Dialogue Volume 11 Issue 4 2015 | Page 23

introducing The Year Ahead The College’s new President, Dr. Joel Kirsh, talks about his role and expectations M eet Dr. Joel Kirsh, the new President of the College of Physician and Surgeons of Ontario. Dr. Kirsh, a pediatric cardiologist specializing in heart rhythm disorders at the Hospital for Sick Children, recently spoke to Dialogue about a variety of issues, including his efforts to get more defibrillators in public places, the summer camp that he founded, and of course, his expectations for the coming year at the College. photo: D.W. Dorken Q&A What led to your decision to participate at the College? A. I’m fortunate to be in an AFP (Alternate Funding Plan) – AFPs work well in academic medicine as they support a blend of clinical care, teaching, research and creative professional activities. As a result of being in an AFP, I’ve had the opportunity to work on new methods of safer catheter ablation in children, lead advocacy for school-based and public-access automatic external defibrillators, and represent my colleagues at university and hospital-level governance. After two terms as a Faculty Governor at the University of Toronto and then a term as President of SickKids’ Medical Staff, I felt that I was ready to contribute to the work of the College – I ran for Council and was fortunate to be elected in District 10. Issue 4, 2015 Dialogue Issue4_15.indd 23 23 2015-12-16 9:35 AM