AFMC–Gold Humanism Award and Lecture

AFMC–Gold Humanism Award and Lecture

AFMC logo
The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) and the Gold Foundation for Humanistic Healthcare Canada (APGFC) announced the creation of the AFMC–Gold Humanism Award and Lecture in 2018. The goal of the award is to emphasize, reinforce and enhance the importance of humanistic qualities among medical school students and faculty.


Open to physicians, nurses and other members of the healthcare team who practice in Canada or practitioners and researchers in health professions education in Canada, the award will acknowledge the ideals of humanism and patient-centered care within the Canadian healthcare community. Individuals who demonstrate the qualities of a caring and compassionate teacher, mentor and health care provider may exemplify these by teaching ethics, empathy, and service by example.

Dr. Jillian Horton was awarded the 2020 AFMC–Gold Humanism Award and Lecture. Read the announcement of her selection.

Who is eligible?

The nominations are open to physicians, nurses and other members of the health care team who practice in Canada or practitioners and researchers in health professions education. The nominee should be someone:

  • Who embodies the ideals of humanism and patient-centered care within the health care community in Canada;
  • Who exemplifies the qualities of a caring and compassionate teacher, mentor and health care provider;
  • Who also possesses the desirable personal qualities necessary to the practice of patient-centered medicine by teaching ethics, empathy, and service by example;
  • Who is a role model of a caring, compassionate, and collaborative health professional, who supports a humanistic learning environment, and is a positive reinforcement to prospective health professionals of the desirability of such qualities in the health care provider-patient relationship.

Learn more at www.afmc.ca/awards.

About the award

Both the 2020 and 2021 awards will be presented at the 2021 Canadian Conference on Medical Education, April 17-20.

The honoree will offer a lecture or lead a thought-leader session on a topic related to humanism and medicine at a time synchronous with the CCME. As well, the recipient will provide his/her lecture in essay format, which will be presented in the AFMC and APGFC communications and websites.

Nomination procedure

Nominations are currently closed.

Any faculty member or member of the healthcare team may submit a nomination. Nominators must submit a maximum 1,000-word letter attesting to the characteristics in the selection criteria. If necessary, up to three supporting documents may be included with the nomination. Please ensure that you include a clear statement about the nominee’s achievements and why he or she is being recommended, and an up-to-date curriculum vitae. The nomination package must also include two reference letters. The nomination, including the completed cover sheet and one copy of all documentation, should be sent to the AFMC at awards@afmc.ca.

About AFMC

Founded in 1943, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) represents Canada’s 17 faculties of medicine and is the voice of academic medicine in this country. Our member faculties graduate over 2,700 MDs per year; teach over 11,500 undergraduate medical students; train over 15,000 postgraduate trainees; employ nearly 48,000 full- and part-time faculty members and undertake over 3 billion dollars of biomedical and health care research annually.

Past Honorees

Dr. Jeffrey Turnbull was presented the inaugural award at the AFMC President’s Award Ceremony at the 2019 Canadian Conference on Medical Education. Read the announcement of his selection and a Q&A with Dr. Turnbull by the University of Ottawa.

Dr. Jillian Horton was named the 2020 AFMC-Gold Humanism Award and Lecture recipient. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Canadian Conference on Medical Education was cancelled. She will receive her award and present at a session at the 2021 virtual conference. Read the announcement of her selection.