Do you follow the recommendations you give to your patients? 

• Generally yes (except sometimes, when it comes to life balance!) Food, sleep, exercise, giving meaning to what we do, relationships with our loved ones, always continuing to learn,  etc., be careful!

What do you think is the most difficult medical practice? The easiest ? 

• What is the most difficult (but also the most interesting) are the complex situations that our patients face, with several physical, psychological, social and interpersonal health issues that come into play, which we must navigate together.  The easiest? Take action or apply turnkey recommendations, algorithms.   

Would you be friends with your colleagues if you had met them outside of work?

• Often, yes!  I have great colleagues!   

What do you think is the most important factor for a successful residency in your specialty?  A career in your specialty?

• Openness to novelty, diversity, learning … and a good dose of humility.

What is the best advice you have received? 

• There is no medal thin enough not to have 2 sides

What is the most common criticism you receive?

• The one I do to myself: I would like to be better with the electronic medical record.  

How would your colleagues describe you? 

• You should ask them.  I think they like me, in general.  They would say that I am very busy.    

If you had to specialize in something else, what would it be and why?

• Maybe in psychiatry, or gyneco-obstetrics, or internal medicine, or general surgery, or public health, or... or... or...

Is it frowned upon by colleagues or bosses, a pregnant resident who will have to take leave?

•   Hopefully not.  It's a culture I'm proud of.   

What do you like most about your practice?

• Relationships that develop with people, long term.

How many hours of work per week on average for the average doctor?

• 40-45 hrs? For me, it's more like 60-65 hrs, but that's by choice.  

How to choose between practice in the regions and practice in large urban centres?

• Nice question! Take stock of needs, possibilities, values and life projects.  One does not prevent the other. You can do both in a career. Very rewarding.  

Are there any techniques that can be done in family medicine? (like botox injections, or circumcisions). If so, is it possible to open a clinic dedicated to these techniques?

• Yes, we can do a lot of techniques.  Minor surgeries, corticosteroid injections, IUD placement, wound repair, etc.  We often do them during our patients' follow-up appointments, depending on their needs.  

What do you dislike most about your practice?

• Not being able to take care of someone who doesn't have a family doctor and who needs one, because I lack personal availability.     

In your opinion, is family medicine the only specialty that provides a good quality of life (sport > twice a week, hiking, family, etc.)?

• The possibility of having a good quality of life is so variable from one specialty to another, from one place to another, from one team to another, from one period to another.  We cannot generalize.  

Once in family medicine, is it difficult to vary our practice so as not to only do office work? (emergency, palliative, obstetrics, geriatrics, etc.)

• There are so many needs in all these areas and since we work in teams, we can have a very diversified practice.

Is there an obligation for family physicians entering practice to work in a hospital setting?

• Obligations at the start of practice vary from region to region.  They often involve a part of hospital practice, but not always.

Can we decide to target our clientele according to what we like to do the most? (e.g. more pediatrics)

• Often, yes. Maternity and early childhood, elderly care, emergency, public health, for example.  But we are part of a larger team that must cover the range of needs. The aspects of global approach, continuity, quality relationship with patients, are very fundamental. Most family physicians provide ongoing care, such as in the office.  

What is one of the most important qualities to have as a family doctor? 

• Emotional intelligence. But that is the case for all doctors.  I would also say flexibility of thought.  

Does your specialty take jokes well at work?

• Yes, there is humor, and good taste. Respectful, end, accomplice.   

Do students/residents sometimes make you feel overwhelmed? 

• Super rarely… sometimes, when there is a great lack of emotional intelligence, I find that we start from afar.  In general, students/residents are bright, lit, engaged. Above all, they make us feel privileged to teach!  

If your specialty had to have a romantic relationship with another which one would it choose? 

• If my specialty is faithful to the position, loyal and honest at work, in a hypothetical sentimental life, it would necessarily be polyamory while being authentic with everyone!