May 1 marks National Physicians’ Day, Canada’s annual opportunity to congratulate and thank doctors for their invaluable contributions to the legacy of health care in BC. As Doctors of BC commemorates its 125th anniversary this year, we celebrate the collaborative partnership between our organization and our members, recognizing that you—BC doctors—inform, shape, and lead this work.

“Together, we can create a health care system that is resilient and responsive to the needs of all British Columbians and reflects our shared commitment to excellence, equity, and innovation. Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities and ensure a healthier future for everyone in our province. Together is our superpower.” 
– Dr Charlene Lui, Doctors of BC President, 2025 

Evolving perceptions, burgeoning partnerships, and the rise of physician advocacy

Efforts to counteract the longstanding expectation that a physician’s medical career requires all-consuming self-sacrifice have been a long time coming. Doctors' self-neglect in the service of their profession has long been viewed as the norm, all while physicians promote healthy lifestyles for the public.

Physician-led promotional health campaigns go back as far as 1920, and the creation of the Doctors of BC ‘s Council on Health Promotion (COHP) in 1957 enabled physicians to coordinate large-scale initiatives to champion the health of BC patients. Still, society continued to see doctors solely as advocates, not as people needing advocacy themselves.

Until the introduction of medicare in 1965, physician benefits, in any form, did not exist. By 1979, the Physician Health Program (PHP) was established, and soon afterwards the program launched the Physician’s AID (Aid to Impaired Doctors) Committee which set up a confidential hotline to connect physicians and their families with help. Though this committee evolved over the years, PHP’s confidential phone line remained, and is still in use to this day.

"Hard-working, zealous, tireless, and self-sacrificing to a fault, no call for his aid was ever refused or neglected no matter what his own physical condition (which was never robust) or the circumstances which might at exist at the time.”
– Obituary for Dr J. C. Elliot, Vancouver Medical Association Bulletin, 1927

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, public perceptions of work/life balance were changing, and more space was sought for doctors to discuss the specific mental and physical tolls that the profession had on them.

In 2008, the PHP, Doctors of BC (then the BC Medical Association), and the BC College of Family Physicians started the "Doctors for Doctors" program. Through this program, family physicians welcomed their colleagues as patients into their practice, ensuring BC doctors had their own family doctor to establish continuity of care. The Physician Health Program continues to offer a family doctor attachment service to physicians today.

Advocating for system change: Administrative burdens and physician leadership

Doctors of BC’s current-day policy statements and advocacy efforts to bolster physician health and reduce strain on the system are ongoing. In 2021, following extensive member engagement, Doctors of BC published the physician burdens policy statement. This statement highlights how BC doctors have been experiencing escalating stress due to growing demands, including increased administrative tasks. The cumulative impact of these demands leads to significant time constraints and expectations to deliver beyond what is reasonably possible.

In mid-April, the government announced the restriction of routine sick notes, marking over a decade of Doctors of BC advocacy work, including the 2024 Doctors of BC Board-approved policy resolution and the united voices of countless physician leaders who advocated for system change.

 

There is more work to do: Indigenous specific anti-racism

To fully realize the power of a united force for systemic improvements, we must unearth and acknowledge the experiences of those who have been ignored or actively silenced. First Nation, Metis, Inuit and other equity-denied groups have experienced—and continue to experience—racist, harmful, or unequal medical treatment or consideration in health care.

In 2019, Doctors of BC and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) signed the Declaration of Commitment, an important step in embedding Cultural Safety and Humility in health care delivery by working with physicians, government, health authorities, and other partners to support a united, system-wide approach.

2025 marks the fifth anniversary of the In Plain Sight report and the tenth anniversary of the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Call to Action report. For National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30), we will explore the past and look to the future to ensure the ongoing commitment to partnership and collaboration includes everyone; no one can be left behind.  

A special thank you

As we mark 125 years of partnership, we honour BC doctors’ incredible collaboration, input, and leadership. Your expertise and passion inspire and shape everything we do.

As a sign of our gratitude, Doctors of BC has created a 125th Anniversary flag for National Physicians’ Day, which will proudly fly next to City Hall in Vancouver, and in other areas of the city, for the month of May. The flag marks this celebration and raises public awareness about the legacy doctors have created in this province.

Together, we’re not just marking a milestone—we’re driving meaningful change. We’re committed to tackling the issues that matter most to you, from reducing administrative burdens to enhancing physician health, safety, and wellness, and more. Our shared vision fuels our efforts, ensuring that your voice guides the future of health care in BC.

Here’s to 125 years of making meaningful change, and to the future we’re building—together. Happy National Physicians’ Day to all.