Organizational Timeline
1970s
Leo Plouffe
Executive Committee:
- Atlantic Vice President: Jim McCauley (MUN)
- Ontario Vice President: John Rowen (U of T)
- Western Vice President: Marcia M Johnson (U of S)
Accomplishments:
- Student delegates at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Canadian Medical Colleges recognize the need for a national representative body for medical students and form the Canadian Federation of Medical Student Societies.
Robert Conn
Executive Committee:
- Maritime Director: Kevin Keating (MUN)
- Ontario Director: Jim Watson (UWO)
- Quebec Director: Pierre Tremblay (U of Mtrl)
- Western Director: Lorne Bellan (U of Mb)
Accomplishments:
- After much debate, the Canadian Federation of Medical Student Societies becomes the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS)/La Fédération des étudiants et des étudiantes en Médecine du Canada (FEMC) to better represent the interests of all Canadian medical students and establishes its Constitution; all 16 Canadian medical schools are represented.
- The CFMS/FEMC questions proposed billing restrictions for new graduates to obtain billing numbers and work; this issue would eventually be taken to the Supreme Court of Canada by CFMS alumni as CAIR representatives.
- Mediscan, a quarterly newsletter to update medical students on initiatives from across the country, is created.
Major Issues:
- The CFMS/FEMC advocates for a computerized intern match by the Canadian Intern Matching Service (CIMS).
- Discussion surrounding the elimination of the rotating internship year is an important issue for medical students; the CFMS/FEMC is concerned that it would force early career decision making and would eliminate the opportunity for new graduates to work as a general practitioner for several years before deciding to pursue specialist practice.
- The CFMS/FEMC leads a coordinated effort of medical students across Canada in advocating for final year clerkship stipends from provincial governments.
1980s
Michael Strong
Accomplishments:
- Mediscan, the CFMS/FEMC’s official publication, is adapted to become a biannual journal for Canadian medical students, expanding from its previous role of providing updates to students to being a forum for discussion and the exchange of ideas.
Frank Kriger
Executive Committee:
- Maritime Director: Vicki Tremblay (MUN)
- Ontario Director/Secretary-Treasurer: Murray Asch (UWO)
- Quebec Director: Sylvie Lafrenaye (Sherbrooke)
- Western Director: Kent Sargeant (U of C)
Accomplishments:
- Students at McGill lead an initiative to increase translation of all CFMS/FEMC documentation into both official languages
- The University of Saskatchewan leads the creation of a sports weekend for all Western medical students
Major Issues:
- The CFMS/FEMC explores the possibility of national distribution of medical equipment to decrease the costs to medical students across the country
- Reductions in post-graduate training positions and their impact on Canadian medical students is identified as a critical issue for investigation by the CFMS/FEMC with a potential resulting policy statement
- Canadian Student Loan policy changes require loan repayment to begin 6 months after graduation, decreased from 9 months previously.
Henry Solow
Executive Committee:
- Eastern Canada Representative: Ian Campbell
- Ontario Representative: Chris Buller
- Quebec Representative: Frederic Hould
- Western Regional Director: Joy Dobson
Accomplishments:
- The CFMS/FEMC bans smoking during Annual General Meetings
- National visibility of the CFMS/FEMC is challenge; the organization creates an annual information booklet for distribution to all incoming medical students to inform them of national representation initiatives and issues.
- The CFMS/FEMC resolves to continue the work of representing medical students to the Canadian Intern Matching Service (CIMS).
- Liaison roles with other national organizations such as the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and the Canadian Association of Interns and Residents (CAIR) is expanded to the ACMC through participation in their Postgraduate Education Committee.
- The CFMS/FEMC advocates for Canadian graduates who have gone unmatched in the internship match; these students are offered funded internship positions.
Major Issues:
- McGill’s work to increase translation of CFMS/FEMC documents proves challenging due to lack of funds and difficulty in engaging fluently bilingual students in translation projects.
- Mediscan, the CFMS/FEMC’s national medical student publication, experiences difficulties in collecting appropriate content and meeting appropriate publishing deadlines.
- The inclusion of Graduates of Foreign Medical Schools (GOFMs) into Canadian postgraduate training programs is a major concern for the CFMS/FEMC with ongoing decreases in postgraduate training positions. At this time students graduating from ACMC recognized US and UK medical schools are exempted from additional postgraduate training in Canada.
Marc-Andre Bergeron
Stephen Wheeler
Accomplishments:
- The CFMS/FEMC works with CAIR and PARIBC to challenge restriction in billing numbers by the BC government.
- The matching service board endorses a computerized, standardized matching service, largely due to CFMS/FEMC involvement and advocacy; students are no longer faced with the conflicts of receiving different residency offers at different times.
- The RED binder, a compilation of residency program information from across the country, is created by the CFMS/FEMC reps to distribute hard to find residency program information to all medical students.
Major Issues:
- Implementation of a 2 year licensing requirement for family practice; the CFMS/FEMC is concerned it would reduce students’ ability to change training programs.
Jean Perron
Executive Committee:
- Treasurer: P Woolfey
- Ontario Regional Director: M Kovacs
- Quebec Regional Director: P Harris
- Western Regional Director: E Hildes
Frank Bugeja
Executive Committee:
- VP Finance: K.C. Moran (UWO)
- Atlantic Regional Director: Brendan Carr (Dal)
- Ontario Regional Director: Gordon Paul (UWO)
- Quebec Regional Director: Yves Andre Bureau (McGill)
- Western Regional Director: Kristel Van Ineveld (U of Mb)
Michael MacDonald
Accomplishments:
- The CFMS/FEMC creates a National Student Organ Donor Awareness program.
Brad Dibble
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: May Burgess (U of S)
- VP Education: James F Pradko (U of A)
- VP Finance: Anil (Monty) Kapoor (Dal)
- Ontario Regional Director: Jimmy Hewak (UWO)
- Quebec Regional Director: Gilles Pinault
- Western Regional Director: Betsy Perrin
Accomplishments:
- MEDISCAN, a national publication for medical students, is resurrected as a forum for dialogue on issues important to students.
- The CFMS/FEMC adopts an official logo via a nation-wide competition.
Major Issues:
- The third stream of licensure (intern year + MCCQE exams) is eliminated in favour of a two stream system through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons and the College of Family Physicians of Canada; the CFMS/FEMC questions the requirement of students to sit both MCCQE I and II exams when they will no longer determine licensure.
- Connections between industry and the medical community are a major concern for students, particularly with regards to sponsorship; the CFMS/FEMC chooses not to engage with pharmaceutical companies in sponsorship of any kind.
Anil (Monty) Kapoor
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Stewart McCallum
- VP Education: Keya Hosseinzadeh
- VP Finance: Jeff Kronson (U of Mb)
- VP Services: Giles Pinault
- Ontario Regional Representative: Amol Deshpande
- Quebec Regional Representative: Sarah Bouchard (McGill)
- Western Regional Representative: Cindy Beck (U of C)
1990s
Jeffery Kronson
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Greg Zeschuk (U of A)
- VP Educations: Jim Kim (UBC)
- VP Finance: Stacey Smith (U of S)
- VP Services: Maryann Robb (Queen’s)
- Eastern Regional Representative: Simon Kirby (MUN)
- Ontario Regional Representative: Hansa Bhargava (U of T)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Goutham Rao (McGill)
- Western Regional Representative: Mona Hegdekar (U of Mb)
- International Relations: Anne Dipchand (U of T)
Simon Kirby
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Goutham Rao (McGill)
- VP Educations: Jim Kim (UBC)
- VP Finance: Louise Young (UBC)
- VP External & Services: Tarek Razek (McGill)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Bridget Fernandez (MUN)
- Ontario Regional Representative: Natasha Leigl (U of T)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Astrid Guttmann (McGill)
- Western Regional Representative: Fraser Black (U of C)
Natasha Leighl
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Steve Brown (McMaster)
- VP Educations: Bridget Fernandez (MUN)
- VP Finance: Louise Young (UBC)
- VP Services: Ian Fleetwood (U of Mb)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Corinna Chung (Dal)
- Ontario Regional Representative: Lesley Horton (UWO)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Astrid Guttmann (McGill)
- Western Regional Representative: Craig Buchholz (U of A)
Stephen Brown
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: David Keegan (MUN)
- VP Educations:
- VP Finance:
- VP Services: Desiree Hao (U of T)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Nick Withers (MUN)
- Ontario Regional Representative:
- Quebec Regional Representative:
- Western Regional Representative: Susan Bannister
Accomplishments:
- The CFMS/FEMC participates in the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA) IFMSA for the first time in Denmark. This leads to the development of the Elective Exchange Program, building the foundation for what is now the Global Health Program (GHP).
David Bryant-Keegan
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Susan Bannister
- VP Education: Nick Withers (MUN)
- VP Finance: Steve Crummey (MUN)
- VP Services: Sean Norris
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Anil Gupta
- Ontario Regional Representative: Kevin Busche
- Quebec Regional Representative: Prasad Jetty
- Western Regional Representative: George Sheppard
Nick Withers
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Joshua Tepper (McMaster)
- VP Education: Kevin Busche (UWO)
- VP Finance: Steve Crummey (MUN)
- VP Services:
- Atlantic Regional Representative:
- Ontario Regional Representative:
- Quebec Regional Representative:
- Western Regional Representative:
Accomplishments:
- The CFMS/FEMC establishes links with the IFMSA and together the organizations begin to develop elective exchange opportunities for Canadian Medical Students
- The CFMS/FEMC’s first website is created.
Major Issues:
- Adequate post-residency training positions are a major concern for students, and the CFMS/FEMC’s lobbying efforts are focused on ensuring there is a residency position available for each Canadian graduate.
Kevin Busche
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Joshua Tepper (McMaster)
- VP Education:
- VP Finance:
- VP Services:
- Atlantic Regional Representative:
- Ontario Regional Representative:
- Quebec Regional Representative:
- Western Regional Representative:
Joshua Tepper
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Marc Zerey
- VP Education: Maria Theordureau
- VP Finance: Stephen French (MUN)
- VP Services: Nick Szeket
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Victoria Young
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Alan Chaput & Darlene Fenech (McMaster)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Kendal Noel (McGill)
- Western Regional Representative: Bevan Hughes
Marc Zerey
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Liam Hickey (Dal)
- VP Education: Darlene Fenech (McMaster)
- VP Finance: Stephen French (MUN)
- VP Services: Kendal Noel (McGill)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Regina DuToit (MUN)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Michal Leneman (U of O), Jay Wohlgelernter (McMaster) & Tara Mastracci (McMaster)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Ashley Miller (McGill)
- Western Regional Representative: Raheem Kherani (U of A)
Tara Mastracci
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Pankaj Sengar (U of A)
- VP Education: Liam Hickey (Dal)
- VP Finance: Herbert Brill (UWO)
- VP Services: Jason Kur (U of A)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Sally Bird (Queen’s)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Jason Morrison (Queen’s) & Mike Curry (UWO)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Kendall Noel (McGill)
- Western Regional Representative: Raheem Kherani (U of A)
Accomplishments:
- The CFMS/FEMC’s Rural Outreach Program (CROP) is created to encourage rural high school students to consider a career in medicine by linking medical students from rural areas and those on rural electives with local high school students.
- Position papers on early career decision making, mental health, and deregulation of tuition are developed.
- The CFMS/FEMC becomes more involved with the IFMSA.
Major Issues:
- Concerns around International Medical Graduates are a key issue for Canadian Medical Students.
2000s
Jason Kur
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Adam Natsheh (MUN)
- VP Education: James Clarke (Dal)
- VP Finance: Herbert Brill (Queen’s)
- VP Services: Alim Mitha (U of A)
- International Health Officer: Zohray Moolani (U of A)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Kannin Osei-Tutu (Dal)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Danielle Martin (UWO) & George Zogopoulos (U of T)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Matthew Erskine (McGill)
- Western Regional Representative: Kathy Pouteau (U of C)
Accomplishments:
- The CFMS/FEMC moves into official office space in Ottawa and hires Rosemary Conliffe as Office Manager, establishing a greater presence for representing medical student within the broader medical community.
- The Senior Medical Student Charter is written and adopted, becoming the first document to outline the “rights and responsibilities” of medical students from a student perspective.
- Tuition deregulation is a major concern across Canada, particularly in Ontario; the CFMS/FEMC conducts a national medical student survey comparing student perspectives on the cost of medical education and student debt across deregulated and regulated jurisdictions.
- The CFMS/FEMC engages a new group of Canadian medical student leaders by increasing our role within the IFMSA beyond the coordination of international student exchanges.
- A second Western Regional Representative is added to the organization’s executive structure to support a growing body of medical students in Western Canada.
Major Issues:
- The CFMS/FEMC works hard to advocate for medical students in the transition of CaRMS from a paper-based to a web-based application process.
Matthew Erskine
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Danielle Martin (UWO)
- VP Education: Irfan Dhalla (U of T)
- VP Finance: George Zogopoulos (U of T)
- VP Services: Lance Anderson (UBC)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Kannin Osei-Tutu (Dal)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Savtaj Brar (UWO) & Wadih Matar (U of O)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Jimmy Ghostine (McGill)
- International Health Officer: Neilson McLean (UBC)
- Western Regional Representatives: Kathy Pouteau (U of C) & Aneez Mohamed (UBC)
Accomplishments:
- Affordable medical student disability insurance is made available to all CFMS/FEMC members in partnership with Kirkham and Jack.
- The CFMS/FEMC works with other CaRMS stakeholders to design and implement the E-CaRMS system; Quebec schools enter the CaRMS match for the first time.
- The national profile of medical student debt issues is increased through publishing the results of the national tuition survey, conducted in 2000/01, in the CMAJ.
Major Issues:
- The cost of tuition and level of student debt is on the rise; the CFMS/FEMC is concerned about the decreasing accessibility of medical education.
- The CFMS/FEMC is concerned about insufficient residency spots leading to decreased career flexibility, and insufficient space for IMG training.
Danielle Martin
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Danielle Stothart (U of O)
- VP Education: Ben Hoyt (Dal)
- VP Finance: Ray Firszt (McGill)
- VP Services: Jamie Tibbo (MUN)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Jan Benedict (Dal)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Nicky (Avantika) Marwaha (U of O) & Joshua Wiesenthal (McMaster)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Alana Beres (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Raiyan Chowdhury (U of A) & Vishal Avinashi (U of S)
- International Health Officer: Andre Bernard (Dal)
Accomplishments:
- A new logo and website are created to increase the communication capabilities of the CFMS/FEMC
- The Senior Medical Student Charter is expanded
Major Issues:
- Rising tuition fees are a major concern for students; in response, the CETA - CFMS/FEMC Education Taskforce on Accessibility is established.
Sayeh (Minoosepehr) Zielke
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Ellen Silver (UWO)
- VP Education: Hughie Fraser (U of C)
- VP Finance: Ray Firszt (McGill)
- VP International Programs & Partnerships: Troy Grennan (McMaster)
- VP Services: Vince Chan (Queen’s)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Jessica Guimond (MUN)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Shane English (U of O) & Greg Athaide (McMaster)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Alana Beres (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Keleigh James (U of M) & Lanette Prediger (U of C)
Accomplishments:
- In response to increasing tuition fees and the decreasing accessibility of medical school, the CFMS/FEMC holds its first Lobby Day on Parliament Hill to advocate student concerns to MPs.
- Widespread presence of the CFMS/FEMC in the national media increases the profile of medical student issues and the CFMS/FEMC as their representative body
Major Issues:
- Ensuring adequate residency positions for new graduates is an ongoing concern for the CFMS/FEMC
- Professionalism becomes a major focus of medical students and the CFMS/FEMC develops a Professionalism Initiative in response
Ashely Waddington
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Meghan Newcombe (U of C)
- VP Education: Lanette Prediger (U of C)
- VP Finance: Andre Bernard (Dal)
- VP International Programs and Partnerships: Jen Toye (U of S)
- VP Services: Jeeshan Chowdhury (U of A)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Massi Abedi (MUN)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Melise Keays (U of O) & Sabrina Akhtar (UWO)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Maya Haasz (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Vishal Anandi (U of A) & Tommy Gerschman (UBC)
Andre Bernard
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Allie Meiwald (MUN)
- VP Education: Warren Luksun (UBC)
- VP Finance: Chris Pollock (U of O)
- VP International Programs and Partnerships: Claudia Kraft (Queen’s)
- VP Services: Jeeshan Chowdhury (U of A)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Thalia Field (Dal)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Sonya Abdulla (U of O) & Andrew Vellathottam (UWO)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Paul Gross (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Shaheed Merani (U of A) & Philip Brost (U of S)
Accomplishments:
- Established policy on promoting early and comprehensive exposure to family medicine during undergraduate medical education. Published in CMAJ in March 2006
- CFMS March 14, 2006 vol. 174 no. 6 doi: 10.1503/cmaj.050752
- Consultation paper titled “The Chaoulli v. Quebec Decision and the Public/Private Interface of Healthcare in Canada: An education paper for the CFMS Membership” and undertook consultations across all medical societies on its implications
- Identify ways to substantially strengthen the CFMS, including a paper titled “Strategic Directions: An options paper on strengthening and revitalizing the operations of the Canadian Federation of Medical Students”
- Led the implementation of the CFMS Charter and Professionalism Policies
- CFMS took action on the impact of flu pandemic on medical education through lobbying and advocacy with medical organizations
- Started the groundwork for the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) to join the CFMS
- Adopted the first sponsorship policy
- Advocated with the AFMC about the match process
- Started the groundwork to launch the national medical student's survey
Major Issues:
- Canceled Lobby Day in 2006 because a new government was in process of being elected
Philip Brost
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Allie Meiwald (MUN)
- VP Education: Sonya Abdulla (U of O)
- VP Finance: Chris Pollock (U of O)
- VP International Programs and Partnerships: Celine Kim (U of T)
- VP Services: Dan McIsaac (Dal)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Jill Hudson (Dal)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Danyaal Raza (UWO) & Brock McKinney (McMaster)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Catherine Patocka (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Shaheed Merani (U of A) & Gabriel Fabreau (U of C)
Accomplishments:
- The Northern Ontario School of Medicine becomes the CFMS/FEMC’s newest member school, increasing the number of member schools to 14.
- The CFMS/FEMC carries out a national Student Survey
- An increase in the Public vs Private Healthcare debate results in an in-depth exploration of the topic and resulting discussion paper
- The CFMS/FEMC becomes the first national medical organization to develop a document on Disaster and Emergency Preparedness.
Major Issues:
- Nationwide Student Loan Interest and Repayment Deferral is an ongoing lobbying issue for the CFMS/FEMC.
- Collaboration with National Allied Health Student Organizations becomes a priority.
Shaheed Merani
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Sammy Khalili (MUN)
- VP Education: Jonathan DellaVedova (NOSM)
- VP Finance: Russell Murphy (U of S)
- VP International Programs and Partnerships: Jessie Breton (U of A)
- VP Services: Dan McIsaac (Dal)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Michael Organ (MUN)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Phil Doiron (McMaster) & Geeta Yadav (NOSM)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Richard Dallala (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Meira Louis (U of C) & Eric Fung (U of A)
Accomplishments:
- The Accreditation Information Database is created as a resource for member medical schools undergoing the accreditation process.
- The CFMS/FEMC Blood Drive is established as an ongoing national initiative.
- Services to members expand with a partnership with Lasik MD and the development of a new website.
- Interprofessional Education becomes a major focus of the CFMS/FEMC in regards to medical education; a national initiative on medical students’ perspectives of IPE is undertaken and a set of IPE principles are adopted.
- The CFMS/FEMC International Health Program is renamed as the Global Health Program.
Major Issues:
- Advocacy and lobbying continues to develop as a major focus of the CFMS/FEMC’s activities; the Political Advocacy Committee (PAC) is created and a Terms of Reference officially adopted.
- Debt deferral for residents remains the major federal lobbying topic.
- Residency spots for CMGs and IMGs continue to be a concern for medical students; a position paper on the issue is developed and adopted.
- Disaster and Emergency Preparedness is a major concern for medical students; the CFMS/FEMC develops a position paper and creates the Disaster and Emergency Preparedness (DEP) Taskforce to pursue the issue nationally.
- Differences between applications for clerkship electives at different schools are frustrating to medical students; a committee to explore a common elective application is created.
Jonathan Dellavedova
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Mary Jamieson McHenry (Dal)
- VP Education: Tyler Johnston (McMaster)
- VP Finance: Gillian Shiau (UBC)
- VP Global Health: Brianne Hudson (U of A)
- VP Services: Aaron Knox (U of A)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Kelly Hynes (MUN)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: John Snelgrove (UWO) & Shawn Mondoux (U of O)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Cindy Wang (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Ashley Oleniuk (U of S) & Nawaaz Nathoo (U of A)
Accomplishments:
- The CFMS/FEMC works to streamline communication within and beyond the organization with a new website as the centrepiece, along with the implementation of member communiques, the elimination of print binders, online registration and meeting documents, the introduction of the media rapid response team, and a major proliferation of our presence in the media
- The Global Health Program, in collaboration with IFMSA-Quebec, leads and wins the bid for IFMSA 2010 to be hosted in Canada for the first time
- New avenues for advocacy are built, including hosting an all-candidates debate, a highly successful lobby day, plus new representatives to CAME, AFMC Future of Medical Education Project, and CISN
- Financial practices are streamlined through hiring an accountant and the use of accounting software
- The CFMS/FEMC commits to increasing operations in French by introducing the Translation Support Program
- Progress is made on the Electives Application Standardization Initiative
- The CFMS/FEMC conducts a Canada-wide focus group project to understand perspectives of students and student experiences around expanding Distributed Medical Education (DME) and adopts a set of student-centred DME principles.
- The CFMS/FEMC makes a commitment to environmental sustainability by adopting the Green Charter
Major Issues:
- Engaging a growing membership of Canadian medical students is a challenge for the organization
- Finding avenues for participation and utilizing medical students enthusiasm and skill appropriately at various levels of the organization
- As the CFMS/FEMC continues to grow as an organization continuity and succession planning are an important concern
Tyler Johnston
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Ijab Khanafer (U of O)
- VP Education: Shawn Mondoux (U of O)
- VP Finance: Arianne St-Jacques (NOSM)
- VP Global Health: Beverly Wudel (U of S)
- VP Services: Danielle Rodin (U of T)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Matthew Sheppard (MUN)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: John Snelgrove (UWO) & Cait Champion (U of T)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Noura Hassan (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Janet Ferguson (U of S) & Harbir Gill (U of A)
Accomplishments:
- CFMS representatives presented to the Federal government’s Standing Committee on Finance and met with various federal officials throughout the year to advocate for forgiveness of student loans during the residency training period.
- After three years of advocacy, the CFMS and AFMC formed a formal partnership to ameliorate difficulties around obtaining visiting-student clinical electives including standardizing processes and a common national electronic application portal.
- Research has been undertaken to examine clerkship working hours and policies across the country in an effort to ensure that all medical students have reasonable policies regarding work hours and workplace protections.
- A CFMS policy on professionalism was created to help guide students in interactions with their faculties regarding professionalism
- Successfully co-hosted the world with the FMEQ for the 2010 International Federation of Medical Students August Meeting in Montreal Quebec.
- Initiated a successful national lobbying campaign and federal lobby day raising national awareness about underrepresented groups (e.g. low SES, rural) in medicine.
- The CFMS instituted its first ever awards ceremony as part of its Spring General Meetings, intended to highlight the contributions of medical students to their schools and communities and to recognize exceptional teachers in medical education.
- Completed an extensive policy and position paper review that examined and updated every CFMS policy paper on record.
- Instituted a significant financial review of the organization including instituting a CFMS Finance Committee to ensure greater financial accountability for the organization and manage organizational risk.
- Implemented the Corporate Memory Project including digitization of CFMS records from the past 30 years and the acquisition of an accessible electronic repository for all.
- Developed first-ever CFMS organizational history by contacting alumni from the past 30 years and initiated an alumni engagement program.
- AGM delegates approved initiation of CFMS’s first-ever Strategic Plan to provide guidance to the executive over a 3-5 year period, to increase continuity of activities and ensure accountability to members.
Major Issues:
- Debt forgiveness
- Distributed Medical Education
- Capacity in Medical Education
- CFMS Financial Reform
- Strategic Planning
2010s
Matthew Sheppard
Executive Committee:
- VP Advocacy: Ashley Miller (U of O)
- VP Communications: Robin Clouston (MUN)
- VP Education: Noura Hassan (McGill)
- VP Finance: Jesse Kancir (U of T)
- VP Global Health: Sarah Fung (U of A)
- VP Services: Steve Hawrylyshyn (McMaster)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Timothy Holland (Dal)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Bourne Auguste (McMaster) & Taylor Lougheed (Queen’s)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Phil Vourtzoumis (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Serena Siow (UBC) & Shawna Pandya (U of A)
Noura Hassan
Executive Committee:
- VP Advocacy: Chloe Ward (U of O)
- VP Communications: Matthew Tenenbaum (McMaster)
- VP Education: Renee Pang (Queen’s)
- VP Finance: Jesse Kancir (U of T)
- VP Global Health: Paxton Bach (Queen’s)
- VP Services: Robin Clouston (MUN)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Will Stymiest (Dal)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Ian Brasg (U of T) & Melanie Rodrigues (Queen’s)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Phil Vourtzoumis (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Alyssa Cruz (U of A) & Chris Skappak (U of A)
Robin Clouston
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Mimi (Miriam) Lermer (UBC)
- VP Education: Ian Brasg (U of T)
- VP Finance: Shemer Ratner (UWO)
- VP Global Health: Kimberly Williams (U of C)
- VP Government Affairs: Tom McLaughlin (U of T)
- VP Services: Michael Cecchini (NOSM)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Peter Bettle (Dal)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Jesse Kancir (U of T) & Jessica Jackson (UWO)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Bryce Durafourt (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Terry Colbourne (U of M) & Anthony Lott (U of A)
Jesse Kancir
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Mimi (Miriam) Lermer (UBC)
- VP Education: Ian Brasg (U of T)
- VP Finance: Ben Frid (Queen’s)
- VP Global Health: Andrew Bresnahan (McMaster)
- VP Government Affairs: Melanie Bechard (U of T)
- VP Services: Brandon Maser (Queen’s)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Laura Butler (MUN)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: David Linton (UWO) & Anthea (Girdwood) Lafreniere (U of O)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Bryce Durafourt (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Irfan Kherani (U of A) & Kimberly Williams (U of C)
Accomplishments:
- Development of first independent strategic planning
- Secured funding for national wellness survey
- Become involved in helping to create the Ambassadors program at the CMA General Council
- Started to get involved with the PRPAC
Bryce Durafourt
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Anthea (Girdwood) Lafreniere (U of O)
- VP Education: Irfan Kherani (U of A)
- VP Finance: Franco Rizzuti (U of C)
- VP Global Health: Christopher Charles (McMaster)
- VP Government Affairs: Melanie Bechard (U of T)
- VP Services: Brandon Maser (Queen’s)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Leanne Murphy (MUN)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Kendra Komsa (NOSM) & Ali Damji (U of T)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Carl White Ulysse (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: John Schulte (U of S) & Taneille Johnson (UBC)
Accomplishments:
- Developed a better relationship with MD Financial Management, increased support for non-elected members to travel to general meetings and increase awareness of the financial support for medical students
- Advocated to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health regarding need for better health human resource (HHR) planning and improving access to care in rural and remote areas - http://www.cdha.ca/pdfs/profession/412_HESA_Rpt12-e.pdf
- Advocating for standardization of immunization requirements for electives
- Collaborate with CMA on the #DemandAPlan Advocacy
Anthea (Girdwood) Lafreniere
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Carl White Ulysse (McGill)
- VP Education: Nebras Warsi (McGill)
- VP Finance: Franco Rizzuti (U of C)
- VP Global Health: Golden Gao (UBC)
- VP Government Affairs: Jessica Harris (U of S)
- VP Student Affairs: Marie-Pier Bastrash (McGill)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Anthony Maher (MUN)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Yousif Atwan (UWO) & Han Yan (UWO)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Emily Hodgson (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Emily Macphail (U of C) & Fatemeh Ramazani (U of A)
Accomplishments:
- Administered the first CFMS National wellness survey in collaboration with FMEQ
- First formal CaRMS-trainee meeting
- Strengthened the CFMS-MD Financial relationship
- Launched the AFMC Electives Portal
Franco Rizzuti
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Emily Hodgson (McGill)(resigned) Usman Khan (U of O)(per April)
- VP Education: Tavis Apramian (UWO)
- VP Finance: Daniel Peretz (McGill)
- VP Global Health: Jessica Bryce (UWO)
- VP Government Affairs: Sarah Silverberg (U of T)
- VP Student Affairs: Han Yan (UWO)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Alexandra Taylor (Dal)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Shreya Jalali (U of O) & Kaylynn Purdy (NOSM)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Lucy Luo (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Laura Kim (UBC) & Gurmeet Kaur Sohi (U of M)
Accomplishments:
- Launch of CFMS National Research Chair in Undergraduate Medical Education
- Launch of the CFMS Survey Platform
- CFMS becomes members of the Opioids and TRC National Task Forces
- First year of the CaRMS tour flight discount
- First time ever reduction of CaRMS fees
- Launch of the interactive CaRMS data tool
- Launch of the AFMC common immunization form for electives portal
Major Issues:
- Advocate with the Physician Resource Planning Advisory Committee (PRPAC) for unmatched Canadian Medical Graduates (CMGs)
- Advocate alongside Resident Doctors of Canada (RDoC), Federation medicale etudiante du Quebec (FMEQ) and Federation des medecins residents du quebec (FMRQ) with CaRMS to discuss membership concerns about matching
- Published a peer-reviewed academic article based on the CFMS-FMEQ Wellness Survey that was administered in 2016
- Advocated more towards supporting learner wellness
- Started to form the 2017-2020 strategic plan, with a focus on sustainability
Henry Annan
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Christina Schweitzer (U of C)
- VP Education: Kaylynn Purdy (NOSM)
- VP Finance: Lauren Griggs (U of C)
- VP Global Health: Chris Briggs (U of M)
- VP Government Affairs: Yipeng Ge (U of O)
- VP Student Affairs: Stephanie Smith (U of C)
- Atlantic Regional Representative: Victoria Januszkiewicz (MUN)
- Ontario Regional Representatives: Maylynn Ding (McMaster) & Cory Lefebvre (UWO)
- Quebec Regional Representative: Sarah Zahabi (McGill)
- Western Regional Representatives: Odell Tan (U of S) & Victor Do (U of A)
Accomplishments:
- CFMS president visited each member school during his tenure as part of a Presidential Tour
- Collaborated with Canadian Armed Forces to create supernumerary family medicine residency positions for unmatched medical graduates
- Hosted the IFMSA August Meeting 2018 Post-General Assembly in Quebec and Ontario
- Participated in the 2018 Federal Budget Stakeholders’ Lock-Up
- Launched the CFMS National Wellness Program
- Renewed MD Financial Management contract for 5 years
- Increased collaborations with the Royal College including student participation in Regional Advisory and Fellowship Affairs Committees
Major Issues:
- Advocating on behalf of unmatched Canadian medical graduates
- Ensuring that learner privacy rights are upheld
- Creating health-promoting learning environments for medical students
- Implementation of 2017-2022 strategic plan and bolstering overall CFMS governance
- Increasing collaboration with the IFMSA
Stephanie Smith
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Victoria Januszkiewicz (MUN)
- Director Education: Maylynn Ding (McMaster)
- VP Finance: Odell Tan (U of S)
- Director Government Affairs: Yipeng Ge (U of O)
- Director Global Health: Michelle Quaye (UWO)
- Director Student Affairs: Victor Do (U of A)
- Atlantic Regional Director: Dax Bourcier (CFMNB)
- Ontario Regional Directors: Debbie Brace (McMaster) & Rishi Sharma (McMaster)
- Quebec Regional Director: Adel Arezki (McGill)
- Western Regional Directors: Wendy (Wang) Yao (U of A) & Fatemeh Bakhtiari (U of M)
Accomplishments:
Major Issues:
Victor Do
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Adel Arezki (McGill)
- Director Education: Rishi Sharma (McMaster)
- VP Finance: Anson Lee (McGill)
- Director Government Affairs: Helen Teklemariam (U of M)
- Director Global Health: Achieng Tago (U of M)
- Director Student Affairs: Sarah Zahabi (McGill)
- Atlantic Regional Director: Clara Long (Dalhousie)
- Ontario Regional Directors: Avrilynn Ding (Queens) & Felipe Fajardo (McMaster)
- Quebec Regional Director: Matin Kerachian (McGill)(resigned), Corrine Cécyre-Chartrand (McGill) (per January)
- Western Regional Directors: Devon Mitchell (UBC) & Henry Li (U of M)
Accomplishments:
Major Issues:
2020s
Henry Li
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Vivian Tan (Dalhousie)(resigned), Dorsai Ranjbari (McGill)(per April)(resigned)
- Director Education: Avrilynn Ding (Queens)(resigned), Neha Malhotra (u of T)(per April)
- VP Finance: Anson Lee (McGill)(resigned), Edgar Akuffo-Addo (U of T)(per April)
- Director Government Affairs: Sehjal Bhargava (U of S)(resigned), Montana Hackett (UWO)(per April)
- Director Global Health: Yotakahron Jonathan (McMaster)(resigned), Lunan Zhao (U of T)(per April)
- Director Student Affairs: Lucas King (U of S)(resigned), Alex Young Soo Lee (U of O)(per April)
- Atlantic Regional Director: Kathleen MacMillan (Dalhousie)(resigned), Stephanie Roberts (MUN)(per April)
- Ontario Regional Directors: Mary Boulos (McMaster)(resigned) & Jessica Garabon (Western)(resigned), Dave de Launay (U of O)(per April)(resigned) & Joe Boyle (NOSM)(per April)
- Quebec Regional Director: Yseult Gibert (McGill)(resigned)
- Western Regional Directors: Khaldon Abbas (UBC)(resigned) & Taylor Heinzlmeir (U of A) (resigned), Sheharzad (Sherry) Mahmood (U of A)(per April) & Alvin Qiu (UBC)(per April)
- President Ad-Interim: Joe Boyle (NOSM)(per April)
Accomplishments:
Major Issues:
Santanna Hernandez
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Danielle Judd (U of M)
- Director Education: Neha Malhotra (u of T)(resigned), Victoria Turnbull (McMaster)(Ad-Interim per January)
- VP Finance: Edgar Akuffo-Addo (U of T)
- Director Government Affairs: Montana Hackett (UWO)
- Director Global Health: Lunan Zhao (U of T)
- Director Student Affairs: Alex Young Soo Lee (U of O)
- Atlantic Regional Director: Stephanie Roberts (MUN)
- Ontario Regional Directors: Victoria Turnbull (McMaster) & Surabhi Sivaratnam (McMaster)
- Quebec Regional Director: Sara Abdessamie (McGill)
- Western Regional Directors: Sheharzad (Sherry) Mahmood (U of A) & Alvin Qiu (UBC)
Accomplishments:
Major Issues:
Montana (Monty) Hackett
Executive Committee:
- VP Communications: Emily Macphail (U of C)
- Director Education: Danielle Judd (U of M)
- VP Finance: Zachary (Zack) Chuang (UWO)
- Director Government Affairs: Amna Majeed (U of T)
- Director Global Health: Khalidha Nasiri (UWO)
- Director Student Affairs: Sara Abdessamie (McGill)
- Atlantic Regional Director: Mohammad Al-Qadi (CFMNB)
- Ontario Regional Directors: Aidan Goertzen (NOSM) & Helen Jin (UWO)
- Quebec Regional Director: Maya Alik (McGill)
- Western Regional Directors: Cindy Kalenga (U of C) & Alvin Qiu (UBC)