A small province with big ideas: Nova Scotia Health leaders share primary care transformation successes at global conference in Lisbon, Portugal

When three Nova Scotia Health leaders boarded their flight to Lisbon this fall for the World Organization of Family Doctors Conference, they carried more than presentations and business cards. They brought the story of a province transforming its health system from the inside out.

Held from Sept. 17 to 21, the WONCA World Conference gathered family doctors and health professionals from around the world to share innovations in primary care and explore the future of family medicine.  

Founded in 1972, WONCA — the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners and Family Physicians — is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving quality of life by promoting excellence in general practice.  

Global conferences like WONCA provide valuable opportunities to share Nova Scotia’s progress, learn from international peers, and attract health professionals eager to join a system that’s evolving and improving. For the Nova Scotia Health leaders, the event was a chance to highlight the province’s gains in primary care transformation and connect with physicians interested in being part of that momentum. Beyond presentations and networking, it also offered meaningful recognition that Nova Scotia’s health system renewal is gaining international attention.

Dr. Aaron Smith, Bethany McCormick, and Katrina Philopoulos  represented the many people across the province contributing to system transformation and innovation in primary care. Together, they shared how a small province is achieving big results through collaboration, creativity and persistence.

Central to this progress has been the power of working together across departments and roles to support change “Transformation is a team effort,” said McCormick, vice president of operations for Northern Zone and primary healthcare executive sponsor. “Co-leadership means combining different perspectives and strengths to find new solutions that serve our communities. It’s about working together to move forward as a unified front.”

Nova Scotia Health is leading a province-wide effort to strengthen primary care through evidence-based strategies that improve access, continuity and performance. Teams have introduced innovative initiatives to enhance patient attachment, optimize provider capacity and improve coordination of care.  As part of Nova Scotia Health’s transformation efforts, the Primary Health Care Recruitment Strategy, launched in July 2024, has made strong progress in addressing workforce shortages through recruiting family physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.

Nova Scotia Health also introduced the Practice Stabilization Planning Guide to support provider transitions and continuity of care, along with the Rapid Onboarding Team, which helps new physicians roster patients efficiently. In just 18 months, this team has onboarded thousands of patients across the province, helping reduce wait times and improve access. Meanwhile, the Practice Facilitation Capacity Building Program has supported clinics across the province through hundreds of improvement projects.

These initiatives form part of a coordinated effort to transform primary care and strengthen Nova Scotia’s health system, with measurable results demonstrating success.

For Smith, the WONCA Conference was an opportunity to pause and reflect on Nova Scotia’s progress. “It allowed us to step back from day-to-day challenges and appreciate the volume and quality of work underway,” said the provincial medical executive director and operational co-lead for primary care clinics and health homes. “Seeing how other jurisdictions approach similar issues provided valuable perspective and reinforced that Nova Scotia is making strong progress.”

Smith also reflected on how quickly the world of digital health is evolving. “AI and digital health are moving very fast,” he said. “We’ll need focused and effective effort to stay on the frontier, but the opportunity is enormous.” He believes technology, when applied thoughtfully, can help clinicians spend less time on paperwork and more time with patients. “If we apply AI grounded in evidence and patient experience, it can free up providers to focus on care. That’s what digital transformation should ultimately be about — making care more human, not less.”

For McCormick, the experience in Lisbon was both inspiring and affirming. “It gave us an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the forward momentum we’ve created,” she said. “We need to keep going, but we should also celebrate the good work that’s already delivering results.” She added, “While we’re small, we have big results from a really dedicated team. Nova Scotians should feel proud and confident in the progress we’re making - because the results show that we’re making a real difference.”

That belief — that Nova Scotia is a small province with big ideas — echoed throughout the team’s reflections from Lisbon. For Philopoulos, the conference offered a moment of learning and perspective. “It gave us pause and to realize that much of the work we’re doing is positive and in the right direction,” said the director of physician recruitment for Nova Scotia Health.

Philopoulos said other provinces were taking notice. “Other provinces were interested, even surprised, by the work we’re doing,” she said. “We’re a small province, and people don’t necessarily know what’s going on here. But I think we caused some heads to turn.” The experience, she added, helped the team see that Nova Scotia isn’t just keeping up — it’s leading in several areas.

As Nova Scotia Health continues its primary health care transformation journey, its leaders see a clear path forward — one that combines innovation and technology with the human-centered values that define primary health care. From Lisbon to Nova Scotia, the message is clear: meaningful change happens when innovation and collaboration come together.

Nova Scotia may be small, but its ambition, creativity and results are attracting global attention. “We’re a small province with big ideas,” McCormick said. “And we’re showing the world what’s possible when you believe in your people, your patients and your purpose.”

With collaboration, innovation and heart, Nova Scotia is proving that size is no barrier to global leadership in primary health care. 

Photo of Dr. Aaron Smith, Bethany McCormick, and Katrina Philopoulos representing Nova Scotia Health, sharing primary health care transformation work and successes, and connecting with peers at the WONCA events in Lisbon, Portugal.