World Family Doctor Day

Dr. Marc Austin, a family physician trained in emergency medicine, first started practising in 2003 in the Sarnia emergency department. It was during the early stages of the opioid epidemic, when it was clear that action would be needed in communities like Sarnia, that were facing new challenges. In response, Dr. Austin and two of his ER colleagues opened an addiction treatment facility.  

Today, the centre has expanded to serve patients in Chatham, Wallaceburg and several Indigenous communities in the vicinity.  

This work is part of Dr. Austin’s belief that family physicians play a key role in the health of every Ontarian and there are many avenues of family medicine a doctor may take to fill the gaps needed in any community. He enjoys providing a diverse range of health care to multiple populations including a large family practice in Corunna serving the citizens of rural St Clair Township. He also provides care to inmates at the Sarnia jail who often present with diverse and significant physical and mental health needs. Additionally, he is part of an occupational health team that provides remote injury management on large work sites, particularly for the region’s large petrochemical and construction industries.  

As Dr. Austin reflects on his work, he cannot overstate that none of it would be possible without the collaboration and support of his partner physicians, NP’s, nurses and administrative staff. He feels fortunate to have been surrounded by excellence. He encourages medical students to explore the different avenues of family medicine where they might find unique opportunities to support their communities and expand their interests and to remember that family physicians have a unique opportunity to become a beacon of trust for their patients in a world filled with misinformation. 

For many patients, navigating the healthcare system can feel like solving a complex puzzle. Dr. Danielle Brown-Shreves, a family physician in Ottawa, sees herself as a guide—helping patients connect the dots and access the care they need. She believes that family physicians are the foundation of a strong, equitable healthcare system. 

Her passion for equitable care is rooted in her lived experience. Growing up, Dr. Brown-Shreves witnessed how social determinants of health and limited access to timely care could deeply affect individuals, families, and entire communities. These early insights inspired her to pursue meaningful change. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, where black and racialized individuals were disproportionately affected, she founded Restore Medical Clinics. With compassion and equity at her core, she ensured that vulnerable patients had timely access to care when they needed it the most. Today, Restore Medical Clinics has grown into a collaborative practice, providing team-based, comprehensive care to over 20,000 patients. 

Dr. Brown-Shreves believes that the relationships family physicians build with patients, and their insights into system gaps uniquely positions them to lead transformative system change, influence health policy, and advance the well-being of all Ontarians. 

Looking ahead, she hopes to see increased recognition of the vital role family doctors play in shaping a more accessible and equitable healthcare system. 

Dr. Heather Laakso’s passion for comprehensive family medicine stems from her commitment to support her patients in Orillia, through every stage of life.  

One example Dr. Laakso shares is from early in her career when one of her patients was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was present for his diagnosis in the hospital and continued caring for him as an inpatient and in her office, as they navigated consultations with oncology and surgery together.  

When her patient chose to pursue a palliative approach to his care, Dr. Laakso supported his family by coordinating his care at home and navigating the natural grief that comes from losing a loved one.  

During one of her last visits, he gripped her hand as she was leaving and said, ‘you being here has been the highlight of all of this.’  

Reflecting on that morning, Dr. Laakso shares that this patient reminds her that the satisfaction in family medicine comes from the opportunity to participate so profoundly in a patient’s life. 

Family physicians are clinical leaders, guiding patients through complex medical challenges. By taking the time to understand what is important to their patients, which for this patient included receiving palliative care at home, family physicians ensure the care they receive meets their needs. 

For Dr. Laakso, there is no other profession that offers the opportunity to be a part of such rich and beautiful journeys. 

Dr. Jason Malinowski, the Chief of Staff at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in Barry’s Bay, shares his view that family physicians in rural areas are uniquely positioned to advocate for their patients and impact rural communities, given the comprehensive cradle-to-grave care they provide.  

Since 2002, he has practiced family medicine, which, for him, naturally evolved into advocacy, driven by a deep commitment to addressing both individual patient needs and broader systemic issues. 

In small rural communities like Barry’s Bay, Dr. Malinowski shares that the challenges faced by one patient often reflect the needs of many, creating a collective responsibility to advocate for the entire population. 

For example, Dr. Malinowski has witnessed firsthand how the social determinants of health—such as health literacy, transportation access, and food insecurity directly affect his patients.  

Given that the local hospital in Barry’s Bay is two hours from the nearest tertiary care center, transportation barriers are significant, especially for patients who are facing financial difficulties. To address this need, the local family health team collaborates with other organizations to support those in need with gift cards for gas stations.  

As part of his work to support the community, Dr. Malinowski mentors family physicians and residents, encouraging them to assume leadership roles and deeply engage with their patients. For him, caring for his patients, means caring for his community.  

With a year left in her residency, Dr. Ramsoondar is already thinking about her future and envisions herself supporting rural communities that have historically faced chronic understaffing issues. 

Growing up in North Bay and later moving to Thunder Bay for medical school, she hopes to bridge the gaps she has witnessed in Northern Ontario by providing comprehensive care across various settings, including emergency departments.  

As a medical student, Dr. Ramsoondar’s passion for family medicine was ignited through the diverse experiences and care opportunities she was exposed to in the North. Throughout her training, she has been immersed in many aspects of primary care including, outpatient care, emergency department work, inpatient management and fracture clinics, which deepened her connection with the northern rural communities she has supported.   

Dr. Ramsoondar values the opportunity to connect with and give back to the Northern communities she loves and plans to travel throughout the region, using her skills and energy to improve patient care. 

In response to early signs of burnout caused by spending too much time on administrative work while graduating with high debt, Dr. Stephanie Zhou, an early career family physician in Toronto, started developing seminars focused on debt reduction and practice management for students and residents based on her own experience. 

In March 2020, Dr. Zhou uploaded her first YouTube video, a personal finance lecture recording, to her channel, Breaking Bad Debt. The channel began to grow based on student and viewer demand for financial education and expanded to include lecture recordings on investing, incorporation, parental leave finances and billing optimization.   

At the University of Toronto, she continued this work by advocating for and leading the development of the Financial Literacy Curriculum for its Faculty of Medicine. During the pandemic, many of Dr. Zhou’s lectures for the Financial Literacy Curriculum were recorded and added to her YouTube channel. This allowed new grads, residents, medical students, and IMGs who did not attend UofT for medical school to access these videos.  

With more than 90 videos and 400,000 views and her in-person lectures, Dr. Zhou has reached physicians and who are learning the importance of financial literacy and, like Dr. Zhou, are proactively preventing burnout.  

By sharing her knowledge, Dr. Zhou is investing in the future of our health system by teaching and mentoring medical students and residents as they become tomorrow’s family physicians.