Featured Doctor

HALL, Dr Jennifer

Canada : CFPC president


Dr Jennifer Hall has recently taken over as president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).

What work do you do currently?

In addition to my role as CFPC president, I practice part time family medicine in a comprehensive group practice in Saint John, NB. In addition I am Associate Dean Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick (DMNB) . DMNB is the distributed medical education campus for Dalhousie University for undergraduate, postgraduate and research.

What other interesting activities that you have been involved in?

I am a teacher for Dalhousie Family Medicine.

What are your interests as a family physician and also outside work?

I have a strong interest in palliative care and making housecalls. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, biking, snowshoeing and travelling with my husband.

What are your aspirations as the new President of the CFPC?

I am looking forward to meeting with members across Canada including students and residents, and working hard to ensure that the educational goals of the CFPC align with the practice needs of family doctors and the needs of our patients in the community.

Announcement from the CFPC

The CFPC welcomes Dr Jennifer Hall as its 2015-2016 President

Dr Jennifer Hall of Rothesay, New Brunswick, was welcomed as the 62nd President of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) on November 13, 2015 during the annual Family Medicine Forum in Toronto, Ontario.

Moved by the deep compassion and care shown by a Saint John family physician to his patients during difficult times, Dr Hall was inspired to pursue a career in family medicine. She set a goal for herself: to emulate that same compassion with her patients, and hold herself to the same high standard of care.

Dr Hall received her Masters of Science in Toxicology from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1987 and her medical degree in 1992. In 1994, she earned Certification in Family Medicine (CCFP) and became a Fellow (FCFP) of the College in 2005.

Dr Hall’s passion for family medicine has translated into her extensive work with academia. After beginning her career at Memorial University, she moved to New Brunswick and soon took on the role of Residency Program Director with Dalhousie University. Dr Hall continues her work there as Associate Dean Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick, a position Dr Hall began in January 2015. She is also a preceptor to undergraduate medical students and residents at Dalhousie and Memorial.

Since 2002, Dr Hall has provided comprehensive family medicine–including palliative care–with the Horizon Health Network, Saint John Zone. In the 1990’s she also practised with the Memorial University Department of Family Medicine and worked as Clinical Chief of Palliative Medicine at the Health Care Corporation in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

In 2004, Dr Hall began working with other educators to transform the family medicine rounds format at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Her work led to the creation of a continuing professional development program that uses evidence-based exercises to answer questions that arise from everyday practice. This activity brought family medicine residents and community family physicians together to learn.

In 2010, she collaborated with family medicine program leaders and educators to support the development of the Dalhousie University Family Medicine Residency Site on Prince Edward Island. Dr Hall worked with local clinical educators on the development of the university’s first three-year integrated family medicine-emergency medicine program based in Saint John.

Dr. Hall served as the Saint John Site Director of the Dalhousie Family Medicine Program from 2004 to 2009. From 2000 to 2004, she participated as a board member of the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians. She continues to be actively involved as a member of several committees with the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University.

For the past 10 years, Dr Hall has held many leadership roles with the CFPC which have enhanced her knowledge and experience with College programs and services. She has participated with numerous CFPC committees including the Accreditation Committee, the Red Book Accreditation Standards Revision Committee, and a number of residency program accreditation surveys. For five years, she served on the Board of the New Brunswick Chapter representing continuing professional development interests. Dr Hall became a member of the CFPC’s National Executive Committee in 2012 as Member-at-Large and subsequently served as Honorary Secretary-Treasurer. In 2014-2015, she served as Chair and President-Elect.

“It’s a tremendous honour to have the opportunity to serve as CFPC President during this exciting time of change,” says Dr. Hall. “The proposed changes to the College’s governance as well as the major enhancements to programs and services will take the value of membership to a new level– a level that will provide an enhanced level of support for a stronger family medicine presence across the country.”

In 2010, Dr Hall was acknowledged by the CFPC as the Family Physician of the Year for New Brunswick with the Reg L. Perkin Award. She received the Gus Rowe Teaching Award for Family Medicine Discipline from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1998 and 2002, and a CFPC Award of Excellence in 2008.

Dr Hall grew up in Saint John, New Brunswick and has one younger brother, Richard. In her spare time, she enjoys cycling, travelling, playing Bridge (poorly), and hiking with her husband, David Methven–a fish ecologist whom she has been married to for 26 years–and their two dogs, River and Brook.