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Education Committee

The ACFP Education Committee (EC) is an operational committee which will be engaged and responsive to member needs and emerging trends in the development and delivery of continuing professional development (CPD) and medical education opportunities for family physicians and teambased primary health care.

The committee is responsible for the development and delivery of ACFP Webinar series and other CPD programs and events as needed and will operate in an advisory capacity by providing recommendations to the Family Medicine Summit Planning Committee, Executive Director, and ACFP Board.

Become a Committee Member

We are recruiting for the following positions:

  • At least one, but up to three Members-at-Large

How to Apply

Email your application to governance@acfp.ca. Please include a letter of interest (250 words max) and a summary of your experience or a copy of your CV.

Committee Members

  • Dr. Helen Cuddihy (Chair), Edmonton
  • Dr. Divya Garg, Calgary
  • Dr. Chris Le, Edmonton
  • Dr. Tina Nicholson, Cochrane
  • Dr. Mitra Rafati, Edmonton
Helen Cuddihy
Chair
Divya Garg
Family Medicine Summit Representative
Chris Le
Member-at-Large
Tina Nicholson
Member-at-Large
Mitra Rafati
Member-at-Large

Terms of Reference

The ACFP Education Committee (EC) is an operational committee which will be engaged and responsive to member needs and emerging trends in the development and delivery of continuing professional development (CPD) and medical education opportunities for family physicians and teambased primary health care. 

Purpose

The Committee will provide support to the College’s CPD initiatives that promote the role family physicians play in delivering the highest quality care to patients and their communities across Alberta. The committee is responsible for the development and delivery of ACFP Webinar series and other CPD programs and events as needed and will operate in an advisory capacity by providing recommendations to the Family Medicine Summit Planning Committee, Executive Director, and ACFP Board. 

Dr. Helen Cuddihy

I am a family physician at Saint Thomas Community Health Centre in Bonnie Doon. My area of practice is children, adolescent, and women’s health with a focus on mental health. My research interest are competency assessment and physician health.

Why are you volunteering to serve on this committee?
I volunteer to serve on the CPD Advisory Committee as I am passionate about evidence based education and quality learning opportunities.

What about the ACFP’s work do you find most valuable?
What I value about the ACFP is that it works with family physicians to maintain the quality and uniqueness of our profession. I am proud to be part of such a wonderful organization.

Dr. Divya Garg

Dr. Divya Garg is a Clinical Assistant Professor with the University of Calgary, Department of Family Medicine. She has completed an Academic Fellowship in Family Medicine and Master of Clinical Science Program through Western University. 

She is the Site Medical Lead at the South Health Campus Family Medicine Teaching Clinic. Along with teaching residents and medical students, she has a special interest in Continuing Professional Development and also chairs the CPD committee for the Department of Family Medicine. 

Additionally, she holds the role of Faculty Advocate Against Mistreatment for Undergraduate Medical Program. In this role, she serves as a confidential resource for students who have experienced mistreatment.

Dr. Chris Le

I’m Dr. Chris Le, a family physician who did community and rural medicine locum work in British Columbia before moving home to Edmonton. I am now growing my family medicine practice and am teaching with the University of Alberta. Outside of work, I’m often reading books or listening to podcasts. I make time to keep active in the gym with weightlifting and at the hockey rink as a goalie.

Why are you volunteering to serve on this committee?
I volunteered to serve on the CPD Advisory Committee because continuing medical education programs helped build my clinical confidence in my first five years of practice, and now it’s an opportunity to contribute back into the areas that shaped how I do medicine.

What about the ACFP’s work do you find most valuable?
What I value the most about the work of the ACFP is that the ACFP consistently produces high-quality content for family physicians so that we can deliver the care that we want to provide for our patients, so I like that I’m working alongside leaders in our profession.

Dr. Tina Nicholson

Dr. Tina Nicholson is a family physician based in Cochrane with a special interest in child adolescent through to early adult mental health- especially ADHD. Her long-term passion for peer-to-peer medical education and optimizing practice has led to her role as Medical Director of Primary Care for the Offices of PLP and CMEPD, University of Calgary. Involvement with the Medicine SCN and HQCA has allowed Dr. Nicholson to promote connections between primary and specialty care as well as using data-informed, self-reflection to support practice change and enhance patient care. She regularly presents and chairs various CME initiatives, including Pearls for Family Practice, PRA IMG OrientationWorkshop, COVID Corner, and CanREACH and REACH Institute courses. Spare time is spent outside enjoying the mountains and lakes with family or crafting celebration cakes!

Why did you volunteer for this position or why do you serve on this committee/task force?
Acknowledging the need for broad evidence-based topics in CME that do not duplicate other offerings but reach the needs of our audience in primary care – this committee seemed to be the perfect fit!

What do you value most about the work of the ACFP?
A provincial force for primary care – the college creates a virtual community of practice that allows strong networking opportunities. The college provides advocacy for all FPs as well as space for shared learning and personal development in our careers as well as promotes successful work-life balance.

Dr. Mitra Rafati

Dr. Mitra Rafati is a Family Medicine residency program graduate of the University of Alberta, and a clinical assistant professor in the department of Family Medicine. 

 

 

 

 

Her area of interest is care of elderly and geriatric rehabilitation.

My name is Smitha Yaltho and I feel privileged to work as a family physician. Why? I believe that being a family physician has been the best job any physician can hope to have. I have personally grown in my own abilities and skill-sets with diverse opportunities in ambulatory practice, acute care and work in Facility Living.  Working in primary care has been exciting and has also afforded me tremendous opportunities for growth while still remaining stimulating in its complexity.  I believe that Family physicians are trusted partners in patient care –  every step of the way. 

Why are you volunteering to serve on this committee?
I currently have an interest in Physician Leadership and  trauma informed care.  I have served as a director with the Board of Directors with the Edmonton North PCN, Edmonton’s largest PCN. Thereafter, I have worked as the Director of Medical Services with CapitalCare (also based in Edmonton) for almost 6 years. It is my express wish that my contribution on the ACFP board of directors will highlight the excellence of family medicine that exists right here and now within the Alberta health care system. 

What about the ACFP’s work do you find most valuable?
Ability to highlight and further support the excellence of primary care right here in Alberta.