FMWC Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In Episode 8 of the FMWC 100th Anniversary Podcast Series, the focus is on the pivotal shifts in women’s health legislation during the 1970s and 1980s, and the key role that female physicians played in the feminist movement. Building off the previous episode’s introduction of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada, this episode examines how feminist groups mobilized for change and how second-wave feminism shaped reproductive rights in Canada.

The episode concludes by acknowledging the significant progress made during the second wave of feminism while also highlighting the ongoing intersectional struggles faced by marginalized women, particularly Indigenous women. It sets the stage for the next episode, which will explore the evolution of women's health and leadership from the 1990s to the present day.

In this special episode, host Dr. Isabella Churchill sits down with two inspiring past presidents of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC) to discuss their journeys, achievements, and the evolving landscape for women in medicine. Join us as we explore the personal and professional stories of Dr. Alanna Danilkewich and Dr. Janet Dollin—two accomplished physicians who have not only broken barriers but have paved the way for future generations of female physicians.

We also dive into open-ended conversations about the highlights of being FMWC president, overcoming biases as mothers in medicine, and what these leaders envision for the future of female physicians. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about mentorship, leadership, and the collective strength of women in the medical profession.

For Episode 11, we sat down with Dr. Melanie Bechard (she/her) who is a pediatric emergency physician and an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa. She is currently the Chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare, a nonpartisan organization of physicians advocating for an equitable, evidence-based, and sustainable health care system. In this episode we talk about the issues facing the Canadian healthcare system, limitations that come with privatization, and potential pathways to explore to alleviate the strain primary care physicians are facing. 

We would like to thank Kameela Alibhai for founding the FMWC podcast and leading the production of all the episodes to date. The podcast committee has lost an exceptional leader, but we wish her the very best as she starts her journey as a surgical resident in Toronto! 

Episode 10 features Dr. Alika Lafontaine, current head of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and award-winning physician. Dr Lafontaine currently practices as an anesthesiologist in Grande Prairie, Alberta, and is the first indigenous doctor listed in the Medical Post’s 50 most powerful doctors. In this episode, we delve into his early life and upbringing as a Cree and Anishinaabe as well as his personal journey towards a career in medicine. Dr. Lafontaine sheds light on his role as CMA president, alongside the association’s values and mission. We conclude this episode with a conversation on the negative aspects of the medical field, and Dr. Lafontaine imparts valuable advice on maintaining a healthy work-life balance.  The views expressed in this podcast belong solely to the speakers and do not necessarily reflect any institution/associations they are affiliated with.    This podcast should not be considered a substitute for medical advice. Canadian Medical Association (CMA): ⁠https://www.cma.ca/⁠

In episode 9, we welcome Dr. Thais Coutinho, cardiologist and division head of Prevention and Rehabilitation at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, as well as Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Additionally, Dr. Coutinho sits as the chair of the Heart Institute’s Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre, and is an internationally recognized clinician scientist in the field of arterial health. 

We discuss her calling to medicine, work-life balance, scope of practice, and future goals. Dr. Coutinho also offers some insight in regard to the mitigation of risks associated with arterial diseases in women, as well as the unspoken realities of her professional domain. She further provides an overview of the utilization of her grant from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

The views expressed in this podcast belong solely to the speakers and do not necessarily reflect any institution/associations they are affiliated with. 

This podcast should not be considered a substitute for medical advice.

Ottawa Heart Institute - Women’s heart health: https://foundation.ottawaheart.ca/?gclid=CjwKCAjwge2iBhBBEiwAfXDBRwZARPv_Y6i0GlXRPyQ2j3YuAOmvXknvCcoA0lQX8IbKtF8TQ7YvthoCAlcQAvD_BwE 

Women’s Cardiac and Cerebrovascular Health Committee (WCCH) with FMWC: https://fmwc.ca/advocacy/advocacy-wcch/

In episode 8, we welcome Dr. Kathleen (Katie) Armstrong, a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon in gender affirming top surgeries. She is the current coordinator of the medical ethics education for the university of Toronto’s plastic surgery residency training program. In this role, she trains medical students, residents and fellows in top surgery providing core lectures, office based and technical experience.

 

In this episode, we discuss Dr. Armstrong’s scope of practice, the history and accessibility of gender affirming surgery in Canada, as well as potential complications and limitations of these surgeries. Dr. Armstrong also touches on her experience with mentoring within the field, provides advice for medical students aspiring to pursue surgery, and shares lessons that she learned throughout her training.

 

The views expressed in this podcast belong solely to the speakers and do not necessarily reflect any institution/associations they are affiliated with. 

 

This podcast should not be considered a substitute for medical advice.

World’s Professional Organization for Transgender Health Membership: https://www.wpath.org/MembershipInfo

Pink News Instagram (@pinknews): https://www.instagram.com/pinknews/?hl=en

Egale Canada (@egalecanada): https://www.instagram.com/egalecanada/?hl=en 

Sherbourne Health Trans-Health Programs: https://sherbourne.on.ca/primary-and-family-health-care/2slgbtq-health/trans-health-care/ 

In the seventh episode, we welcome Dr. Ewurabena Simpson a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) She is also an assistant professor with the Department of Pediatrics and the Assistant Dean, Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at the University of Ottawa

In this episode, Dr. Simpson shares her experience as a black woman in the medical system, as well as the impact that being a mother has had on her professional life. We also discuss Dr. Simpson’s current role on the EDI committee, highlighting the significance of her work in shaping the future of medicine for black students.

The views expressed in this podcast belong solely to the speakers and do not necessarily reflect any institution/associations they are affiliated with.

This podcast should not be considered a substitute for medical advice.

In Episode 6, we welcome co-host Kira Bombay, a fourth year medical student at the University of Ottawa and member of the Rainy River First Nations. Our guest is Dr. Shannon Waters who is Coast Salish and a member of the Stz’uminus First Nation on Vancouver Island. She is a Public Health and Preventive Medicine physician who talks with us about the importance of supporting Indigenous rights and the vital but often underappreciated role the ecosystem plays in sustaining our health.

Dr. Waters has also published a variety of written works, including this piece titled: “How Can I Give Back”: https://medicalstaff.islandhealth.ca/news-events/dr-shannon-waters-asks-how-can-i-give-back-0

We recognize that while the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic has lessened, our healthcare system remains under extreme pressure which must be addressed urgently. The views expressed in this podcast belong solely to the speakers and do not necessarily reflect any institution/associations they are affiliated with.

This podcast should not be considered a substitute for medical advice.

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Donna May Kimmaliardjuk, Canada’s first Inuk cardiac surgeon who is a staff surgeon practicing at Eastern Health located in St-John's in Newfoundland and Labrador. We discuss Dr.Kimmaliardjuk’s calling to become a surgeon as well as her lived experiences as an Inuk woman in the field of medicine. She provides insight into how she strikes a balance between her surgical career and her personal life and discusses her childhood experiences that have shaped her practice.

The views expressed in this podcast belong solely to the speakers and do not necessarily reflect any institution/associations they are affiliated with.

This podcast should not be considered a substitute for medical advice.

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Najma Ahmed, co-founder of Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns: a grasroot organization concerned about the increasing public health impact of firearms. Dr. Ahmed is the vice chair of education at UofT’s department of surgery and won the prestigious Royal College AMS/Donald Richards Wilson Award in 2016. We discuss her motivation, backlash and barriers she endured while founding her organization, as well as her thoughts on the new Bill C21.

The views expressed in this podcast belong solely to the speakers and do not necessarily reflect any institution/associations they are affiliated with.

This podcast should not be considered a substitute for medical advice.

Dr. Najmas organization:

https://www.doctorsforprotectionfromguns.ca/

Links about Gun violence in Canada:

https://www.cmaj.ca/content/191/16/E434

https://www.cbc.ca/cbcdocspov/features/gun-violence-by-the-numbers

https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/in-fighting-gun-crime-canada-has-an-american-problem-1.6004198

Other physician organizations against gun violence:

http://www.doctorsforrefugeecare.ca/