Dr. Colin McMillan can recall having lively debates with his father, “Dr. Joe,” about the merits of medicare. Dr. Joe, a staunch opponent of government-funded health care, once squared off with David Lewis in a CBC TV debate in the '60s, and got involved with the CMA in hopes of stemming the dastardly tide. Yet ironically, son Colin, the CMA's new president, hopes to help craft a way to save medicare — albeit in modified form.
The Prince Edward Island cardiologist admires the CMA's “courage and leadership” in encouraging debate through its recent position paper (CMAJ 2006;175[1]:18-9). Like the CMA, McMillan supports the publicly funded health care system but “questions whether it is sustainable.” He believes there's a need to have measurable outcomes and to put forward options that may include some privatization; a middle approach.
“It's no secret … that [incoming president-elect Dr. Brian] Day will add another dimension to [the debate],” says McMillan. “I hope that doesn't polarize the issue or bring it around personalities.”
Among other issues McMillan will face is the governance controversy at CMAJ. He supports editorial independence and autonomy for the journal: “We will do the best we can to ensure the elements people are looking for are well in place.”
McMillan, 63, is well prepared for these challenges. He's worked with the CMA since the early 1980s as a member of the Political Action Committee, board of directors (1989–93) and chair of the board (1992–97). He will be installed as the 139th CMA President Aug. 23 at the conclusion of CMA General Council in Charlottetown.
Other focal points during his tenure will include health human resources, (including the possible development of a national authority to oversee HHR planning); leadership development among youth; and the adoption of information technologies. To that end, his office will be a pilot for introducing electronic records. McMillan will retain his practice throughout his tenure as CMA president, although he'll drop on-call duties at a local hospital.
The Rhodes Scholar, who earned his medical degree at McGill, is also a governor of the National Theatre School of Canada; a former director of the Heart and Stroke Research Foundation; and is active in several other charities. He and wife, Sandy, a realtor and local town councillor, have 5 children: twins Andrew and Alexandra (who is doing her residency in Ottawa), James, Victoria (deceased) and 16-year-old Virginia.