The Board of Directors of College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) is responsible for governing the affairs of CPSO in fulfilling its duty to serve in the public interest.

When making decisions, the Board recognizes its obligation to reflect the values and expectations of society in fulfilling its statutory responsibilities which include:

• setting and monitoring the strategic direction of CPSO;
• establishing governing policies which, at the broadest levels, address: definition of executive authority, governance process, the relationship between the Board and staff, and Board communication;
• approving statements of principles and positions related to CPSO policy;
• discharging its statutory functions and fiduciary responsibilities in the public interest;
• appointing the Registrar, monitoring and evaluating the Registrar’s performance; and
• ensuring the Board’s goals for CPSO are met.

The Board of Directors will:

• govern in a manner that guides and inspires through thoughtful, balanced policies, which reflect CPSO’s vision, mission and values;
• govern with integrity in a moral, ethical and transparent manner;
• govern in a manner that protects the public interest and is in keeping with the best principles of self-governance;
• govern with a strategic perspective that understands the long-term and systemic impacts of policies developed and decisions made;
• respect the roles assigned within CPSO’s structure;
• empower staff to implement policies developed by the Board;
• ensure high standards by providing orientation to new Board Directors and assisting them in developing the skills and knowledge needed to govern effectively;
• ensure CPSO’s mandate is fulfilled through regular goal setting and monitoring;
• evaluate the collective and individual performance of the Board and its Directors on an annual basis, identifying strengths and developmental needs;
• ensure that no officer, Director, Committee of the Board, or CPSO staff member interferes with or hinders the fulfillment of CPSO’s mandate;
• ensure appropriate resources are available to achieve CPSO’s mandate; and
• monitor the performance of CPSO.

Composition of the Board

The Medicine Act, 1991 states that the Board must consist of 31 to 34 Directors, including:

• 15-16 elected physicians;  
• 13 to 15 public Directors appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
• 3 physicians appointed from a faculty of medicine in Ontario

The CPSO Board Chair is elected from and by the Board and serves a one-year term.

Directors are elected for a three-year term and can serve no more than three terms (nine consecutive years).

Directors may be appointed to one or more CPSO Committees. Each Committee has specific functions, most of which are governed by legislation. All physicians appointed from a faculty of medicine in Ontario are part of the Academic Advisory Committee. See Committees for more information.

Board Director Skills and Attributes

CPSO seeks physicians who can bring a broad range of skills and perspectives to the Board’s work. To ensure that the Board can successfully execute its strategic objectives, Directors are expected to have a number of skills, attributes and behavioural competencies which are outlined below.

Diversity Attributes

• Race/Ethnicity
• Indigenous
• Gender
• LGBTQ2S+
• Age
• Disability
• Practice Setting
• Practice Specialty

Technical Skills

• Financial Literacy
• Governance
• Knowledge of Anti-racism and Anti-oppression
• Legal and Fiduciary Knowledge
• Technological Proficiency
• French
• Health Systems Knowledge
• Human Resources
• Leadership
• Policy Development

Behavioural Competencies

• Continuous Learning
• Creativity
• Effective Communication
• Planning & Initiative
• Relationship Building
• Results Oriented
• Stakeholder Focused
• Strategic Thinking
• Teamwork

Meet the current Directors of the Board.

Want to Join the Team?

If you...

• Want to contribute to professional self-regulation in a meaningful way
• Are willing to share your ideas and perspectives to help shape important decisions, and
• Can set aside the time to participate

… then this is an opportunity to enrich your professional life and make a contribution to both the public and the medical profession through active involvement as a Board Director.

Time Commitment for Board Directors

Number of days of meetings/hearings per year:	Four 2-day meetings
Preparation time (per meeting/hearing):	6 hours
Additional teleconferences per year:	Sometimes required
Decision/report writing for Committee members:	No