OMA election based on new rules yields familiar names and a few new ones

The Ontario Medical Association has wrapped up elections for its directors and 2023 president-elect, with a streamlined board that’s less than half the size of the 2020-21 board chosen through a new process that prohibits candidates from campaigning. "I want to congratulate all those elected to offices across the Ontario Medical Association and thank everyone who put their name forward," said OMA CEO Allan O'Dette in a statement issued by the association. "The modernization of the OMA, including the new smaller, skills-based board is helping to make the association more effective, efficient and more focused on members." At 10.9%, voter turnout this year was almost half what it was two years ago, when 20.19% of members voted. Still, it was slightly better than 2019's turnout of 10.74%. "We are encouraged that voting was higher than it was in 2019, even though members are feeling the stress and pressure of being on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic for more than two years," said the OMA statement. The triumphant candidates for board of directors are: Dr. Sanjay Acharya, an addictions physician and anesthesiologist in Ottawa; Dr. Sharon Bal, a primary care physician in Cambridge, Ont.; Dr. Audrey Karlinsky, a family physician in Toronto; and Carmen Rossiter, a corporate director and finance executive in Toronto. Dr. Bal is a newcomer to the board while the other three directors are incumbents. All four are scheduled to start serving their two-year terms in May. Read: You can run but you can't campaign: New OMA election rules not winning votes with some doctors Dr. Andrew Park, an emergency physician in London, Ont., was chosen to succeed as OMA president in the spring of 2023, taking over from the current president-elect Dr. Rose Zacharias, who will begin her one-year term on May 5. Dr. Zacharias, a family physician in Penetanguishene, Ont., will succeed Dr. Adam Kassam. This year’s election marked the introduction of a no-campaigning rule intended to address members’ concerns about a focus in the past on personalities rather than skills, and with too many emails and communications from candidates. Not everyone was happy with these changes. Some doctors felt the new process was undemocratic because it denied lesser known doctors the opportunity to raise their profile among members. There were also complaints about difficulties in navigating the election's online portal. One candidate, Dr. Alykhan Abdulla, had to withdraw just two days after the election opened on January 10 because he had sent out an email about his candidacy. Read: Local council calls on Ford, OMA to increase enrollment at NOSM

OMA election based on new rules yields familiar names and a few new ones

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