Child Development Update
November 3 – 4, 2023 | Online

Learn how to translate developmental paediatric research into clinical practice. We welcome Brian Boyd PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to deliver this year’s Hawke Family Lecture: Advancing Equity for Racially Minoritized Children and Youth on the Autism Spectrum.

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Facilitate a Writing Workshop in Your Healthcare Community with Poet Ronna Bloom (Narrative-Based Medicine)
Starts November 4, 2023 | Online

Using poetry as a portal for reflective writing and community building, learn the foundations of effective facilitation in a writing context and then practice leading a workshop of your own with healthcare colleagues and teammates in this two-part training.

Explore all Narrative-Based Medicine offerings this season.

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Pathology Update
November 16 – 17, 2023 | Online

Focusing on the latest developments in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary pathology, this year’s conference will cover WHO Reporting System for Pancreaticobiliary Cytopathology, algorithmic approaches to GI biopsies, ancillary molecular testing, and more.

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Foundational Training in Interpersonal Psychotherapy
December 1 – 2, 2023 | Online

An introduction to interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)’s theoretical foundations and clinical guidelines for helping patients with depression in the contexts of relational life events. Develop your skills to confidently implement IPT in your own practice through a combination of self-directed learning and live group workshops.

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CPD Opportunities

Join our mailing list to receive tailored information about upcoming programs and conferences. Explore all offerings on our website.

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CPD Education and Scholarship News

Now Accepting Nominations for CPD Awards
Each year, the CPD Awards recognize excellence in CPD program design, collaboration, research, and teaching through 8 award categories. If you know someone who has made significant contributions to CPD over the 2022 – 23 academic year, consider nominating them! Nominations are due November 30, 2023.

Award recipients will be recognized at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine Educational Achievement Celebration in the spring.

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Applications Now Open for CPD Grants
Grant funding in support of CPD-focused research and scholarship is available through 2 opportunities: Discovery Grant (1 grant of up to $20,000) and Ideas Grants (3 grants of up to $5,000). The application deadline is January 26, 2024.

The CPD Scholarship Team can provide consultation on grant ideas and applications. Visit our website to learn more.

According to the Digestive Health Foundation of Canada, close to 20 million Canadians live with a digestive disorder each year. Studies over the past two decades have also found increasing connections between digestive health and overall health (Guarner and Malagelada, The Lancet, 2003).

Given the prevalence of GI and liver conditions, and the impact these can have on quality of life, health professionals must have a solid understanding of gastroenterology and hepatology applicable to general practice.

Taking place Friday, May 26 at the Pan Pacific Toronto, the inaugural University of Toronto Annual Review of Gastroenterology and Hepatology for the Primary Care Practitioner aims to improve GI and liver health in primary care.

Learners can expect a full day of interactive learning and networking with other health practitioners interested in digestive health. A variety of plenary presentations and small group, breakout sessions will prepare learners to effectively screen, manage, and treat common gastrointestinal and liver diseases.

Relevant, evidence-based GI knowledge is especially important in primary care, where practitioners often encounter symptoms in their early stages. Dr. Noah Crampton, Clinician-Investigator at Toronto Western Hospital and member of our scientific planning committee, shares why GI knowledge is imperative in primary care:

“To provide the best, timeliest care for my patients, it’s crucial to stay updated on the latest research in this field, and know when to consult with my GI colleagues,” Crampton says.

Invited experts in gastroenterology and hepatology will present the latest updates. Dr. Jill Tinmouth (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre) will share “Updates on CRC Screening and Post-Polyp Follow-Up” and Dr. David Baron (North York General Hospital) will discuss “Management of GI Emergencies.”

In addition, breakout sessions will cover current approaches to:

• Abnormal Liver Enzymes / Hyperferritinemia (Dr. David Wong)
• Incidentally Discovered Abdominal Imaging Findings (Dr. Elaine Yong)
• Anorectal Symptoms (Dr. Stanley Feinberg)
• and much more

These are just some highlights from the program. Visit the conference website to learn more, explore the complete agenda, and register.

Building on the momentum and legacy of the newly revised conference in 2022, the Canadian Health and Wellbeing in Developmental Disabilities Conference returns this year on February 8 and 9, 2023.

Returning to a digital conference platform allows us to widen participation and build dialogue from coast-to-coast. Attendees will connect with health care providers, allied health professionals, community partners, educators, and advocates who are passionate about supporting the health and well-being of people with developmental disabilities.

The conference committee has organized an agenda that recognizes the importance of collaboration among health professionals, families, and community groups.

A keynote presentation featuring members of the International Adult Leadership Collaborative of FASD Changemakers will open the conference. Invited guests will share their research, knowledge, and experiences on the Meaningful Inclusion & Neurodiversity and End-of-Life Planning keynote panels.

Grouped around the following themes, this year’s interactive workshops will explore:

• building community and creating opportunities for socialization
• positive impacts of engaging with art and sport
• understanding and managing conditions such as hydration, digestive health, and dysphagia
• improving equitable access to support and healthcare
• navigating social transitions
• the importance of collaboration when supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Ultimately, attendees will take away informative updates and practical, innovative, and promising practices that contribute to positive physical and mental health outcomes for people with developmental disabilities across the lifespan.

Visit the conference website to view the complete agenda and register today.

There is mounting evidence that nutrition plays an important role in the healthy growth and development of young people, and in the prevention and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity (WHO Newsroom, 2020). However, nutrition education in Canadian medical schools is limited (Collier, CMAJ, 2009). Many physicians also report feeling ill-prepared to counsel patients on nutrition and diet (Vetter et al., J of American College of Nutrition, 2008).

In primary care, especially, there is an opportunity for health care providers to help patients determine how nutrition can figure into a preventative health plan and improve overall well-being.

The new Child Nutrition digital series, hosted by Continuing Professional Development and the Joannah & Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition, will offer health care providers clinically-informed and practical nutrition guidance relevant to their youngest patients. Each of the 10 live, hour-long sessions running from February 2 – June 8, 2023, will focus on a different, current topic in child nutrition.

Topics will include:

• plant-based diets and iron deficiency
• food insecurity
• allergies
• breastfeeding and breast milk substitutes
• healthy weights
• and more

Participants will develop a comprehensive understanding of these nutrition topics, learn how to discuss each topic with their patients, and take away key messages and approaches to incorporate into clinical practice.

Upon completion of the series, learners will be able to:

• Describe the nutritional requirement of infants, toddlers, and children
• Summarize clinical practice guidelines relating to child nutrition
• Identify effective strategies to promote healthy eating behaviours and speak to patients and their families about nutrition
• Select appropriate nutrition screening tools and resources to use in clinical practice in order to improve nutrition knowledge and guide the behaviour of patients and their families

Pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, dietitians, nutrition scientists, and education specialists will find the content of the series particularly valuable.

Visit the series website to learn more and register today.

The World Health Organization has called climate change the “biggest health threat facing humanity” (WHO Newsroom, 2021) and The Lancet has identified addressing climate change the “greatest opportunity to redefine the social and environmental determinants of health” (Lancet Countdown, 2021).

The connections between environment and health are clear. From air pollution and disease outbreaks to changing landscapes and natural disasters, disruptions to Earth’s natural systems are impacting our physiology, nutrition, mental health, and overall well-being.

Is your clinical practice ready to address the impacts of climate change on human health?

Our newest digital certificate program, Taking Action on Planetary Health, will equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to respond to the challenges posed by climate change on human health. Ultimately, learners will develop and implement a climate-resilient plan of action in their own practices to improve the health of their patients and communities.

Over the course of 7 team-based, online sessions running from February 17 – June 23, 2023, participants will explore key planetary health concepts and frameworks, collaborate with a diverse group of learners, and apply planetary health principles through several group-based exercises.

Our program co-directors, Samantha Green, MD, CCFP and Leslie Solomonian, ND, MPH are passionate about elevating the capacity of healthcare providers to act on planetary health.

“I’ve met so many health professionals who are worried about the climate and ecological crises, and understand the multiple intersections with health, but are overwhelmed when they think about taking action,” says Green. “I am so excited this program will support teams of healthcare workers to take real action on planetary health.”

A truly collaborative program, we welcome participation from primary care and specialist physicians, residents, nurses and nurse practitioners, naturopathic doctors, and allied health professionals who are interested in learning more about the relationship between the environment and health through interdisciplinary perspectives.

Solomonian is looking forward to how “this program will nudge clinicians to expand beyond patient-centered clinical practice to consider the reciprocal relationships between the health of individuals, community, and the planetary ecosystem.”

We hope you will take part in this innovative offering and share this news with those who may be interested. Registration is now open.

Visit the program website to learn more and register today.

 

Pathology Update returns in a digital format this year to explore the theme: Genitourinary Pathology: Practical Approaches and Emerging Issues.

Join us online on November 3 and 4, 2022, as we review recently described entities and contemporary approaches to commonly encountered and diagnostically challenging areas of genitourinary pathology. In addition to learning from expert faculty at the University of Toronto, we are delighted to welcome Dr. Kiril Trpkov (University of Calgary) who will provide updates on novel renal entities, as well as Dr. Maria Tretiakova (University of Washington) who will share a practical overview of mesenchymal tumours of the genitourinary tract.

New for this year is an exploration of the fascinating connections between pathology and technology — a common theme throughout the afternoon sessions on day two. Dr. Lina Chen will present on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital pathology, and Dr. Andrew Evans will share how AI impacts detection and grading of prostate pathology in digital environments.

Back by popular demand, Interesting Cases will wrap up each day of the conference with an interactive discussion of a unique genitourinary pathological case.

By returning in a digital format, we hope to widen participation and keep clinicians and researchers in the field of genitourinary pathology up-to-date with the latest information and innovations.

These are just some highlights from the 2-day schedule. Visit the conference website to view the complete agenda and register today.

We are excited to announce that the Narrative-Based Medicine Program is expanding with new offerings for Fall 2022. These offerings include:

– Self-Compassion and Self-Empathy: Mindfulness Meditation in Life and Professional Practice – A two-part digital workshop that will explore different aspects of mindfulness and approaches to reflection, well-being, and resilience, being held October 22, 2022, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (ET).

– An Introduction to Visual Narrative: A Gallery Workshop – This workshop introduces learners to a spectrum of ways of engaging with visual art in an art museum context, being held at the Art Gallery of Ontario on October 29, 2022, from 10:00 am – 4:15 pm (ET).

– The Advanced Creative and Reflective Writing Workshop for Health Practitioners – This workshop is a four-session series that is designed for those with some writing experience seeking to improve their creative and reflective writing skills. This workshop series begins on November 3, 2022, with sessions being held from 6:00 – 8:30 pm (ET).

– Practicing Narrative-Based Medicine in Real Life – Join us online for a deeper dive into the practical applications of Narrative-Based Medicine for your patients, for your practice, and for yourself, on November 19, 2022, from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (ET).

The Foundation in Narrative-Based Medicine digital certificate program returns this October.  Jointly led by an expert in narrative-based medicine and an accomplished writer, this intensive program is taught in two parts: the first focuses on the theory and practice of narrative-based medicine, with the second seeking to improve learners’ creative and reflective skills as writers and readers. Domestic and international learners across all disciplines are welcome. This cohort starts on October 27, 2022, and will run for 8 sessions, held from 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm (ET).

Learners who have completed the requirements for the Foundational Certificate are eligible to apply for the new Advanced Certificate in Narrative-Based Medicine. This advanced certificate allows learners to continue their learning in narrative-based medicine, strengthen their ties to our supportive professional community, and develop a personal portfolio of resources and skills to move Narrative-Based Medicine into practice, education, or scholarship. For additional Advanced Certificate information, click here.

Registration is now open for these Fall 2022 offerings. For more details and to register, visit the program website. We look forward to your participation!

Health by Design: An Introduction to Design Thinking is a new digital certificate program running from January 12 – March 9, 2023, that introduces human-centred design for healthcare. This intensive nine-week online program introduces the theory and practice of design thinking and seeks to improve participants’ creative confidence through the practical application of design thinking tools and processes.

Through five live online interactive workshops, four asynchronous sessions, and a small group project, the program explores how design mindsets and methods can power the development of new health services and products rooted in people’s lived experience.

This program is designed for healthcare professionals from multiple disciplines interested in creative problem solving, leading change, or exploring innovation in healthcare. Participants will explore different approaches, experiment, and collaborate with a diverse group of learners to generate novel ideas and new perspectives on common healthcare issues.

Upon completion of the Health by Design certificate program, participants will:

• Appreciate the mindsets and methods required to practice human-centred design.
• Become adept at using design thinking research tools to generate relevant qualitative and ethnographic data.
• Discover how to synthesize qualitative insights about users’ experiences, gathered through interviews and other forms of primary and secondary research, into a scoped and defined problem frame.
• Amplify their creativity and generate solutions and interventions to a challenge.
• Design and iterate prototypes to address users’ needs.

Visit the program website for additional information.