Flordeliz Osler

Early Life and Education

Flordeliz Osler was born Flordeliz Sharma. She was named after her mother Flordeliza, a Filipina nurse who came to Canada in the mid-1960s (see Filipino Canadians; Nursing). Flordeliz’s father was Dr. Raj Narain Sharma, a physician from India (see South Asian Canadians). To set her apart from her mother, the Sharma family gave Flordeliz the nickname “Gigi” after a 1958 American movie musical. Both of her parents were employed at the Winnipeg Municipal Hospital (now Riverview Health Centre). Flordeliz has stated in interviews that her father inspired her to become a physician. (See Contemporary Medicine.)

In 1992, Flordeliz graduated from medical school at the University of Manitoba. Following graduation, she completed a one-year medical internship at the Health Sciences Centre and St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg. Later, she pursued her specialization in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck surgery at the University of Manitoba, graduating from the residency program in 1997. Dr. Osler also completed a Rhinology fellowship at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, and a Graduate Certificate in Global Surgical Care from the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine.

In 1993, she married John Hugh Cameron Osler and took his last name. John Osler is the great-great-great nephew of Sir William Osler, who had substantial influence on the development of modern medical education and practice.

Career

Flordeliz Osler has been an Otolaryngology – Head and Neck surgeon (ENT) since 1998. From 2010 to 2019, she served as section head of the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Section of St. Boniface Hospital. As of 2022, she continues to work out of two clinics in Winnipeg, including one in the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Section of St. Boniface Hospital.

In addition to her work as an Otolaryngology – Head and Neck surgeon, Osler is an assistant professor at the Department of Otolaryngology, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. As an assistant professor, she teaches medical students and residents at St. Boniface Hospital and Health Sciences Centre.

Organizational Involvement

Throughout her career, Flordeliz Osler has held numerous positions in different national medical organizations. From 2018 to 2019, she served as president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), a national organization representing medical students, residents and physicians. Osler’s appointment in 2018 made her the first woman of colour and the first female surgeon to serve as its president. During Osler’s term, the CMA released a report on physician health and rates of reported burnout and depression among Canadian residents and physicians (see Mental Health). Under her stewardship, the CMA also adopted its first policy on equity and diversity in medicine. She also raised awareness of the health risks associated with climate change.

She served as president of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada from 2021 to 2022. She has also fulfilled leadership roles for the Canadian Medical Forum, the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the International Federation of ORL Societies.

Osler is also actively involved with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. She volunteered on the Royal College’s Professional Learning and Development Committee.

Advocacy and Volunteering

Flordeliz Osler is recognized as an advocate for physician health and well-being (see Mental Health). She was chair of the Health and Wellness Committee, which formed in 2013, for Doctors Manitoba. She also co-chaired the 2015 Canadian Conference on Physician Health. In 2017, she was awarded the Doctors of Manitoba Health or Safety Promotion award for her commitment to improving the welfare of physicians.

Osler has also shared her expertise internationally. She volunteered with the Winnipeg-based charity, Canadians Helping Kids in Vietnam. In 2011, she participated in the organization’s medical mission to Long-Xuyên. For several years, she visited Uganda to train other surgeons and helping them build their capacity to care for their patients. (See also Medical Education.)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Osler gained online popularity as a result of her TikTok videos. She used the social media platform to provide information about the COVID-19 virus, to share stories of frontline healthcare workers and offer safety tips. Prior to the pandemic, Osler advocated for the use of technology to provide virtual care or telemedicine to patients.

Senate

On 26 September 2022, the office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the governor general appointed Flordeliz Osler to the Senate. She was recommended by the federal government's Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments. Osler filled the seat vacated by former Senator Murray Sinclair as an independent representative of the province of Manitoba. She was sworn into office on 18 October 2022.

Honours and Awards

• Fellow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
• Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, Women’s Executive Network (2019)
• Professional Achievement Award, University of Manitoba (2020)
• Canadian Women in Global Health List, Canadian Associate for Global Health (2020)
• May Cohen Equity, Diversity and Gender Award, The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (2021)
• Inductee, Women of Impact in Canada, Government of Canada (2022)