CFP Podcast

What should Dr. Ian McWhinney’s legacy be?

What should Dr. Ian McWhinney’s legacy be? Join CFP Editor Dr. Nick Pimlott and Associate Editor Dr. David Ponka in a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Iona Heath about her essay “Continuity of care should be Dr. Ian McWhinney’s lasting legacy”. This layered essay is a contemporary reflection on Ian McWhinney’s third principle that the family physician sees every contact with his patients as an opportunity for prevention or health education. For 35 years Dr. Iona Heath practiced comprehensive family medicine in Kentish Town in London, UK. Dr. Heath is a past President of the Royal College of General Practitioners in the United Kingdom. Her essays on the nature and the state of general practice have been published in the British Medical Journal, the British Journal of General Practice, Clinical Medicine, and Canadian Family Physician and elsewhere. The essay and the books discussed in the podcast can be found at the following links: https://www.cfp.ca/content/cfp/72/4/230.full.pdf [https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cfp.ca%2Fcontent%2Fcfp%2F72%2F4%2F230.full.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cpat%40cfpc.ca%7C833c7cddff1b401a8fa008dea557573f%7Cd948307afaa5496886d914a2163ee39d%7C0%7C0%7C639129991720596631%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=c2D%2BNEKK1FYmliUxJjVOh5GV0S%2FAS%2BWGH60tSayA4qg%3D&reserved=0]; https://canongate.co.uk/books/2244-a-fortunate-man-the-story-of-a-country-doctor [https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcanongate.co.uk%2Fbooks%2F2244-a-fortunate-man-the-story-of-a-country-doctor&data=05%7C02%7Cpat%40cfpc.ca%7C833c7cddff1b401a8fa008dea557573f%7Cd948307afaa5496886d914a2163ee39d%7C0%7C0%7C639129991720639393%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=qbZF4hexLVP9Axc3mb1rA%2BusE2uF95HwvEh3IPW8oJg%3D&reserved=0]; https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/395860/the-spirit-level-new-edition-by-richard-wilkinsonkate-pickett/9780241954294) [https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.penguinrandomhouse.ca%2Fbooks%2F395860%2Fthe-spirit-level-new-edition-by-richard-wilkinsonkate-pickett%2F9780241954294)&data=05%7C02%7Cpat%40cfpc.ca%7C833c7cddff1b401a8fa008dea557573f%7Cd948307afaa5496886d914a2163ee39d%7C0%7C0%7C639129991720666308%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YfOGIPHHwSbpaT8%2FRmwLVSBQj8Z%2BDYQKlTOdPO1pIvA%3D&reserved=0].   ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Why is our health care system always in crisis?

For anyone who has practiced family medicine in Canada long enough, it can feel like the health care system lurches from crisis to crisis – from overcrowded emergency rooms to long wait times to see specialists to complete lack of access to a family physician or other primary health care professional for millions of Canadians. Join CFP Editor Dr. Nick Pimlott and Associate Editor Dr. David Ponka in conversation with Dr. Maxine Dumas Pilon and Dr. Timothy Holland. They are the lead authors of a three-part series in the journal entitled “Health care crisis: Looking beyond the obvious”. In the articles and on the podcast, they explore how we got here, a new way of thinking about health care systems and our goals for health, and a way out of our perpetual crises. Links to the first two articles can be found here: https://www.cfp.ca/content/cfp/72/3/209.full.pdf [https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cfp.ca%2Fcontent%2Fcfp%2F72%2F3%2F209.full.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cpat%40cfpc.ca%7Cee6e597955594ca1277408dea55658c2%7Cd948307afaa5496886d914a2163ee39d%7C0%7C0%7C639129987445258129%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=u%2B8ugdbm1aDxF9Hh%2FXfYEMgMFt%2BrDW1KrkUp5TWRdrM%3D&reserved=0]; https://www.cfp.ca/content/cfp/72/4/e131.full.pdf [https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cfp.ca%2Fcontent%2Fcfp%2F72%2F4%2Fe131.full.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cpat%40cfpc.ca%7Cee6e597955594ca1277408dea55658c2%7Cd948307afaa5496886d914a2163ee39d%7C0%7C0%7C639129987445311791%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=unlPSGwyR8y4NIzgcBzy4ckSE0Cqv6E8GYYD8OAxVtY%3D&reserved=0]. The third and final article in the series will be published in the May issue of Canadian Family Physician. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Understanding the importance of context in family medicine: from the molecular to the community level

Join CFP Editor Dr. Nick Pimlott and Associate Editor Dr. David Ponka as they explore the meaning and importance of context in family medicine with Dr. Anna Stavdal. Dr. Stavdal is the lead author of the third article in the “Foundations for Tomorrow” series in the journal celebrating the centenary of Dr. Ian McWhinney’s birth. Dr. Stavdal’s essay is entitled “Understanding the Context of Illness”. Dr. Stavdal’s co-author of the piece is Dr. Susan Senstad. Listeners can find a link to the article here: https://www.cfp.ca/content/cfp/72/3/164.full.pdf [https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cfp.ca%2Fcontent%2Fcfp%2F72%2F3%2F164.full.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cpat%40cfpc.ca%7C524c416071ae46fb303308de9a55e363%7Cd948307afaa5496886d914a2163ee39d%7C0%7C0%7C639117890853337388%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3A6Ct1fudX2fnflMVXusMoOt9EL5hnLsxfjOMObx5hk%3D&reserved=0]. A link to the book “Core Values in Family Medicine: Inspiring Global Change” can be found here: https://www.routledge.com/Core-Values-in-Family-Medicine-Inspiring-Global-Change/Stavdal-Sigurdsson-Goodyear-Smith/p/book/9781032893280 [https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.routledge.com%2FCore-Values-in-Family-Medicine-Inspiring-Global-Change%2FStavdal-Sigurdsson-Goodyear-Smith%2Fp%2Fbook%2F9781032893280&data=05%7C02%7Cpat%40cfpc.ca%7C524c416071ae46fb303308de9a55e363%7Cd948307afaa5496886d914a2163ee39d%7C0%7C0%7C639117890853375124%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=yaLhF6SNK2xMll4sJm02lq%2FPCOapkb0hOA3ObCmaMR4%3D&reserved=0]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The person, not the problem: A conversation with Dr. Alan Ng Cheng Hin

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 [https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cfp.ca%2Fcontent%2Fcfp%2F72%2F2%2F84.full.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cpat%40cfpc.ca%7C2486bf50a6414ad1038908de79666f10%7Cd948307afaa5496886d914a2163ee39d%7C0%7C0%7C639081678056830433%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=WJtvtqPkTMZepRaAPRccT0ELOG%2BVVMsa2LYm782NTzg%3D&reserved=0]).    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/ [https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcanongate.co.uk%2Fbooks%2F2244-a-fortunate-man-the-story-of-a-country-doctor%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cpat%40cfpc.ca%7C2486bf50a6414ad1038908de79666f10%7Cd948307afaa5496886d914a2163ee39d%7C0%7C0%7C639081678056864085%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=7vTDDyW0WV%2BqrHj%2BCsSl15a1t8BqNOBXCsm13JKmokk%3D&reserved=0]); “A Fortunate Woman: A Country Doctor’s Story” by Polly Morland (https://www.pollymorland.com/books/a-fortunate-woman/ [https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pollymorland.com%2Fbooks%2Fa-fortunate-woman%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cpat%40cfpc.ca%7C2486bf50a6414ad1038908de79666f10%7Cd948307afaa5496886d914a2163ee39d%7C0%7C0%7C639081678056894344%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4CApaF3ffd2Kh9dXu%2F%2FMGQ0VOAK1e3xmoM3%2F9HtnbjU%3D&reserved=0]); “McWhinney’s Textbook of Family Medicine” revised by Thomas R. Freeman (https://www.oupcanada.com/catalog/9780199370689.html [https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oupcanada.com%2Fcatalog%2F9780199370689.html&data=05%7C02%7Cpat%40cfpc.ca%7C2486bf50a6414ad1038908de79666f10%7Cd948307afaa5496886d914a2163ee39d%7C0%7C0%7C639081678056924367%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=2Xgb0L11SG7cIohtWJiS19oJjKRVbT5FyhY9%2BWUjUQ0%3D&reserved=0]); 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 [https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.routledge.com%2FPatient-Centered-Medicine-Transforming-the-Clinical-Method%2FStewart-Brown-Weston-Freeman-Ryan-McWilliam-McWhinney%2Fp%2Fbook%2F9781032480596&data=05%7C02%7Cpat%40cfpc.ca%7C2486bf50a6414ad1038908de79666f10%7Cd948307afaa5496886d914a2163ee39d%7C0%7C0%7C639081678056956616%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Crbye0FJSZ3UArh2DD9xsAx8WmtLs8hU6YdWdNmYaoE%3D&reserved=0]). ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Finding safe harbour: a conversation with Dr. Tom Freeman

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 [https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cfp.ca%2Fcontent%2F72%2F1%2F20&data=05%7C02%7Cpat%40cfpc.ca%7Cfec439d04e334b57f25708de5dcd911c%7Cd948307afaa5496886d914a2163ee39d%7C0%7C0%7C639051334666375638%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=KbLVBcy0BnRQIhTJCX52bHHc7mi2bbS2ZXhB0kcplHU%3D&reserved=0]). 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 [https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cfp.ca%2Fcontent%2F72%2F1%2F8&data=05%7C02%7Cpat%40cfpc.ca%7Cfec439d04e334b57f25708de5dcd911c%7Cd948307afaa5496886d914a2163ee39d%7C0%7C0%7C639051334666429929%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Tx9%2BNC00mVOLZ4m62xyB4DwBM%2Fq0KgFUYx%2BablaMj7c%3D&reserved=0]). ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.