Report to give recommendations to improve medical education

Comment on this story

Posted January 25, 2010

View the report and watch a video in English |  French

By Kyle Glennie

The association representing all of Canada’s 17 faculties of medicine is set to release a report Thursday, containing key recommendations for medical education that will translate into improved healthcare delivery for Canadians.  The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), of which Dr. Tom Feasby, dean of UCalgary Faculty of Medicine is a member of the Board of Governors, has made of list of recommendations in the hopes of creating a cohesive and collective vision for the future of medical education in Canada.

The national launch will be held in Ottawa, with 21 sites including the UCalgary Faculty of Medicine joining in from across the country via a live video-link.  The launch will involve a short video presentation and a 45-minute question and answer session with questions coming from across the country.  Dr. Sylvain Coderre, assistant dean of Undergraduate Medical Education at UCalgary, has seen the report and is also featured in the video presentation.

“Having these recommendations on paper give us as leaders and members of faculties of medicine a chance to really make the necessary changes to address critical issues like social accountability, prevention and interdisciplinary cooperation,” says Coderre.

The University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine also played a role in developing the report.  Dr. Cathy MacLean, head of the Department of Family Medicine sat on the report’s steering committee that provided leadership to the project from its inception.

The videoconference launching the report will be held at the Faculty of Medicine on Thursday, January 28th at 11:00am in room G500 of the Heritage Medical Research Building, 3300 Hospital Dr. NW.  Dr. Cathy MacLean will be in attendance at the launch and free pizza will be provided.  All are welcome to attend.