title: Narratives in family medicine: a global perspective: The Besrour Papers: a series on the state of family medicine in the world.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the development of family medicine postgraduate training in countries with varying levels of resources at different stages of development of the discipline.
  Since 2012, the College of Family Physicians of Canada has hosted the Besrour Conferences to reflect on its role in advancing the discipline of family medicine globally. The Besrour Narrative Working Group was conceived in 2012 at the first Besrour Conference. Their mandate was to use narrative and appreciative inquiry to gather stories of family medicine worldwide. The working group comprised members of various academic departments of family medicine in Canada and abroad who attended the conferences.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consultation process with our partners from lower-middle-income countries was undertaken from 2012 to 2014. Stories were sought from each global partner institute with ties to Canadian family medicine departments. An appreciative inquiry approach was chosen to elicit narratives. Thematic analysis was used to search for common threads and important elements of success that could serve to inform other initiatives in other nations and, in turn, offer hope for greater effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen narrative stories have been collected so far. These stories highlight insightful solutions, foresight, perseverance, and ultimately a steadfast belief that family medicine will improve the health system and the care provided to the citizens of each nation. Seventeen themes were elucidated by 3 independent Canadian readers. At a subsequent workshop, these themes were validated by Besrour Centre members from Canada and elsewhere. The linkage between the thematic analysis and the experiences of various schools helps to illustrate both the robustness and the usefulness of the narratives in exploring generalizable observations and the features supporting success in each institute.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If we are to understand, and contribute to, the development of family medicine throughout the world (a key objective of the Besrour Centre), we must begin to hear each others' stories and search for ways in which our collective story can advance the discipline.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine of the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary in Alberta and Executive Director of the Global Familymed Foundation. christine.gibson@albertahealthservices.ca.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Professor in the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Woollard
authors.affiliation: Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Practice, Global Health Theme Leader of the MD Undergraduate Program, and Director of the Division of Global Health in the Department of Family Practice, at the University of British Columbia.
authors.forename: Videsh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa in Ontario and Lead of the Besrour Papers Working Group.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ponka
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D001208:Asia; D001938:Brazil; D002170:Canada; D002677:Chile; D003906:Developing Countries; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D014943:Global Health; D006205:Haiti; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation