Welcome to another winter, a familiar season to us. The last season of the calendar year, and one before a provincial election here in Alberta. In preparation for an upcoming election and to ensure ACFP activities and operations are on the right track after years of the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to introduce you to our refreshed Strategic Framework.
Given the current environments in which you are working tirelessly, ACFP wished to review our strategic plan to be sure that we are providing you with the best support possible.
Getting to Work
One of the ways that the ACFP is implementing this strategy already is by putting effort into forming new team-based care relationships. This past October, the ACFP participated in the Primary Care Interdisciplinary Summit: Building the Coalition with the Alberta Association of Nurses (AAN) and the Alberta Primary Care Nurses Association (APCNA). During the event, an energetic meeting ensued where valuable resources were identified, key ideas were expressed, and optimistic visions of the future of health care were shared. Collaborative initiatives like this are crucial in establishing the Patient Medical Home model in Alberta for the benefit of all Albertans. This is just the beginning, and I look forward to seeing where this leads us.
Let Us Know
The ACFP Board and several committees have reviewed the strategic framework and are eager to hear from all of you, our valued members, about it. What are your thoughts after reviewing it? Does it resonate with you? What questions do you have? Please contact me at ACFPpres@acfp.ca, and I will share your thoughts with the Board and our staff.
Getting Prepared
In anticipation of an election this coming Spring, and to ensure our messaging will be most effective, the ACFP has already acquired a government relations consultant. Your ACFP leadership has been working with them regularly and has developed strategies to approach the political climate as it changes in the coming months (and beyond). With their guidance, we will be offering our members a toolkit to mobilize grassroots advocacy initiatives as well as a webinar session on Alberta’s political landscape. The date for this session has already been chosen April 27, 2023. So, mark your calendars and get registered.
Celebrating Family Physicians
At the ACFP, we will continue to work hard for you during this crucial time, and we want you to know that we appreciate the hard work you are doing for us too. In recognition of that, we would like to congratulate several family physicians who were recognized at the in-person Family Medicine Forum (FMF) conference held in Toronto.
Please take a moment to celebrate your colleagues and peers by reviewing the Convocation Program and the Award Gala Program. We could not be prouder to see so many inspirational members representing our province. I extend my heartfelt congratulations!
Were you at FMF? Please send us your photos (email acfpawards@acfp.ca)! We’d love to celebrate you in upcoming social media and other online publications.
2022 ACFP Award Winners
We are pleased to announce that in addition to winning the Reg L. Perkins Award, Dr. Abbasi is the winner of the 2022 ACFP Family Physician of the Year Award for her outstanding work with seniors. Take a moment to read more about Dr. Abbasi and the other 2022 ACFP Award winners. If you have a colleague that you think deserves recognition, consider nominating them for an ACFP award.
As always, we look forward to every opportunity to celebrate our members and their accomplishments.
Sincerely,
Sudha Koppula BSc, MD, MClSc, CCFP, FCFP
President
Alberta College of Family Physicians
