The TMU School of Medicine has partnered with The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education to launch a new Microcertificate in Clinical Teaching for Academic Clinicians.
As Canada tackles health-care worker shortages, a key challenge is supporting educators in training future doctors.
Many practicing clinicians are stepping into academic roles with little or no formal training in how to teach. The new microcertificate helps fill that gap.
Offered in partnership by Toronto Metropolitan University's School of Medicine and The Chang School of Continuing Education, this flexible, online program is designed specifically for health-care professionals who are teaching or are preparing to teach future physicians and other health-care professionals, including nurses.
"With the launch of the TMU School of Medicine, we are providing modernized professional development for faculty that will help build competence and confidence in teaching. Health-care professionals need flexible programming that is relevant, high-quality and responsive to growing demands and emerging needs."
Dr. Teresa Chan, founding dean of TMU's School of Medicine
The program is made up of five microcredentials and offers assessment-based recognition for key teaching skills. This ensures participants don't just learn but also demonstrate they can apply their skills in real clinical settings.
Equipping clinician educators
In today's fast-changing job market, having the right skills is only part of the equation. It's just as important to be able to prove those skills. This is where microcredentials play an important role.
Microcredentials are short, skills-based certifications that validate professional expertise in a specific area, and designed to be completed in weeks.
They focus on practical, real-world competencies. Clinicians can take individual microcredentials based on their interests or needs. Completing all five microcredentials leads to a microcertificate.
Every completed microcredential leads to a digital badge that can be shared with employers and professional networks. Each is focused on practical, scenario-based teaching skills, from bedside and procedural instruction to providing feedback and communicating across cultures.
The program focus is community-based and equity-driven health-care environments, aligning with TMU's vision for accessible, community-driven health-care education that will ensure clinicians are confident and competent educators.
Preparing future physicians and health-care workers
The new microcertificate is especially relevant as TMU's School of Medicine prepares to launch, with a mandate of increasing primary care capacity.
With a proven track record of excellence in education and research across many areas of health care, TMU is perfectly positioned to build and support health-care transformation in Ontario.
One aspect of effective health-care delivery is meeting the needs for skilled clinician-educators.
"Many current physicians will be moving into academic positions, responsible for training the next group of doctors," says Jen Gordon, Program Director at TMU's G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. "This program helps empower practicing health-care professionals and physicians interested in improving their teaching skills by gaining the skill recognition in a clinical environment."
By providing a fast, credible path for health-care professionals to demonstrate and deepen their teaching skills, while balancing clinical duties, TMU is helping to meet demands for a trained medical health workforce that is tailored to local needs.
"We have seen a demand for educator training and have received positive initial feedback from participants who have expanded their educational toolkit," says Gordon. "The microcertificate offers a fast, focused and credible way to build confidence as an educator and health-care leader."
For clinicians looking to advance their careers, this is a timely and valuable opportunity to lead and train the next generation of health-care professionals.
