On June 12, 2026, the McGill Family Medicine Education Research (FMER) Group and Participatory Research at McGill (PRAM) Group welcomed researchers, educators, clinicians, learners, and community members to the third FMER-PRAM Crossroad Panel Discussion, held at the McGill Faculty Club and Conference Center in Montréal.

Entitled Patient Groups in Family Medicine: Opportunities for Care and Implications for Medical Education, the event brought together diverse perspectives to explore a timely and increasingly important topic in family medicine. Through a combination of scholarly discussion, practical insights, and audience engagement, participants examined how patient groups can contribute to patient care, professional learning, and innovation in primary care practice.

The panel was facilitated by Dr. Anne Cockcroft and Dr. Charo Rodriguez, whose longstanding commitment to collaborative inquiry helped create an environment that encouraged both critical reflection and constructive dialogue. Building on the FMER-PRAM tradition of interdisciplinary exchange, the discussion highlighted the value of bringing together expertise from different domains to address complex challenges facing healthcare systems and medical education.

The panel featured four distinguished speakers whose backgrounds reflected the topic’s multidisciplinary nature. Drawing on clinical practice, participatory research, leadership development, facilitation, and health policy, the speakers offered complementary perspectives on the role patient groups can play in contemporary family medicine.

Throughout the morning, participants explored the current state of knowledge regarding patient groups and their applications in healthcare settings. Discussion addressed both the opportunities and the challenges associated with implementing group-based approaches in family medicine. Speakers considered how patient groups can foster connection, mutual support, shared learning, and patient engagement while also examining the practical realities involved in designing, facilitating, and sustaining these initiatives.

A recurring theme throughout the panel was the recognition that healthcare increasingly requires approaches that extend beyond traditional one-to-one clinical encounters. Patient groups offer opportunities for individuals facing similar health concerns to learn from one another, share experiences, and develop a sense of community. At the same time, successful implementation requires careful attention to group processes, facilitation skills, organizational support, and educational preparation.

Participants also reflected on the implications of patient groups for the education of future family physicians. As healthcare systems evolve and patient needs become more complex, physicians must be prepared to work within a variety of collaborative and participatory care models. The panel explored how medical education can support the development of competencies related to facilitation, group dynamics, patient engagement, and collaborative leadership.

Another important focus of the discussion was participation science and its contribution to family medicine. Speakers examined how participatory approaches can help bridge the gap between research, education, and clinical practice. By actively involving patients and communities in knowledge generation and implementation efforts, participatory science offers pathways for creating healthcare solutions that are both evidence-informed and responsive to real-world needs.

The audience engagement portion of the event generated thoughtful questions and rich exchanges among attendees and panellists. Participants reflected on implementation challenges, opportunities for innovation, and the practical considerations involved in integrating patient groups into diverse healthcare contexts. The discussion underscored the importance of creating spaces where clinicians, educators, researchers, and community members can learn from one another while working toward shared goals.

One of the strengths of the FMER-PRAM Crossroad series is its ability to bring together individuals who may not routinely have opportunities to engage in dialogue across disciplinary and professional boundaries. The June 12 panel exemplified this spirit of collaboration. By creating a forum for meaningful conversation, the event encouraged participants to consider new perspectives and identify potential areas for future partnership.

The positive response from speakers and attendees alike reflected both the quality of the discussion and the relevance of the topic. Following the event, panellists expressed appreciation for the intellectual depth of the conversation, the collegial atmosphere, and the opportunity to exchange ideas with a diverse audience. Several participants also highlighted the potential for continued collaboration and future initiatives arising from connections established during the panel.

As healthcare systems continue to face growing complexity, conversations such as these play an important role in advancing understanding and fostering innovation. Patient groups represent a promising area of practice and inquiry within family medicine, offering opportunities to strengthen patient engagement, support community building, and enhance healthcare delivery. At the same time, their successful implementation requires ongoing research, thoughtful facilitation, and a commitment to collaborative learning.

The FMER Group remains dedicated to creating opportunities for interdisciplinary dialogue that advance family medicine education, research, and practice. Events such as the FMER-PRAM Crossroad Panel Discussions provide valuable spaces to explore emerging ideas, challenge assumptions, and build connections across sectors and disciplines.

We extend our sincere thanks to our panellists, facilitators, attendees, and organizers for contributing to the success of this event. Their enthusiasm, expertise, and willingness to engage in thoughtful discussion helped make the third FMER-PRAM Crossroad Panel Discussion a memorable conclusion to the academic year.

We look forward to continuing these conversations and to future collaborations that strengthen family medicine education, participatory research, and patient-centred care.