We convene faculty, learners, researchers, and partners to share knowledge, align best practices, and drive collective impact.
Gathering Community
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1,200 Volunteers Driving Collective Impact
ICAM 2026: Connecting our Global Community
Strengthening Patient Partnership
Advancing Planetary Health through Collective Action
2026 AFMC Awards: Celebrating Excellence Across Academic Medicine
Advancing Leadership Development in Academic Medicine
Faculty Highlights
Our work is made possible by the faculty members, learners, researchers and partners who generously give their time and expertise through AFMC committees.
In 2025-26, 1,200 volunteers contributed more than 800 hours to AFMC committees, helping advance shared priorities in medical education, health research and social accountability. Their experiences help ensure that AFMC’s work reflects the needs and realities of Canada’s faculties of medicine and the communities they serve.
This year, AFMC also transitioned its Networks to Committees, making it easier for volunteers to build connections across committees.
We are grateful to every volunteer whose commitment and leadership help strengthen academic medicine across Canada.
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More than 1,900 delegates from 37 countries gathered in Ottawa for ICAM 2026, bringing faculty, learners, researchers, health professionals and patient partners together for four days of learning, exchange and connection.
Across 540 workshops, oral presentations and poster sessions, participants shared research, exchanged perspectives and explored issues shaping academic medicine today. Keynote sessions brought major health and societal challenges to the forefront, sparking conversations about public trust and health misinformation, compassion in care, nutrition and food security. The program also featured the Gairdner Lectures, which explored advances in malnutrition treatment and new insights into human milk and lifelong health, as well as the Lindau Lecture.
ICAM connected participants with colleagues from across Canada and around the world, offering new perspectives and ideas to carry into medical education, health research and health care.
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Patient partners strengthen medical education by bringing the experiences of patients, families and communities directly into learning and decision-making. As a Patients Included™ conference, ICAM 2026 engaged patient partners in conference planning and featured patient partners on keynote panels, ensuring lived experience informed discussions throughout the program.
In collaboration with the AFMC Network on Patient Partnership in Health Professions Education, the Patient Partner Luncheon provided a dedicated space for patient partners, faculty members and learners to exchange perspectives and identify ways to strengthen patient partnership across academic medicine.
AFMC joined health organizations and professionals across the country to mark Canada’s first National Planetary Health Day of Action on October 6, 2025, calling for coordinated action on the health impacts of climate change.
We also signed an open letter urging stronger federal investment and policy action, while continuing to advance priorities outlined in the AFMC Roadmap for Planetary Health and Sustainable Health Systems.
The AFMC Awards celebrate educators, learners, researchers, advocates and leaders whose work moves academic medicine forward and improve health systems.
At ICAM 2026, We recognized 22 distinguished individuals across 19 award categories. From mentoring future physicians and advancing scientific discovery to championing equity and improving patient care, their contributions reflect our shared commitment to excellence, equity, collaboration and social accountability.
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AFMC continues to strengthen leadership in academic medicine through the International Dean Leadership Development Program (IDLDP). The program supports current deans of medicine, deans of health sciences faculties and aspiring decanal leaders from around the world in developing the strategic skills and perspectives needed to lead in complex academic and health-system environments.
The call for applications for the 2026-27 cohort drew strong interest, with the next cohort set to begin in September 2026.
From innovative education programs to groundbreaking research and community partnerships, Canada’s faculties of medicine are contributing to healthier communities and stronger health systems. Explore faculty highlights from across the country.
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