The Canadian Medical Association announces the make-up of its first-ever patient advisory group

New group will provide patient perspective on CMA policy and advocacy

OTTAWA, Oct. 25, 2018 /CNW/ - The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) today announced the individuals that will form its inaugural CMA Patient Voice, a new patient advisory group. More than 500 individuals sought the opportunity to be part of the advisory group and to provide their perspective to the CMA's advocacy and policy work. Candidates were selected based on diversity, geographic representation and passion for health care improvement.

The group also welcomes two representatives from the CMA Board of Directors: Current chair and BC-based family physician, Dr. Brian Brodie, and Dr. Linda Slocombe, a family physician from Alberta.

"At the CMA, our role is to support physicians and promote sound health policies; ensuring that a patient lens informs our advocacy work is a big part of that", says Dr. Gigi Osler, CMA president. "Incorporating the patient perspective into our work not only makes our voice stronger but gives us real insight into the realities of health care today."

The first-ever members of the CMA Patient Voice are:

    --  Robert Carignan (Ponteix, SK): Involved in improving and expanding
        medical services in his rural Saskatchewan community, Robert is also
        president of the Ponteix Primary Health Care Committee, a group of
        community members advocating for improved health services in rural
        areas.
    --  Samantha Chigier (Bedford, NS): A young woman living with a disability
        who received medical treatment in Canada and the US, Samantha is curious
        about the differences between the two health systems and wishes to share
        her experiences as a teenager with chronic pain.
    --  Julie Drury (Ottawa, ON): As the mother of a child with an ultra-rare
        form of mitochondrial disease (SIFD), Julie has had significant
        experience with the health care system in Canada, the US and
        internationally. She has since become an experienced advisor and leader
        with an interest in effective patient partnership, complex disease
        management and patient safety.
    --  Sarah Fletcher (Vancouver, BC): As a patient and aspiring health care
        provider, Sarah has seen both the strengths and weaknesses of our
        current system in multiple provinces and brings these insights to her
        work as a youth and patient advisor for a number of provincial, national
        and international organizations.
    --  Elke Hutton (Shellbrook, SK): A patient family advisor with more than 30
        years of experience in health care, Elke is involved with the
        Saskatchewan Health Quality Council and Choosing Wisely Canada.
    --  Toni Leamon (Port aux Basques, NL): The youngest member of the
        Newfoundland Patient Advisory Council and the Quality of Care NL Patient
        Panel, Toni brings a young patient perspective, in addition to her
        experience accessing care in rural Canada.
    --  David Price (Acme, AB): Following the premature death of his son, David
        and his family have worked to support positive improvement to the health
        care system in Alberta - in particular around timely diagnosis and
        continuity of care.
    --  Sonia Seguin (Hamilton, ON): While recovering from an eating disorder,
        Sonia became executive director of a community-based organization
        referring others for treatment and support.
    --  Claire Snyman (Vancouver, BC): Since her experience as a brain tumour
        patient, Claire's mission has been to inspire people to put their health
        in their own hands and work in partnership with health teams to make
        care decisions.
    --  Roger Stoddard (Quispamsis, NB): A patient with multiple chronic
        conditions and care provider, Roger has been involved in projects at the
        community, provincial and national level, including with McGill
        University and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.
    --  Eddy Szczerbinski (Lévis, QC): After dealing with cancer, Eddy wishes
        to share insights from his own experience - and those of other patients
        he met along the way - to advocate for better information sharing
        between patients, general practitioners and specialists.
    --  Rodney Young (Halfmoon Bay, BC): Diagnosed in 2002 with primary
        progressive MS, Rodney lives in a small BC town and is familiar with the
        challenges of getting timely and accessible care.

CMA Board of Directors representatives:

    --  Dr. Brian Brodie (Chilliwack, BC): A full-time family physician in
        Chilliwack, Dr. Brodie has been the CMA Board Chair since 2013.
    --  Dr. Linda Slocombe (Calgary, AB): A family physician by training, she
        currently practises low-risk obstetrics in a large group practice in
        Calgary in addition to being on the CMA Board of Directors and a former
        Alberta Medical Association president.

The first meeting of the CMA Patient Voice will be held in Ottawa in December 2018.

The Canadian Medical Association unites Canada's physicians and physicians-in-training on national health and medical matters. Formed in Quebec City in 1867, the CMA's rich history of advocacy led to some of Canada's most important health policy changes. As we look to the future, the CMA will focus on advocating for a healthy population and a vibrant profession.

SOURCE Canadian Medical Association