Overview

This half-day workshop will help you take an idea from that place in your mind, thinking “I should write about that,” all the way to publication.

If you work or study in the field of health and wish to write a health-themed article, this workshop is for you. In an age of misinformation, we need a public discourse on health that is accurate. In other words, we need to hear from you!

Nick Pimlott will speak about his journey and process as a physician-writer and how to go from an idea to a completed piece of writing. Dr. Arundhati Dhara and Dr. Sarah Fraser will share the genesis of “Third Rail,” a new section in Canadian Family Physician, where they did exactly what they hope to help you to accomplish — taking your idea all the way to print.

Come to this workshop with an idea in mind: an experience, a feeling, or something that has you celebrating or losing sleep. You might, instead, join us with a drafted piece, with a focus on refining it over the workshop. Breaking into small groups, we will give you feedback on your writing and ideas, along with writing exercises to develop them further. At the end of the session, you will have in hand practical feedback about your writing and some direction about ways to publish your work.

Learning Objectives

• Develop strategies to make writing a regular, routine professional practice
• Reflect on and analyze the purpose behind their piece of writing and their personal motivations for producing it
• Bring an idea for a piece to fruition

Instructors

Nick Pimlott MD, PhD, CCFP, FCFP
Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto
Academic Family Physician, Women’s College Hospital
Biography

Nick Pimlott is an academic family physician and teacher in Toronto. He is also the Scientific Editor of Canadian Family Physician. Along with his research and academic work, Nick has published essays about his work as a family doctor and teacher in The Globe and Mail and The Antigonish Review. In 2022, his work was long-listed for the Edna Staebler Prize for Personal Essay by The New Quarterly literary review.

Sarah Fraser MSc, MD, CCFP
Co-Director, Medical Humanities Program
Dalhousie University
Biography

Sarah Fraser is a general practitioner in Nova Scotia with a varied clinical practice, including both office-based and hospitalist medicine. She is Co-Director of the Medical Humanities Program at Dalhousie University, along with Dr. Arundhati Dhara. Dr. Fraser is also Associate Scientific Editor at Canadian Family Physician. Dr. Fraser also published a book of poetry as a medical student, entitled Humanity Emergency: Poetry of a Medical Student.

Arundhati Dhara MD, MPH, CCFP
Co-Director, Medical Humanities Program, Dalhousie University
Biography

Arundhati Dhara is a general practitioner and hospitalist in Nova Scotia. Together with Dr. Fraser, she is Co-Director of the Medical Humanities Program at Dalhousie University. Dr. Dhara is particularly interested in writing as a tool for advocacy and the public roles of physicians. She has published in The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, CFP, and CMAJ, among other print and online outlets.

Fees

Program Fee: $490

All amounts are in Canadian Dollars (CAD $) and are subject to 13% HST.

Cancellation

Cancellations will be accepted until Friday, February 24, 2023 and are subject to a processing fee of $60 plus applicable taxes. Refunds will not be processed after this date.

Requests for cancellation must be made in writing to facmed.registration@utoronto.ca .

Registrations are not transferable.

The University of Toronto reserves the right to cancel events. Registrants will be notified at the earliest possible date in the event of a cancellation. Registration fees for events cancelled by the University will be refunded; however, the University will not be liable for any loss, damages or other expenses that such cancellations may cause.

Accreditation

College of Family Physicians of Canada – Mainpro+® (Group Learning):
This 1 credit(s)-per-hour Group Learning program meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by Continuing Professional Development, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto for up to 3.5 Mainpro+® credits.

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada – Section 1
This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, approved by Continuing Professional Development, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. You may claim a maximum of 3.5 hours (credits are automatically calculated).

American Medical Association – AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Designation
Through an agreement between the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American Medical Association, physicians may convert Royal College MOC credits to AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Information on the process to convert Royal College MOC credit to AMA credit can be found at: https://www.ama-assn.org/education/ama-pra-credit-system/agreement-royal-college-physicians-surgeons-canada

European Union for Medical Specialists (UEMS)
Live educational activities recognized by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as Accredited Group Learning Activities (Section 1) are deemed by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) eligible for ECMEC®.