Canadian Physicians for Life’s

2008 Medical Students Forum

Saturday, Nov. 22 - Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008
Mount Mary Retreat Centre
Ancaster, Ontario 

(September 12, 2008) - Canadian Physicians for Life will be holding our Medical Students Forum this year in Ancaster, Ontario (15 minutes from the Hamilton Airport), November 22-23.

Pro-life medical students and residents who are interested in deepening their understanding of the life issues and who want to acquire the knowledge, the skills, and the courage to defend the pro-life ethic in the medical profession are invited to apply for sponsorship to attend this event.

Conference participants will have the unique opportunity to learn from and dialogue with some of the most renowned speakers/researchers/educators in Canada’s medical profession who are dedicated to the respect and ethical treatment of all human beings. (See preliminary speakers list below).

Our last year’s Medical Students Forum in Toronto was a great success, and we are pleased to be able to, once again, sponsor a limited number of pro-life medical students and residents to attend our 2008 event.

Here’s what some medical students had to say about our 2007 Medical Students Forum…

“Especially useful was the evidence-based approach that the presenters took to the issues, with lengthy bibliographies that we could refer to when defending a pro-life position.  We were so inspired by the physician-mentors at the forum that a group of us from the University of Calgary decided to debrief the rest of our class with the evidence…. The students appreciated the evidence-based approach, which can be useful in a clinical setting, rather than a moral or faith-based approach to the arguments where common ground is not always found. …We are indebted to the physician-mentors at the conference who are preparing us, the physicians of the next generation, to carry the torch for the unborn.” (University of Calgary medical student, Class of 2010)

“The part I liked most about the conference was the working supper – the free question period definitely addressed some of my major questions/concerns.  ….I found that the atmosphere was very inviting. It is very rare to have physicians take so much time out of their schedule to speak to students on an individual basis.”  (University of Alberta medical student, class of 2011)

“Before the conference, I knew that I supported what I consider to be a ‘pro-life’ position, but I didn’t know about the wealth of scientific medical evidence that supports this view. I feel I’ve been given a great deal of information that will enable me to speak confidently about the pro-life perspective. At a minimum, even if I’m not able to convince others to become more pro-life, I certainly feel much more prepared to stick to my beliefs throughout my own career." (Dalhousie University medical student, Class of 2011)

What is included in sponsorship?

Canadian Physicians for Life will pay for:

• 2 nights, shared accommodation at Mount Mary Retreat Centre, Ancaster, Ontario
• Conference fees / meals
• A maximum allowance for air/train/bus/car travel, depending on where person is travelling from (details to be announced...The amount CPL contributed towards travel costs last year to the 2007 Med Students Forum can be viewed here.)

Students will be required to pay for the following:

• The portion of the travel fare over the maximum allowance. NOTE: Those accepted for sponsorship will be responsible for booking and paying up-front for their flights (or other means of transportation) and will be reimbursed up to the maximum allowance upon arriving at the conference in Ancaster. Students are encouraged to be on the lookout for seat sales which can reduce the cost of a flight considerably. Seat sales come and go all the time, so vigilance is recommended in order to get the best deal possible. You can check flight schedules and fares and book online for WestJet and AirCanada at www.westjet.com and www.aircanada.com.
  
• Shuttle/taxi between airport and conference location.

Application Deadline:

To apply for sponsorship, please fill in this application form and send to our office by October 24, 2008.

Further details of the conference, including conference programme, will be posted on our website as they become available.

For further information, please contact:

KC McLean
Communications and Events Coordinator
Canadian Physicians for Life
PO Box 1289
Richmond ON  K0A 2Z0
Ph/fax: 613-728- LIFE (5433)
info@physiciansforlife.ca; cpfl.events@gmail.com

Preliminary List of Speakers *
                            

• Stephen Genuis, MD, FRCSC, DABOG, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta

• Will Johnston, MD, President of Canadian Physicians for Life and Family Physician, Vancouver

• Maria Kraw, MD, FRCPC, Endocrinologist, Toronto

• John Patrick, MD, Professor, Augustine College, Ottawa

• Lise Poirier-Groulx, MD, CCFP, FCFP, Family Physician, Ottawa

• Paul Ranalli, MD, FRCPC Lecturer in Neurology, University of Toronto

• Larry Reynolds, MD, CCFP, FCFP, Professor of Family Medicine, University of Manitoba and Professor of Family Medicine, University of Western Ontario

• Isabelle Bégin, Researcher, Publications Vivere Publications inc.; and National Coordinator, Vivere Canadian newborn adoption support service

* Subject to change