Dr Larry Malo

N A cTu_sa LIT*_

Dr Larry MaloCommunity Teacherofthe YearGerry Gibbs

T he place looks like all the others,but there's an obvious difference.

Over on one side, Raggedy Ann ischatting with a youngster, the devil issitting behind the reception desk, a

pumpkin is searching for a file, andthe tin man just helped an elderly per-son to her seat. It looks like somethingout of a Mother Goose book, an

episode of the Addams family, or

maybe even the Twilight Zone. Youhave just stepped into the office of DrLarry Malo, and it just happens to beHalloween.

"It's not every doctor who wouldlet you carry on like that, but he'sdifferent and has such a good sense

of humour," says Debbie Fasciano, a

co-worker for the last 6 years inDr Malo's practice in Timmins, Ont."He always has fun with what hedoes, whether with staff, patients, or

students."Dr Malo is showered with acco-

lades from all sides, from colleagues,friends, family, and particularly stu-dents. Tributes and recommendationsfrom his residents last year were so

impressive that Dr Malo has beennamed 1997 Community Teacher ofthe Year by the Ontario College ofFamily Physicians.

"He is very deserving of theaward," say the residents who nomi-nated him. "He is a skilled physicianloved by patients and colleagues."

Dr Malo, a husband and father offour daughters, would have it no otherway. He says care and compassion are

his definition of family practice. "It's a

All in a day's work: Dr Larry Malo tends to one ofhis newer patients................................................................................................................

small-town mentality and even a bithokey, but it's true. Here I can beclose to my patients, my residents,and my family," says the 14-year veter-an of family medicine. "I take my timewith my people. I sympathize withthem and I encourage them as muchas I can. And I like to have some funon the way."

It's traits such as these thatDr Malo passes on to his students,without superiority. He puts himself onthe same level as his students andactually learns as he teaches. "Heloves teaching, and it shows," say theresidents.

"My relationship and connectionwith my students allows me tofeed somewhat from them," saysDr Malo. "I'm very tough, and Iexpect a lot from them, but I alsoexpect a lot from myself. I'm able tokeep up, keep sharp, and stay intune because of them. I wouldn'thave that if I didn't teach."

Time, care, compassion, all arepopular teaching tools for Dr Malo,

who earned this award in his firstyear of nomination, but there is atwist. Sometimes careful attention topatients has put Dr Malo and his resi-dent behind time, causing the waitingroom to back up. And, of course, theoffice staff have to deal with impa-tient clients.

"We have had situations where wehave to give Dr Malo a bit of a pushand get him to move on," saysFasciano with a laugh. "Patients willgive us a stare and a bit of a sniff. Butmost know what's going on, and theyappreciate that they will get the sameattention when they see the doctor."

Dr Malo, who shares his practicewith wife Nancy Woods, sees attentionand communication as not only thefocal point of his practice but as theheart of overall medical care as wehead into the next millenium. Patientsmight see various doctors, specialists,and therapists, but Dr Malo urges fam-ily physicians to communicate openlywith clients and promote informationflow among medical professionals.

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"There are so many options forpeople today for health care. Youhave midwives, alternative therapies,homeopathic therapies, all of whichhave their place," he says. "But afamily physician has the opportunityto be at the centre. That's not to sayhe should be in control of every-thing, but I believe he should knowwhat's going on and keep in mindpatients' wants and needs. Thepatient is the centre and alwaysshould be."

With a private practice, patients atTimmins and District Hospital, resi-dents, a wife and four daughters(Katie, Blakeney, Lauren, and Adele)and now an award for outstanding per-formance as an educator, Halloweenand the Twilight Zone don't look soscary any more.

...A

Community involvement: DrMalo and wife Dr Nancy Woods doing an interviewat the local radio station as cochairs for the Terry Fox run.

Section ofTeachersplans exceptionalannual workshopBarbara Kermode-Scott

It is a busy time for the Section ofTeachers. The Section is arranging

its 20th Annual Workshop, to be heldSeptember 24 to 26, 1998, in Toronto.This event, to be held conjointly withthe Royal College of Physicians andSurgeons of Canada's Conference onResidency Education, will be calledConjoint Conference on MedicalEducation.

Since the Section was created in1978, it has grown steadily. Today ithas about 1000 members, bothphysician and nonphysician teachersof family medicine. Normallybetween 200 and 300 of these,including Canada's 16 family medi-cine program Chairs and Directors,attend the Section's annual 2-daymeeting that focuses on facultydevelopment and family medicineeducation. But this September, the

Section's workshop will be veryspecial.

Not only does it celebrate theSection's 20th birthday, it is theirfirst Conjoint Conference with theannual Conference on ResidencyEducation of the Royal College ofPhysicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Dr Robert Buckman: Well-knowntelevision entertainer and author willaddress the second plenary session at theConjoint Conference.

Organizers are expecting about600 Section registrants and areputting together a program ofdiverse and dynamic plenary speak-ers, as well as about 70 small-groupseminars and workshops aimed atenhancing teachers' skills. NobelLaureate John Polyani, a prize-win-ning chemist, will talk on the ethicalphysician and social responsibilities.Well-known television entertainerand author, Dr Robert Buckman, willaddress the second plenary session.A University of Toronto couple,Michael and Linda Hutchins, will dis-cuss medicine in society, as viewedthrough opera.

Although about 4000 people areexpected to attend the ConjointConference, the Section is makingevery effort to ensure it does not sac-rifice the intimacy normally enjoyedat its usual smaller workshops. It isstaging events in the Royal YorkHotel; the Royal College will hold itssessions in other hotels nearby."For most people, the less formalnetworking is such an important partof the Section's workshop," stressesChair Dr Fraser Brenneis. "It's an

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