Congratulations to our first group of QBOL FM graduates!

It's June 30th so that means it's finally time to say goodbye to our first group of QBOL FM graduates!  I'm happy to report that our residents were very successful in their licensing exams and are ready to move on to the next phases in their careers.  For some, it's additional third year training and for others, starting into practice.  From all, I expect big things!  You have been a wonderful group to work with over the past two years.

QBOL residents and preceptors - a great team!

We had a couple lovely events last week to mark this special occasion: a local QBOL celebration that was well attended by both residents and preceptors at the Brock House in Whitby and a formal graduation ceremony followed by a DFM party with awards presentations in Kingston.

Of course there was cake!

Our residents at the graduation party in Kingston.

I was ecstatic to see Dr. Aubrey Kassirer earn this year's Dr. Donald Potvin Memorial Award from the Department of Family Medicine for his outstanding work, never-ending enthusiasm, and positive role-modeling as an exemplary community Family Medicine Preceptor.

Some nice things being said about Dr. Kassirer.

It's been over four years of work to get to this point.  Starting with a great group of residents helped our site enormously but I know we would not have had nearly this amount of early success without the efforts of all our preceptors here, especially the members of my Site Committee, and to our many wonderful supports from the main site in Kingston, especially Dr. Karen Schultz, Queen's Family Medicine Program Director.

But honestly, there isn't the time to even try to find some laurels to rest on as we prepare to welcome our next batch of QBOL residents in a couple days!

Have a safe and happy Canada Day tomorrow, everyone!

2014 Fiesta Week is here!

It's the week after Father's Day which means Fiesta Week is again upon us here in Oshawa.  This year, it's a milestone 40th anniversary for Fiesta Week!  Congratulations to everybody who has been involved with this vibrant event over the years.

I usually make mention of this as my favourite festival in Oshawa during my recruitment speeches so this year, I thought I would take the time to post a link to the actual Fiesta Week website.

This is a fantastic opportunity for people to enjoy a cultural and food exchange at the fifteen pavilions set up throughout the area this week.  The performances are always entertaining and you can't help but come away with a deeper appreciation for the various multicultural roots that nourish Oshawa.

If you are in the area, please stop by at least one of the pavilions for lunch or dinner (purchased Fiesta Week passports are required for evening meals and performances) this week.  You won't be disappointed!

New PGY-1s to start in July!

Posted on behalf of Nathalie:

Congratulations to our new residents starting at QBOL! July 2014 marks our third year “up and running.” We're all excited and eager to meet the incoming class in July :)

 

The first month is fittingly known as the "toolbox" month, preparing residents for what's ahead. During this month, residents will attend orientation activities (including a scavenger hunt through Durham!), complete training courses, and be introduced to the various longitudinal experiences that will be interspersed with their family medicine clinics throughout residency. Then we will unleash their enthusiastic energy upon the Durham region, as they start to see patients and continue their paths towards becoming independent, wonderful family physicians!

 

Many people in Oshawa and Bowmanville are still pleasantly surprised to learn that there are Queen's family medicine residents based in Durham for their entire residency training, as previously Queen's only sent residents on time-limited rotations. However, as our QBOL program continues to bring in new residents, we'll continue to spread the word! Welcome QBOL class of 2016!

 

Nathalie

QBOL Site Chief Resident, 2014-15