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Brampton Family Physician Announced as President of Ontario College of Family Physicians
Dr. Jobin Varughese to prioritize solutions to support family physicians caring for Ontarians
Dr. Jobin Varughese has been announced as President of the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP), representing more than 18,000 family physicians and medical students, including residents and retired family physicians.
As president, Dr. Varughese’s priorities include working toward solutions to make practise better for family physicians and ensuring they are at the forefront in leading much-needed change in our healthcare system. At a time when 2.5 million Ontarians do not have a family physician, it is particularly important to ease the burden physicians are facing in their offices, so they can focus on patient care.
“Family physicians are essential to the health of Ontarians and our communities. We want them to be able to focus on what they specialize in, which is caring for patients,” said Dr. Varughese. “That means ensuring they have the right supports, at the right time, and in the right place every day to allow them to continue to provide patient care.”
Dr. Varughese has a long history of serving his community in Brampton and advocating on behalf of family physicians. He completed medical school in the Caribbean followed by residency in family medicine and a fellowship in geriatrics in Michigan, before returning home to Brampton where he has been practising for the last 14 years.
His practice experience includes fee-for-service clinics and family health teams, as well as a hospitalist in rehab. Dr. Varughese was a medical director in long-term care during the pandemic where he saw first-hand how much support was needed during a crisis. During that time, he was also the site director for McMaster Family Medicine Residency program supporting medical learners for eight years.
He currently serves as Interim Assistant Dean of Primary Care Education for the School of Medicine, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and as Associate Vice President of Academics, William Osler Health System. He has served on OCFP’s Board of Directors since 2019.
“Dr. Varughese is committed to championing the voices of Ontario’s family physicians and working to develop meaningful solutions that will not only help recruit future family physicians, but also retain physicians and ensure the profession is thriving today,” said Deepy Sur, CEO, Ontario College of Family Physicians. “We welcome Dr. Varughese as President and look forward to working with him.”
Dr. Varughese officially became President on September 25, 2024 during the OCFP’s annual general meeting.
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About the Ontario College of Family Physicians
The Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) represents more than 18,000 family physicians and medical students, including residents, retired family physicians, and more than 15,000 who are working in communities providing care to patients. Our members care for Ontarians across the health system from comprehensive community practices to hospitals, emergency departments and urgent care clinics, to palliative care and more. The OCFP supports its members by providing evidence-based education and professional development, promoting and recognizing leadership excellence in family medicine, and advocating for the vital role family physicians play in delivering the highest quality care to patients and families across Ontario.