The medical lead for the Canadian National Ski & Snowboard Cross Team, Dr. Karin Kausky has worked as a full-service family physician in Whistler, British Columbia, since 1993. Dr. Kausky’s responsibilities to her patients extend beyond “cradle to grave,” and reach out to other members of her patients’ families.
By helping found Whistler 360 Healthcare Collaborative Society (Whistler 360), a local non-profit, Dr. Kausky is reimagining primary care and how it is delivered and supported in her community. From her advocacy initiatives linking her Whistler community with greater health services in Vancouver, to her work in as a board member of Sea To Sky, where she represented the family physicians. Her dedication and commitment to full service longitudinal care in her community is remarkable.
In 2021 Dr. Kausky became a founding director of Whistler 360 Health Collaborative Society. In her role with Whistler 360, she has been a key aspect of aligning community groups with the vision of a primary care centre. Dr. Kausky also delivered an extraordinary TEDx talk last year elucidating the power of social prescription and demonstrating how It takes a village to manage COVID-19.
Whistler is fortunate to have an exemplary family physician like Dr. Karin Kausky in its community.
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.