The 2025 Family Medicine Summit in Banff (March 7th to 9th) was a milestone event like no other! With more than 500 attendees both in-person and online, the Summit provided a unique hybrid opportunity for family physicians and primary care professionals to learn about pressing CPD topics, to connect with peers, and to honour outstanding colleagues.
CPD Highlights
Dr. Mike Allan, the CEO of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), kicked off the Summit weekend with his keynote on “The Future of Family Medicine.” The session reviewed the evidence of the role of family medicine in the health care system, described the CFPC’s current state, and outlined the challenges facing the profession.
Other sessions featured Drs. Christine Gibson, Monty Ghosh, Jessalyn Holodinsky, and Lynora Saxinger, who discussed trauma, the homeless population, Artificial Intelligence capabilities, and pandemic COVID and influenza respectively. The final keynote was presented by journalist André Picard, who talked about medicare and highlighted areas for growth and tangible solutions for a sustainable health care system.
The Team-Based Care Workshop led by Dr. Deena Hamza and Dr. Melanie Hnatiuk on the second day of the conference offered an opportunity for doctors and members of primary care teams to come together, to brainstorm, and to foster a dialogue on their perspectives on team-based care.
Making Connections with Colleagues and the Community
On Friday, attendees turned up for the Welcome Reception and Research Showcase where the participants and the winners of the 2025 Reviewer’s Choice Research Awards displayed their innovative research projects. The event was an excellent opportunity for them to connect with colleagues in the health care community.
Saturday hosted a luncheon for attendees in their First Five Years in Family Practice (FFYFP); the ACFP’s hybrid Annual Meeting of Members (AMM) with the installation of Dr. Melanie Hnatiuk as president; and the 70th Summit Anniversary Gala.
Nearly 200 people attended the Great Gatsby-themed celebration dressed in roaring 1920’s attire and enjoyed music, games, and the festive atmosphere. It was a night of fun in the spirit of fellowship, connection, and community.
Celebrating Peer Contributions
Throughout the weekend, outstanding family physicians, residents, students, and clinics were honoured and recognized. Fourteen recipients of the 2024 ACFP Awards including the Family Physician of the Year, Peace River-based Dr. Robert Greidanus, were featured in Award Spotlights that were shown during the conference. These Award Spotlights are also made available on the ACFP Youtube channel.
Carrying on the Tradition
For seven decades, the Summit has been built on the foundation of collegiality and free exchange of best practices. The 70th Summit continued to maintain that tradition, bringing attendees together to maximize their community of practice not only for this year but also in the years to come.
The ACFP and its Summit Scientific Planning Committee thanks everyone who joined us for Alberta’s premier family medicine conference. Save the date for the next year’s Family Medicine Summit on March 6-8, 2026.