That’s one whole generation of students educated, professors enlisted and partners engaged.
And above all, it’s thousands of patients who are finally being understood and treated in their own language.
In 1995, Francophone Affairs was born of a clear and ambitious idea: to train, support and engage health-care leaders who would have the skills to learn, treat patients and teach in French. This would make receiving care in French a matter of routine, both in Ontario and across Canada.
Three decades later, that vision has turned into a fully developed ecosystem and a pillar of the Faculty of Medicine’s identity.
In the beginning: A matter of equity
In the early 1990s, there was a clear need to be filled. Many Francophones in official-language minority communities were still struggling to access care in French. This had real consequences: misunderstandings, hesitancy to seek care and erosion of trust.
Before 1992, Francophone medical students had to complete all their training in English. So when the first French-language learning activities were introduced between 1992 and 1994, it was a critical turning point. For those initial cohorts, the decision to study medicine in French was fuelled by a real drive and a strong personal commitment. Later, an external assessment was conducted and an action plan was developed. As a result, the Office of Francophone Affairs at the Faculty of Medicine was officially founded in 1995.
The office’s mission is, first and foremost, one of equity and social accountability. It seeks to create comprehensive and rigorous medical training in French, and to bolster the health-care system’s capacity to serve Francophone communities on a lasting basis.
A bold start
The late 1990s saw a flurry of building activity. Clinical placements took root, partnerships expanded and ties to Francophone communities strengthened. In 1999, uOttawa became part of what’s now known as the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS), and the office’s mandate reached a national scale.
At this point, the Faculty began delivering education for Francophone communities across Canada.
This stage of implementation required vision and determination. Dr. Jeanne Drouin, director of the office from 1997 to 2001, recalls those years as challenging but profoundly meaningful.
“We wanted to provide Francophone students with a comprehensive, rigorous and equal education in their own language,” she says. “For me, this project was a matter of social justice and cultural pride. We had to build, recruit, convince people, create placements and develop material, sometimes during times when the very legitimacy of the program had to be defended. But seeing those doctors now practising all across the country, serving their communities in French, makes me incredibly proud.”
“We had to build, recruit, convince, [...] when the very legitimacy of the program had to be defended. But seeing those doctors now practising all across the country, serving their communities in French, makes me incredibly proud.”
Dr. Jeanne Drouin
— Director of the Francophone affairs office from 1997 to 2001
Under Drouin’s leadership, placements at Montfort Hospital were expanded, rural placement settings opened up, pedagogical training for Francophone instructors was established and student recruitment accelerated.
Later on, an external assessment would confirm the model was sound and relevant to pursue.
From consolidation to innovation
Two decades after its creation, Francophone Affairs reached a stage of maturity and innovation in its growth. This brought cross-Canada recruitment, network development, increased pedagogical support and establishment of a research stream in health education pedagogy.
Under Dr. Kay-Anne Haykal, who has served as vice-dean of Francophone affairs since September 2025, this vision has expanded across the Faculty.
“The Francophonie shouldn’t be a parallel stream — it should be an aspect that’s integrated into all our missions: education, research, leadership and community engagement,” she says.
“The Francophonie shouldn’t be a parallel stream — it should be an aspect that’s integrated into all our missions: education, research, leadership and community engagement.”
Dr. Kay-Anne Haykal
— Vice-dean of Francophone affairs
It’s also worth noting that the Faculty of Medicine is the only faculty to have both a Francophone affairs office and a vice-dean of Francophone affairs, a fact that speaks to our unique and fundamental commitment.
Today, the range of French-language training offered spans medical education, pharmacy and graduate studies, creating strong long-term consistency across the Faculty.
Measurable impact, national scope
Thanks to support from Francophone Affairs, over 1,000 French-speaking doctors have been trained. Today, they’re practising in Canadian communities from coast to coast.
Underlying this total are full learning pathways in French, engaged clinical placement sites, trained supervisors and supported professors.
All of this is based on a strong network, spanning from Montfort Hospital to the CNFS to countless community partners, all driven by the conviction that we must work together to build up French-language health care.
And the trajectory of growth continues. Next year, the first cohort in the undergraduate Doctor of Pharmacy program, offered in French, will graduate. This marks a new and important step in the development of French-language education at the Faculty of Medicine. And it confirms the progress made on offering an integrated range of health education that’s fully accessible in French.
The Francophonie moves forward
Today’s Francophonie is plural, inclusive and forward-looking.
From Franco-Ontarian community members to Francophones across Canada, Francophone immigrants, dedicated Francophiles and bilinguals, each is helping to advance research and education.
For Dr. Haykal, the goal remains clear: “To train skilled professionals who can truly address Francophone patients’ needs, and to make the Francophonie a driver of innovation and excellence.”
The coming years will see a continuation of this work, with a focus on improving experiences for students and professors, boosting the visibility of Francophones’ contributions and increasing support for research and innovation in French.
Driven by a shared commitment, the community came together in early March 2026 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Francophone Affairs.
Students, alumni, faculty members, partners, and community members gathered to mark this milestone, celebrate thirty years of achievements, and envision the next chapter for Francophone health.
Relive the highlights of the event in photos.
Rooted in our history. Together towards the future.
Thirty years after its establishment, Francophone Affairs has stayed true to its initial mission while constantly reinventing itself.
It has trained generations of professionals, supported communities and affirmed the role of French in making health care better, safer and more compassionate.
The story of these past 30 years shows one thing very clearly: when the Francophonie comes together, collaborates and innovates, it can achieve lasting transformations in the health-care system.
Help promote health care in French
For three decades, the Office of Francophone Affairs has been equipping professionals with the skills to treat patients, teach and innovate in French for the benefit of communities across the country.
When you give to the Office of Francophone Affairs at the Faculty of Medicine Fund, you play a direct role in bolstering education, research and fair access to care in French.
Your donation helps ensure that future generations can continue to receive care in their own language as a rule, not an exception.