A prominent family physician in Newfoundland, Dr Pauline Duke is recognized for her patient-centred care, work with local refugees, and commitment to teaching new generations of family doctors.
After receiving her medical degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) in 1979, Dr Duke began her practice in Botwood, a rural community in Newfoundland. She received Certification in Family Medicine from the College of Family Physicians of Canada in 1989 and Fellowship in the College in 2004. Since 1989, she has been practising family medicine at the Family Practice Unit, Health Sciences Centre, in St. John’s. Dr Duke’s comprehensive clinical practice includes house calls, home palliative care, geriatrics, prenatal care, and women’s health. She also serves as a professor of family medicine at MUN.
Dr Duke provides comprehensive medical care to local refugees in the Refugee Health Clinic offered through the Family Practice Unit. Since 2005, Dr Duke has been a faculty advisor of the MUN Med Gateway Project—an initiative in which medical students provide medical histories and physical exam screening for new refugees. She has served on the national steering committee for Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care from 2012 to 2016.
Dr Duke has been recognized for her work with several awards and she has served on a variety of committees. She also has numerous publications in the areas of medical education, violence against women and children, sexual assault, refugee health, women’s health, and HPV and cervical cancer screening.
Canada’s Family Physicians of the Year – the Reg L. Perkin Awards
Since 1972, the CFPC and its Research & Education Foundation 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, ten 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.