Two members of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University are included in this year’s Top 20 Pioneers of Family Medicine Research in Canada.

Drs. Richard Birtwhistle and Walter Rosser, both with the Department of Family Medicine, were among those recognized by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) in its 20^th annual list for contributions to advancing health care in Canada and around the world.

"We are thrilled that both Dr. Birtwhistle and Dr. Rosser are being recognized for their groundbreaking research in Canadian family medicine," says Richard Reznick, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences. "Primary care research is fundamental to improving the interactions between primary care providers and their patients – a crucial step in keeping people healthy and out of the hospital. We are so fortunate to have such high-caliber researchers here at Queen’s who have made  the field of primary care their priority."

Dr. Birtwhistle is being recognized for his work with the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network (CPCSSN), a pan-Canadian network of practitioners with electronic medical records. At Queen’s Dr. Birtwhistle is director of the Centre for Studies in Primary Care and teaches in the Department of Family Medicine and the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology. 

Professor Emeritus Rosser, a former head of the Department of Family Medicine, is being recognized for his research with Practice Based Research Networks (PBRNs) and research in non-university affiliated practices such as with Ambulatory Sentinel Practice Network (ASPN).

“While there are many worthy candidates for this honour, 20 researchers have been selected who meet the criteria of what it means to be a pioneer within their respective fields of work,” says CFPC president, Garey Mazowita. “These pioneers have demonstrated the value of research that is informed by doctor-patient relationships, continuity of care, community and population connections, and commitment to teaching - the very attributes that family doctors bring to Canadians on a daily basis."

The CFPC represents more than 34,000 members across the country. It is the professional organization responsible for establishing standards for the training and certification of family physicians.