CFPC Celebrates the 'Best of the Best' in Family Medicine With the 2010
Family Physician of the Year Awards

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct 4 /CNW/ -  The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) is proud to announce the names of the 10 outstanding family physicians whose professional accomplishments have earned them recognition as Canada's 2010 Family Physicians of the Year.  Each year, the College awards the Reg L. Perkin Awards to one family physician from each province in recognition of their exceptional care for patients, meaningful contributions to the health and well-being of communities, and dedication to research and teaching. Award recipients are nominated by their peers, patients, colleagues, and community leaders.

Canada's Family Physicians of the Year for 2010 are:

• Dr. Catherine Penney, St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador
• Dr. Charles Dewar, O'Leary, Prince Edward Island
• Dr. David MacNeil, Bedford, Nova Scotia
• Dr. Jennifer Hall, Saint John, New Brunswick
• D^re. Ruth Vander Stelt, Gatineau, Québec
• Dr. Catherine Faulds, London, Ontario
• Dr. Anne Durcan, Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Dr. Carla Eisenhauer, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
• Dr. Karen Lundgard, Peace River, Alberta
• Dr. Ronald Wilson, Vancouver, British Columbia

"The CFPC is pleased to recognize these outstanding family physicians," said Dr. Cathy MacLean, President of the CFPC.  "Our 2010 award recipients are all dedicated to providing comprehensive care for their patients and communities including services in areas such as palliative care, maternal care for at-risk populations, aboriginal health, emergency care, and obstetrics. Many also channel their passions into family medicine research and teaching the next generation of family physicians."

"Too often we focus on the problems we face with our health care system," added Dr. Calvin Gutkin, Executive Director and CEO.  "The Family Physicians of the Year remind us of all that is good with family medicine in Canada.  The award recipients are but a few of the thousands of outstanding family physicians in our country who provide high quality care for their patients.  They work in a variety of practices, hospitals, institutions, homes and schools in small rural communities to the largest cities.   We commend the award recipients on their tremendous achievements."
This is the 38^th year the College has honoured family physicians with this award. Since 1996, it has been named in honour of Dr. Reg L. Perkin, CFPC Executive Director from 1985 to 1996. The awards are presented as part of Family Doctor Week in Canada which this year runs from October 11-16, 2010.

The award presentations will be made during a ceremony at the CFPC's annual Family Medicine Forum in Vancouver, on Friday, October 15.  The awards are supported by Merck, Health Canada and the CFPC's Research and Education Foundation.

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) is the voice of family medicine in Canada. Representing more than 24,000 members across the country, the CFPC is the professional organization responsible for establishing standards for the training, certification and lifelong education of family physicians and for advocating on behalf of the specialty of family medicine, family physicians and their patients. The CFPC accredits postgraduate family medicine training in Canada's 17 medical schools.  

Profiles of the 2010 Family Physicians of the Year are provided in the Award recipient biography documents. More information about the Family Physician of the Year program is available at: http://fpoy.cfpc.ca

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