The desire to help those around him has resonated with Dr. Jim Bowen since he was five years old, when
he believed it was his destiny to become a doctor. After completing medical school in Ottawa, Dr. Bowen
explored various medical fields, eventually choosing family medicine because of its comprehensiveness and the high skill required to help solve problems in their undifferentiated state and to address undiagnosed issues.
Dr. Bowen did his internship in Newfoundland and has lived there since, other than a brief sabbatical in the Caribbean in the 1990s. His achievements encompass multiple terms as the local hospital’s chief of staff, serving on various boards, teaching medical residents, and actively participating in primary health care reforms.
Dr. Jim Bowen is a proud father to three children and a husband to his wife, Joan. He has dedicated decades of exceptional service to his community. With genuine fulfillment, he feels privileged to have collaborated with remarkable individuals and gained insights from his patients and their families.
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.