Greetings All!
As an athlete, I remember at the end of the year we held a big banquet to come together and celebrate our work and accomplishments. We always looked forward to the Coach’s Award. There was an element of surprise because the award was never based on wins or fastest time. It was given to those that demonstrated qualities you witness in leaders and recognized traits that benefited the larger community.
As a Coach, I like to carry on that tradition and acknowledge those that best exemplify an Excellence in Education. This year, I focused on Creativity and Innovation. I observed your Academic Half Day presentations and reviewed your PIP and Scholar projects. I also took into consideration your willingness to assist in problem-solving, generating new ideas, and providing different approaches to medical education. This year, the award goes to Dr. Alexandra Enns, Dr. Chelsea Wiksyk, and Dr. Holden Chow.
I want to thank Dr. Enns for taking the time to think deeply, critically, and creatively about the challenges our Site presented to her as one of our Resident Chiefs. Chiefs are heavily involved in our Residents’ learning journey and she invested the effort and energy to support the Site when we struggled to better our rotation experiences. That takes a sincere belief and trust in the system and the people she represents. She confronts both with honesty, integrity, humility, and ingenuity.
I also want to thank Dr. Wiksyk for her Scholar project exploring, dissecting, and articulating so beautifully the tango between patient and physician. I’ve reviewed hundreds of research papers over the past 2 decades and her project is one of the most profound and reflective works examining the context and challenges of our healthcare. Her transparency, authenticity, and courage to share this with her profession and fellow colleagues is commendable. We need more of this deep-diving in order to bring to surface and address the challenges we face.
Finally, I want to thank Dr. Chow for consistently delivering the most creative and innovative Academic Half Day sessions. You give this man a topic and he runs it through his Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory. The product delivered is often funny, insightful, and packaged with a joy and love for what he does. From the beginning, Residents have shared with me their appreciation of Dr. Chow’s approach to education. He inspires us all to play within and outside of our medical education’s sandbox.
We also asked Preceptors to share their views on how to formally and informally address the delivery of content. This sparked a dialogue regarding whose responsibility it is to teach Practice Management. Based on our conversation, several Preceptors felt that Residents are responsible for their transition to practice and satisfying its corresponding curriculum objectives. Preceptors did recommend designing and developing a standardized curriculum; specifying the curriculum objectives and core competencies; partnering with business leaders on the topic; and a transition to practice game:
We completed the session eliciting Preceptors’ thoughts on teaching Practice Management. Participants expressed that modelling best practice is important and essential in educating Residents; however, they again encouraged their learners to take initiative and clarify their expectations about what they hope to achieve and experience during residency.
Transitioning to practice is a stressful and anxious period for many Residents. Medicine’s body of knowledge continues to expand and evolve in its complexity. The shift from the cottage industry to the corporate model is limiting Residents’ access to mentorship. Generational differences in work-life balance are creating a tension between emerging and established practitioners. Implementing a mentorship program for Residents and offering learners the opportunity to manage a clinic are approaches to providing Residents greater exposure to the content while reinforcing an experiential education.
From scientific breakthroughs to exceptional educators, women in the Faculty of Medicine are making significant contributions in improving health and patient care, while inspiring and training the next generation of health care professionals.
Family Medicine Residency Site: Abbotsford-Mission 