Training more doctors is a start. Let’s make sure our health system is ready for them

This week, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) opens the doors of its new medical school in Brampton, Ont. With a focus on preparing future doctors for primary care specialties, the school is an exciting addition to Canada’s medical education programs.

As our population grows and ages, the demand for medical care is outpacing the number of physicians we’re able to train. TMU’s inaugural class is part of a national momentum to change that.

University of Prince Edward Island launched its Faculty of Medicine earlier this year; in the coming years, Simon Fraser University will open a medical school in Surrey, B.C., and York University in Vaughan, Ont.

These programs acknowledge the scarcity of primary care providers across Canada, emphasizing family medicine and training for rural and remote communities. Additionally, many provinces are expanding medical school seats at existing institutions, further bolstering the future of the medical profession.

But expansion alone isn’t enough. More than 6.5 million Canadians don’t have regular access to primary care while physicians continue to experience burnout, exhaustion and job dissatisfaction. There are only 1,700 medical school graduates per year, and fewer new doctors are choosing family medicine as a specialty.

If we want to build a resilient, equitable health-care system, we need to reimagine how we recruit, train and retain the next generation of doctors — especially in underserved communities.

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has long advocated for team-based care as one essential strategy to alleviate pressure on primary care providers. With the proper resources, organization and collaboration, interprofessional health teams provide comprehensive care for patients. In 2023, the CMA called on governments to establish primary care teams for 50 per cent of Canadians within five years, and 80 per cent within 10.

Our work to reduce unnecessary administrative tasks is also especially important for primary care doctors – 61 per cent say the time they spend on administrative burden is excessive. In Ontario, they spend an average of 19 hours per week on unnecessary paperwork. Administrative burden contributes to burnout, which was at its worst during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to have lasting repercussions.

The CMA recognizes that supporting physician wellness starts in medical school. In October, we will be holding the biennial Canadian Conference on Physician Health in Vancouver. This will provide a forum for learners, physicians, researchers, educators and administrators to talk about how to build trust in care, support doctors at all stages of their careers and create an inclusive medical culture.

Fortunately, I believe medical students are entering a health-care system at an upswing. While we are still facing serious challenges, there are opportunities to do things differently. AI is just one example of how innovation is rapidly transforming medicine.

When I reflect on my own time as a medical student, I remember the excitement, joy — and relentless pace — of learning. I doubt that has changed since I graduated. Medicine is a calling, and I tell new doctors that if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past few decades, it’s that patients will give back much more than you will ever give them.

I still remember the first patient I met in my first year of medical school. She was being treated for neurofibromatosis, a condition that affects your nervous system and skin. It was a life-changing moment for me, and in many ways the start of my journey as a physician.

I understand now more than ever that it’s a privilege to accompany patients and their families on their health-care journeys. I believe the next generation of doctors has a bright future ahead of them. Let’s make sure our health-care system is ready for them.

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Dr. Margot Burnell, a medical oncologist and health leader in New Brunswick, is the president of the Canadian Medical Association. This article was originally published on Healthy Debate.