Dr. Sandy Buchman has been selected by members of Ontario Medical Association, who are CMA members, to be the nominee for president-elect of the CMA. Dr. Buchman has spent much of his career as a family physician, and with a focus on providing home-based palliative care. He is also a past president of the Ontario College of Family Physicians and the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
The other candidates were Dr. Mamta Gautam, Dr. Atul Kapur and Dr. Darren Larsen. Pending confirmation of the nomination by General Council in August 2018, Dr. Buchman will serve as president-elect until August 2019, when he will then become CMA President. All members of the OMA who are also CMA members were eligible to vote in this year's election. Voting took place from February 15th to March 7th.
"Supporting physicians is critical to reach our collective potential to have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of Canadians, "said Dr. Buchman. "The federal election in 2019 will be a pivotal opportunity to have a strong principled voice, to act in unity and be represented by experienced leadership to ensure that our voice and concerns are heard, respected and influential. "
Dr. Buchman campaigned on the principle that in order to improve the patient experience, and the health of the population, we must also improve the work life of physicians, and medical learners. He also thanked the other candidates – Drs. Gautam, Kapur and Larsen for a very collegial and collaborative campaign.
"We need to value our health as well as that of our patients. As CMA President, one of my main priorities will be to continue to strengthen the work being done to address professionalism, physician stress and burnout".
With his long history in family medicine, Dr. Buchman also supports a "patient -centred" perspective for the CMA.
"It is time for patients to have a seat at the table," said Dr. Buchman. "Shared responsibility, accountability and collaboration in co-designing improvements in the health care system are innovative ways to bring about the changes we need."
Dr. Buchman has received several awards for his work as a family physician, including an Award of Excellence from the College of Family Physicians of Canada for his work as Regional Primary Care Lead for the Toronto Regional Cancer Program at Cancer Care Ontario, and the Family Physician of the Year for Southern Ontario award, from the Ontario College of Family Physicians.
Outside of his medical practice, Dr. Buchman has devoted many volunteer hours to helping provide hospice care for the homeless, and has also volunteered on medical missions to Africa and South America. He holds a BA from Western University, and an MD from McMaster University. He is married with three grown sons, three daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren.