Ottawa family doctor being recognized as trail blazer, 50 years after CCFP

Ottawa family physician Dr. Don Patten is being honoured this weekend, as part of a pioneering group of 12, who successfully completed the first ever Certification Examination in Family Medicine and earned the Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP).

The group is set to be recognized at the Family Medicine Forum in Vancouver, which runs from October 30 to November 2.

The College of Family Physicians of Canada says the certification was introduced in 1969 to recognize the rigorous assessment required for two key priorities: to support the broad scope of skills and knowledge required of family physicians in their central role caring for patients; and to help advance family medicine in Canada.

Dr. Patten attended medical school at the University of Western Ontario (now Western University) in London, earning his degree in 1965. He then did a rotating internship at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. While there he heard about a new family medicine training program at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, which would become the foundation of the University of Ottawa residency program.

“I knew that one year of a rotating internship was insufficient to prepare me for practice, so I applied and was the first resident accepted into the program,” said Dr. Patten. “Two years later, in 1968, I was the first graduate and joined a small group practice in Ottawa.”

Shortly after that, he heard about a new family practice exam and knew he wanted to participate. 

“The exam format was unique and the oral exams were particularly challenging,” explained the doctor. “They were held in rooms with a one-way window so faculty could observe. I felt like I was in a fish bowl and it certainly added to the stress. However, it was, and still is, an excellent testing tool.”

Dr. Patten still has the letter from Dr. John Corley, the Chief Examiner for the College of Family Physicians of Canada at the time, informing him of his successful completion of the exam and the acquisition of his CCFP. 

He remains proud of his achievement.

“It validated that I knew my stuff and gave me an increased sense of confidence that I was a competent family physician,” said Dr. Patten. “I was so convinced of its great worth that I became an examiner in Hamilton and later an exam site coordinator for several years in Ottawa.”

Over the years Dr. Patten has held many roles in a full-time comprehensive practice, including as a teacher, administrator, and researcher. In 1977 he assumed a geographic full-time position with the University of Ottawa and in 2001 he moved to a part-time role at the now-named Civic Family Health Team.