[IMPRESSIONS OF SABBATICAL TIME AT THE MEDICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT THE HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN, TORONTO, CANADA].

Abstract

Introduction: The vision of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, defines medical education as highly important and the strategic plans and policies of the hospital management for training residents in pediatrics have been adjusted accordingly. A section of Medical Education has been established, which is headed by a physician who is appointed as a Vice-Chair of the department. In this department there are several staff members including physicians and trained administrative staff who are all devoted to the medical education affairs. In each clinical division, there is a program director position dedicated to medical education. Furthermore, every resident is guided by a (faculty) senior mentor throughout the entire residency. In addition, a specific residency program committee plans the curriculum and all residents are routinely assessed, and provided with feedback on a regular basis. All staff physician teachers are provided with faculty development training in education and receive feedback regularly and excellence in teaching is considered a major factor in academic promotion. Ethical issues, equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as professionalism in interactions with residents are receiving special attention. The pediatric residency consists of 13 rounds of 4 weeks each in the second year of residency, which includes all subspecialties in pediatrics. The optimal way of considering the residency or fellowship is "working while learning". This contrasts with "learning while working" in other places which lack the resources to support such an impressive medical education program.