The FNSSC is a newly formed coalition of national specialty societies established to collaborate on issues of common concern and to advance the work on issues critical for the advancement of specialty care in Canada. Established priorities include health human resources, patient safety, confidentiality agreements and knowledge transfer. This coalition allows the member societies to present to unified front in dealing with a number of health-related organizations such as the Royal College, the Canadian Medical Protective Association, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx & D). The inaugural meeting of the FNSSC was held in Ottawa on January 29, 2005.