CFP Podcast

In a time of rapid change and many challenges in the practice of family medicine, how do we maintain the heart of our discipline – our deep relationships with our patients? Join CFP Editor Dr. Nick Pimlott and Associate Editor Dr. David Ponka in conversation with Dr. Alan Ng Cheng Hin from the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Ng is the author of the second essay in the series “Foundations for Tomorrow” entitled “Ian McWhinney and the doctor-patient relationship” in the February issue of the journal (https://www.cfp.ca/content/cfp/72/2/84.full.pdf).  Listeners interested in some of the books discussed in the podcast can find them at these links: “A Fortunate Man: The Story of a Country Doctor” by John Berger (https://canongate.co.uk/books/2244-a-fortunate-man-the-story-of-a-country-doctor/); “A Fortunate Woman: A Country Doctor’s Story” by Polly Morland (https://www.pollymorland.com/books/a-fortunate-woman/); “McWhinney’s Textbook of Family Medicine” revised by Thomas R. Freeman (https://www.oupcanada.com/catalog/9780199370689.html); and “Patient-Centered Medicine: Transforming the Clinical Method” by Moira Stewart et al. (https://www.routledge.com/Patient-Centered-Medicine-Transforming-the-Clinical-Method/Stewart-Brown-Weston-Freeman-Ryan-McWilliam-McWhinney/p/book/9781032480596). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year – 2026 – marks the centenary of Dr. Ian McWhinney’s birth. Ian McWhinney is considered the “father of family medicine” in Canada and founded the first academic Department of Family Medicine in Canada at Western University in 1970. Join CFP Associate Editor Dr. David Ponka and Editor Dr. Nick Pimlott as they interview Dr. Tom Freeman, Professor Emeritus at Western University to discuss an article in the January edition of CFP which they co-authored with Tom entitled “Finding safe harbour: reassessing 9 principles of family medicine in difficult times” (https://www.cfp.ca/content/72/1/20). Tom, David and Nick discuss Tom’s first encounter with Ian McWhinney as a medical student and their long working relationship together; the launch of a new series in CFP entitled “Foundations for Tomorrow” reinterpreting McWhinney’s 9 principles for our current challenging times; and our partnership with the National Gallery of Canada to bring these principles to life on the journal’s covers from the Gallery’s extensive archival collection (https://www.cfp.ca/content/72/1/8). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join CFP’s Editor Dr. Nick Pimlott and Associate Editor Dr. David Ponka for their final podcast of the year as they review some of their favourite articles published in the journal in 2025. Together they cover a wide range of topics from a report on the role of primary care in Ontario in the Covid-19 pandemic (https://www.cfp.ca/content/71/1/31) to the Journey of a Pill (https://www.cfp.ca/content/71/4/263) to how we can reclaim our precious time in family medicine (https://www.cfp.ca/content/71/11-12/726) and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With climate change the distribution of ticks is extending throughout Canada and along with that the increasing risk of tick-borne infectious diseases. Join CFP Editor Dr. Nick Pimlott and Associate Editor Dr. David Ponka as they discuss the rise in tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease along with previously less commonly seen diseases like Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis and Powassan virus with Dr. Clarissa Ng and Dr. Pil Joo. Dr. Ngo and Dr. Joo are the authors of a Clinical Review in the October issue of Canadian Family Physician entitled “Anaplasmosis: Emerging Threat in Canada”. In the interview they discuss the common clinical presentations, the appropriate use of investigations and the increasing importance of considering tick-borne infections in the differential diagnosis of acute febrile illnesses both in the office and emergency room setting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Rourke Baby Record (RBR), a tool first developed by Drs. James and Leslie Rourke in their family practice in Goderich, ON to help them better care for babies and toddlers in their practice. The first version of the RBR was published in Canadian Family Physician in 1985 and since its initial publication it has gone on to be widely used in family medicine and primary care practices in Canada and around the world. Since its inception, Canadian Family Physician has published regular updates to the RBR. Join Editor Dr. Nick Pimlott as he interviews Dr. Imaan Bayoumi and Dr. Leslie Rourke about the most recent important updates to the Rourke Baby Record (https://www.cfp.ca/content/cfp/71/9/553.full.pdf). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.