Growing Sustainable Physicians
About Us
We are a group of physicians and researchers who are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of people and planet, planting seeds to empower our future. We were established as a working group with the Ontario chapter of Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment(CAPE-On). We call our selves the Agri-food Working Group.
Growing Sustainable Physicians (GSP) is an educational, capacity building, and community building program. We teach future healthcare providers and leaders about the climate crisis, the climate and health impacts of our food systems, in a format that offers didactic and applied learning opportunities. Our hope is that through this program we will build a community of practitioners and change-makers who together, will take action for planetary health.
Update!!
Congratulations to residents from Queens University, University of Ottawa and University of Toronto who participated in our first cohorts in 2024. Watch our video for a preview of our workshop days.
The GSP Program
The GSP program has 3 components, the Workshop, the QI Project and the Capstone Event. Thanks to grant funding from the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, this program is available to residents at no cost.
Read here to learn more!
The Workshop
Join us and leaders in the field for discussions that explore the intersections of climate, agriculture, food and health. The workshop will include lectures, discussions, practice tips and tasty food, all in an immersive farm experience.
In Fall of 2025 we will host workshops at 3 farm locations in Ontario!
September 20, 2025 Ironwood Organics Farm
September 27, 2025 Nature's Apprentice Farm
October 4, 2025 Flemingdon Community Farm
Important information: Addresses and Agendas will be mailed directly to participants
During your residency, you will complete a QI project with mentorship from your department. The GSP program is designed to complement your program’s mandatory QI/scholarly requirement. After the workshop, you will have the opportunity to receive support alongside your peers through drop-in monthly virtual sessions with our planetary health experts as you implement your project. Our goal is to discuss your QI projects, climate action, and related topics and build a network of like-minded practitioners.
Click here for potential projects framed using the 6 Quality Dimensions.
The Capstone Event
At the end of the program year, we will gather in person to present your work, lessons learned, and opportunities!
Contact Us!
Have questions? We would love to hear from you!
growingsustainablephysicians@gmail.com
or 416-864-5541
Want to learn more? Check out these resources!
Climate Change & Greenhouse Gases
1. https://ourworldindata.org/co2-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions
Climate Change & Health
1. eatforum.org/eat-lancet-commission
Agriculture
1. https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/environment/greenhouse-gases
2. https://www.sej.org/publications/features/six-ways-cover-environmental-impacts-animal-agriculture
Plant-Based Diets
1. https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/factsheets
2. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2412
3. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2313282
6. https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-077310
7.https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-025-04067-1
Food Security
2. https://changingclimate.ca/site/assets/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/8-FOOD-CHAPTER-EN.pdf
4. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/16/business/grocery-stores-access-race-inequality/index.html
Advocacy
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5661729/
2. https://www.ippnw.org/about/ippnw-a-brief-history
Facilitating Changes in Behaviour
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp0O2vi8DX4
Ironwood Organics Farm, Athens, ON
Nature's Apprentice Farm, Packenham ON
