ABOUT USDedicated to Excellence in Geriatric Care
HOW CGS BEGANThe Canadian Geriatrics Society (CGS) unites over 500 professionals committed to improving the health and well-being of older adults. Our diverse membership includes specialists in geriatric medicine (both Royal College and Care of the Elderly), medical students, residents, and allied health professionals, all dedicated to advancing the field of geriatrics. Established in 1981, the CGS has evolved from its origins as the Canadian Society of Geriatric Medicine, reflecting our broadened scope and inclusive approach. Join us in our mission to enhance care for Canada's aging population.
CGS was initially called the Canadian Society of Geriatric Medicine (CSGM). The foundation meeting of the CSGM was held in Toronto at the Royal York Hotel on September 16, 1981. There were thirty-nine individuals in attendance. The founding President was Dr. R.D.T. Cape of London, Ontario. Other Presidents of the Society have been Dr. J.A. MacDonell, Dr. R. Fisher, Dr. M. Baron, Dr. B.L. Beattie, Dr. R. Fox, Dr. D. Robertson, Dr. Peter MacCracken, Dr. Ken Rockwood, Dr. W.B. Dalziel, and Dr. D.B. Hogan. In 1999, the name of the organization was changed to the Canadian Geriatrics Society partly in an effort to broaden its base of potential members.
Contact usThe Canadian Geriatrics Society
20 Crown Steel Dr., Unit 6
Markham Ontario, L3R 9X9
T: 289-846-5380 ext. 224 & 222
F: 1-905-415-0071
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President: Manuel Montero-Odasso
Vice-President: Deviani Maher
Secretary-Treasurer: Lesley Charles
Immediate Past President: Kenneth Madden
Director-at-Large: Adrian Wagg
Director-at-Large: Jacqueline McMillan
Director-at-Large: Elizabeth Macdonald
Associate Director-at-Large: Luxey Sirisegaram
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President: Manuel Montero-Odasso
Vice-President: Deviani Maher
Secretary-Treasurer: Lesley Charles
Past President: Kenneth Madden
Director-at-Large: Adrian Wagg
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Dr. R. D. T. Cape
Dr. J.A. MacDonell
Dr. R. Fisher
Dr. M. Baron
Dr. B.L. Beattie
Dr. R. Fox Dr. Barry Goldlist
Dr. D. Robertson
Dr. Peter MacCracken
Dr. Ken Rockwood
Dr. W.B. Dalziel
Dr. D.B. Hogan
Dr. Chris MacKnight
Dr. H. Bergman
Dr. C. Frank
Dr. A. Juby Dr. R. Wong
Dr. J. Morais
Dr. K. Fruetel
Dr. F. Molnar
Dr. R. Lam
Dr. K. Madden
board of directorsOUR MISSION
EMPOWER clinicians to provide excellent medical care
INSPIRE trainees to embrace the principles of care of older adults
ADVOCATE for policies that address the health needs of our aging population
FOSTER scholarship in aging
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Annual Scientific Meeting
For over 35 years the CGS has hosted an annual meeting. Initially, this meeting was focused on showcasing Canadian Research and providing networking opportunities. The ASM has grown to include Education Days for Residents in Geriatric Medicine as well as a separate day for Medical Students and a Continuing Medical Education Day for practicing physicians.
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CGS Scholarship Foundation
The CGS Scholarship Foundation is a registered charitable arm organization that was created in 2012. This allows individuals to make charitable donations and receive a tax receipt. Donors can direct their donations to support activities of the CGS such as the Resident and Student groups as well as the two journals owned by the CGS.
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Humanities
The Humanities Blurb was created in 2014 by Dr Chris Frank. This was inspired by the love of the humanities that many CGS members have shared with us. Many of us relate our interest in geriatrics to our interest in the arts and humanities. Creative efforts can help us understand our patients experience better and also make the challenges of working in health care easier.
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Choosing Wisely Canada
In 2014 , the CGS was in the first group of societies to publish “Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question”. The CGS has worked with Choosing Wisely Canada to develop patient and physician materials to support the recommendations.
JournalsIn 1998, Mature Medicine Canada was launched as a Canadian peer-reviewed journal that published papers focusing on the care of an aging population. In 2001, the publication received an endorsement from the Canadian Geriatrics Society and changed its name to Geriatrics Today: Journal of the Canadian Geriatrics Society.
The journal was purchased by Kenilworth Media in 2004 and one year later, ownership was transferred to Andrew John Publishing. The name of the journal was changed to Canadian Journal of Geriatrics. In October 2006, the journal was purchased by Geriatrics & Aging, which unfortunately ceased operations in 2010.
In 2010, the Canadian Geriatrics Society reaffirmed their support for a peer-reviewed journal—but this time, owned by the Society. As a result, the Canadian Geriatrics Journal was created in an online, open-access format. This journal achieved National Library of Medicine/Pubmed indexing in 2011. Throughout its existence, the journal, by whatever name, has continued to publish original articles dealing with the conditions that afflict older Canadians.
SEE THE CANADIAN GERIATRICS JOURNAL >>>
CGS Continuing Medical Education (CME) Journal, launched in 2011, is the first CME journal wholly owned and operated by the CGS. This is a free open access journal.
In 2012, the National Geriatric Interest Group created their publication called the NGIG Journal. It is the first entirely student-led national publication with a geriatric focus and is available both electronically and in print.
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Fellowship
Fellowship — the highest class of membership within the society — is an acknowledgment of outstanding and continuing work in the field of geriatrics and gerontology. Fellowship recognition can come at varying points in a career and can acknowledge a broad scope of activity; research, teaching, administration, public service, practice, and notable participation within the CGS.
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Committees
The CGS has several committees dedicated to advancing geriatrics, including those focused on awards, diversity, editorial processes, continuing education, training, and membership.
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Special Interest Groups
In 2016, our first Special Interest Group (SIG) was formed in Falls and Fractures under the leadership of Dr. David Hogan and Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso. The purpose of this SIG is to help organize sessions at future annual meetings and provide input to the CGS on falls and fall-related injuries. We anticipate the formation of other SIG in the future as a way to engage and connect members of the CGS.
Educational activitiesThe CGS Education Committee serves to promote an educational system where all Canadian medical graduates achieve basic competencies in the care of the elderly and also to promote career opportunities in health care of the elderly. This committee also supports and encourages student and resident led education initiatives in the field of Geriatrics.
The CGS Continuing Professional Development (CPD) committee aims to develop, accredit and promote excellent, innovative & relevant continuing professional development in Canada for members of the CGS. The CPD Committee collaborates with the CGS Board and other groups within the CGS (including the CME Journal, the Annual Scientific Meeting planning committee, the social media group) to support best practices in CPD.
National and Resident Student Geriatric Interest Groups (NGIG and RGIG).
These student-driven groups were formed to provide a forum to foster students’ and residents’ interests in Geriatrics. Prior to the formation of NGIG and RGIG, the CGS hosted biannual CGS National Summer Institutes. The NGIG initiative has replaced this.
The first local geriatric interest groups (GIGs) were started in 2009 at McMaster University and the University of Saskatchewan. In 2010, the National Geriatric Interest Group (NGIG) was formed under the leadership of Magda Lenartowicz (Saskatchewan) and Alex Peel (McMaster) and mentorship from Tricia Woo. The NGIG seeks to improve the medical care of older Canadians through the promotion of geriatric education in Canadian medical schools, and by providing financial, academic, leadership, and mentorship resources to Canadian medical students interested in this dynamic field.
In 2012, NGIG created their own publication. It is the first entirely student-led national publication with a geriatric focus and is available both electronically and in print. The same year, they started the annual Medical Student Education Day held in conjunction with the CGS Annual Scientific Meeting.
The NGIG supports two student awards: the NGIG Student Leadership Award and the Geriatrics Research Student Award.
The Resident Geriatric Interest Group (RGIG) started up in 2011 and attracts residents from Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Psychiatry.
The mission is:
Canada needs more elder-friendly clinicians! RGIG connects trainees from across Canada to facilitate networking and mentoring, while initiating and supporting advocacy projects for older adults at local and national levels. Currently of the 17 medical schools in Canada, 14 have NGIGs and 11 have RGIGs. Support for these groups and their activities is through the CGS Scholarship Foundation and local academic divisions of Geriatrics.
Recognition of Excellence The Ronald Cape Distinguished Service Award recognizes a member of the CGS who has made a positive and lasting effect on Geriatric Care in Canada and has advanced the mission of the CGS.
The Peter McCracken Physician Innovator In Education Award recognizes a member who in the last three years has shown excellence in education.
The CCFP/CGS Award of Distinction in Care of the Elderly is an award in collaboration with the College of Family Physicians in Canada and recognizes excellence in Family Medicine Care of the Elderly.
Research Awards during the Annual Scientific Meeting to recognize research by medical students, residents, postgraduate students and CGS members including:
Willard and Phebe Thompson Award
Edmund V Cowdry Award
Réjean Hébert Award
Dr Jack MacDonell Award
CGS EndorsementSocieties or groups who wish to obtain CGS endorsement should forward their request to the CGS (cgs@secretariatcentral.com).
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1. The topic of the product to be endorsed should have the following characteristics:
a. Is of interest to the broad CGS membership and CGS anticipates broad support from members
b. Aligns with the Mission of the CGS
c. Is applicable at a national level
2. Recommendations made should be made by a nationally recognized medical or allied health society/group with expertise in the topic. The society/group should be independent of commercial interests. The process/funding of developing the material/evidence-based recommendations should be transparent and developed free from potential conflict of interest and they have provided the CGS with a Conflict of Interest form.
3. Recommendations for clinical practice guidelines should be evidence based and includes a recent literature search strategy, a synthesis and summary of recommendations.
4. Product is available in English and will be readily accessible and free of charge
5. In general the product should be in a relatively final version and not yet published. Consideration may be given to products that have recently been published if the above criteria are fulfilled.
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Requests for endorsement that are approved by the executive and aligned with a CGS Special Interest Group (SIG) accept a timeline of up to sixteen (16) weeks to review the request.
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As endorsement requests are reviewed by volunteers, the CGS Executive may decline an endorsement request due to a lack of time, resources or internal expertise.
Renewal Reminder
Renew your CGS membership by going to your member profile!
Thank you for your continuous support and for being a member of the Canadian Geriatrics Society. We are looking forward to another fantastic year!