— 2019 —

UofTMed
The Dean's Report

Dear Members of the U of T Medicine Community,

In January, we launched our ambitious new Academic Strategic Plan. In it, we articulate a vision for the Faculty of Medicine in which “our learners, graduates, faculty, staff and partners will be an unparalleled force for new knowledge, better health and equity.” We will do that by cultivating and bringing to life ideas that impact scholarship and society through unprecedented collaboration drawing in the diverse voices of our research, learning and clinical network. As we begin a new academic year, I want to report on the progress we have made over the past nine months and let you know what you can anticipate in the year ahead.

To bring our strategic plan to life, we began by focusing on seven goals, with eight working groups established to ensure they are realized. These groups have been thoughtfully engaged in identifying the best ways to define and implement our ambitions. For example, one of our goals is to expand the mandate of the Office of Indigenous Medical Education. Critical to that effort is to build and deepen meaningful relationships with Indigenous populations throughout our region, which takes time and careful considerations. At the same time, meaningful results are being achieved. We have signed an agreement to establish a centralized Indigenous collaborative learning/working space at Women’s College Hospital, projected to open by October 2019.

To advance wellness within the Faculty, we established two working groups. The first is learner-focused and seeks to optimize the learning environment, with a particular emphasis on addressing student mistreatment. The working group has developed recommendations in four key areas to address mistreatment across the learner continuum: Institutional Leadership, Accountability, Clarity and Awareness. They are also working to clarify processes, policies and communication pathways. The second working group is focused on faculty wellness, working across U of T Medicine and with our Toronto Academic Health Science Network partners to advance wellness in our workplaces. The working group has appointed the first Faculty of Medicine Professional Values Director, and will seek to have a Faculty Wellness Director hired in 2020 and a Faculty Wellness Working Group Report completed later this fall.

Excellence Through Equity

"As an immigrant, I only realized the importance of sharing my lived experiences when my personal stories resonated deeply with racialized minorities in the GTA who were apprehensive about STEM.

Many minorities youths perceive there is no place for them in STEM. As privileged students at U of T’s Faculty of Medicine, we should strive to play an active role in creating paths for all youths to thrive in their chosen STEM career.

Through the ‘We All Belong’ Campaign, we are pushing students to reflect on their duties as allies and facilitators of positive change towards vulnerable communities. We are creating a culture that normalizes inclusive practices in all departments."

— Lina Elfaki, MSc Graduate, Class of 2019 / MD Student, Class of 2023

Our efforts to ensure excellency through equity will be greatly enhanced when the Faculty’s first Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) plan is released later this fall. The plan aims to affect a culture shift that ensures EDI is a consideration in all our activities. It will also propose a new interdepartmental centre to fuel our scholarship and curriculum development in this field of work.

We also seek to expand rehabilitation research and clinical capacity to address burgeoning demographic needs. To that end, we have explored opportunities to expand teaching and research activity, as well as spur curriculum innovation. Over the next year, the working group intends to pilot and integrate new learning strategies and tools into new and existing courses.

Ecosystem of Collaboration

“One of the things that has defined my student experience in RSI is the strong sense of community we have.

Both students and faculty have a common purpose and share mutual respect. I also appreciate the support we provide to one another. I haven’t felt that there isn’t someone I can turn to and ask for help when I need assistance, whether it be for my own research, learning goals or just seeking work-life balance. At the same time, thanks to U of T’s network of healthcare partners, I know I’m part of something larger and have access to world-class facilities that enable outstanding research, career and learning opportunities.”

— Kristina Kokorelias, PhD Candidate, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute

We want to strengthen our pipeline for research and innovation leadership in the Faculty through training and faculty development. The working group for this goal has developed a job description for a new Executive-in-Residence role that will work with faculty members to translate research discoveries into new entrepreneurial endeavours. They also plan to develop an online, searchable database of leadership development opportunities available to our community within the next year, in addition to filling that new role.

To harness the power of artificial intelligence in medicine and research, we have proposed a new centre for machine learning medicine, which will help coordinate research in the field and develop curriculum and learning modules for learners, faculty and practising health professionals. An inaugural symposium on machine learning in medicine will run on November 21 – the first of many more learning opportunities on artificial intelligence and machine learning for members of our community.

Groundbreaking Imagination

“Scientific discovery is an intensive, yet rewarding, experience. Its impact can be heightened by translating those discoveries into practical applications. Based on the scientific research from my lab, I helped to establish Nutrigenomix, which is utilizing genetic information to deliver DNA-based personalized nutrition recommendations for healthcare professionals and their clients.

We have established a network of more than 8,000 practitioners in 35 countries that are helping people eat healthier based on award-winning technology.”

— Ahmed El-Sohemy, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Nutrigenomics, Department of Nutritional Sciences & Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer, Nutrigenomix Inc.

And, to ensure we have the infrastructure and space required to support excellence, a master plan is in development to evaluate the current quality and quantity of space utilized by the Faculty of Medicine. We are securing the services of external consultants who can guide this process forward and help us determine our future needs.

Extensive consultations and monitoring of key metrics underpin identification of our goals and evaluation of our progress. Nearly 100 people serve on working groups that are helping to ensure U of T Medicine’s success, in addition to more than 400 people who contributed to the strategic plan’s development. The broad engagement of the U of T Medicine community in realizing our ambitions speaks to your commitment to our collective success. I want to thank you all for your commitment, citizenship and collaboration. Together, we are a force for new knowledge, better health and equity.