Creating Space for Member Voices: How the Membership Team is Supporting Member-Driven Primary Care

An update from Justin Ho, Director of Membership Engagement & Collaboration

The Vancouver Division of Family Practice exists because of its members — and it only works when those members are actively engaged. That belief sits at the core of the work led by Justin Ho, Director of Membership Engagement & Collaboration (MEC).

Rather than focusing on directing outcomes, Justin’s portfolio centres on creating the conditions where family physicians can come together, share perspectives, and shape solutions that improve primary care for both practitioners and patients across Vancouver.

Facilitating “Places and Spaces” for Member Leadership

Justin describes his role as facilitating connection. “What it boils down to is facilitating places and spaces where members can share their perspective on primary care, offer creative and meaningful solutions to improve primary care for themselves as practitioners and patients in the city.”

That philosophy shapes the work of the MEC team and has done so for many years. As Justin notes, this year marks his tenth year with the organization — and while engagement happens across the entire Division, his portfolio focuses on several key areas where member input has been especially impactful. These include:

• Mental health and substance use
• Maternity care
• An emerging and expanding area of women’s health
• Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)
• Partnered work supporting residents and physicians new to practice in Vancouver, including understanding how the local and provincial systems function 

Across all of these areas, the throughline remains the same: members identifying needs, shaping priorities, and contributing their expertise.

What’s Coming Up: Priority Initiatives Over The Next Few Months

Looking ahead, several initiatives are top of mind for the MEC team — particularly projects where members can both benefit from and directly contribute to the work.

1. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

   One significant area of focus emerging from the Mental Health and Addictions Committee is alcohol use disorder.

   While much of the Division’s work over the years has focused on mental health supports, Justin notes a growing need to place more attention on substance use — particularly alcohol — given how frequently it presents in primary care settings.

   The Division is currently working toward securing funding for a more expansive AUD project that would support members with updated guidelines, clinic-level implementation, early screening and diagnosis tools, and pharmacology — an area where guidance has been evolving rapidly.

   Opportunities for member involvement are already open. Calls for participation have been shared through Fast Facts, with links directing interested physicians to express interest in contributing to this work.

2. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

   Another major initiative nearing a milestone is the Division’s DBT work, which began as a Shared Care–funded project. The DBT Essentials education series has seen unprecedented interest, with more than 150 registrations, the highest engagement the series has seen in over two years. Participants include family physicians, allied health providers, and nurse practitioners.

   As Justin states, “We’ve got some physicians who are doing a deeper dive on DBT as a skill set… and we’re hoping to build a community of practice where physicians might want some support on either discussing cases and ways to support patients in their clinical encounters with DBT skills.”

   This work recognizes the limits of what primary care can provide, while also acknowledging the value of stabilizing, appropriate support that clinicians can offer within their scope. Members interested in participating are encouraged to register for the most recent DBT series, as that group will form the foundation for the community of practice moving forward.

3. Maternity Care: More Than a Decade of Member-led Leadership

   One of the Division’s longest-running and most impactful initiatives is the “I Don’t Do Maternity Care” series — a CME-accredited program developed in partnership with UBC CPD. The program combines self-paced online modules with optional live sessions that reinforce learning through case discussions and peer connection. While participation is flexible, the content has become a vital resource for physicians who may not routinely provide maternity care but still encounter pregnant patients in episodic or early-care contexts. This work has been member-driven from the start and the demand from members has directly shaped the program’s evolution.

   “That’s also helped us determine from our member demand what modules and what topics to focus on in maternity care in the series”, says Justin.

   Rather than outsourcing content creation to specialists alone, the Division intentionally centred family practice maternity physicians as educators — reinforcing the expertise that exists within primary care itself. Now, after more than a decade of development and refinements, the Division is entering an exploration phase to collaborate with other Divisions across BC, with the goal of co-owning and evolving the program together. The content will remain accredited through 2026, with plans to re-accredit collaboratively for 2027. As Justin states, “I think it’s a proud moment for the division and its members… we’ve actually been a leader amongst primary care providers.”

Member Engagement Doesn’t Have To Be “All or Nothing”

A recurring theme in Justin’s reflections is that engagement doesn’t require a board seat or long-term committee commitment. “This division only works as the members are engaged.”

The MEC team actively uses member information to connect physicians with relevant projects and opportunities, often proactively reaching out when interests align. Reading Fast Facts, responding to calls for input, or even sending an email with an idea or concern all help shape the work ahead.

In Closing

As Justin puts it: “The Division’s success depends on active member engagement. Throughout my career in member-based organizations, what has kept me here the longest is how dynamic and committed our physicians are. While our priorities remain consistent, the people we work with bring new energy, insight, and local knowledge every year. Their passion is rooted in supporting their patients and strengthening primary care in our community.”

Engagement does not require a long-term committee role or board position. While those roles are important, there are many meaningful ways to contribute — through short-term projects, focus groups, event participation, and feedback. Even completing evaluations or keeping your profile up to date helps us better understand members’ interests and connect them with relevant opportunities.

By staying informed and engaged, members enable us to be proactive and responsive. Participation does not need to be a major time commitment. There are many accessible ways to contribute, and each plays a role in improving primary care across our organization.”