UCalgary’s Dr. Marcia Clark named Royal College president

The Cumming School of Medicine’s Dr. Marcia Clark, MD,’99, MSc’08, has been named president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

She was named to the role on Feb. 26, at the Royal College’s Annual Meeting of the Members. Clark's term is two years, after serving as president-elect last year. She acts as the top executive responsible for business planning and company vision for the national organization that sets standards for medical education and professional development for specialist physicians.

The Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) asked Clark questions about the prestigious appointment to get a deeper understanding of the new role and how her time at the University of Calgary prepared her to lead a national medical organization.

What do you hope to achieve in this new role?

As the new president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, my role is to lead the advancement of quality medical education and practice, ensuring excellence in specialty training and health-care standards.

In this role, I aim to amplify our work on Indigenous health, anti-racism, EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion), planetary health, and sustainable health care, the Royal College’s strategic objectives. 

As part from this core work, I will continue to enhance our assessment and accreditation models to adapt to the changing health-care landscape. As the industry continues to evolve, we must address changing to be more adaptive to the needs of specialists, particularly in areas like AI (artificial intelligence) and its role in health care, and how we can begin to talk about how health care impacts planetary health, health human resources, and physician well-being. I believe this work is crucial for preparing for the future of health care.

What attracted you to this opportunity?

I am grateful for the opportunity to be nominated for this role within the Royal College, where I have contributed for 16 years, starting as a staff surgeon. My passion for medical education led me to focus on curriculum design and simulation, all things that are at the core of the Royal College’s work.

Throughout my time at the Royal College, I have made valuable contributions impacting education at local, provincial, national, and international levels.

Being part of the entity that sets national standards and provides essential certification is a privilege I take seriously. The Royal College plays a crucial role in training and accrediting specialist physicians in Canada, ensuring a standardized learning process that sets our specialists a part globally.

As one of the world’s largest granting agencies for medical education research, the Royal College offers valuable resources and scholarship frameworks to Fellows, researchers, and partners. I take pride in our commitment to supporting valuable funding and research opportunities.

Further to that, the Royal College advocates for patients and physicians nationally and provincially, and for health system changes that are equitable, resilient, and sustainable. We are often at the table for discussions around pan-Canadian licensure, international medical graduates, health human resources and workforce well-being, Indigenous health and planetary health, as well as providing yearly considerations for the federal budget, which I believe is extremely valuable for our industry.

What does the appointment mean to you?

I am honoured to have the opportunity to serve as one of the public faces of the Royal College. It has been more than a decade since a physician from Western Canada has occupied the presidency, and it has been 25 years since a surgeon from the West held this position. Additionally, I am proud to be the third woman ever appointed to this role. I am grateful for my career as a surgeon, a rewarding job where I impact patients every day through the surgeries I perform. However, the chance to influence specialist physicians and represent them at a national level is an exciting next step for me.

Being appointed as president of the Royal College comes with profound responsibility. It signifies a commitment to leading an esteemed organization that plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of health care in Canada. I know there’s a lot to learn and I will continue my growth journey as I lead. I am fortunate to have an impressive, highly skilled team supporting me at the Royal College.

My predecessor, Dr. Brian Hodges, MD, PhD, made an extraordinary impact on the organization, which I aspire to continue and enhance.

What does your appointment say about UCalgary's place within Canada's medical education ecosystem?

I think UCalgary continues to demonstrate the university’s distinguished history, legacy and leadership in influence in medical education and its commitment to excellence, innovation, and research. It boasts a robust Master's and PhD program, a rich tradition of scholarly excellence, and a deep legacy of influential researchers and educators. The university is committed to advancing medical knowledge and training the next generation of health-care leaders.

My appointment also emphasizes the university's strong collaborative efforts and community engagement, recognizing the exceptional quality of its faculty and the continued contributions to the field.