March-April 2026 Newsletter

    • Chair's Message: The Growing Problem of Medical Misinformation
      A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend the International Congress on Academic Medicine (ICAM) in Ottawa. This annual conference was a chance to meet with colleagues from across the country, hear about emerging topics in academic medicine, and leave with fresh ideas to bring back to our department. There was one session in particular, I found fascinating, yet frightening. The opening keynote of the conference, Manufactured Doubt: Health and Science Misinformation and the Fight for Trust, brought together four voices: patient partner Lydia Greene, health law professor Timothy Caulfield, foreign information operations specialist Marcus Kolga, and psychiatrist, health policy expert, and Senator Stan Kutcher. They discussed how health misinformation takes root, how it spreads through political and foreign influence, and what coordinated responses might look like in Canada.

    • Postgraduate Report
      NEW Postgraduate Core Teaching Sites: Welcome to the new Kincardine teaching site who will commence training residents on July 1st with Dr. Jason Murray as the Site Director. We are excited to be able to offer an additional teaching site this year and look forward to the collaboration.

    • Graduate Report
      The Master of Clinical Science (MClSc) Program in the Department of Family Medicine is now accepting applications!

    • Announcing: Southwestern Ontario Network (SWON)
      The Department of Family Medicine is pleased to announce the formal designation of its Departmental Practice-Based Learning and Research Network as the Southwestern Ontario Network (SWON).

    • Congratulations & Best Wishes to Dr. Larry Schmidt
      After more than 40 years in family medicine, Dr. Larry Schmidt is closing his practice and marking the end of an exceptional career defined by dedication to his patients, learners, and community.

    • Dr. Judith Belle Brown Named First Canadian Recipient of Day-Garrett Award
      We are pleased to share that Dr. Judith Belle Brown, Professor and Chair of the Masters of Clinical Science and PhD Programs in Family Medicine, has been named a 2026 recipient of the prestigious Day-Garrett Award from the Smith College School for Social Work.

    • Research Report
      In the Media: Dr. Jennifer Johnson, Research Adjunct Faculty Member in the Department of Family Medicine, was featured in the January 8th PSI Foundation Spotlight for her research on “An Essential Workforce: How MOAs Supported Primary Care in COVID-19”.