2026 OCFP Awards

This award recognizes the contributions of six family physicians, one from each region of the province, who provide exceptional care to their patients, make significant contributions to the health and wellbeing of their community and/or society in general and dedicate themselves to the education of future generations of family doctors.

As part of the adjudication process, one of the six recipients will also be selected as the Reg L. Perkin Family Physician of the Year for Ontario, bestowed by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Nominations can be made by Ontario family physicians, colleagues/peers, community members, and members of the public, or can be self-nominated.

Eligibility:

• Nominations are open to any active OCFP member* in good standing, who currently practices in Ontario and has been in practice for at least 10 years.
• Nominees are not eligible if they have already received an award in this category or another OCFP Award for the same type of work.
• Nominations are limited to individual candidates; group or team nominations will not be considered.
• Demonstrates outstanding leadership in the areas of advocacy, community service and/or education.
• Supports excellence in family medicine, including community medical services, involvement in the College, and contribution beyond their medical practice to the community at large.
• Exemplifies the four principles of family medicine:

1. 1. The family physician is a skilled clinician.
   2. Family medicine is a community-based discipline.
   3. The family physician is a resource to a defined practice population.
   4. The patient-physician relationship is central to the role of the family physician.

Recipients will be selected from the following six (6) Ontario Health regions:

Region 1:  NORTH EAST (from Parry Sound to Sault Ste. Marie to the Hudson Bay and James Bay Coasts)
Region 2:  NORTH WEST  (from Thunder Bay to Kenora to the Hudson Bay Coast )
Region 3:  EAST  (from Scarborough to Deep River to Hawkesbury)
Region 4:  CENTRAL  (from Mississauga to Huntsville and Orangeville to Markham)
Region 5:  TORONTO  (serving 73 unique urban neighbourhoods across Toronto)
Region 6:  WEST  (from Waterloo to Windsor and Tobermory to Niagara Falls)

* As defined by the CFPC Membership Policy, an “Active Member” is a licensed physician in good standing, engaged in the practice of family medicine. (Non-Member Mainpro+® Participants are not eligible for nomination.)

These awards recognize five family physicians who, in the past 24 months, have made an outstanding contribution in one or more of the following areas: patient care, community service, hospital or health care institutions, college activities, teaching, research and other elements of the academic discipline of family medicine.

Examples of outstanding contributions may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Conducting charitable or humanitarian work (e.g. development of a program that delivers primary care services to those experiencing homelessness and the precariously housed).
• Teaching (e.g. developing a course on migrant health and refugee health care to fill a vital healthcare gap and an important social accountability mandate).
• Delivery of an educational program unique to address a healthcare need (e.g. addressing physician burnout and promoting resilience).
• Provide leadership during a community outbreak.
• Embodying excellence in clinical practice. 
• Leadership in primary care, hospital, or regional health care program (e.g. leadership in health equity through the creation of a first-of-its-kind vaccine confidence clinic).
• Creating an Innovative research program (e.g. research that significantly advanced the clinical management of infectious diseases).
• Developing health care programs in specific areas (e.g. palliative care). 

Nominations can be made by Ontario family physicians, colleagues/peers, community members, and members of the public, or can be self-nominated.

Eligibility:

• The nominee(s) must be an active OCFP member in good standing for at least the past year, who practices in Ontario. 
• Nominees can be individuals or a team of two family physicians.
• The nominee has made an outstanding contribution in the last 24 months as mentioned above.
• Nominees are not eligible if they received an Award of Excellence within the past three (3) years

Please note that Award recipients may be asked to share their learnings/insights with the broader family medicine community via the OCFP’s annual conference and/or webinars, newsletter articles, etc.

* As defined by the CFPC Membership Policy, an “Active Member” is a licensed physician in good standing, engaged in the practice of family medicine. (Non-Member Mainpro+® Participants are not eligible for nomination.)

This award recognizes a medical student who is an emerging leader and advocate for family medicine.

Nominations can be made by current faculty members, medical students, and residents, as well as family physicians in practice, or can be self-nominated.

Eligibility:

• The nominee must be a student enrolled in an Ontario medical school in this academic year 
• Demonstrate a recognized interest in family medicine and/or primary care
• Have made contributions to family medicine and/or primary care in areas such as patient care, peer support, advocacy, community service, research, education, etc.
• Must demonstrate a genuine interest in family medicine which is reflected in their experiences and chosen electives.

This award recognizes a resident who is an emerging leader and advocate for family medicine.

Nominations can be made by current faculty members, medical students, and residents, as well as practicing family physicians, or can be self-nominated.

Eligibility:

• The nominee must be a family medicine resident enrolled at an Ontario university during this academic year.
• Demonstrates leadership, initiative, and/or innovation that is making positive contributions in areas such as patient care, peer support, advocacy, community service, research, and education, among others.