This article originally appeared in the May/June 2020 issue of the Ontario Medical Review magazine.
Delegates convene online for historic event
More than 350 attendees joined the OMA’s first-ever virtual Spring Council and Annual General Meeting (AGM) to oversee the installation of the new President, elect the next President-Elect, and conduct other essential organization business.
The abbreviated three-hour meeting, held via Zoom on May 3, 2020, included more than 280 OMA Delegates, Board Directors and observers, as well as a cross-functional support team of more than 50 staff.
The decision to conduct the meeting virtually, with a condensed agenda, was made collaboratively by the Chair of the Board, CEO, Chair and Vice-Chair of Council after extensive consultation.
Moving forward with the core business of Council reconfirmed the OMA is fully functioning, supported by a remote workforce and solid business recovery plan, and also adhering to social distancing measures, keeping members and staff safe, and supporting physicians working on the frontlines of the pandemic.
Council Vice-Chair Dr. Paul Hacker.
Dr. Paul Hacker opened the event, followed by remarks from OMA CEO Allan O’Dette. Mr. O’Dette described some of the organization’s most significant achievements in 2019, including the launch of the Advantages Retirement PlanTM, the OMA’s successful response to Bill 138, as well as the ongoing and substantive organizational transformation that is focused on delivering enhanced value and service to all OMA members.
In his farewell address as OMA President, Dr. Sohail Gandhi stressed the importance of the work of so many people in building a more influential and effective OMA – from Section Chairs, to policy staff, frontline physicians, and Council Delegates, who approved historic governance transformation changes at last year’s Fall Council. “As the events of the last three weeks have shown us, we are simply not yet as strong an OMA as we need to be. But we’re getting there…We must, in the near future, complete this work,” said Dr. Gandhi.
OMA Chief of Member Relations, Advocacy & Communications John Bozzo presented an enhanced physician advocacy campaign calling for the government to protect health care infrastructure and provide appropriate financial relief to members during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Council ratified a recommendation brought forward by the Board of Directors to allow Council to meet virtually. This now gives the OMA flexibility to hold virtual meetings in the future after the current provincial emergency order is lifted, should it be necessary.
Dr. Sandy Buchman, President of the Canadian Medical Association, introduced and congratulated Dr. Samantha Hill on assuming her new position in a ceremony that formally marked the transfer of Presidential responsibilities.
In her remarks to Delegates, Dr. Hill pledged to advocate and support Ontario’s doctors so that they can continue to provide the best possible patient care during and after COVID-19
Dr. Hill is a cardiac surgeon located in Toronto at St. Michael’s Hospital and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She has held several positions within the OMA and has a background in epidemiology, community health and education. Dr. Hill is a recipient of the University of Toronto’s Fitzgerald Teaching Award.
Dr. Adam Kassam, a Toronto-based physiatrist, was acclaimed as the OMA’s President-Elect. Dr. Kassam will work closely with Dr. Hill as he prepares to become President in May 2021.
For additional information about the spring 2020 Council meeting, including videos, reports, elections, and other documents, please refer to the OMA Council webpage.