In this conversation, Dr. Jobin Varughese discusses the current state and future of family medicine in Ontario, addressing key issues such as the shortage of family doctors, the importance of interprofessional care, and the role of technology in reducing administrative burdens. He emphasizes the need for systemic changes to improve access to care and support for family physicians, while also encouraging medical students to pursue careers in family medicine. The discussion highlights the importance of collaboration among healthcare providers and the potential for innovation in the field.

In addition to being the President of the Ontario College of Family Physicians, Dr. Jobin Varughese has held several leadership roles in the healthcare sector: he is an administrator within medical education, currently serving as Interim Assistant Dean of Primary Care Education for the School of Medicine at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and as Associate Vice President of Academics at William Osler Health System. ​

​Dr. Varughese completed medical school in the Caribbean followed by residency in family medicine and a fellowship in geriatrics in Michigan, before returning home to Brampton where he has been practising for the last 14 years. ​

​He has practiced in Fee For Service clinics, Family Health Teams and Family Health Organizations, as well as a hospitalist, in rehab. Dr. Varughese was medical director in long-term care (LTC) during the pandemic, where he saw first-hand how much support LTC residents need during a crisis. At the same time, Dr. Varughese was Site Director for McMaster Family Medicine Residency program supporting a different kind of resident – medical learners –for eight years. His varied experiences give him perspective into the challenges that family physicians are facing in numerous areas of practice and from several perspectives.

Dr. Lily Robinson is a primary and palliative care physician working with the Mission United Program, housed within and in collaboration with the Backdoor Mission. The backdoor mission seeks to assist their patrons achieve long-term stabilization by providing low-barrier, wrap-around supports with a point-in-time model. Their innovative partnership model empowers us to offer specialized person-centred services for our community through a singular access point.

This episode is supported by a grant from the Ontario Medical Association.

Note: Dr. Robinson notes that the term 'spirit wheel' used in this episode to refer to indigenous perspectives on health and wellness, should in fact be 'medicine wheel'.

In this episode, we discuss all things primary care with Dr. Allan Grill. Dr. Grill is the inaugural Assistant Dean of the Queen's University Lakeridge Health MD-Family Medicine program and the Chief of Family Medicine at the Oak Valley Health's Markham Stouffville Hospital.

We talked about the current primary care crisis in Canada, innovative medical education as a potential solution to this crisis, and being an agent of change. Enjoy!

An introduction to Pulse Check: The Primary Care Pod