Elective Description
The Scholarship in Medical and Health Sciences Education Elective is designed for medical students and residents who view education scholarship/research as part of their career. During this elective, participants will develop and initiate a new scholarly project in medical and health sciences education, applying medical education theories and/or principles pertinent to their project. Elective students are highly encouraged to pursue their scholarly project beyond the end of this elective to completion and dissemination.
Exceptionally, following discussions with and approval by the Elective Director and potential IHSE supervisor(s)/co-supervisor(s), participants may use this elective to participate in an existing scholarly project in medical and health sciences education. The participation must be sufficiently meaningful to allow the learner to learn about HSE theories and/or principles and research methods applicable to the project and to independently present the part of the project they are responsible for at IHSE meetings.
Supervisors will be members of the IHSE who have related interest and/or pertinent expertise.
Exceptionally, learners with existing project ideas and supervisors who are not members of the IHSE can also participate in this elective if the project is on health sciences education and a member of the IHSE accepts to act as co-supervisor for the project.
This elective is not designed to improve an individual’s teaching skills or to provide a foundation in medical education but rather to emphasize the application of principles of pedagogy to a scholarly project in medical education designed to improve some facet of teaching and learning. While it is expected that some education related theory will be learned during this elective as the scholarly project is developed, those seeking a broader exposure to medical education theory and principles are encouraged to consider the Foundations in Medical and Health Sciences Education.
This elective is traditionally offered as a continuous 4-week block. Based on the nature of the project and with agreement from the IHSE supervisor/co-supervisor, this elective may be taken over 4 discontinuous weeks over the maximum course of 1 year. The delimitation of the 1-year timeframe is dependent on the academic year boundaries of the base training program of the elective learner. For example, for learners who are medical students or residents, the 4 elective weeks must fall within the same 1 academic year from July 1st of one year to June 30th of the subsequent year.
Educational Objectives
By the end of this elective, the student or resident will:
- Have had the opportunity to make one or more oral presentations at the IHSE and receive feedback on their project.
- Be able to describe the medical education theory/principle relevant to their project and how it applies to their project
- Have initiated and developed a project or literature review in medical and health sciences education, with the goal of producing a publication, presentation, or poster.
Further specific learning objectives will be agreed upon with the supervisor depending on the student’s interests and proposed project.
Scope of Work
Elective students and residents will participate in the activities of the Institute of Health Sciences Education, including weekly IHSE meetings. They may also have the opportunity to observe or participate in Faculty Development activities, Health Sciences Education Rounds, curriculum development meetings or other educational activities in the Faculty of Medicine. Under the supervision of a member of the Institute, the elective student or resident is expected to initiate and develop a project in medical education and to present this work at the Institute and more broadly. The student or resident may also have the opportunity to attend or participate in various teaching activities. Elective students are highly encouraged to pursue their scholarly project beyond the end of this elective to completion and dissemination.
Eligibility Requirements
Medical education electives are available to McGill students, residents, and fellows. Students from other medical schools may also apply. This elective does not require prior experience in education. Places are limited depending on supervisor availability, potential projects, and personal elective objectives.
This elective is not offered over the summer (from mid June to early September) as well as during the Christmas/New Year holiday period due to the lack of weekly IHSE meetings, which are a key component of this elective.
For additional information, to find out availability, and to apply to the program, please contact the Electives Program Coordinator:
Nicole Gignac
Senior Administrative Coordinator
Institute of Health Sciences Education, McGill University
1110 Pine Ave West, Rm 205
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A3
E-mail : ihse.med [at] mcgill.ca