OTTAWA – The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has announced the formation of Joule – an entrepreneurial company that will help CMA members shape healthcare innovation in Canada.

“Joule is a critical new part of the CMA’s efforts to support our members by providing physicians with cutting-edge products, services and technology that help them be more efficient and effective,” said Dr. Cindy Forbes (pictured), the CMA president.

“The CMA’s mission is to help physicians care for patients and we do that by working to improve access to high-quality healthcare on behalf of physicians and their patients.”

The CMA is particularly proud of the fact that Joule stands alone in Canada as the only organization designed to drive physician-led innovation and deliver physician-based solutions. The Joule mission to make it easier for physicians to be at their best will mean working closely with CMA members to identify and test products that will improve the delivery of healthcare.

“The physicians and physicians-in-training that comprise the CMA membership live and breathe innovation every day,” added Dr. Forbes. “I am incredibly proud that Joule empowers members to be leaders in physician-led innovation towards physician-based solutions.”

As it seeks to spur development of innovative healthcare solutions, Joule advises and supports physician innovators and targets potential ideas for funding. Joule has also established its own annual grant program to directly invest in physician-led innovations.

Four grants of $25,000 and one of $50,000 will be available. Selected projects must originate from and be led by a CMA-member and have some seed funding in place. Deadline for August 2016 grant submissions is June 23 by 11:59pm ET.

“Whether it’s through our Physician Leadership Institute courses, mobile access to clinical resources or participation in our innovation program, our mission is to make it easier for physicians to be at their best,” said Ms. Lindee David, Joule’s CEO. “We are very excited to augment our existing product offering with a number of enhancements, including the Joule app, DynaMed Plus, and an exciting new focus on innovation.”

In fact, Joule has positioned itself at the heart of physician innovation providing CMA members with the platform, access to experts and the ability to go from ideation to bedside easily and quickly. It is for this reason that it chose to hold its inaugural Joule Innovation Forum the same day it launched its new name and brand.

Dr. Linda Maxwell, CMA member and physician innovator said, “Joule, CMA’s latest entrepreneurial venture, is set to be as innovative and progressive as the products and services it seeks to develop for the 83,000 members it serves.”

Named after a unit of energy, Joule has been designed for motion and momentum and keeping up with the pace of change in the medical community. “Because we believe that when we build ideas together great things happen, we engage with CMA members on innovation – whether it’s having them identify and test potential new products using innovation accelerator labs or having them participate in our Joule H2 – hackathons for health and Joule Innovation Forums.”

Joule looks forward to engaging CMA members in ways that are easy for them – whether digitally or in person. Today, CMA members can connect with Joule and download the Joule app.