This fall semester is very special. We are returning to our campuses with cautious optimism as we embark on our first fully in-person teaching and learning activities in more than two years. We reached out to faculty,听staff听and learners to join us in welcoming new and returning members of our Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences community and to share their reflections on the year to come.
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Elizabeth 鈥楢nne鈥� Kinsella, PhD, Director of the Institute of Health Sciences Education
This is the first time in two and a half years we will be beginning the semester with very few pandemic restrictions. How do you feel about it?听Professor Margaret Somerville once stated that听鈥淗ope is the oxygen of the human spirit.鈥澨�I was introduced to this quote by IHSE member Don Boudreau, and it came immediately to mind when I began to reflect on a return to campus. There is a sense of hopefulness and excitement, but also a sense of cautiousness, and a sense of responsibility to remain vigilant and take care of our community members.听 We have a wonderful and engaged community at the IHSE. I鈥檓 excited to meet with colleagues, staff and students in more in-person events and spaces, to bring visiting scholars to the IHSE, to participate in research and writing collaborations, and to explore different types of hybrid events.
Looking back, what do you think we lost during the pandemic? What did we gain?听I think we鈥檝e gained more awareness of inequities and vulnerabilities of different health care users and of health care providers working within challenging systems during the pandemic. Perhaps there is more recognition of the deep complexities and fragilities of our health care system and the need to work toward systemic change both in the interests of justice for patients, but also for improved workplace milieus for health care providers.
Any big goals for the IHSE for the coming academic year?听We are working on three major portfolios at the Institute related to: a) growing our graduate programs; b) advancing our research profile; and c) engaging the local and national HSE community. I anticipate the IHSE鈥檚 Associate Director, Graduate Programs, Peter Nugus, PhD, will have some exciting announcements about our educational portfolios in the upcoming year. We welcomed Meredith Young, PhD, as our new Associate Director, Research, in May 2022. Prof. Young is already rethinking various mechanisms for catalyzing IHSE research and we will be looking to grow our collective research endeavours in the coming year.听 Linda Snell, MD, will be coming on board as the new IHSE Director of Outreach. We are looking to build relations with other units, expand our interdisciplinarity, host visitors from around the world, and increase opportunities for international exchange and collaboration.
What do you think attracts students/faculty/staff to the IHSE?听There are many factors that attract people to the Institute. The reputation of 看片视频 is always a draw. In addition, the Institute of Health Sciences Education (formerly the Centre for Medical Education) has a strong international reputation and has been the home to many thought leaders and change agents in medical and health sciences education scholarship over the years. We also have a number of up-and-coming Faculty members whose names are gaining traction as international leaders in the field. Further, the collegiality of our community of scientists, and the community鈥檚 commitment to mentoring junior scholars, is well known across the health sciences education research community.
How do you think studying in your discipline has changed since your student days?听When I was a PhD student there were only a handful of programs in health professions education around the world, and none were focused on the broader scope of in health sciences education. Most medical and health professions interested in educational research at that time, would study in a faculty of education where the focus was largely on elementary and secondary school, rather than university and health science contexts. At the Institute we are working to advance scholarship, and to build a new interdisciplinary field of study, that brings health sciences and education together.
Can you share something you love about Montreal?听One thing I love about Montreal is the 鈥榲ibe.鈥� There is a 鈥榡oie de vivre鈥� in the air that is palpable.听 I appreciate the cultural spaces, the distinctive neighbourhoods, the many festivals, the historic buildings, the markets, the walking and cycling friendly spaces, the range of terraces and food venues.
Melanie Mondou, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education
This is the first time in two and a half years we will be beginning the semester with very few pandemic restrictions. How do you feel about it?听Although the government and university have lifted pandemic restrictions, the FMHS continues to have additional safety measures (e.g. wearing masks during lectures) in order to protect our healthcare professional teachers who are also working in the hospital. We also encourage our students and staff to go for the booster vaccination to protect themselves and our community.
Looking back, what do you think we learned during the pandemic?听I certainly realized the importance of belonging to a community. As a scientific community, rapid progress was made and led to a new vaccine. As a medical community, we worked together to provide the best care during these challenging times. As individuals, we now appreciate better the shared moments together.
Any big goals for the School of Medicine for the coming academic year?听We are completing work on our new MDCM Program Strategic Plan. We are starting to prepare for our accreditation visit coming up in the spring 2024.
What do you think attracted students, faculty, staff to the medicine program on the Montreal campus?听Medicine is a great profession and we are proud to offer a quality education here in Montreal.
How do you think studying in your discipline has changed since your student days?听More collaboration; more resources available; more knowledge to be learnt so also a need for better organization skills.
Can you share one thing you love about Montreal?听Montreal is a great city: we get the St-Lawrence River and the Mont-Royal all in one city! More and more bike paths for the city cyclists.
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