Our Department of Family Medicine (DFM) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025. Throughout the year, we will showcase our growth, accomplishments and vision for the future as a department.

Did you know...?

Dr. Dave Williams in astronaut uniform in front of a Canadian flag

Dr. Dave Williams

In 1985, Dr. Dave Williams completed a residency in family practice from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Later he became a mission specialist on two NASA space shuttle missions and an aquanaut participating in undersea research. As a medical doctor and an astronaut, he contributed to vital life-science experiments focused on the effects of microgravity on the human brain and nervous system.

Through our collective efforts and commitment, we have developed into a strong, highly effective department with a shared goal since the beginning: to advance the discipline of Family Medicine. We have engaged leaders who lead with compassion and equity and strive to adapt and meet the ever-changing needs of our learners. This is especially important as our discipline undergoes transformation to resolve challenges within the primary care system in Ontario.

Our department was officially established in 1975 and recognized as a training program by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and housed within uOttawa’s Faculty of Medicine. There have been 10 Chairs, including today’s current Chair, Dr. Clare Liddy.

Previous chairs and their terms : 

  • 1968-1970 Dr. John Day
  • 1970-1975 Dr. John Last
  • 1975-1981 Dr. Campbell T. Lamont
  • 1981-1986 Dr. Walter Rosser
  • 1986-1995 Dr. John Forster
  • 1996-2005 Dr. Nick Busing
  • 2005-2012 Dr. Jacques Lemelin
  • 2012-2014 Dr. Michael Hirsh (Interim)
  • 2014-2019 Dr. Dianne Delva
  • 2019-current Dr. Clare Liddy

Note: the 2 chairs prior to 1975 were instrumental in the official establishment of our department, and hence are included in our department’s history.

Our department has grown steadily over the years. Today, we are the largest clinical department within the Faculty of Medicine with 675 faculty members, of whom 120 are primary preceptors for our 185 residents (PGY1 – PGY3) in our postgraduate training programs. Our department is supported by 45 administrative staff and a number of faculty members who fill key leadership roles.

Our research activities enhance the discipline to support the training of our learners, faculty and community members. Our research community of practice has grown to support interdisciplinary collaboration and promote junior investigators to become future leaders in research.

As the department has grown and evolved, so have our strategic priorities. We have seen the expansion of our programs and the advancement of our curriculum through quality improvement measures and reform. We continue to move forward with our two key areas of focus: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Indigenous Health. Our social accountability efforts have had an impact locally and beyond.

We thank our faculty, learners and staff who have made the DFM what it is today. We have a lot to be proud of! We look forward to celebrating this milestone at our upcoming Retreat in April and throughout the year.

Share

We invite you to share a memory or a story that captures a meaningful experience you had in the course of your work within the department. We would like to share your stories on this page throughout the year.

To submit your story, or to stay informed about our department and activities, please email [email protected]. Ask to be added to our mailing list to receive our monthly newsletters.