Perceptions of 'lack of transparency within the OMA' need to be addressed, says new association president

There’s a new president at the Ontario Medical Association. Dr. Andrew Park, an emergency physician who works in the southwestern Ontario cities of London and St. Thomas, stepped into the role on May 4 that was occupied most recently by Dr. Rose Zacharias. Dr. Park, who also teaches medicine at Western University’s School of Medicine and Dentistry, described himself to the Medical Post as a “family guy” who spends most of his spare time with his wife and three children, aged nine, seven and four. “I really try to carve out time for them,” he said. “But I do also enjoy racing and have started to do endurance races, specifically obstacle course racing called Spartan Race. I’ve always been someone who tries to push myself towards different endeavours for personal development and growth. I always like to challenge myself.” Taking on the role of OMA president is certainly a new challenge. Dr. Park sat down recently with the Medical Post to talk about his latest undertaking. You’re the first East Asian president of the Ontario Medical Association. What does that mean in practical terms for your members? Representation matters. Having a voice matters. Growing up in London (Ontario) where I was a visible minority, I didn't always feel that I had that voice. Having that lived experience allows me to help members understand that they do have a voice. I’m looking to encourage those members who feel that they do a great job of being a physician, but they don't have a voice on a broader scale. Read: Taking the OMA to task What's the first order of the day for you as president? The first order of the day is getting out in front of the members and ensuring that they know who I am and sharing our priorities for Ontario, which is our five-point plan for the system. We’re also coming out with a progress report on where we're at, where we really need to continue to focus or shift our energy. As OMA president, your responsibilities include ensuring smooth relations between the board of directors and the CEO and making sure members are represented. We’ve heard there is dissent in the ranks and there's lack of cohesion. What are your thoughts around what you can effectively do to bring more harmony into the OMA? I sit in the middle ground between the public, our membership and government, as well as the OMA. In terms of how we bring unity to the ranks, we have 43,000 members and there will be conflict, like within any large family, and that's OK. They're not always going to agree with what we do, but they need to still have a voice. They need to be able to have a connection with us as an association so that we understand where their pain points are and where we can help advocate for them. We want to be an association that's accountable to each member. So for me, it really is taking a step back and understanding. It's really about communicating with our members, understanding where they are and helping them understand that we're going to support them. A comment we hear quite frequently from some doctors is that there is a lack of transparency at the OMA and that there are two OMAs: corporate OMA and OMA the association. What are your views around improving transparency at the OMA and creating a balance between corporate interests and the interests of the members? The OMA exists as an association for members. That is where our guiding light needs to be. And the feeling that there's a lack of transparency within the OMA is something that we need to address. Members have to feel like they're at the core of everything that we're doing. And I think that that's a really key part of the president's role: communicating with our members about what is happening at the board level and also providing feedback to corporate that can point to how we can position ourselves to be the best medical association in the world. How can members connect with you and get a good sense of what you’re doing for them as OMA president? Are you active on social media? I am not active on social media—I'm not a technophile. They can reach out to me through the OMA and we will have opportunities for members to connect with me directly. I'm really looking forward to that. You’re an emergency doctor. What kind of perspective does that give you within the context of your new role at the OMA? I’ve come to believe that the emergency department is, for lack of a better analogy, the canary in the coal mine. We see issues around wait times and community care, we see elderly patients in the emergency department who shouldn’t be there, we see issues of rising mental health and addictions. We see and feel that in emergency departments because there is a major issue with the lack of primary care. We feel that in the emergency department because our patients are really doing their best to seek care where they can and the emergency department never closes. Read: Ontario government and doctors reach last minute deal in effort to save virtual ERs How will this perspective shape your approach to your work as president of the OMA? We have our prescription for Ontario, which is our five-point plan for improving the system that aligns really well with issues in the emergency department. We need more physicians in our system, we need to address our wait times. Community care is something that is a big focus, certainly community and palliative care. And our psychiatric and mental health populations are certainly equally deserving populations that require and deserve our attention. What is the OMA’s position on Bill 60 and how are you proposing to support that position? Bill 60 has a lot of components. There are certainly some some things that we want to discuss further but I think that it's a reflection that we have a good working relationship with this government and they're listening to what we're saying. As thought leaders we bring a lot to the table: 43,000 physicians that have a lot of experience in improving outcomes for patients. It’s important for us to have good communication and relationships with the government. So I think that's a reflection of that. One comment I've heard is that the last contract enriched surgeons and radiologists and that the hope is that the next contract will support family doctors better. What do you think of that? I can't really comment on the last contract enriching surgeons and radiologists per se. It's important for us to have relativity within our profession, and that's part of our agreement with the government. But as far as future contract negotiations go, it's way too early at this point to comment on that. You’ve got a membership that’s struggling. Many are burned out, feel a sense of hopelessness and are dissatisfied with their work. They're worried about the 2.2 million orphan patients in the province. What is your message for these doctors—what do you want them to know about the year ahead? Burnout is an issue with our membership. I hear that and I see it. I’ve worked in the emergency department for 15 years and I certainly can understand and empathize with that experience. The feeling of dissatisfaction with our work, that’s something that will change when we move the system to improve. Within our 43,000 physician membership, we have the strength, we have incredible people who are capable of accomplishing that. But we need to rally around one another, continue to support one another because this isn't something that will happen overnight. Read: All work, no pay: Some Ontario locums frustrated with how long province is taking to pay up

Perceptions of 'lack of transparency within the OMA' need to be addressed, says new association president

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