on the OMA website. I look forward to working with our executive to strengthen family medicine in Ontario.

How Members Are Shaping Our Digital Health Strategy

Digital Health Poll Results (November 29 - December 8)

At a very busy time of year, 168 members completed our Digital Health poll, providing valuable insight that directly informs the work of our new Digital Health Operational Team.

Top 3 priorities:

1. Advocacy for decreased barriers and increased supports for digital health tools to improve operations and reduce burden (e.g., AI scribe, online booking, secure messaging)
2. Ensuring interoperability meets family doctor needs as health systems share data
3. Developing primary care digital health policy that enhances patient care while respecting efficient workflows

Highlights from focus group discussions:

• Need for SGFP to take strong leadership role in digital health initiatives
• Concerns around data governance and ownership, particularly regarding patient records
• Requirements for better support and compensation for digital health work
• Importance of minimizing and streamlining multiple system workflows

The Digital Health Team is using insights from members to develop actionable next steps and inform our operational mandate.

Leadership Opportunities: Expressions of Interest (Reposted from January 24)

SGFP Digital Health Team Recruitment

• Three positions open now through February 21 at 11:59 PM
• Successful candidates will join Dr. Kevin Brophy, our Digital Health Lead
• Team focuses on advancing digital initiatives (IT and Data) aligned with SGFP strategy
• Shortlisted candidates will participate in 15-minute interviews

To learn more about this opportunity, click here.

OMA Representative - Physician Leadership and Engagement Table (PLET)

Established in 2020, the PLET is a sub-committee of the Physician Service Committee, comprising two physician representatives to ensure that physicians’ perspectives are integrated into OHT deliverables and implementation plans.

• One position open now through February 21 at 11:59 PM
• Represents OMA at tri-lateral table with Ministry of Health and Ontario Health
• Seeking primary care-focused member with OHT leadership role

To learn more about this position, click here.

*For questions about either opportunity, contact oma.recruitment@oma.org.

Provincial Election Advocacy

Elections are key opportunities to advance solutions for family medicine in Ontario. To support you, we've developed an "Election Readiness Guide" with targeted questions about family doctor support and access to care. Access to Healthcare consistently polls as a top election issue for Ontarians.

This resource is designed for family doctors and patients to use when speaking with candidates. I encourage you to review the guide and share it widely - every conversation about family medicine during this campaign helps maintain focus on essential issues.

Stay tuned for the results of our recent Physician Payment Committee survey in an upcoming Chair's Letter. Your input through emails, surveys, and focus groups has been valuable in shaping our advocacy work on compensation issues.

Warm regards,

Dr. David Barber
Chair, Section on General and Family Practice (SGFP)