We bring together national expertise to strengthen and align medical education standards across Canada.
Shaping National Education Standards
Jump to…
Celebrating the Collective Impact of our Committees
Building Safer, Inclusive Spaces in Medical Education
Standing Together for Equity and Inclusion
Promoting Accessibility and Inclusion for Learners with Disabilities
Advancing Accountability through Black-led Leadership
AFMC’s three Standing Committees — supported by 34 Committees and Networks — bring together representatives from Canada’s 19 medical schools, learners, and key collaborators. These dedicated volunteers turn strategy into action, driving transformative change in academic medicine. While their contributions this year were extensive, the highlights below showcase some of the most impactful achievements across AFMC’s three strategic pillars: Education, Research, and Social Accountability.
standing committees
committees and networks
and the creation of a wellbeing working group to deliver the Physician Wellbeing Leadership Workshop to support accessibility for learners with disabilities.
and convened a joint anti-racism meeting at ICAM to accelerate systemic change., updating roadmap report cards and hosting a planetary health forum at ICAM 2025.
Across Canada, the academic medicine community faces growing pressures – from burnout and mental health challenges to systemic inequities and cultural barriers. Safety in all forms—physical, psychological, and cultural—is no longer optional; it is essential for the future of health care.
Building on the initial success of the Culture of Academic Medicine Initiative (CAMi) from 2022 to 2025, AFMC is now helping drive more positive change with CAMI-TIPS (Towards Improved Provider Safety), a three-year initiative embedding Physical, Psychological, and Cultural (PPC) Safety across Canada’s faculties of medicine. This next phase is made possible through the support of the Canadian Medical Association, MD Financial Management Inc., and Scotiabank.
Working alongside learners, faculty, equity-deserving groups, and patients, CAMI-TIPS leverages the Okanagan Charter to create health-promoting environments where PPC Safety becomes the standard—not the exception.
Persistent inequities and systemic racism continue to shape experiences in medical education and health care—impacting learners, faculty, and ultimately patient outcomes. In April 2025, all 18 Canadian faculties of medicine at the time united under AFMC’s Anti-Racism Commitment for Canadian Medical Schools, launching a national action plan to embed equity, accountability, and inclusion into admissions, curriculum, research, faculty development, and institutional policies.
AFMC’s commitment is further reflected in the work of our equity-focused committees, which advanced tangible initiatives this year:
This year, AFMC launched Re-envisioning Technical Standards in Undergraduate Medical Education in Canada, a report that introduces a competency-based framework that breaks down barriers, promotes universal design, and ensures meaningful accommodations. Led by Cheryl Holmes, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, this national revision sets a new benchmark for equity in medical education.
The Black Medical Students’ Association of Canada (BMSAC), with AFMC’s support, led the development of the first Pan-Canadian and institution-specific Report Cards assessing progress on addressing anti-Black racism in undergraduate medical education. All 17 Canadian faculties of medicine at the time participated, demonstrating a shared commitment to accountability, equity, and measurable action.
By centering Black learners’ leadership and lived experience, this initiative provides a transparent, evidence-informed framework for continuous improvement. This work is driving safer, more inclusive learning environments and setting a precedent for learner-led change nationwide.
—
02