Fall Together
Family Medicine Faculty Development Conference
This free, annual conference is designed for Department of Family Medicine teachers and educational leaders. Held in the fall, we look forward to bringing together our exceptional community of educators.
Whether you develop curriculum, teach in the classroom, or in a clinical setting you are welcome to attend this unique development opportunity full of engaging and informative workshops and keynote presentation.
The theme for this years Fall Together - Teaching With Purpose - Leading, Learning & Adapting in Family Medicine
Join us for an inspiring mix of sessions and quick snappers designed to engage, challenge, and support all those involved in medical education. From practical skill-building to forward-thinking innovation, this lineup reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence, equity, and educational leadership.
The day will include workshops, plenaries, and short snappers on a range of topics including:
- Advancing Clinical Reasoning and Purposeful Teaching
- Teaching Reflection
- Pick Your Path: How to Get Involved in Teaching and Leadership in the DFM
- Teaching with Purpose: Applying Self-Determination Theory to Elevate Learning & Patient Care
- Smarter, Faster, Fairer: Practical AI for Educators and Researchers
Target Audience
Family Medicine teachers and education leaders in FM Undergraduate and Residency programs.
Logistics
Date: Saturday, October 25th, 2025
Time: 8:00am- 3:30pm
Format: In person
Session Details
At the end of the session attendees will be able to
- Identify a purpose statement and core values which will serve as the foundations for intentional, values-based teaching in family medicine.
- Reflect on how values alignment and a sense of meaning at work contribute to personal well-being and effective role modeling for learners.
- Discuss the benefits of embracing imperfection, modeling humanity, and taking accountability in the preceptor-learner relationship.
- Describe practical strategies for bringing purpose, values, and authenticity into clinical teaching to foster growth-oriented learning environments
At the end of the session attendees will be able to
- Apply principles of Self-Determination Theory to teaching and leadership practices that support learner autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
- Practice intentional strategies such as autonomy-suportive questioning feedback and reflection that strengthen the clinical reasoning and learner engagement.
- Translate evidence based motivational practices into everyday clinical teaching to enhance both learner growth and downstream patient outcomes
By the end of this session participants will be able to:
- Apply AI tools to streamline common teaching and research tasks
- Critically evaluate AI generated content for accuracy, bias, and ethical implications, recognizing common sources of misinformation and bias
- Select AI tools ensuring alignment and learning goals, and responsible use principles
Dr. Melanie Hnatiuk
Dr. Melanie Hnatiuk is a family physician practicing at the South Health Campus Family Medicine Teaching Clinic in Calgary. She currently serves as the President of the Alberta College of Family Physicians and is the Deputy Director of the Well Doc Initiative, where she works to advance physician wellness across Alberta and throughout Canada. Melanie is also the Faculty Wellness Lead and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Calgary.
Deeply committed to purpose-driven leadership and the health of the profession, Melanie brings compassion and authenticity into her work—whether she’s caring for patients, mentoring learners, or supporting colleagues. Outside of medicine, she’s a proud mom of three and finds her own wellness in the quiet beauty of Fish Creek Park, where she loves spending time outdoors with her family.
Dr. Adam Neufeld
Dr. Neufeld is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Calgary, with a background in health psychology and behavioural neuroscience. He is a full-time Family Physician and the Medical Director at Riverbend Medical Clinic, where he teaches medical students and residents throughout the year. An internationally recognized scholar in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), Dr. Neufeld has published nearly 50 peer-reviewed journal articles focused on physician and trainee well-being, patient care, and health outcomes. He also works as a consultant to medical organizations, helping to improve learning and workplace environments through the application of SDT principles. Outside of his professional roles, Dr. Neufeld is a proud husband and father to two young boys—Thomas (6) and Sam (3). He enjoys year-round soccer, fly fishing, and snowboarding.