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Overview of leadership positions

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has advocated for and with physicians at the national level for more than 150 years. Together, we have led critical change on issues from medical assistance in dying to protection for health care workers experiencing harassment and intimidation.

Joining the CMA Board of Directors or one of its committees is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of the health system and the profession. All eligible candidates are welcome to apply (eligibility criteria are outlined below).

This page will help you understand how the CMA operates and what’s involved in leadership positions.

About the CMA

The CMA brings the medical profession together to advocate for sustainable solutions to national health care challenges. Guided by our Impact 2040 strategy, we champion better health, health care and a thriving health workforce. To learn more about the CMA’s work, read our most recent annual report.

The CMA’s Act of Incorporation and Bylaws set out the rules that govern the CMA. Amendments to the bylaws are approved by CMA members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The CMA is committed to equity and diversity, reconciliation and inclusion. It is important that CMA leadership reflects the diversity of the medical profession and the communities it serves to ensure a wide range of experiences, perspectives, attributes and skills to develop better solutions, drive innovation and creativity, and enhance decision-making.

CMA Board of Directors

The CMA is a membership organization governed by a Board of Directors that is responsible for managing the CMA’s affairs and has the legal duties and obligations of any board in addition to the specific duties stipulated in the CMA bylaws. The board directs the organization’s work within the framework of our mission, vision and values (see Impact 2040).

The board is made up of the CMA’s president, president-elect and immediate past president, a chair, a CMA member from each province and territory with at least 40 CMA members, a medical student, a medical resident and a non-physician.

Terms for provincial/territorial directors are three years, renewable once; these directors generally serve two three-year terms. Terms for the medical student and medical resident directors are one year, renewable twice.

Board directors are selected via a robust nominations process. Each year, after a broad call for expressions of interest, the CMA Nominations Committee (comprising board members and members-at-large) reviews applications and approves a slate of candidates to fill board vacancies. The slate is then approved by General Council (GC) delegates. Some GC delegates (e.g., provincial/territorial and affiliate society delegates) are CMA members appointed by their respective provincial/territorial medical association or affiliate society. Other GC delegates are appointed by virtue of their position (e.g., the chair and members of the CMA Board of Directors, the AGM chair and vice chair, the president of each division, and some past officers).

Incoming board directors are invited to attend a series of orientation sessions.

CMA committees

The CMA has several committees to support its governance and overall activities. All committees include board directors who are appointed by the board. Certain committees also include members-at-large who are approved by GC delegates at the CMA’s AGM and/or experts appointed by the board.

All committee terms are for three years, renewable once (except the medical student and medical resident positions, which are for one year, renewable twice).

Incoming committee members receive onboarding materials prior to their first committee meeting.

Role expectations

The CMA has established policies and procedures to facilitate meeting  participation for board and committee members across Canada and clearly outline roles and responsibilities. 

Code of Conduct – It is mandatory for CMA board and committee members to sign and abide by the CMA Group of Companies Leadership Code of Conduct, which sets out requirements around conflicts of interest, confidentiality, communications and fiduciary duties (if applicable). If you would like to review a copy of the applicable Code of Conduct, please email [email protected].

Format and frequency of meetings – The CMA board has approximately five meetings per year (one to three full days per meeting) and additional meetings are scheduled as necessary. Board meetings are held virtually or in person with a virtual option. CMA committees have between two and four meetings per year, and additional meetings are scheduled as necessary. Committee meetings are held virtually and occasionally in person.

Compensation – Board directors and committee members receive an honorarium for meeting preparation and attendance time. Chairs of certain committees receive an annual retainer in lieu of preparation time. If applicable, the CMA also provides an honorarium for travel time and reimbursement for travel expenses.

Application and selection process

Nominations Committee – A committee appointed by members for members

The CMA bylaws, which are approved by members, outline the mandate of the CMA Nominations Committee under chapter 12. The primary task of the committee is to recruit and secure strong, balanced leadership for the association.

All members of the CMA Nominations Committee are approved by GC delegates at the CMA’s AGM. The committee is comprised of one member from each province/territory; one member from the affiliate societies; one resident member; one student member; the chair of the Appointments Committee; and the immediate past president of the CMA, who chairs the Nominations Committee. View the current committee composition.

Annual call for expressions of interest

Every year, the CMA holds a nominations process to fill vacant positions on the Board of Directors and certain committees. This process is organized through the Nominations Committee, which welcomes expressions of interest from all eligible CMA members. (Note: Interim vacancies that arise between nominations cycles are considered by the CMA Board of Directors pursuant to the CMA bylaws.)

The Nominations Committee collaborates closely with numerous organizations — including provincial and territorial medical associations, affiliates, associated societies and organizations representing underrepresented groups — to encourage applications and secure strong, balanced and diverse leadership candidates.

The application form invites candidates to voluntarily self-identify with respect to their diversity attributes and self-assess with respect to skills specific to the position for which they are applying. The application process is also designed to confirm CMA membership status and the absence of conflicts of interest pursuant to the CMA bylaws.

Application review and approval process

The CMA operating rules and procedures allow the Nominations Committee to strike working groups, which are responsible for reviewing expressions of interest received for any position and selecting one candidate to recommend to the CMA Nominations Committee.

Each working group consists of the CMA Nominations Committee chair, the CMA Appointments Committee chair and up to two other representatives. In the case of a working group to select a candidate for a provincial/territorial director, the additional representative(s) come from the province/territory for which there is an upcoming vacancy, insofar as it is possible.

The working groups consider each candidate’s self-identification and self-assessment and responses holistically. They have the discretion to conduct interviews with shortlisted candidates as they deem necessary. In terms of self-identification attributes, the working groups seek nominations that reflect the diversity and demography of the physician population, specifically with a sensitivity to age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity/race, Indigeneity, disability and regional balance.

In terms of skills, the working groups consider each candidate’s lived experience, professional standing and development, and/or academic credentials and preparation against terms of reference and/or job descriptions. Additionally, for board director positions, the following competencies are considered (i.e., knowledge, skill level, expertise):

  • Health sector perspective – Public health/population health and health innovation
  • Advocacy, political and policy perspective – Patient advocacy/experience and public policy leadership
  • Business and organizational perspective – Human resources/talent management, communications, finance and accounting, technology, risk management and social impact
  • Leadership and governance perspective – Corporate strategy and board/governance experience

Applicants for leadership positions are subject to the CMA Group of Companies Leadership Code of Conduct. If you would like to review a copy of the applicable Code of Conduct, please email [email protected]. To assess conflicts of interest pursuant to the Code of Conduct, shortlisted candidates for board director roles and certain committee roles undergo a background check (including criminal record, credit check and open source scan), which the CMA conducts via a third party after the interview process.

The working groups bring their final selections to the full Nominations Committee, which reviews all candidates and presents them to GC for approval en bloc (to be efficient with time during the AGM).

In keeping with nominations best practices, the internal work of the Nominations Committee is confidential. Candidates who are not selected to be put forward for approval are welcome to request feedback on their application and interview, if applicable.

Leadership opportunities

In 2025, the CMA Nominations Committee will seek to fill vacancies for positions on the CMA Board of Directors, Awards Committee, Committee on Ethics and Nominations Committee.

See full list of vacancies

Note: Consistent with the CMA bylaws and operating rules and procedures, the Nominations Committee has a mandate to seek candidates who are willing to serve two consecutive terms, and a position is not advertised when the incumbent is seeking renewal of their term.

How to apply for a leadership position

1. Determine if you are eligible

To be eligible to apply for a leadership position, an individual must reside in Canada, be a member of the CMA and a member of the medical profession (required under CMA bylaws section 12.2.1).

For board director positions, an applicant must also:

  • not be a voting director or sitting president of a provincial/territorial medical association or affiliate society in May 2025 (required under CMA bylaws section 12.2.1 and operating rules and procedures section 12.4);  
  • be at least 18 years of age (required under Bylaw 12.2.2);
  • not have been declared incapable by a court in Canada or in another country (required under Bylaw 12.2.2); 
  • not have been found guilty of an indictable criminal offence for which they have not been pardoned (required under Bylaw 12.2.2); 
  • not have the status of bankrupt (required under Bylaw 12.2.2); and, 
  • agree to a background check (criminal record, credit check and open source scan), which is conducted by a third party (to facilitate this process, applicants are required to provide their public-facing, professional social media handles, if any).

2. Complete the application form

It should take you approximately one hour to complete the form; you are not required to complete it in one sitting. You will need to provide the following: 

  • details about your eligibility;  
  • contact information; 
  • a brief description of competencies (i.e., lived experience, professional standing and development, and/or academic credentials and preparation) vis-à-vis the role(s) for which you are applying;
  • a brief explanation of your achievements in supporting underrepresented perspectives;
  • brief, optional answers to self-identification questions with respect to various diversity attributes (including age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity/race, disability and regional balance); and, 
  • a biographical statement of 300 words or fewer (view a sample). 

3. Submit the application form by the deadline: Dec. 31, 2024

Candidates will be notified between January and April 2025 whether they have been successful in moving onto the next stage, which may include an interview with a Nominations Committee working group. Background checks will be conducted on candidates who are shortlisted for positions on the board and on certain committees.

For candidates whose names are put forward for approval, certain information (photo and biography) will be included in the Nominations Committee Report and on the CMA website.

Timeline

Aug. 29, 2024 – Call for expressions of interest opens

Dec. 31, 2024 – Call for expressions of interest closes (application deadline*)

January to April 2025 – The Nominations Committee working groups review applications, conduct interviews and background checks as required, and present their selections to the full Nominations Committee for approval

By May 16, 2025 – The approved slate of candidates is published in the Nominations Committee Report

May 31, 2025 – The Nominations Committee brings the slate of candidates to GC for approval at the AGM

* Please note: CMA offices will be closed from Dec. 20, 2024 to Jan. 1, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to complete their forms prior to Dec. 20, 2024 to ensure that staff can answer any questions that may arise during the application process.

Questions?

If you have any questions or require accommodation throughout the application process, please contact [email protected].

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