Department announces new postgraduate program director

The Department of Family Medicine is pleased to confirm the appointment of Dr. Heather Waters as the new Postgraduate Program Director, who will take over from the incumbent director Dr. Sarah Kinzie.  

A long-time member of the McMaster University community, Waters completed her undergraduate medical education at McMaster in 1997 and has held a faculty position in the department of family medicine since 2000. 

Waters has gone above and beyond in her clinical and academic career. She holds leadership roles within DFM and McMaster as the current Hamilton Site Director and the Director, Academic Remediation for McMaster’s Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME). Nationally, she is a member with the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s (CFPC) postgraduate education committee and a member of CFPC’s accreditation review team.  

Clinically, Waters has a family practice at Stonechurch Family Health Centre and is an active staff member at Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Waters also provided comprehensive low risk obstetrics at the Maternity Centre of Hamilton for almost 20 years. 

Waters initial term will commence July 1, 2023 until 2028. She will work alongside current program director Sarah Kinzie, who will transition from the role June 30, 2023. In this role, she will advocate for residency education in coordination with promoting excellence in patient care, mediate conflicts, and share the responsibility for creating and sustaining an equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace for all. She will work alongside the Residency Education Committee to ensure the residency program meets the standards of accreditation of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. 

Waters brings strengths in cultivating relationships, communicating effectively, and developing and leading teams. She looks forward to embracing ongoing collaboration with education leaders and learners in the department while supporting innovative approaches to training in Family Medicine. 

Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Dr. Waters in her new role.