The Richard K. Reznick Wilson Centre Research annual event was established to celebrate the remarkable depth and breadth of scholarship in health professions education underway at the University of Toronto and the University Health Network. We will highlight our community’s successes and accomplishments. The Wilson Centre Research Day will be in-person with a recording of the keynote address available post event.
Keynote Panels:
Conversations on the Future of Health Professions Education
This year's keynote will take a distinctive format, bringing together the outgoing and incoming Directors of the Wilson Centre for a facilitated conversation about the future of health professions education. This is a timely opportunity to reflect on where the field has been and to look ahead with curiosity, ambition, and a shared sense of purpose. Against the backdrop of rapid global change, the growing integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare and education, and shifting societal expectations, the conversation will explore how the field of health professions education must continue to adapt, innovate, and lead. The session will be facilitated by a Wilson Centre Research Fellow, weaving in perspectives from across our community's stakeholder groups. The keynote will conclude with an opportunity for audience engagement, inviting participants to bring their own questions and insights into the conversation.
Information contact: Cheryl Ku Cheryl.ku@uhn.ca
THE RICHARD K. REZNICK WILSON CENTRE RESEARCH DAY
Thursday, October 29th, 2026
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
8:15 - 9:00
Registration & breakfast Main Ballroom
9:00 - 9:15
Opening Remarks by Wilson Centre Director, Tina Martimianakis PhD
Land Acknowledgement by Wilson Centre Postdoctoral Fellow, Kashmala Qasim PhD
Introduction of Keynote Address by Chair of Research Day & Wilson Centre Scientist, David Rojas PhD
This year's keynote will take a distinctive format, bringing together the outgoing and incoming Directors of the Wilson Centre for a facilitated conversation about the future of health professions education. This is a timely opportunity to reflect on where the field has been and to look ahead with curiosity, ambition, and a shared sense of purpose. Against the backdrop of rapid global change, the growing integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare and education, and shifting societal expectations, the conversation will explore how the field of health professions education must continue to adapt, innovate, and lead.
9:15 - 10:00
Keynote: Cynthia Whitehead MD PhD & Tina Martimianakis PhD
10:00 - 10:15
Q & A – Moderators: Conrad Tsang MD PhD(c) & Lucy Vorobej PhD
10:15 - 10:30
Refreshment break
10:30 - 12:00
Session 1 - Concurrent Podium/ Lightning Talks/ Future Directions: Health Systems, Community, Global Health & Research Methods
Assessment, CBME & Curriculum Design
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-Oppression
12:00 - 1:15
Lunch
1:15 - 2:45
Session 2 - Concurrent Podium/ Lightning Talks/ Future Directions: Simulation, Technology & Innovation
Adaptive Expertise & Workplace-Based Learning (A)
Clinical Reasoning & Interprofessional Practice
2:45 – 3:00
Refreshment break
3:00 – 4:05
Session 3 – Concurrent Podium/ Lightning Talks/ Future Directions: Adaptive Expertise & Workplace-Based Learning (B)
Career Development, Professional Identity & Narrative Medicine
About Dr. Richard Reznick
Richard Reznick received his medical degree from McGill University, followed by a general surgical residency at the University of Toronto. He spent two years in fellowship training, first obtaining a Masters’ degree in medical education, followed by a fellowship in colorectal surgery at the University of Texas.
Dr. Reznick was the inaugural Director of the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine’s Centre for Research in Education at University Health Network, and in 1999 was appointed Vice President of Education at University Health Network. He served eight years as the R. S. McLaughlin Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto.
From 2010 -2020, Dr. Reznick assumed the position of Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University and Chief Executive Officer of the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization (SEAMO).
From 2021 - 2023, Dr. Reznick assumed the position of President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Transforming Education and Care at the Bedside
Thursday May 28th, 2026 9am – 11:30am
BMO Education Conference Centre
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Registration & light breakfast
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
Opening remarks: Cynthia Whitehead
Land acknowledgement: Abby Ramdawar
Welcome & Introductions: Mahan Kulasegaram
9:15 AM – 9:35 AM
Briana Layard
9:35 AM – 9:50 AM
David Wiljer
9:50 AM – 10:10 AM
Discussion/ Q&A
10:30 AM – 10:50 AM
Nikki Woods
10:50AM – 11:10 AM
Cynthia Whitehead
11:10 AM – 11:30 AM
Discussion & Closing Remarks
The Brian D. Hodges Symposium celebrates Dr. Brian D. Hodges’ continuing contributions to health professions education research. Dr. Hodges, Director of the Wilson Centre from 2003-2011, is currently the Executive Vice-President of Education at the University Health Network and a Scientist at The Wilson Centre.
By bringing together the community of health professions education researchers, educators, scholars and students, we aim to motivate attendees to think beyond the boundaries of their current work and look for points of intersection with the research of others. The symposium provides a rare opportunity for in-depth discussion of the theory and practice of education. Attendees will enjoy invited presentations from global leaders in health professions education and the next generation of education scientists and scholars.
THE WILSON CENTRE RESEARCH ROUNDS
HYBRID RESEARCH ROUNDS
In Person: The Wilson Centre, Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabeth St., Rm 559 Toronto ON
The Wilson Centre Education Research Rounds offers participants a forum to engage in educational dialogue geared towards promoting excellence in their specific education research interests and identified professional needs. It is a great opportunity to build a sense of community among the scholars and graduate students of the Wilson Centre. Drs. Catharine Walsh and David Rojas co-chair these Rounds.
Monday October 19, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:00PM
Hybrid Rounds: Wilson Centre conference room or Zoom
Addressing Physician Wellbeing through the Applied Mindfulness Program for Medical Personnel (AMP-MP): findings from a prospective qualitative study through TFOM Clinical Affairs
Elli Weisbaum, PhD
Physician burnout is exacerbated by cultural norms of hyperproductivity, perfectionism, and self-denial, which disproportionately burden physicians who identify with or serve equity-deserving communities due to systemic exclusion and the uncompensated "minority tax". This qualitative study explores the unique systemic stressors contributing to burnout in this demographic and evaluates the impact of a 5-week Applied Mindfulness Program for Medical Personnel (AMP-MP). Using purposive sampling, post-program semi-structured interviews were conducted with physicians navigating these distinct challenges to understand their emergent lived experiences. Thematic analysis revealed three core themes: the compounding effect of hostile work environments and the minority tax on burnout, the double-edged nature of shared identity that fosters clinical empathy but increases vulnerability to emotional distress, and the positive impacts of applied mindfulness. Participants reported that the AMP-MP mitigated the three pillars of burnout by facilitating self-forgiveness to reduce emotional exhaustion, fostering interpersonal connection to counter depersonalization, and reframing the purpose of their work to restore personal accomplishment. While applied mindfulness offers a vital emotional buffer and enhances patient-centered care, mitigating burnout among equity-deserving physicians ultimately requires institutional accountability, structural reforms, and the promotion of psychological safety alongside these individual interventions.
Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/b2wp22FsSQKCCBXk24II8A
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
BEST PRACTICES IN EDUCATION ROUNDS
Program Objective
Best Practices in Education Rounds (BPER): Integrating Stories and Science link the theory and practice of health professions education and faculty development with invited speakers from local, national and international contexts.
Program Description
Best Practices in Education Rounds (BPER) are co-hosted by the Centre for Faculty Development, The Wilson Centre and the Centre for Advancing Collaborative Healthcare & Education (CACHE). We leverage the expertise that exists between our Centres to facilitate a more impactful offering.
BPER provides the opportunity to share innovative and emerging ideas with a wide audience of interested health professional teachers, educators, leaders, and scholars. BPER aims to reach a diverse audience, including patient/client and family partners and a range of professional/health worker backgrounds.
Program Structure
Rounds are held monthly (second Tuesday of each month) throughout the academic year and are offered virtually via Zoom. They are freely accessible for anyone to attend. Please click here to see our upcoming offerings. Registration is required. Recordings of past offerings are saved in our BPER Archive.
BPER Reads is our annual “Battle of the Papers” each February. Invited scholars champion the one paper of the past academic year they feel every health professional educator must read. Voting opens in October and each month the paper with the lowest number of votes is eliminated. At BPER Reads in February, the champions of the final two papers battle it out for the title of ‘best paper’.
For further information or to register please visit https://centreforfacdev.ca/best-practices-in-education-rounds/