Board of Directors

The Council of College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) is responsible for governing the affairs of CPSO in fulfilling its duty to serve in the public interest.

When making decisions, the Council recognizes its obligation to reflect the values and expectations of society in fulfilling its statutory responsibilities which include:

• setting and monitoring the strategic direction of CPSO;
• establishing governing policies which, at the broadest levels, address: definition of executive authority, governance process, the relationship between Council and staff, and Council communication;
• approving statements of principles and positions related to CPSO policy;
• discharging its statutory functions and fiduciary responsibilities in the public interest;
• appointing the Registrar, monitoring and evaluating the Registrar’s performance; and
• ensuring the Council’s goals for CPSO are met.

The Council of CPSO will:

• govern in a manner that guides and inspires through thoughtful, balanced policies, which reflect CPSO’s vision, mission and values;
• govern with integrity in a moral, ethical and transparent manner;
• govern in a manner that protects the public interest and is in keeping with the best principles of self-governance;
• govern with a strategic perspective that understands the long term and systemic impacts of policies developed and decisions made;
• respect the roles assigned within CPSO’s structure;
• empower staff to implement policies developed by Council;
• ensure high standards by providing orientation to new Council members and assisting them in developing the skills and knowledge needed to govern effectively;
• ensure CPSO’s mandate is fulfilled through regular goal setting and monitoring;
• evaluate the collective and individual performance of the Council and Council members on an annual basis, identifying strengths and developmental needs;
• ensure that no officer, Council member, Committee of Council, or CPSO staff member interferes with or hinders the fulfillment of CPSO’s mandate;
• ensure appropriate resources are available to achieve CPSO’s mandate; and
• monitor the performance of CPSO.

Composition of the Council

The Medicine Act, 1991 states that Council must consist of 31 to 34 members, including:

• 15-16 elected physicians;  
• 13 to 15 public members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
• 3 physicians appointed from a faculty of medicine in Ontario

The CPSO President is elected from and by Council and serves a one-year term.

Council members are elected for a three-year term and can serve no more than three terms (nine consecutive years).

Council members may be appointed to one or more CPSO Committees. Each Committee has specific functions, most of which are governed by legislation. All physicians appointed from a faculty of medicine in Ontario are part of the Academic Advisory Committee. See Committees for more information.

Council Member Skills and Attributes

CPSO seeks physicians who can bring a broad range of skills and perspectives to the Council’s work. To ensure that the Council can successfully execute its strategic objectives, Council members are expected to have a number of skills, attributes and behavioural competencies which are outlined below.

Diversity Attributes

• Race/Ethnicity
• Indigenous
• Gender
• LGBTQ2S+
• Age
• Disability
• Practice Setting
• Practice Specialty

Technical Skills

• Financial Literacy
• Governance
• Knowledge of Anti-racism and Anti-oppression
• Legal and Fiduciary Knowledge
• Technological Proficiency
• French
• Health Systems Knowledge
• Human Resources
• Leadership
• Policy Development

Behavioural Competencies

• Continuous Learning
• Creativity
• Effective Communication
• Planning & Initiative
• Relationship Building
• Results Oriented
• Stakeholder Focused
• Strategic Thinking
• Teamwork

Meet the current members of Council.

Want to Join the Team?

If you...

• Want to contribute to professional self-regulation in a meaningful way
• Are willing to share your ideas and perspectives to help shape important decisions, and
• Can set aside the time to participate

… then this is an opportunity to enrich your professional life and make a contribution to both the public and the medical profession through active involvement as a Council member.

Time Commitment for Council Members