2021 Election
Nominations
Nominations closed on Tuesday, Oct. 5. The following members won their seats by acclamation:
- Osemekhian Eriakha, Pictou County
- Jennifer Gillis, Annapolis/Kings counties
- Stephen McCarthy, Colchester/Hants counties
- Jennifer O'Connell, Halifax Rural
- Yousaf Sulemankhil, Cumberland County
Election candidates
An election is required to determine the two representatives for the Halifax Metro seats on the Council:
- Muna Chowdhury
- Andrew Cumming
- Kristian Lobban
- Sarah Rushworth
- Shalini Veerassamy
- Jessica Wentzel
Ballots and candidate profiles will be made available to physicians in Halifax Metro by Oct. 13.
Vacancies
The following seats are still vacant:
- Antigonish/Guysborough counties
- Lunenburg/Queens counties
- Inverness/Victoria/Cape Breton and Richmond counties
Voting
Voting runs from Wednesday, Oct. 13, to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Voting eligibility
Members of the Section of Family Doctors may only nominate and vote for physicians from within their own geographic area. All positions are for two-year terms.
Honoraria and travel
Council members receive a $500 honorarium for each meeting and are reimbursed for travel expenses. Physicians have the option to connect to meetings via video-conference. The Council meets about four times a year, usually on Saturday mornings. During the pandemic, the Council has met virtually.
About the Council
The Section of Family Doctors Council advocates for the business and interests of primary care physicians. The council's work involves developing strategies for dealing with key issues that affect the role, responsibilities, and capabilities of primary care physicians.
Influencing change
The council acts as a sounding board for health transformation, often hearing about new initiatives in the earliest stages of their development. The Department of Health and Wellness, the Nova Scotia Health Authority, the Policy and Health Issues Committee and other health-care partners often solicit feedback from this group on behalf of family physicians across the province.