The Coalition of Physician Learning and Practice Improvement (the Coalition) was established in 2019 by eight national medical organizations with the goal of carrying forward into action the recommendations contained in the Future of Medical Education in Canada (FMEC) CPD Report (2019). The Report was the result of four years of consultation and involved over 100 CPD leaders in Canada in a series of working groups and conferences. The Report describes a new CPD system that supports physician learning and practice improvement and sustains innovation and quality improvement for the health of Canadians. It is part of a long term initiative to ensure Canada’s medical education system continues to meet the changing needs of Canadians, both now and into the future.
The Coalition envisions a CPD system in Canada that is responsive to patient and community needs, that is based on evidence and practice data, and that is oriented towards meaningful improvements in physician practice and patient outcomes.
Coalition Leadership Team and Collaborating Organizations
The Coalition for Physician Learning and Practice Improvement is funded and spearheaded by eight partner/collaborating organizations. Each of these organizations has identified a representative for the Coalition Leadership Team, as noted below. The Team also includes a patient representative and a senior advisor. The Leadership Team is chaired by Dr. Jeff Sisler of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, which manages the Coalition Secretariat, and supported by Fran Kirby as Program Coordinator.
Leadership Team Members

Amy Outschoorn, MEd, CTPD
Director, Continuing Professional Development
The College of Family Physicians of Canada

Anna Karwowska, MDCM, FRCPC
Vice President, Education
The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada

Ashley Chisolm, MSc, PhD (Cand.)
Senior Advisor
Jennifer Kitts, BA, LLB, LLM
Senior Director, Health Policy
Canadian Medical Association

Steven J. Bellemare, MD, FRCPC, CPE
Director, Practice Improvement
Jennifer Gordon, MEd, CAE
Senior Education Advisor, Safe Medical Care
Canadian Medical Protective Association

Fleur-Ange Lefebvre
Executive Director
Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada

Samuel Daniel, MD, FRCSC
Directeur, Développement professionnel continu, FMSQ
Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec


Rhonda St. Croix, MBA PCC CMA
Director, Continuing Professional Development,
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Lynn Ashdown, BSc, MD, DipMedEd
Patient Representative
Ivan Silver, MD, MEd, FRCPC
Senior Advisor, CPLPI
Staff Psychiatrist, Geriatric Division
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Professor, Department of Psychiatry,
Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto