Our ability to join together, to act as a collective, is at the heart of who we are as people. As family doctors, we understand that connection matters. Belonging matters.
We live in a world where we have geographically and politically sorted ourselves into like-minded groups, where dissent is silenced and facts are consumed only if they support our beliefs. We are sinking farther and farther into a culture of groupthink. In these challenging times, our physician organizations need to create a culture of true belonging where diversity of thinking is not just tolerated, but celebrated. We can build and nurture a community while continuing to mine for diverse and dissenting opinions.
For 30 years, the Society of General Practitioners of BC has represented the family doctors of this province. During that time, we have created a community and a organization that is “a soft place for hard conversations,” in the words of Irish poet and theologian Padraig Ó Tuama. As we embark on this new chapter as BC Family Doctors, we will continue to be a welcoming space where self-reflection and respect for difference are embedded into the fabric of our organization. We welcome your hard questions as we expand our efforts to improve the working lives of family doctors.
We believe that the fundamental role of family doctors in this province must be seen, heard and valued. And we know that we have a long way to go to make that a reality.
We see what you see. We know what you know. You are not alone in looking for change, needing change.
Change starts here. Change relies on you joining the movement for change. Family doctors in this province are 6000 strong. We must join together, we must act as a collective, if we are going to address the issues that are depleting the joy and purpose from our work.
Despite all that ails primary care in BC, I have hope for a better tomorrow. And that hope lies in our community choosing courage over comfort, speaking uncomfortable truth to those who need to hear it, and uniting to save family medicine in BC.
Executive Director
BC Family Doctors