A look back to see ahead: CFPC Section of Residents, 1989-2009.

The role of the medical intern or resident has long been evolving. Beginning in the late 19th century, residency was a relatively informal and unstructured system of training. By the early 21st century, residency and postgraduate medical training have evolved into sophisticated, resource-intensive programs, which are now mandatory for licensure in most countries, including Canada. The formalization of training programs has fueled residents’ interest in medical politics and governance. Most recently, in the United States, the struggle to set limits on resident work hours gained national and international media attention, with the impetus for change being resident well-being and patient safety.1 In the world of family medicine, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) was one of the first organizations to grant substantial resident representation. Today, residents are represented at the highest level of the AAFP and in turn act as the AAFP’s representatives to sister organizations.2 Similarly, in Canada, a residents’ section was formed within the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). In the 1980s, residents were referred to as associate members of the College. As such, when it was first formed in 1989, the residents’ representative body was known as the Associate Members Group. Two residents (1 first-year and 1 second-year) were elected from each medical school to represent their postgraduate family medicine training programs and to offer their perspectives and opinions on issues affecting their own training programs and programs across the country. Eventually, the terminology within the College changed, and all residents affiliated with the CFPC became members of the Section of Residents (SOR). Thus, the elected representative body is currently known as the Council of the Section of Residents (SOR Council). Today, along with the sections of teachers, researchers, and medical students, the SOR is an integral part of the CFPC. During its 20 years of existence, the SOR has been governed by structured terms of reference and has had strong representation on many CFPC committees, including the Board of Directors. Within the SOR Council, 3 subcommittees currently exist: education, current affairs, and communications. The officers of the subcommittees, along with the Chair, Vice Chair, and Chair Elect, make up the executive of the SOR Council. An organizational chart can be found in the October 2010 Residents’ Views article.3 Since 1989, the SOR Council has met twice a year to discuss the strengths and potential areas of improvement of the family medicine training programs. In addition, there is continuous active discussion of current issues affecting family medicine. Just as the name of the SOR Council has evolved, so have the issues that it tackles. Looking back on the discussions that have taken place over the past 20 years, however, reveals several recurring themes. The SOR Council has particularly focused on medical education, distributed education, continuity of care in family medicine, the evolving field of focused practice within family medicine, and affordable examination costs.