Two department faculty members rise the ranks

The Department of Family Medicine is pleased to promote Dr. Catherine Tong and Dr. Jobin Varughese to associate clinical professor. These promotions reflect a dedication to academic excellence and a high level of patient care that both Tong and Varughese have demonstrated.

Tong joined the department in 2014 as an assistant clinical professor, and over the course of her career, she has led academic programs and has generated scholarship to address difficult problems in faculty development while taking the generalism approach.

Tong began teaching in Kitchener-Waterloo when the Waterloo Regional Campus (WRC) medical school opened. Initially working in pre-clerkship clinical teaching, she embraced the concept of a generalist approach to clinical and teaching practices. As the WRC evolved, Tong led the undergraduate and postgraduate programs within the KW area as Regional Education Lead for Emergency Medicine (EM), which now thrives as a postgraduate training site because of her and her colleagues’ efforts in EM education.

Tong also holds the post of Program Director of the Clinician-Educator Area of Focused Competency Program at McMaster University, where she provides curriculum leadership and mentorship for faculty members and senior trainees of all PGME programs.

Faculty development has been another key focus. Tong has been the Faculty Development Coordinator at the WRC since 2017 and has collaborated with the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster to design and implement a self-directed program that includes a community of practice and reflective practice.

Tong’s achievements have been recognized through various awards, including the Teaching Award in Emergency Medicine in 2018 and the Undergraduate Emergency Medicine Research Scholarship in 2016.

Beginning his work with the department in 2011 as an assistant clinical professor, Varughese has proven himself as a highly skilled educator through quality academic work, ongoing professional development and innovative leadership and scholarship.

Currently, Varughese is a comprehensive family physician who offers full-scope family practice in Brampton. Education is also a large component of his professional work where he contributes to both clinical teaching and formal educational roles. Varughese has been recognized for his efforts and received the Preceptor of the Year Award from residents at the Brampton site in 2016.

Varughese also serves as Site Director for Postgraduate Education at the Brampton site where he develops exemplary medical education and leads Brampton in becoming one of our most highly sought-after training sites.

Alongside educating undergraduate and postgraduate learners, Varughese is active in continuing professional development. Through his roles with the Canadian Preventative Health Task Force, Choosing Wisely, the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Center for Effective Practice, Varughese collaboratively developed a course to educate Canadian family doctors on physician stewardship, reducing waste and supporting best practices. He has also been involved with Pallium Canada’s Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative Care (LEAP) Program as a facilitator, coach and scientific consultant.

In May 2022, Varughese was appointed to the role of Chair-Elect of the Section of Teachers at The College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Tong and Dr. Varughese on their new promotions!