PEI’s 2021 Family Physician of the Year
Dr. Bernie Holland started his family practice in Montague, PEI in 1995 after completing his Military Service serving as a Medical Officer as a peacekeeper. He has continued to practice in a comprehensive family practice for the past 26 years including an office practice, inpatients, nursing home and emergency medicine. He has served on multiple committees and is active in his community. He is both loved and respected by all his patients. He is exactly what all family physicians strive to be. 
2021 Awards of Excellence
Dr. John Morash, Summerside, exemplifies what it is to be a comprehensive family physician and is an important part of our medical community.
Dr. Megan Miller, Stratford, for her work in cancer treatment and end-of-life care in PEI..
The 2021 CFPC Awards of Excellence recognize at the national level family physicians who are meritorious and recognized at the provincial Chapter level. Hon. Ernie Hudson, Minister of Health and Wellness assisted Dr. Heather Austin in presenting the awards at the Annual Members Meeting in June.
President's Address
It is my privilege to accept the position of president of the PEI College of Family Physicians for the next two years. When I agreed to join the executive in 2017, I will admit it was with some reluctance and trepidation. But over the past four years, I have had the opportunity to meet a number of inspiring colleagues from across the country and to gain perspective on the successes and ongoing challenges family physicians in Canada are facing. So at this point, I am eager rather than reluctant to work to represent all of you in advocating for and supporting family medicine in PEI.
I want to commend Dr. Kristy Newson on the completion of her term as president. We are looking forward to the implementation of an Island-wide electronic medical record, the government has committed to using the Patient's Medical Home and Neighbourhood as the model for primary care reform in the province, and the term "family medicine" is in the process of becoming a protected term that can only be used by family physicians. She played a key part in all of these accomplishments. 
Dr. Kristy Newson installs Dr. Heather Austin during 2021 Annual Meeting
Dr. Cathie Cervin, CFPC President joined the installation via Zoom
Dr. Heather Austin addresses the membership online.
The past year has also seen the CFPC create the position of Health Policy Analyst, hiring Heather Mullen. This has been a boon to our chapter, facilitating improved communication with the other Atlantic provinces, with the national office, and has provided significant support for government relations here on the Island.
Yet there is so much left to do. We must continue to support physicians in developing Patient Medical Homes and Neighbourhoods across the Island, working closely with the government and other care providers to meet the needs of our communities. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to providing some, if not all, of the care for patients remotely, even if only for a short time. We have seen third-party companies such as Maple step in to fill a perceived void. Pharmacies are becoming the first stop for patients to receive advice and treatment for minor ailments. Patients are choosing easy access to episodic care over waiting to see their family physician. It seems traditional family medicine is being eroded from every angle.
So what do we do? We need to leverage technology, with the well-being of the patient at the centre of our efforts. We must advocate for comprehensive, longitudinal care. We need to figure out how to meet the needs of our patients in a rapidly changing environment. Family physicians are highly skilled, trained to understand and manage complex health needs within a complex health system. I look forward to supporting all of you as we work together to meet these challenges.
Sincerely,
Heather Austin, MD, CCFP
PEICFP President
Annual Member Meeting a few Board Member met in person to broadcast to the members online.
New Urinary Incontinence Guidelines session with Dr. Katie Matheson
ENT Pearls with Dr. Kristian MacDonald
Congratulations to Dr. Heather Morrison on her appointment to the Order of Prince Edward Island
Three Islanders were announced Wednesday as the 2021 inductees to the Order of Prince Edward Island.

They are Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison, entrepreneur and seniors' advocate Noreen Corrigan-Murphy, and community volunteer Maitland MacIssac.
Morrison has been chief public health officer for P.E.I. since 2007 and has become one of P.E.I.'s most familiar faces during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She brought an impressive resume to the job. As P.E.I.'s first female Rhodes Scholar, she earned two degrees at Oxford University before training as a doctor at Dalhousie.

"Heather's devotion as a medical professional is obvious but most recognizable is her leadership to keep Islanders safe. Her slogan 'be patient and kind' offers a reminder of the importance and value of caring while working together," said the release announcing her appointment to the order.
Join the Conversation: PEI Primary Care Research Network
Dr. Jim Thompson MD, CCFP(EM), FCFP in Charlottetown invites all PEI Family Physicians to join the PEI Primary Care Research Network Facebook group.

Our goal is to support PEI Family Physicians in either gathering data from primary care research relevant to Family Medicine or supporting PEI Family Physicians who are interested in doing research. This is a private Facebook group.

The presence of the group is visible on Facebook, but the membership and contents are visible only to members. Go to that link, answer the screening questions and Dr. Thompson will let you in.