Who we are
A message from our president, Dr. Douglas Mark
When two family physicians, Dr. Sharla Lichtman and Dr. Rochelle Schwartz, founded the Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario in 1986, they ignited a beacon of hope. They recognized a medical community besieged by inadequate compensation, bureaucratic overreach, and a system that seemed to overlook the very people it was designed to serve — both patients and physicians. That beacon, carried forward by many courageous family doctors, has now been passed to us
DoctorsOntario, born from the Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario, has not just evolved; we have been forged in the fires of adversity. We have seen victories, like when we influenced the OMA to better represent all physicians, and we've faced setbacks, like the challenging implementation of Primary Care Reforms. But through each challenge, we've learned, adapted, and grown stronger.
Let us remember our darkest times, such as the tragic loss of Dr. Tony Hsu, to remind us of the reasons we continue to fight. We stood alongside his widow and other leaders to dismantle the oppressive and draconium Medical Review Committee (MRC) audits.
The MRC audits, coupled with the Primary Care Reforms that have fragmented rather than unified family doctors, are not merely historical policies but urgent calls to action. They underscore the vital importance of our unity, our advocacy, and our collective voice.
Today, we face new battles. We find ourselves in a healthcare system where doctors are paid a mere fraction of their worth, where more than 1 in 6 Ontarians lacks a family doctor, and where our voices are often drowned out by bureaucratic noise. But here's the truth: We are not just doctors; we are advocates, innovators, and the very backbone of healthcare.
Why do we need DoctorsOntario more than ever?
Because Advocacy Matters: We need to push back against a system that undervalues our contribution. Our fight for fair compensation is not about greed; it's about respect and sustainability of our healthcare system.
Because Unity is Our Strength: The divisions created by various payment models and reforms must be addressed. We must stand united, not as disparate groups of specialists and family physicians, but as DoctorsOntario - one voice for all.
Because Innovation is Our Future: We must embrace new models of care, leverage technology, and advocate for policies that allow us to serve our patients better, not just more.
Because Every Ontarian Deserves Care: Our mission extends beyond our profession. It's about ensuring every citizen in this province has access to quality healthcare.
Today, I call upon each of you:
Join us on X (@docsontario), where free speech allows us to discuss, debate, and devise solutions without the shackles of conventional censorship. Engage with us, share your stories, your frustrations, and your hopes. Let's gather data, because, as we know, you can't manage what you don't measure.
We are reborn, not just to fight but to lead, innovate, and inspire change. This is not just about resisting the tides that seek to erode our profession; it's about setting a new course for healthcare in Ontario.
Are you with us?
Together, let's make sure that the light started by our founders not only continues to burn but also shines brighter than ever before. For our profession, for our patients, for Ontario.
Thank-you,
Doug
Douglas Mark MD
President, DoctorsOntario
