Update: Canadian Professors of Dermatology

February 2014
Update: Canadian Professors of Dermatology
E. O’Brien MD FRCPC, President
The Canadian Professors of Dermatology (CPD) association has grown tremendously in
numbers, activity and scope in the past years but may still be relatively unknown to CDA
members who are not directly involved in residency training. In the past, the CPD almost
became extinct as its members gradually retired, due to a lack of promotion and active
recruitment. The current group has grown over the past decade from just a handful to an
impressive assembly of Canadian dermatologists all sharing a passion for dermatology and
dermatologic education. The CPD has been nurtured during its resurgence by the remarkable
enthusiasm and efforts of Dr. Neil Shear as president (from 2005-2013), and Dr. Harvey Lui,
secretary.
The CPD provides a forum for the discussion of all levels and aspects of dermatologic
education in an independent, informal and collegial setting. It is considered an official
advisory group to the Royal College and the CDA, but it is not bound by the regulations of
either of these bodies and is free to give an unbiased opinion regarding educational issues,
based on the learned comments of its members. Its opinion is sought for issues of national
significance, such as the Royal College Core Competency project, appointments to the Chair
of the Royal College Specialty Committee on Dermatology, and advice re corporate support of
residents.
Directed by a small executive consisting of a president (currently myself), and a secretary
(currently Harvey Lui), its voting members include all Canadian dermatology program
directors, residency research directors, and undergraduate dermatology directors. Ex-officio
members include the Chairs of the Royal College Specialty Committee and Examination
Board, and two residents. Non-voting membership is open to any Canadian dermatologist
with a university affiliation and an interest in dermatology education. Meetings are held twice
yearly – at the AAD and CDA annual meetings. The CPD receives no official funding for its
operations, and there are no membership fees.
A major accomplishment of the CPD in recent years was the development of a national
curriculum for undergraduate dermatology teaching, which has been disseminated to all
undergraduate university teaching offices across the country and also to the MCC to be used
as a guide for the content of their dermatology teaching. This was a two year project
produced by a hardworking committee chaired by Dr. Laurie Parsons, with input from the
CPD membership. The curriculum is available on the UBC website via a link from the CDA
website until the CPD hosts its own site.
Ongoing undertakings of the CPD include overseeing the administrative aspects of the much
appreciated (by the residents) DRIVE practice exam program, held in March for all R5 residents
and the more recently (since 2011) introduced BoSS basic science course, held just before the
CDA annual meeting. The faculty involved in these programs are recruited from across the
country, while financial support (travel and hotel primarily) are provided by generous nondirected educational grants provided by the pharmaceutical industry. These programs are
now under the umbrella of the CPD, which feels that they provide a very worthwhile
educational experience to our residents. The planning and organization of the programs is
accomplished by a dedicated group of dermatologists from across the country, led in recent
years by Drs. Laura Finlayson, Gilles Lauzon, and Neil Shear with the assistance of many
others.
On a final note, for several year the CPD has awarded prizes at the CDA annual meeting for
“best” resident presentations, both oral and poster, judged by a panel of its members, with
generous funding provided by a pharmaceutical grant. Recipients of awards at the 2013 CDA
meeting included: Jonathan Levy, Ivan Litvinov, Anna Chaplin and Paul Kuzel. This is a very
difficult but enjoyable task given the number and high quality of resident presentations each
year. We hope that the awards will encourage the residents in the pursuit of excellence in
dermatology research.
Editorial Board /
Conseil de rédaction
National editor/
Rédacteur en chef
Regional editors /
Rédacteurs régionaux
Robert Jackson, MD
Ottawa, ON
Paul Kuzel, MD
Edmonton, AB
Charles W. Lynde, MD
Markham, ON
Benjamin Barankin, MD
Toronto, ON
Ian Landells, MD
St. John’s, NL
G. Daniel Schachter, MD
Toronto, MD
Executive director /
Directeure générale
Marc Bourcier, MD
Moncton, NB
Catherine McCuaig, MD
Montréal, QC
Victoria Taraska, MD
Winnipeg, MB
Chantal Courchesne
Ottawa, ON
Peter R. Hull, MD
Saskatoon, SK
Kathleen Moses, MD
Ottawa, ON
Catherine Zip, MD
Calgary, AB
Statements and opinions expressed in the CDA eBulletin
reflect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily the
CDA. The CDA does not assume responsibility or liability for
damages arising from errors or omissions or from the use of
information or advice contained in the CDA eBulletin articles
or letters.
The Canadian Dermatology Association eBulletin is issued monthly as a
forum for Association news, information of interest to members and for
members’ opinions. Please notify the Executive Director of any change
in address.
L’Association canadienne de dermatologie publie chaque mois le
bulletin électronique en tant que forum de nouvelles de l’Association,
d’informations qui pourraient intéresser nos membres, ainsi que pour
Les textes et les opinions publiés dans le bulletin
électronique de l’ACD reflètent les points de vue de leurs
auteurs et non pas nécessairement ceux de l’ACD. L’ACD ne
peut être tenue responsable des dommages qui pourraient
résulter d’erreurs ou d’omissions reliées à l’utilisation de
renseignements ou de conseils inclus dans les articles ou
lettres apparaissant dans le bulletin électronique.
recueillir leurs opinions. Prière d’aviser la directeure générale pour tout
changement d’adresse.
CHANTAL COURCHESNE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / DIRECTEURE GÉNÉRALE
425-1385 rue, Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K1H 8N4
Tel: (613) 738-1748 / 1-800-267-3376 | Fax: (613) 738-4695
[email protected]