Primary care research takes flight at DFM conference

On October 30, the Department of Family Medicine (DFM) at McMaster University hosted Taking Flight: Celebrating DFM Excellence, a conference showcasing innovative research and scholarship happening across the department. Attendees included clinical and academic faculty, staff and trainees. Designed to bridge research and practice, the event fostered relationships and inspired the scholarly community.

The morning featured 36 presentations across three breakout rooms. Owl’s Perch presentations were 10-minutes long, showcasing novel primary care research, while Hummingbird Talks were 5-minute presentations to spark ideas and highlight the breadth of scholarship. Each session concluded with a facilitated discussion, inviting presenters and attendees to reflect on shared themes.

The conference showcased the rich landscape of research happening at the department, reflecting the diversity and complexity of primary care. Presentations spanned a wide range of themes, including developments in medical education, health equity, clinical care and health systems. Scholars explored the hidden curriculum in medical training, the use of comics and literature to address colonialism and psychological distress and the impact of administrative burden on family physicians.

Equity-focused research addressed race-based data collection, prison health, refugee care and systemic pay gaps. Clinical innovations included trials on polypharmacy reduction, virtual diabetes care and point-of-care screening for syphilis. Attendees also engaged with projects on palliative care integration, primary care access and the use of artificial intelligence in primary care research. See the conference program for the full list of presentations.

By bringing together a wide range of topics and methods, the event reaffirmed the department’s commitment to advancing primary care through collaboration, curiosity and courageous inquiry. Special thanks to the conference organizers, presenters and attendees whose energy and dedication made the day a true success.