As Canada faces a family doctor shortage, Tara calls up her friend Dr. Ruth Lavergne, a primary care researcher at Dalhousie University, to ask how we ended up an estimated 23,000 doctors short — despite training more in recent years. Together they explore how the work of family doctors has grown more complex, why more are choosing focused practice or shorter hours, and how payment reforms are shaping — but not necessarily solving — the challenge. Along the way, they reflect on the moral and emotional strain of family medicine, the choices doctors make to preserve balance and meaning, and what it would take to make family medicine not just better paid, but a better job. Stay tuned to the end, when several family doctors sound off about their own practice choices — whether full-service or something different — and what led them there.

Research mentioned in this episode

The federal report estimating Canada is 23,000 family doctors short

Tara’s research on the shift away from full-service family medicine

Ruth’s research on career choices and administrative burden in primary care

Dive into the commentary on physician payment that was a Ruth-Tara platonic meet-cute

Here's the cross-country comparisons on physician payment mentioned in the episode

MAINPRO CREDITS: Family doctors can claim Mainpro Credits by completing a linking learning exercise.

More about Primary Focus:

Subscribe to our Substack newsletter

Visit our website at primaryfocus.ca

Learn about the OurCare Standard

Do you have an idea for an episode? Email [email protected]

Dr. Tara Kiran is a family physician and researcher who is passionate about building a stronger, more equitable primary care system in Canada. She practices at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto where she is also a scientist at MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions. In 2022, Dr. Kiran launched OurCare, a national initiative to engage the public in shaping the future of primary care in Canada. You can learn more about Dr. Kiran’s research here: https://maphealth.ca/kiran/

Primary Focus is supported by a grant from the St. Michael’s Foundation. Dr. Tara Kiran is supported as the Fidani Chair in Improvement and Innovation at the University of Toronto and a Scientist in the Departments of Family and Community Medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit primaryfocus.substack.com