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Efficient and effective reform of Canada’s health care system cannot occur without the active and willing participation and leadership of physicians. Physicians must work with others to change the structural, cultural, and political environment if we are to accomplish that goal” (Van Aerde and Dickson). As such, Doctors Manitoba believes it is important to advocate for clear pathways into leadership positions at various levels and that there is adequate physician leadership capacity within the system to ensure physicians are clinically and administratively supported.

Specific leadership behaviours prevent burnout and increase satisfaction and well-being among team members (Dyrbye et al., Shanafelt, et al.) and all physicians play a leadership role within the system and/​or their practice setting. Doctors Manitoba is committed to providing and advocating for leadership training and mentorship to develop positive and effective leadership skills.

In addition, diversity in leadership strengthens organizations and helps mitigate implicit bias (Smith and Angood). The use of an equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization lens will help consider how to reduce the leaky leadership pipeline.

Manitoba’s health institutions have adopted the LEADS in Caring Environment framework. This evidence-based tool, designed specifically for health care, provides a common leadership language for all healthcare professionals.

To learn more about how Doctors Manitoba is working to support leadership development, click on the initiatives below:

📅 Upcoming Courses

Crucial Conversations for Accountability (Virtual)

Note: Crucial Conversations is a prerequisite for attending this course. 

Date: October 232026 

Course Information: Head to our event page or visit the CMA Physician Leadership Institute Course Descriptions

Time: 9am-4pm

Location: Virtual

Registration Deadline: October 162026 

Reserve Your Spot!


Leading High Performance Culture (In-Person)

Date: November 20 & 21, 2026 

Course Information: Head to our event page or visit the CMA Physician Leadership Institute Course Descriptions

Time: 8am-4pm

Location: In-Person, Winnipeg – Venue TBD 

Registration Deadline: November 132026 

Reserve Your Spot!

Effective Leadership in a Complex System (Virtual)

Date: Jan 21 & 22, 2027 

Course Information: Head to our event page or visit the CMA Physician Leadership Institute Course Descriptions

Time: 8am-4pm

Location: Virtual

Registration Deadline: January 142027 

Reserve Your Spot!

Engaging Others (Virtual)

Date: March 4 & 5, 2027 

Course Information: Head to our event page or visit the CMA Physician Leadership Institute Course Descriptions

Time: 8am-4pm

Location: Virtual

Registration Deadline: February 252027 

Reserve Your Spot!

From Distrust to Dialogue: How to reclaim the narrative against misinformation (Virtual)

Date: April 142027 

Course Information: Head to our event page or visit the CMA Physician Leadership Institute Course Descriptions

Time: Time: 9am-12:15pm

Location: Virtual

Deadline: April 72027 

Reserve Your Spot!

💻 On-Demand Learning

Free, on-demand accredited learning through the PLI’s Leadership Essentials series is also available and covers topics that strengthen the foundation for a successful career in any specialty or practice such as: 

  • Building self-awareness and personal mastery
  • Communicating effectively
  • Foundations of advocacy
  • Foundations of physical, psychological, and cultural safety
  • Foundations of physician wellness
  • Practical Strategies for engaging health care teams 

For more information on PLI courses, please contact Jennifer at jmacdonald@​doctorsmanitoba.​ca.

🔎 Past Resources and Events (Registration Closed)

Tools for Thriving: A Series for Women in Medicine

Tools for Thriving: A Series for Women in Medicine was a leadership offering designed to support and empower women in medicine (students, residents, and physicians). The series featured three sessions: Stop Charting at Night, Presence and Influence, and Advocating from a Position of Strength. Participants could review the details for each session and choose to attend one, two, or all three — whatever worked best for them.

Managing Disruptive Behaviours

Note: This workshop will be in person.

Doctors Manitoba is pleased to host a CMPA full-day workshop on Managing Disruptive Behaviours, May 8, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This course is designed to help physician leaders recognize workplace behaviours that impact patient safety, understand contributing factors, and take action using communication strategies, procedural fairness and a clear stepwise framework. 

Accredited for up to 7.5 hours. 

Faculty:

Participants are required to complete a 50-minute eLearning activity prior to the workshop.

Who is this course for? This course is especially relevant for current and future formal physician leaders.

Registration: Registration is now closed!

Crucial Conversations

Note: This course will be in person.

Doctors Manitoba is pleased to offer the two-day Crucial Conversations for Healthcare Physician Leadership Institute (PLI) course on May 29 and 30, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Participants will identify problems contributing to broken relationships, explore skills related to keeping composed when feeling angry, defensive or intimidated, and access tools to support dialogue to address challenging issues and cultivate mutual purpose. Accredited for up to 13.5 hours. Faculty: Dr Gillian Kernaghan, MD, CCFP, FCPF, CCPELLD

Who is this course for? This course is relevant for all physicians who want to enhance their ability to have honest and productive conversations even when the topics or emotions involved are challenging.

Registration details:

  • Dates — Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30
  • Time: 8:30 a.m. — 4:00 p.m. each day
  • Location: Alt Hotel, Winnipeg
  • Registration fee — $250 (Subsidized by DRMB. Your CPD Rebate can also be used)
  • Register Now (CMA membership is NOT required, CMA account only. Please review instructions below.)
  • Deadline — April 292026


Registration instructions and tips:

1. Click on the registration link. To complete your PLI registration, you must do so in PLI’s Learning Portal. 

2. A CMA​.ca account is required to register. The learning portal is linked to your cma​.ca account (no membership needed). 

  • Login to proceed to the portal
  • If you do not remember your password, click​‘forgot password’
  • If you do not have a cma​.ca account, go to​‘Don’t have an account?’
  • If you do not remember your cma​.ca username or have trouble registering, please contact CMA Member Services (memberservicecentre@​cma.​ca or 18888552555).

3. Once logged in, you will be redirected to register for the course. You may need to click the registration link again if you are not automatically redirected. 

4. Register on the learning portal.

  • Select enroll/​buy now and complete the registration questions
  • Follow the check-out process and click​“complete order”

6. Check your inbox for your registration confirmation and reminders from cmalearning@​sabacloud.

7. Login to the Learning Portal to access course communications, pre-course work, course content, certificate of completion and course evaluations.

Registration: Registration is now closed!

Turning Points: Writing Through Transitions in Medicine

Turning Points: Writing Through Transitions in Medicine is a virtual workshop on May 14 for Doctors Manitoba members at any career stage navigating change and professional transitions. Drawing on narrative medicine principles, it uses storytelling, guided discussions, published clinician narratives, and writing prompts to help participants reflect on transitions such as moving from training to practice, evolving roles, or preparing for retirement. The session offers a structured framework for making sense of change, deepening insight into how transitions affect identity and well‑being, and developing written reflections on personal journeys. No prior writing experience is needed and sharing is voluntary.

Registration: Registration is now closed!

Leading Change

Doctors Manitoba is pleased to offer the two-day Leading Change Physician Leadership Institute course on March 5 and 6, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (virtual).

Participants will learn to develop a systematic approach to analyzing and addressing change challenges and opportunities. Accredited for up to 13.5 hours. Faculty: Mamta Gautam, MD MBA FRCPC CCPE and Scott Comber BMEDS MBA MA PhD.

Who is this course for? This course is relevant for physicians in formal or informal leadership roles who want to learn how to build support for, overcome barriers to, and successfully implement, influence, and sustain change.

Registration details:

  • Registration fee: $250

Registration instructions:

1. Review instructions, then click the Leading Change Registration Link

To successfully complete your registration, you must register in PLI’s Learning Portal. Please note that you will not be enrolled in the course until this step is complete.

2.CMA​.ca account is required to register. The learning portal is linked to your cma​.ca account. 

  • If you do not have a cma​.ca account, please click Don’t have an account? Register here.
  • If you do not remember your password, click forgot password’.
  • If you do not remember your cma​.ca username or have trouble registering, please contact CMA Member Services (memberservicecentre@​cma.​ca or 18888552555).

3. Once signed into cma​.ca, you will be redirected to register for the course. You may need to click the registration link again if you are not automatically redirected. 

4. Select enroll/​buy now and complete the registration questions.

5. Follow the check-out process and click complete order”.

6. Check your inbox for your registration confirmation.

Note: The Learning Portal hosts your course communications, pre-course work, course content, certificate of completion and course evaluations. Upon successful registration, you will receive emails from cmalearning@​sabacloud.​com at registration and 30, 15, & 7 days prior to the course. Please check your junk folder within 30 min of registration to ensure you have received your registration email.

If you have any questions regarding your registration, please contact pli@​cma.​ca.

Registration: Registration is now closed!

Inclusive Leadership

Doctors Manitoba is pleased to offer the two-day Inclusive Leadership: Cultivating Psychologically and Culturally Safe Working Environments Physician Leadership Institute course on January 15 and 16, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (virtual).

Participants will explore the importance and impact of advocating for increased psychological and cultural safety practices and learn how this safety connects to engagement, well-being, organizational culture and improved patient outcomes. Accredited for up to 10 hours. Faculty: Dr Arno Kumagai, MD

Who is this course for? This course is relevant for physicians in formal or informal leadership roles who want to learn practical approaches to effect positive and sustainable change within their team or organization.

Registration details:

  • Registration is closed

If you have any questions regarding your registration, please contact pli@​cma.​ca.

Mobilizing Change in Healthcare

Doctors Manitoba is pleased to offer the Mobilizing Change in Healthcare Physician Leadership Institute course on November 21, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (virtual).

Participants will use a case study to explore the levers of change within the health care system, learn how to effectively frame an issue and strategically choose advocacy approaches to advance an issue. Accredited for up to 3.5 hours. Faculty: Shazma Mithani, MD,FRCPC

Who is this course for? This course is relevant for all physicians who want to proactively inform, shape and influence at the local, provincial and federal levels by discussing strategies and learning more about navigating institutional and government pathways. 

If you have any questions regarding your registration, please contact pli@​cma.​ca.

Registration: Registration is now closed!

October 26: Leadership Starts with Self-Awareness (Webinar, 5.30pm‑6.30pm)

Self-awareness is one of the key components of Emotional Intelligence. Everyone has a story, and that story is fueled by our thoughts and emotions which in turn influence how we relate to ourselves, others and the world. Becoming self aware allows us to better manage ourselves, how we relate to others and show up in the world. 

At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • List the key components to identifying their personal story
  • Recognize how their story may impact themselves and others

Register Now for the Leadership Starts with Self-Awareness” webinar

November 20: Boundaries – The New Self Care (Webinar, Noon-1pm)

Being a physician is challenging with huge responsibility and often unrealistic expectations. Saying no is neither encouraged nor part of medical training and most physicians by nature have trouble setting limits, yet the consequences over time lead to depletion, anger/​resentment, entitlement, deterioration in health/​relationships and numbing behavior.

At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Recognize why setting limits as a caregiver is challenging
  • Recognize the personal consequences of not saying no
  • List practical ways to set limits 

Register Now for the Boundaries – The New Self Care” webinar

January 25: Relational Awareness – The New Essential Skill (Workshop, 5:30 – 7:30pm)

Postgraduate training often does not or cannot prepare physicians for the multitude of relationships and situations they will inevitably experience in practice. The Relationship Intelligence Framework provides an evidence-based, non-judgmental method to help physicians develop the self-awareness and skills for managing themselves and relationships in the workplace. Relational Awareness begins with self-awareness; understanding who we are is essential to better managing the impact we may have on others. Relational Awareness involves having the skills to manage diverse situations and personalities. 

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Recognize how your story may impact others
  • Describe evidence-based components that contribute to your sense of self (e.g. physician personality trait profile)
  • List practical strategies for developing and managing diverse relationships

Register Now for the Relational Awareness – The New Essential Skill” workshop

February 21: Lessons Learned from Complaints (Webinar, Noon-1pm)

Complaints are rarely about clinical competence, but about the relationship. At the epicentre of all complaints, is that someone felt the other person did not care. Everyone wants to be seen, recognized and appreciated. Intention and impact often don’t align. Lessons learned from over 40 years of listening to and addressing complaints will be shared. 

At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Recognize why complaints occur
  • Describe practical strategies for minimizing the room for misinterpretation of your good intentions

Register Now for the Lesson Learned from Complaints” workshop

March 4: Using Relational Awareness to Build Better Teams (Workshop, 5:30 – 7:30pm)

Physicians do not work in isolation and because of their expertise are often viewed and held to account as the MRP — Most Responsible Person” in the room. Perceived power differentials are real and often limit honest feedback leading to a false sense of security about the impact of words and actions. Medicine is an interdependent pursuit where team communication and relationships are key to successful outcomes and personal satisfaction. 

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Recognize factors that lead to misunderstanding 
  • Describe key factors necessary for high functioning teams
  • List practical strategies for managing self and others in day-to-day practice

Register Now for the Using Relational Awareness to Build Better Teams” workshop