The Department of Innovation in Medical Education offers several different research programs to those interested in developing a career in research and medical education.

Fellowship

The Department of Innovation in Medical Education (DIME) and the University of Ottawa Skills and Simulation Centre (uOSSC) are offering a Fellowship in Medical Education/Simulation. The overall aim of this fellowship is to prepare the candidate for an academic career as a clinician educator. All Fellows participate in the Healthcare Education Scholars Program (HESP) and complete a scholarly project under supervision. Simulation scholars also complete the Foundational Elements of Applied Simulation Theory Course (FEAST). Fellows must dedicate 50% of their time to these educational pursuits: the other 50% is usually dedicated to clinical work or clinical fellowships. Any Fellow wishing to do clinical work must first apply separately to the appropriate clinical department. 

Current application deadline for International and Canadian applicants:

Midnight September 16, 2024 at 11:59 pm for July 1, 2025 start date. 

Second application deadline for Canadian applicants ONLY (please note Canadian applicants are encouraged to apply in September as availability for the second deadline is not guaranteed)

Extended deadline: Midnight March 17, 2025 for July 1, 2025 start date. 

This program is only offered in English

Application form (PDF)

Tuition Fees

A tuition fee of $11,000 will apply to Canadian participants, and includes HESP and FEAST if applicable. Members of some University of Ottawa departments are exempt from tuition. Inquiries for tuition fees for foreign applications should be directed to Dr. Susan Humphrey-Murto.

The Foundational Elements of Applied Simulation Theory (FEAST) Course

Now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 session

Deadline April 15, 2024.

The University of Ottawa Skills & Simulation Centre partners with the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Innovation in Medical Education (DIME) in offering a year long course in Health Professions Education simulation. Through the Foundational Elements of Applied Simulation Theory (FEAST) course, as well as with simulation opportunities within an applicant’s given specialty/profession, attendees will develop a solid knowledge base in educational theory and the skills required for an academic career as a simulation educator. Applicants from a wide range of medical and allied health specialties are welcome to apply. 

Enrollment requirement:

  • You have been accepted into a Fellowship program and/or have substantial time commitment for simulation activities during the upcoming academic year within your given training program or employment.
  • You will be able to secure protected time on Wednesdays between 8:30am - 12:00pm from July 2024 to June 2025.
  • You have the support of your Fellowship Director and or employment supervisor (The FEAST Director will meet with each applicant’s Fellowship Director or employment supervisor to ensure permission is granted)

Download application form

FEAST Director: Dr. Michael O'Brien

FEAST Program Coordinator: Shannon MacEwen

For inquiries, please contact FEAST

Tuition Fees

There is a tuition fee of $5,500. This one- time fee must be paid before the beginning of the session. If you are accepted in the program, an invoice will be sent to you at that time. Members of some University of Ottawa departments are exempt from tuition. For more information, please contact Dr. Susan Humphrey-Murto.

The deadline for applications is April 15, 2024. Late applications may be considered.

Healthcare Education Scholars Program

Admission deadline for 2024-2025: April 15, 2024 at midnight.

This program is only offered in English

Download application form / Download brochure

Healthcare Education Scholars Program (HESP) Preamble

The overall goal of the Healthcare Education Scholars Program is to enhance the knowledge of educators and to foster a sense of academic scholarship in health professions education. We provide theoretical scaffolding to those activities that our clinician educators take part in on a daily basis, as well as promote a deeper understanding of how these activities relate to our goal of producing more effective healthcare providers. We aim to inspire innovation and scholarship among the participants, develop a community of scholars who can support each other, and ultimately provide leadership for the next generation of clinician educators.

Process

We introduce the participating clinician educators to a broad overview of the field of health professions education. Each weekly session will consist of 3.5 hours of planned activity, beginning typically with a didactic introduction or workshop (based on assigned homework reading), followed by group discussion or small group work (to promote active learning), and ending with a reflective component. 

Content

Principles of Education and Learning:

Scholars will be introduced to major concepts in the field and form a basis for future sessions. Topics covered will include principles of adult learning, the nature of expertise, and transfer of learning.

Educational Assessment and Evaluation:

These sessions will cover psychometrics, including the theory of test construction, as well as principles of individual learner assessment and program evaluation. Topics will include reliability and validity, item writing, competency assessment as well as program evaluation. 

Teaching Methods:

These sessions will introduce scholars to effective techniques and resources available for improving teaching in the clinic, on the ward and in the lecture hall. Topics include giving effective feedback and simulation in medical education. 

Educational Research Methodology:

Scholars will be introduced to basic methodology in educational research with applications and examples taken from health care education. Topics include survey research and questionnaire design, research design, publishing and funding in health care education, qualitative methods and the ethics review process. 

Professional and Leadership Development:

These sessions introduce scholars to leadership skills, issues and opportunities in the academic health care setting. Topics include organizational change and strategies for capitalizing on educational leadership opportunities. 

Specifics:

The program consists of approximately 29 - 3.5 hour sessions, on Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., running from September to May at 850 Peter Morand Cres., on the General Campus. (Total contact time, 101.5 hours.)

To successfully complete the course, scholars are required to attend at least 75% of the sessions, obtain their TCPS2 certificate, and present a research/innovation/teaching proposal that demonstrates application of the topics from the course.

Note: There is a tuition fee of $5,500 to all HESP participants. This one- time fee must be paid before September 9, 2024. If you are accepted in the program an invoice will be sent to you at that time. Members of some University of Ottawa departments are exempt from tuition. Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Susan Humphrey-Murto.

Health Professions Education

Graduate Degree Programs in Health Professions Education

The Department of Innovation in Medical Education (DIME), in collaboration with the Faculty of Education, offers programs in Health Professions Education at three levels: 

  • Graduate Certificate
  • Masters, MEd or MA(Ed)
  • PhD

For details, see the Health Professions Education page on the Faculty of Education website

Technology and Innovations in Medical Education

The Technology and Innovations in Medical Education (ATIME) is an initiative to promote the use of technology in medical education practice. An association of likeminded innovators and experts interested in promoting the best use of technology in medical education practice, the group collaborates, develops and disseminates innovative ideas for using technology in medical education. We provide a sounding board for those researching, developing and implementing technology in medical education and we wish to promote future educators to do the same.

ATIME was formed in 2012 and meets monthly. For more information about ATIME please contact Dr. James Chan.