Learning Objectives: CWIM Conference 2026

At the conclusion of this learning activity, participants will be able to:

Integrate evidence-based strategies for physician wellbeing, nervous system regulation, creativity, and sustainable self-care to mitigate burnout, enhance resilience, and support long-term professional fulfillment in medical practice. (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.1, Scholar 4.1, Leader 1.3)
Apply trauma-informed, psychologically safe, and emotionally attuned approaches to clinical care, workplace interactions, and family systems, recognizing the reciprocal impact of physician wellbeing on patient and team outcomes. (CanMEDS–FM: Communicator 2.1, Professional 6.3, Health Advocate 5.1)
Strengthen communication skills grounded in humility, empathy, boundary-setting, and inclusive listening to enhance therapeutic alliances, navigate misinformation, manage conflict, and foster trust with patients, families, and colleagues. (CanMEDS–FM: Communicator 2.1, Collaborator 3.1, Professional 6.2)
Evaluate how environmental, digital, relational, and organizational systems influence physician performance and wellbeing, and implement practical strategies to optimize these systems for balance, efficiency, and psychological safety. (CanMEDS–FM: Leader 1.2, Leader 1.3, Professional 6.1)
Recognize and address systemic and cultural challenges affecting women physicians, including Tall Poppy Syndrome, inequitable expectations, invisible labour, and misaligned definitions of success, and identify strategies that promote inclusive, psychologically safe medical cultures. (CanMEDS–FM: Health Advocate 5.2, Leader 1.1, Professional 6.2)
Apply evidence-informed approaches to supporting patients and families beyond biomedical care, including nutrition, family dynamics, emotional regulation, and behaviour change, with attention to psychosocial and relational determinants of health. (CanMEDS–FM: Family Medicine Expert Core Principle 1, Communicator 2.1, Health Advocate 5.1)
Develop intentional self-leadership and values-based decision-making skills to align daily actions with long-term purpose, legacy, and sustainable definitions of success in medicine and life.(CanMEDS–FM: Leader 1.1, Professional 6.1, Scholar 4.2)

Your Haven Within: Designing Spaces That Support Physician Wellbeing

Dr. Bev Walpole

Thursday, June 11, 2026 from 9:00am - 10:30am CT

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Analyze how their personal traits (such as sensitivity, introversion, and emotional load) interact with environmental and sensory factors to influence stress, focus, and wellbeing. (CanMeds-FM: Professional 6.1, Scholar 4.1)
Evaluate their home or clinical environments to identify patterns, triggers, and conditions that contribute to overwhelm or support nervous system regulation. (CanMeds-FM: Leader 1.3, Professional 6.3)
Apply evidence-based design psychology principles—including mindful design, universal design, biophilic cues, and sensory optimization—to meaningfully improve the function, safety and feeling of their spaces. (CanMeds-FM: Leader 1.2, Health Advocate 5.2, Professional 6.1)

Family Lines: Boundaries and Connection in the Family Systems We Marry Into

Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

Thursday, June 11, 2026 from 9:00am - 10:30am CT

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Identify common boundary patterns (e.g., overfunctioning, people-pleasing, avoidance) and understand how they contribute to disconnection and unhelpful family dynamics. (CanMeds-FM: Professional 6.2, Scholar 4.2)
Recognize the emotional dynamics that emerge in extended family systems and describe their impact on couple connection and family harmony. (CanMeds-FM: Professional 6.3, Health Advocate 5.1)
Apply practical, evidence-based communication tools to change family systems, express needs and boundaries with confidence and compassion. (CanMeds-FM: Communicator 2.1, Collaborator 3.1, Professional 6.2)
Integrate personalized strategies for maintaining closeness and resilience in their relationships while balancing the demands of medicine and family life. (CanMeds-FM: Professional 6.1, Leader 1.3)

Safer Spaces: A Practical Approach to Trauma-Informed Care and Co-Regulation

Dr. Christy Gibson

Thursday, June 11, 2026 from 9:00am - 10:30am CT

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Assess the impacts of trauma on mental, physical, social, and relational health (CanMeds-FM: Family Medicine Expert - Core Principle 1, Health Advocate 5.1, Scholar 4.1)
Create a framework for physicians to approach care in a trauma-informed way (CanMeds-FM: Family Medicine Expert - Core Principle 2, Leader 1.2, Professional 6.2)
Employ skills to create psychological safety for self-regulation and co-regulation (CanMeds-FM: Professional 6.3, Communicator 2.1, Health Advocate 5.2)
Prepare a practice plan to improve psychological safety (CanMeds-FM: Leader 1.3, Leader 1.2, Professional 6.1)

Triage Your Time: Digital Life Hacks for Real-Life Balance

Dr. Heather Lindsay

Thursday, June 11, 2026 from 11:00am - 12:30pm CT

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Understand principles from the psychology of productivity and how they apply to personal workflows. (CanMeds-FM: Scholar 4.1, Leader 1.3)
Identify practical tools and techniques to assist in cognitive offloading, managing time, and scheduling effectively. (CanMEDS–FM: Leader 1.3, Professional 6.1)
Describe specific technologies that can be used to automate repetitive tasks and reduce extrinsic workload.(CanMEDS–FM: Leader 1.2, Scholar 4.1)
Develop individualized approaches to digital organization and workflow management using available tools. (CanMEDS–FM: Leader 1.3, Professional 6.3)

The Ripple Effects of Picky Eating: Growth, Nutrition, and Family Well-Being

Jessica Penner & Nita Sharda

Thursday, June 11, 2026 from 11:00am - 12:30pm CT

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Identify when picky eating crosses into problem feeding (CanMEDS–FM: Family Medicine Expert – Core Principle 1, Scholar 4.1)
Explain the role of nutrient deficiencies (iron, zinc) in appetite and food acceptance (CanMEDS–FM: Family Medicine Expert – Core Principle 2, Scholar 4.1)
Recognize common nutrient gaps in Canadian kids and affordable foods to bridge them CanMEDS–FM: Health Advocate 5.1, Family Medicine Expert – Core Principle 1
Understand the hidden toll of picky eating on growth, family dynamics, and mental load (CanMEDS–FM: Health Advocate 5.1, Communicator 2.1)
Develop practical frameworks for raising happy, confident eaters (including the Division of Responsibility) (CanMEDS–FM: Family Medicine Expert – Core Principle 1, Communicator 2.1)

Using Anger to Fuel Brilliance: A Secret Source of Wisdom

Dr. Arpita Gupta DePalma

Thursday, June 11, 2026 from 11:00am - 12:30pm CT

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Identify current-day anger activators for themselves and their patients
(CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.2, Communicator 2.1)
Uncover underlying causes of anger, including the role of micro-traumas
(CanMEDS–FM: Scholar 4.2, Professional 6.3)
Develop an individualized anger management protocol (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.1, Leader 1.3)
Gain insight on the power of vulnerability and forgiveness- for themselves and for others. (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.2, Communicator 2.1)

Real Self-Care: It’s Not a Bubble-Bath or a Juice Cleanse

Dr. Pooja Lakshmin

Friday, June 12, 2026 from 9:30am - 10:30am CT

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Define evidence-based principles of real self-care. (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.1, Scholar 4.1)
Reframe adversity to build sustainable self-care literacy. (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.3, Scholar 4.2)
Examine systemic influences on self-care and identify organizational strategies. (CanMEDS–FM: Leader 1.2, Health Advocate 5.2)

The Plenty Paradox: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence

Dr. Anna Lembke

Friday, June 12, 2026 from 11:10am - 12:10pm CT

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Explain the neuroscience of pleasure and pain and what happens in the brain as we repeatedly consume high-dopamine rewards. (CanMEDS–FM: Scholar 4.1)
Describe homeostasis and its relationship to mental health. (CanMEDS–FM: Family Medicine Expert – Core Principle 2, Health Advocate 5.1)
Identify dopamine fasting as a practical, feasible, and effective way to reset reward pathways. (CanMEDS–FM: Health Advocate 5.1, Scholar 4.1)
Review the science of hormesis: The intentional pursuit of pain/discomfort to improve mood and well-being. (CanMEDS–FM: Scholar 4.1, Professional 6.1)

Standing Tall: Responding to Tall Poppy Syndrome in Medicine

Callie Bland

Friday, June 12, 2026 from 1:20pm - 2:20pm CT

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Recognize the signs of Tall Poppy Syndrome. (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.2, Leader 1.1)
Describe the link between Tall Poppy Syndrome and well-being and performance. (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.3, Health Advocate 5.2)
Build a set of practical strategies and resources to prevent and address Tall Poppy Syndrome at the individual, team and organization level. (CanMEDS–FM: Leader 1.2, Health Advocate 5.2)

Shake It Off: A Peer Round-Table for Connection, Reflection & Renewal

Moderated by: Jennie Aitken and Chandi Chandrasena

Friday, June 12, 2026 from 2:30pm - 3:00pm CT

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Share and reflect on personal experiences in medicine within a peer-supported environment to foster connection and mutual understanding. (CanMEDS–FM: Communicator 2.1, Professional 6.2)
Identify practical strategies (“life hacks”) used by peers to maintain balance and resilience across work, home, leadership, and personal wellbeing. (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.3, Leader 1.3)
Articulate a personal challenge carried during the past year and integrate peer perspectives to build coping strategies and emotional support. (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.1, Professional 6.3)
Demonstrate enhanced professional wellbeing through connection, reflection, and shared resilience-building practices. (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.3, Collaborator 3.1)

The Reluctant Creative builds Well Being: It's More Than Macramé and Fingerpaints

Dr. Caroline Brookfield

Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 9:15am - 10:15am CT

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Relate the practice of simple creative habits to an increased Tolerance of Ambiguity (TOA), strengthening confidence when navigating complex clinical and administrative uncertainty. (CanMEDS–FM: Scholar 4.1, Professional 6.3)
Apply 5 simple, evidence-based habits to foster a creative mindset, improving clinical and administrative problem-solving. (CanMEDS–FM: Scholar 4.1, Leader 1.2)
Utilize creative thinking skills to build personal resilience, mitigate burnout, and sustain professional purpose. (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.3, Leader 1.3)

The Power of Our Story

Dr. Brittany Penner

Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 10:35am - 11:35am CT

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Examine personal life experiences through a narrative lens to understand how physician identity, values, and personal history influence clinical presence, decision-making, and the care provided to patients. (CanMEDS–FM: Scholar 4.2, Professional 6.1)
Recognize tender or emotionally charged elements of personal narratives and identify how cognitive and emotional biases arising from these experiences may influence clinical encounters and relationships.(CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.2, Communicator 2.1)
Apply self-compassion and narrative awareness strategies to reduce emotional exhaustion, preserve professional integrity, and enhance resilience in daily medical practice. (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.3, Leader 1.3)
Integrate narrative understanding into patient care and personal life to support compassionate, whole-person care while maintaining emotional boundaries that allow physicians to return home more grounded and intact. (CanMEDS-FM: Family Medicine Expert – Core Principle 1 , Communicator 2.1, Professional 6.1)

Calling Patients Back In: Fighting Misinformation with Humility and Trust

Dr. Shazma Mithani

Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 12:55pm - 1:55pm CT

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Analyze the ways in which physician communication, system design, and professional culture can unintentionally contribute to misinformation and loss of patient trust. (CanMEDS–FM: Communicator 2.1, Professional 6.2)
Evaluate the role of humility and uncertainty in clinical interactions, and determine how acknowledging limits can strengthen, rather than weaken, patient relationships. (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.2, Scholar 4.2)
Integrate curiosity, empathy, and inclusive listening into clinical encounters to enhance therapeutic alliances and mitigate the influence of misinformation. (CanMEDS–FM: Communicator 2.1, Health Advocate 5.1)

Redefining Success: Leading with Legacy in Medicine and Life

Miranda Ayim

Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 2:25pm - 3:25pm CT

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Reflect on legacy as a guiding compass for leadership and life. (CanMEDS–FM: Leader 1.1, Scholar 4.2)
Identify how misaligned definitions of success contribute to burnout, self-doubt, or scattered focus. (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.1, Professional 6.3)
Shift from reactionary leadership to intentional self-leadership. (CanMEDS–FM: Leader 1.1, Leader 1.3)
Apply energy and nervous system regulation tools in high-stakes environments. (CanMEDS–FM: Professional 6.3, Scholar 4.1)
Rebuild an inner performance environment for sustainable leadership. (CanMEDS–FM: Leader 1.3, Professional 6.1)