Message from the Chair

Dear Leaders and Colleagues,

As medical and health practitioner regulators, we work in an increasingly complex world. Ongoing conflicts, the global movement of people, and the impact of disease like the current Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa remind us that health risks do not respect borders. Global collaboration and timely information sharing are more important than ever.

It was against this backdrop that the IAMRA Board met last week in Montreal, Canada for our biennial strategic planning session where we focused on shaping IAMRA's future. We are grateful for the valuable feedback you provided through the recent membership survey which informed our discussions.

The Board reviewed our progress over the past year and considered emerging challenges and opportunities. We focused on enhancing our services to IAMRA members, advancing key partnerships, and growing our community of members and partners. The Board also prioritized strengthening the Physician Information Exchange (PIE) as a practical tool for international cooperation and public protection. I look forward to sharing the updated Strategic Plan with you in the coming months.

The IAMRA Board is thankful to the Federation of Medical Regulators of Canada (FMRAC) for their generous welcome and for hosting us at their annual conference, "Regulating Together: Regulating Physicians in the Era of Team-Based Care." FMRAC is a valued member whose innovative work in medical regulation and research continues to advance the field and inform regulatory practice well beyond Canada's borders. It was a privilege to join their community for these important conversations about the evolving role of regulators in team-based care.

As noted above, a key priority in the next Strategic Plan is expanding IAMRA's community of members and partners, and we are asking for your help. Please share this newsletter with others in your organization and professional network. You can also contact IAMRA Director of Operations Sarah Heermans (sheermans@iamra.com) to add them to our distribution list. Growing our community strengthens our collective ability to protect patients worldwide.

Thank you for your ongoing engagement and collaboration, and for your important work for global patient safety.

Warm Regards,

Nicole Krishnaswami, JD

IAMRA Chair