Constituency groups

Learn about the roles and functions of sections, districts, branch societies, medical interest groups, and fora

Sections, districts, branch societies, medical interest groups and fora represent the interests of their constituency groups and diversity in the type of medical practice, leadership experience, region, gender and other diversity characteristics. They also provide their opinions and other information to the OMA when required.

Section chair Dr. Rohit Kumar discusses the importance of physician leadership at the OMA

Sections

Sections represent the specialty groupings of members by their areas of clinical practice and provide a means to share information within the clinical, practice-type or specialty interest-oriented groups of physician members. Sections also work with other specialties, health-care providers and government to influence decisions in the best interests of their members. Sections bring the specialty’s perspective to the business of the OMA through the General Assembly.

The sections were the second constituency group to undergo a review as part of the OMA’s Transformation 2020 commitment. In 2023, the OMA board approved a refreshed leadership composition for the sections, as outlined in the new section charter.

Learn more about the sections you belong to.

Nominations closed

Nominations for constituency leaders are now closed.

See the nominations results

Learn more about the 2024 elections.

Contact us

If you’re a constituency group leader, please connect with your primary staff support at the OMA.

Find your primary staff support.

Addiction Medicine

Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Cardiac Surgery

Cardiology

Chronic Pain

Critical Care Medicine

Dermatology

Diagnostic Imaging

Emergency Medicine

Endocrinology and Metabolism

Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

Gastroenterology

General and Family Practice

General Internal Medicine

General Surgery

General Thoracic Surgery

Genetics

Geriatric Medicine

Hematology and Medical Oncology

Hospital Medicine

Infectious Diseases

Laboratory Medicine

Long Term Care/Care of the Elderly

Medical Students

Nephrology

Neurology

Neuroradiology

Neurosurgery

Nuclear Medicine

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Ontario’s Anesthesiologists, A Section of the OMA

Orthopedic Surgery

Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Palliative Medicine

Pediatrics Section, OMA

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Plastic Surgery

Primary Care Mental Health

Psychiatry

Public Health Physicians

Radiation Oncology

Reproductive Biology

Residents

Respiratory Disease

Rheumatology

Sport and Exercise Medicine

Urology

Vascular Surgery

  • Any member in good standing with the OMA must designate no more than one section as their primary section.
  • All OMA members will be able to join a primary section relevant to their area of clinical practice. A section’s rules and regulations can outline which specialties, certifications, and licenses would be relevant for section membership.
  • An OMA member may select additional section(s) for membership and will be known as a secondary member of those section(s).
  • No person will be a member of a section who is not a member of the OMA.

OMA members are encouraged to join a section as a primary member based on their area of practice and eligibility for membership. If a member does not select a primary section, one will be assigned to the member by the OMA. Members can designate one primary and multiple secondary sections. Both primary and secondary members receive section communications and participate in activities, including the AGM. However, only primary members can take part in section elections, either to cast a ballot or to run as a candidate.

Medical interest groups

MIGs enable OMA members, irrespective of their specialty or geographic location, to communicate and exchange viewpoints on specific issues, including time-limited issues. MIGs are normally established with a common interest or specific goal that is not within the purview of an existing section, forum or function of the OMA. As part of the governance transformation, the OMA is conducting a detailed review of its constituency groups, including sections, districts, branch societies, medical interest groups and fora.

The creation of new MIGs is currently on hold until after the constituency governance review is complete.

Cannabinoid Medicine

CHC and AHAC

Clinic Endoscopists

Clinical Hypnosis

College and University Student Health

Ontario Psychiatric Hospitals

Primary Care Solo Doctors

Psychedelic Medicine

Sleep Medicine

Surgical Assistants

  • Any group of at least 50 members who share a common interest with a specified goal or objective may apply to become a MIG. Duration of a MIG’s operation depends upon its stated purpose, goals and objectives and will be dissolved once the work plan is completed
  • MIGs are open for any OMA member to join and there is no limit to the number of MIGs they may belong to
  • MIGs can establish a leadership structure based on their unique needs, which could be conventional or informal
  • There is no specified term limit for leadership

MIGs must prepare a work plan. The work plan should include the anticipated activities, timelines and budget required to accomplish the specified goals or objectives. Additionally, as MIGs are expected to communicate and exchange viewpoints on specific issues, the work plan should incorporate a communication plan that identifies the method(s) of communication, interaction and level of engagement with the members of the group. Work plan implementation can be done by face-to-face meetings, teleconferences, web-based meetings or by any other effective means.

The duration of a MIG’s operation will depend upon its stated purpose, goals and objectives. For focused or time-limited groups, the MIG can be dissolved once the work plan is completed. The group’s information will be kept on file to expedite the re-application process, should the need to re-activate the MIG arise in the future.

Fora

Fora enable OMA members to communicate and exchange viewpoints on specific issues, including time-limited issues. Fora enable members to present their opinions, where required, to relevant OMA committees, the board, and, in some instances, to external bodies, including the public. Fora are normally established with a common interest or specific goal.

The AMF enhances the engagement of academic physicians belonging to the OMA. It makes recommendations to the OMA on key academic medicine issues, such as medical education and research, health human resources and academic funding that directly or indirectly impacts physicians, learners and patients.

Membership

  • Managed by an executive committee consisting of representatives from each of the six Ontario medical schools
  • Constituents elect executive members
  • Executive elects its chair from amongst themselves
  • Both trainee sections are represented on the executive

The Rural Medicine Forum strives for and promotes equitable health care for rural physicians and patients. It conveys the opinions of both generalist and specialist physicians practising in rural communities.

Membership

  • All members practising in rural settings are members of the forum
  • The executive is called the Rural Expert Panel
  • The panel is composed of elected representatives from all districts except for District 11 (City of Toronto). The panel includes both generalists and specialists, with one representative from the AMF and one rural resident from the section of residents
  • The panel hosts the rural caucus, which are meetings that bring rural physician delegates together

Districts

Districts provide a forum for OMA members in a specific geographic area to come together to discuss regional issues that affect the medical profession, advance its members’ perspectives of the OMA, and advocate for system and policy issues relevant to their local constituency.   

Districts were the first constituency group to undergo a review as part of the OMA’s Transformation 2020 commitment. In 2023, the OMA board approved a refreshed mandate and leadership composition for districts, as outlined in the new district charter.

Districts serve to support five core functions, as outlined in the 2023 charter:

1. Represent the local physician voice: Districts apply a regional lens to identify issues, opportunities and successes for the OMA and other health-system stakeholders.

2. Community engagement: Districts foster personal connections with OMA members to help build a supportive community across specialities, clinical settings, and regions.

3. Engage and develop local leaders through social connection and information sharing: Districts act as a credible and informed resource for the OMA and local membership, playing a key role in connecting regional physician leaders with members, the association and other decision-makers in the health-care system.

4. Local advocacy: Districts can mobilize grassroots members to support advocacy activities related to local health-care issues that have an impact on patients and the profession.

5. Support OMA governance: Districts participate in the OMA general assembly by selecting two delegates and encouraging members to submit ideas to the general assembly. Through the general assembly, districts provide input into the broad directions of the OMA strategic plan and the development of key initiatives and priorities.

All positions in the district executive are elected by the district membership in accordance with the OMA elections policy, except for the past chair. The executive has the authority to appoint delegates to the Priority and Leadership Group, in accordance with eligibility criteria. The district executive includes the following positions (review your district’s information for more about your specific district’s executive composition):

The chair’s responsibilities include:

  • Understanding the issues that are most important to district members with respect to their geographic region and represents these to the OMA, health-system stakeholders and media on behalf of the district
  • Calling the first meeting of the district executive. Subsequently, meetings may be at the call of the chair or upon a request of a member of the district executive made to the chair
  • Facilitating and optimizing the constructive involvement and participation of all members of the district executive and broad leadership group
  • Approval of district communications to be sent to members
  • Calls, and oversees the organizing of the district annual general meeting.
  • The primary point of contact for district business, via other OMA physician leaders and assigned OMA staff

The vice-chair’s responsibilities include:

  • Understanding the issues that are most important to district members with respect to their geographic region and represents these to the OMA, health-system stakeholders and media on behalf of the district
  • Assisting the chair in their duties and assumes the powers of the chair when absent or unable to perform the chair's duties
  • Supporting the chair in providing leadership and in communicating regularly with members

The past chair is held by the immediate past chair of the district. The responsibilities of the past chair include:

  • Attending executive meetings, including the district annual general meeting, to maintain continued communication within the district executive
  • Assisting in member engagement and succession planning
  • Advising the chair, as necessary, for continuity and mentorship purposes

A district may choose one of the following for its executive composition, as it relates to the secretary and treasurer:

  • Elect a combined secretary/treasurer (one position)
  • Elect both a secretary and treasurer (two separate positions)
  • Elect a secretary only
  • Elect a treasurer only
  • No secretary or treasurer

The responsibilities of the secretary include:

  • Working closely with the district chair in the planning of meetings of the district executive and the district annual general meeting
  • Ensuring agendas and other meeting materials, including meeting minutes, are distributed to the members of the district executive, secretaries of branch societies, and the district membership, with OMA staff support

The responsibilities of the treasurer include:

  • Managing the financial affairs of the district in accordance with the district Service Level Agreement with the OMA

If a district opts to forego election of the secretary and/or treasurer position(s), these duties can be assigned to another district executive member(s), including member-at-large.

Each district elects four members-at-large plus one additional member-at-large for every increment of 5000 members.

The responsibilities of the members-at-large include:

  • Attending executive meetings to discuss, debate and vote on agenda items/issues to support the work of the district
  • Providing input into issues based on their clinical expertise, geographic familiarity, and/or other criteria, as determined by the district executive

Each district executive has the flexibility to define how member-at-large positions are allocated (for example, by geographic location, clinical, setting, specialty, etc.) and assign duties based on individual district priorities.

Each district also has a broader district leadership group that is advisory (non-voting) to the district executive. The broader leadership group includes the branch society presidents and other physician leaders as determined and appointed by the district executive. The specific duties of the broader leadership group members are determined by the district executive and may vary from district to district.

Participate in peer-to-peer discussions and find all news and events for your district on OMA Connect.

About the districts

The OMA divides the geographic territory of the province of Ontario into 11 districts. View our interactive map.

To learn more about the executive members of each district, visit the physician leader contacts page (member access only).

District 1
Represents more than 1,450 physician members within southwestern Ontario
District 1
Represents more than 1,450 physician members within southwestern Ontario

Branch societies

  • Essex County Medical Society
  • Kent County Medical Society
  • Lambton County Medical Society

District executive

  • Chair: Dr. Albert Ng
  • Vice-chair: Dr. Padmaja Naidu
  • Secretary: Dr. Adam Papini
  • Member-at-large, Essex County Medical Society (family physician): Dr. Bilal Akil
  • Member-at-large, Essex County Medical Society (specialist): Dr. Sarah Cribby
  • Member-at-large, Lambton County Medical Society: Dr. Sean Peterson
  • Member-at-large, Kent County Medical Society: Dr. Dema Kadri   

Contact us

Frank Rubini, regional manager
1-800-268-7215, ext. 3044

District 2
Represents close to 3,400 physician members within southwestern Ontario
District 2
Represents close to 3,400 physician members within southwestern Ontario

Branch societies 

  • London & District Academy of Medicine 
  • St. Thomas & Elgin Medical Association 
  • Brant County Medical Society 
  • Oxford County Medical Society 
  • Norfolk County Medical Society 

District executive 

  • Chair: Dr. Tom Janzen
  • Vice-chair: Dr. Sharad Rai
  • Past chair: Dr. Sharad Rai
  • Secretary/treasurer: Dr. Elisheva Chernick
  • Member-at-large, London & District Academy of Medicine: Dr. Denise Wexler
  • Member-at-large, London & District Academy of Medicine: Dr. Rashmi Bhalla            
  • Member-at-large, St. Thomas & Elgin Medical Association, Oxford County, Brant County, Norfolk County Medical Societies: Dr. Ross Male         
  • Member-at-large, St. Thomas & Elgin Medical Association, Oxford County, Brant County, Norfolk County Medical Societies: Dr. Shabbir Amanullah       

Contact us

Frank Rubini, regional manager
1-800-268-7215, ext. 3044

District 3
Represents more than 2,500 physician members within southwestern Ontario
District 3
Represents more than 2,500 physician members within southwestern Ontario

Branch societies

  • Kitchener-Waterloo Academy of Medicine
  • Huron County Medical Society
  • Cambridge Academy of Medicine
  • Perth County Medical Society
  • Bruce County Medical Society
  • Grey County Medical Society
  • Wellington County Medical Society

District executive

  • Chair: Dr. David Schieck
  • Vice-chair: Dr. Stan Spacek
  • Secretary/treasurer: Vacant
  • Member-at-large, Bruce County Medical Society, Grey County Medical Society: Dr. Kelly Fenn
  • Member-at-large, Kitchener-Waterloo Academy of Medicine, Cambridge, Wellington County Medical Society: Dr. Nicole Petrov
  • Member-at-large, Kitchener-Waterloo Academy of Medicine, Cambridge, Wellington County Medical Society: Dr. Karen Slatkovsky

Contact us

Scott Witmer, regional manager
1-800-268-7215, ext. 3072

District 4
Represents more than 5,300 physician members within southwestern Ontario
District 4
Represents more than 5,300 physician members within southwestern Ontario

Branch societies

  • Halton County Medical Society
  • Haldimand County Medical Society
  • Greater Niagara Medical Society
  • Niagara South Medical Society
  • Lincoln County Medical Society
  • Hamilton Academy of Medicine

District executive

  • Chair: Dr. Rick Tytus
  • Vice-chair: Dr. Walter Owsianik
  • Secretary: Dr. Haroon Yousuf
  • Member-at-large, Hamilton Academy of Medical Society: Vacant
  • Member-at-large, Greater Niagara Medical Society: Dr. Senthil Thiyagarajan
  • Member-at-large, Niagara South Medical Society and Haldimand County Medical Society: Dr. Iram Fatima Ahmed
  • Member-at-large, Lincoln County Medical Society: Vacant

Contact us

Scott Witmer, regional manager
1-800-268-7215, ext. 3072

District 5
Represents more than 7,300 physician members within central Ontario
District 5
Represents more than 7,300 physician members within central Ontario

Branch societies

  • Dufferin County Medical Society 
  • North Peel Medical Society
  • Mississauga Medical Society
  • York County Medical Society
  • York Central Medical Society
  • Simcoe County Medical Society
  • Muskoka Medical Society
  • Credit Valley Medical Society
  • Georgetown Medical Society
  • Markham Stouffville Medical Society 

District executive 

  • Chair: Dr. Sohal Goyal
  • Vice-chair: Dr. Rajiv Mohan
  • Secretary/treasurer: Dr. Renata Villela
  • Member-at-large, North: Dr. Chris Giorshev
  • Member-at-large, North: Dr. Emma Love
  • Member-at-large, South: Dr. Vera Cheung
  • Member-at-large, South: Dr. Rohin Khanna
  • Member-at-large, South: Dr. Amir Koldorf 

Contact us

Jennifer Tran, regional manager
1-800-268-7215, ext. 3031

District 6
Represents more than 2,200 physician members within east central Ontario
District 6
Represents more than 2,200 physician members within east central Ontario

Branch societies

  • Peterborough County Medical Society
  • Hastings & Prince Edward Medical Society
  • Durham Medical Society
  • Kawartha Lakes Medical Society
  • Northumberland Medical Society

District executive

  • Chair: Dr. Beth Perrier
  • Vice-chair: Dr. Jane Purvis
  • Secretary: Vacant
  • Member-at-large: Dr. Dharmendra Doobay
  • Member-at-large: Dr. Matthew Schurter
  • Member-at-large: Dr. Amber Ann Hayward-Stewart
  • Member-at-large: Dr. Suleiman Furmli

Contact us

Adam Jeronimo, regional manager
1-800-268-7215, ext. 2928

District 7
Represents more than 1,600 physician members within southeastern Ontario
District 7
Represents more than 1,600 physician members within southeastern Ontario

Branch societies

  • Leeds and Grenville Medical Society
  • Lennox and Addington Medical Society
  • Kingston Academy of Medicine

District executives

  • Chair: Dr. Joy Hataley
  • Vice-chair: Dr. Derek Moynes
  • Member-at-large, Academy: Dr. Omar Islam
  • Member-at-large: Dr. Cameron MacLean
  • Member-at-large: Dr. Lysa Lomax
  • Member-at-large, medical student or resident: Vacant

Contact us

Manon Leduc, regional manager
1-800-268-7215, ext. 2867

District 8
Represents more than 5,700 physician members within the Champlain Region
District 8
Represents more than 5,700 physician members within the Champlain Region

Branch societies

  • Lanark county Medical Society
  • Prescott County Academy of Medicine
  • Cornwall Academy of Medicine
  • Renfrew County Medical Society
  • Winchester-Kemptville Medical Society
  • Academy of Medicine Ottawa

District executive

  • Chair: Dr. Christine Tai
  • Vice-chair: Dr. Joseph Pollard
  • Member-at-large, Academy of Medicine Ottawa: Dr. Alykhan Abdulla
  • Member-at-large, Academy of Medicine Ottawa: Dr. Angela Laughton
  • Member-at-large, Academy of Medicine Ottawa: Dr. Joanna Gotfrit
  • Member-at-large, Renfrew County, Lanark County, Winchester-Keptville, Prescott County and Cornwall Academy Medical Societies: Dr. Marilyn Crabtree
  • Member-at-large, Renfrew County, Lanark County, Winchester-Keptville, Prescott County and Cornwall Academy Medical Societies: Dr. Maria Kukovica

Contact us

Manon Leduc, regional manager
1-800-268-7215, ext. 2867

District 9
Represents more than 1,500 members within northeastern Ontario
District 9
Represents more than 1,500 members within northeastern Ontario

Branch societies

  • Algoma West Academy of Medicine
  • Elliot Lake Medical Society
  • Kirkland District Medical Society
  • North Bay District Medical Society
  • Parry Sound Medical Society
  • Porcupine District Medical Society
  • South Temiskaming Medical Society
  • Sudbury District Medical Society

District executive

  • Chair: Dr. Rayudu Koka
  • Vice-chair: Dr. Mario Kangeswaren
  • Past-chair: Dr. Stephen Cooper
  • Secretary/treasurer: Dr. Gregory Mark A. Berg
  • Member-at-large, Sudbury-Manitoulin-Parry Sound riding Sudbury District and Parry Sound Medical Societies: Dr. Grace Ma
  • Member-at-large, Sault Ste. Marie-Elliot Lake-Algoma-Wawa riding- Algoma West Academy of Medicine and Elliot Lake Medical Society: Dr. Dannica Switzer
  • Member-at-large, North Bay-Temiskaming riding North Bay District and South Temiskaming Medical Societies: Vacant
  • Member-at-large, Timmins-Cochrane-Kirkland Lake riding Porcupine District and Kirkland District Medical Societies: Dr. Paul Miron

Contact us

Craig Matheson, regional manager
1-800-268-7215, ext. 7890

District 10
Represents more than 700 members within northwestern Ontario
District 10
Represents more than 700 members within northwestern Ontario

Branch societies

  • Thunder Bay Medical Society
  • Northwestern Ontario Medical Society

District executive

  • Chair: Dr. Stephen Viherjoki
  • Vice-chair: Dr. Jon Johnsen
  • Secretary/Treasurer: Vacant
  • Member-at-large, Thunder Bay Medical Society Thunder Bay riding (includes the city of Thunder Bay through the southern and western portions of the Thunder Bay Medical Society): Dr. Prashant Anantrai Jani
  • Member-at-large, Thunder Bay Medical Society Superior North riding (includes Nipigon, Marathon, Geraldton, Manitouwadge, Terrace Bay, and Schreiber): Vacant
  • Member-at-large, Northwestern Ontario Medical Society South riding includes Atikokan, Fort Frances-Rainy River riding (includes the cities of Atikokan, Fort Frances, Rainy River, Emo): Dr. Melanie Anushka Rodrigues
  • Member-at-large, Northwestern Ontario MS North riding (includes the cities of Kenora, Red Lake, Dryden and Sioux Lookout): Vacant

Contact us

Craig Matheson, regional manager
1-800-268-7215, ext. 7890

District 11
Represents more than 12,900 physician members within the Toronto area
District 11
Represents more than 12,900 physician members within the Toronto area

Branch societies

  • Centenary Medical Society
  • Central Toronto Clinical Society
  • Eglinton Medical Society
  • Etobicoke Medical Society
  • Hospital for Sick Children Medical Society
  • Humber Memorial Medical Society
  • Mt Sinai Medical Society  
  • North York Branson Medical Society
  • North York General Medical Society
  • Northwestern Toronto Medical Society
  • Queensway Medical Society
  • Scarborough Clinical Society
  • St Joseph’s Hospital Clinical Society
  • Michael’s Hospital Clinical Society
  • Sunnybrook Medical Society
  • Toronto East Medical Society
  • Toronto Hospital Clinical Society (UHN)  
  • Women’s College Medical Society  
  • York-Finch Medical Society

District executives

  • Chair: Dr. Hal Berman
  • Vice-chair: Dr. Gareth Seaward
  • Past chair: Dr. Lisa Salamon
  • Secretary: Dr. Lorne Costello
  • Treasurer: Dr. Cindy Wang
  • Member-at-large: Dr. Lisa Berger
  • Member-at-large: Dr. Ira Bloom
  • Member-at-large: Dr. Joyce Cheung
  • Member-at-large: Dr. Paul Dolinar
  • Member-at-large: Dr. Teela Johnson
  • Member-at-large: Dr. Harold Pupko

Contact us

Manny Khattak, regional manager
1-800-268-7215, ext. 3045

Branch societies

Districts comprise smaller geographic areas within their boundaries, which are referred to as branch societies (or OMA territorial divisions). Branch societies are mainly independent of the OMA and provide a venue for discussion and representation of local, grassroots issues.

Learn more about your branch society.


As part of its ongoing governance transformation, the OMA is conducting a review of its constituency groups, including districts, sections, branch societies, medical interest groups (MIGs) and fora to ensure groups are aligned with new governance requirements and that an appropriate structure and supports are in place to achieve mandates. As such, the above constituency information is subject to change and may be updated periodically.

Published: Nov. 24, 2020  |  Last updated: Dec. 18, 2023