How to Identify a Physician Organization

A Checklist

A physician organization is defined by the Royal College as a not-for-profit group of health professionals with a formal governance structure, accountable to and serving, among others, its physician members through

continuing professional development,
provision of health care, and/or
research

The physician organization is accountable to and serving, among others, its physician members through a governance structure that enables the membership to vote on strategic directions and initiatives of the organization as a whole.

Examples of physician organizations:

faculties of medicine
hospital departments or divisions
medical societies, associations and academies
physician research organizations
health authorities not linked to government agencies
Canadian provincial/territorial medical regulatory authorities (MRAs)

This definition excludes:

pharmaceutical companies and their advisory groups;
medical and surgical supply companies;
medical device companies;
communication companies: and,
other for-profit organizations and ventures/activities.

Examples of other groups that are not considered physician organizations:

disease-oriented patient advocacy organizations
government departments or agencies (e.g. Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada)
medical education or communications (MEC) companies
for-profit online educators, publishing companies or simulation companies
small groups of physicians working together to develop educational programming

If you are able to check each criterion, the organization meets the definition of a physician organization.

Name of Organization:

☐ The organization is not-for-profit.
Refer to the Canadian government website for federal corporations
☐ The organization has a governance structure such as a Board of Directors.
Refer to the “About Us” section on their website.
☐ The organization has a membership comprised of individual specialist physicians?
Refer to the “Membership” section on their website.
- ☐ Membership goes beyond receiving a newsletter.
- ☐ There is a membership that is not solely comprised of the Board of Directors.
- ☐ There is defined criteria on who is eligible to be a member.
- ☐ There are defined expectations of members such as payment of dues.
☐ The organization is accountable to a membership comprised of individual physicians.
Refer to their website to determine if they have an annual general meeting for their membership.
- ☐ The membership can vote at regularly scheduled meetings, such as annual general meetings, regarding strategic direction of the organization as a whole.

Contact us

CPD Accreditation Coordinator
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
774 Echo Drive
Ottawa ON K1S 5N8
Telephone: 613-730-2587; toll-free 1-800-668-3740, ext. 587
Email: cpd-accreditation@royalcollege.ca