Year-End Letter from the President

As 2025 draws to a close, I would like to take some time to reflect on the mission of CPSM and highlight some of the activities of the past year and look ahead to the coming year. 

The mandate of CPSM is ultimately to protect the public by its three-fold mission of ensuring physicians have the necessary training and expertise to be registered to practice as physicians, to ensure they are practicing to an appropriate standard, and to deal with any concerns that are expressed by the public or colleagues regarding the safety of the care being provided by physicians.

The profession has the privilege of self-regulation given by the provincial government. This is a privilege and not a right. It is imperative that we take this responsibility seriously, both to serve patients well and to continue to have this privilege. Self-regulation entails activities such as continuous quality improvement by conscious reflection on how we practice, how we can do better, and then acting on these reflections.

 CPSM's formal programs of quality assurance reviews and practice reviews are only one small part of this process. Standards committees are also a part of this process. Participation is a way to review what your colleagues are doing and ensure we are practicing to an appropriate standard and holding each other accountable. I would encourage you to participate in these committees at the local and regional level. However, the bulk of self-regulation is each of our responsibilities to reflect on and improve the care we provide.

CPSM has had a busy year with the introduction of mandatory training in culturally appropriate care, a Standard of Practice for Practicing Medicine to Eliminate Anti-Indigenous Racism, and a Restorative Practices Program to help address issues of Indigenous racism in the practice of physicians that are brought to the CPSM's attention. There has been significant work to streamline the complaints process so that it is friendlier and quicker.  We are expecting that the changes made to how the complaint process works for physicians and for the public we serve will be evident soon.  

What to expect in the new year

A working group on improving onboarding for Internationally Trained Physicians coming to Manitoba is nearing completion.  Further details will be communicated in the coming months. A standard of practice around Collaborative Care will be sent out shortly for consultation. 

In the New Year, a working group will be struck to review the practice standards for the prescribing of benzodiazepines and opioids to review the impact the current standards have had and to modernize the standards. 

My gratitude to CPSM staff for their dedication to adapting and evolving to being more open, engaging and service-oriented. Your commitment to focusing on meaningful outcomes truly makes a difference.

I would like to congratulate Dr. Ainslie Mihalchuk, CPSM Registrar and CEO, on receiving the Reg L. Perkin Award for Family Physician of the Year - Manitoba from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). She was presented with the award at the Family Medicine Forum awards in November. This award is presented annually by the CFPC to recognize family physician members who exemplify what it means to be a family doctor and recipients are chosen by their peers. Read more here.

I want to take this opportunity to invite you to consider participating with CPSM in its various committees and to consider running for Council. The work of CPSM is important in how you and your colleagues practice. I have found the experience of being on Council rewarding and interesting. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Charles Penner

Council President