On June 14, 2023, The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO) held a commemorative celebration for its milestone 10th anniversary. The celebrations brought together stakeholders, health system partners, and well-wishers from across the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) community. Guests included representatives from: TCM associations, the provincial government, and TCM schools, as well as CTCMPAO Council and Committee members, peer and practice assessors, subject matter experts, and staff.
MPP of Richmond Hill Ms. Daisy Wai attended the celebrations to offer her congratulations. MPP Wai’s attendance was accompanied by a video greeting from Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, congratulating CTCMPAO for its anniversary.
“Today’s historical event represents the cumulative efforts of many visionaries who passionately worked for years to establish this College; it also celebrates the tireless dedication and commitment of our teams, past and present, who steadfastly serve Ontarians every day,” said Joanne Pritchard-Sobhani, CTCMPAO Council President. “I offer my deepest appreciation to each and every one of you who have brought us here to this joyous moment – thank you.”
“As we celebrate the establishment of CTCMPAO and its many accomplishments today, we have an opportunity to look forward to an exciting decade that lies ahead of us,” added Ann Zeng, Registrar and CEO, CTCMPAO. “Building on our achievements, and with great pride, we will continue striving for excellence in governance, and in advancing and regulating the practice of the TCM profession in Ontario.”
At the celebrations, the College had a chance to look back at a decade of successful regulation and achievements. A few select accomplishments among these included:
- Taking on the significant task of establishing strong regulatory and operational practices and registrations in Ontario
- Developing a Quality Assurance Program where members can continue to learn and improve upon their skills as healthcare professionals. This includes educational programs in English and Chinese
- Developing a fair and transparent complaints process to serve in the public interest and provide confidence to patients, upholding the principles of right touch regulation
- Initiating a language fluency policy to create multiple paths for applicants to meet language requirements. This actively reduces barriers for practitioners while ensuring public protection
- Playing a key role in developing pan-Canadian examinations to assess entry-level competencies at a national level, for those entering the TCM profession
- Guiding the TCM community through the COVID-19 pandemic, which included developing new guidelines in accordance with Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, working with Public Health Units, ensuring members had access to vaccines, etc.