What a time to be a family physician in BC! I feel honoured to follow in the footsteps of so many great leaders. As we continue to advocate for family physicians in the province, there is still much to do and I’m ready to get to work.
I have challenged the status quo in our healthcare system for nearly a decade. With my local Division of Family Practice, I learned how we can enact change at a local level. I also had many opportunities at a regional level to advocate for change. Still, I searched for a way to influence changes at a provincial level. BC Family Doctors is a community and organization with a strong political voice, decision-making influence and ability to bring family physicians together.
That’s what drew me to the organization, but what keeps me here is our bold vision for the future. Over the past year, BC Family Doctors and our interest holders have been crafting our vision for the organization and the future of primary care in the province.
One of my greatest privileges over the next year will be implementing our priorities, which can be summarized in six words: Shaping the future of family medicine.
At the core of this plan are three pillars:
- Lead the evolution of family medicine: Family doctors are leaders, innovators and proponents of an accessible, integrated healthcare system.
- Deepen physician engagement: Physicians can shape the future of our profession and we want to help them do that.
- Redefine our collective work: We must build strong partnerships to accelerate healthcare reform and future-proof family medicine.
This will be a mammoth undertaking, but I have no doubt we can achieve it. We are the largest body of physicians in the province and our collective power and voice are formidable.
I look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with all of you to build a more equitable, innovative and resilient healthcare system. We can shape the future of family medicine together.
Sincerely,
Dr. Darren Joneson
2025-2026 President
BC Family Doctors
Dr. Darren Joneson, BC Family Doctors 2025-2026 President, has been practicing medicine in Chilliwack since 2015. He founded Spectrum Medical and Phototherapy in 2020 and is medical director of Chilliwack Youth Health Centre. A husband and father of three young children, Darren enjoys music, playing drums and writing in his limited spare time.