Dr. Chantal Arsenault
Dieppe, New Brunswick

Image of 2022 Family Physician of the Year Dr. Chantal Arsenault

Originally from Dieppe, Dr. Chantal Arseneault completed her family medicine residency at Laval University in 1990. Through the years, she has been in private practice and has also practised in the emergency department and as a hospitalist at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre (DGLDUHC).

She was a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Sherbrooke’s Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick (New Brunswick Centre for Medical Education) and even acted in an educational film depicting personality disorders. In addition, she lectured on osteoporosis and mental health, was a health commentator for “Les Éclaireurs” on CBC/Radio-Canada, hosted meetings with authors at Moncton’s Frye Festival (the largest literary event in Atlantic Canada), and chaired the DGLDUHC physicians’ Public Relations Committee. She also founded and directed the DGLDUHC physicians’ choir.

Dr. Arseneault is passionate about music and was the singer-songwriter of the art-jazz-pop album “Une virgule,” which she recorded in 2014. Now at the beginning of her last years in private practice, having gone through the digitization of the medical records of her 2,000 patients when she was 55, Dr. Arsenault continues to cultivate a passion for the therapeutic relationship with her patients. In addition, she avoids drowning in the bureaucracy that was made all the more apparent by the pandemic by “choosing wisely” to practise resilience, creativity, and gratitude.

 

 

Canada’s Family Physicians of the Year –
The Reg L. Perkin Award

Since 1972, the CFPC and the Foundation for Advancing Family Medicine have honoured family physician members who exemplify the guiding principles of family medicine. Initially, one award recipient was selected to receive the Family Physician of the Year (FPOY) Award each year. Since 2002, 10 family physicians have been recognized annually—one representing each CFPC Chapter.

Canada’s FPOYs are chosen by their peers, other health care colleagues, and community leaders for:

  • Providing exceptional care to their patients
  • Making meaningful contributions to the health and well-being of their communities
  • Dedicating themselves as researchers and educators of future generations of family doctors

FPOY recipients must exemplify the four principles of family medicine:

  • Be skilled clinicians
  • Be community based
  • Act as a resource to a practice population
  • Recognize the central importance of the doctor-patient relationship

CFPC Chapters review nominations and select the FPOY for their respective provinces. The provincial FPOYs are honoured at their respective Annual Scientific Assemblies or Annual General Meetings. The national FPOYs are honoured at the annual CFPC Family Medicine Forum.