Rocket rounds are research in progress rounds for any medical education related project. These rounds will be held quarterly and provide junior and senior teachers and scholars in health professions education an opportunity to present ideas, works in progress and challenges they are facing in trying to move from an idea to scholarship.

These interactive sessions will allow an exchange of ideas and tap into the collective wisdom of the CiMED and DIME communities.

Format: Sessions will have two presenters each having 10-15 minutes to present their idea or challenge with 15 minutes of feedback from the group.

Who can attend: Open to all members of the Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences and Education.

Ground rules: No idea is too big or too small!

Want to attend: Contact Krystyna Hacking at [email protected]

Want to present: Contact Susan Humphrey-Murto at [email protected]

Upcoming Dates:

* In person location is 850 Peter Morand Cres 

Save the Dates! CiMED Medical Education Days (Meridith Marks Medical Education Days) – Now with an Exciting New Format! 🌟

We’re thrilled to announce that the annual Medical Education Days are evolving to better serve our vibrant community of educators, clinicians, and scholars. This annual celebration of innovation, scholarship, and collaboration will feature two dynamic days—each with a distinct focus tailored to your interests and professional growth.

🗓️ Thursday, May 29, 2026 – Faculty Development Day 
Join us for a full day designed to energize and equip front-line teachers and education leaders. Engage in high-impact workshops, a thought-provoking plenary session, and a lively panel discussion. Content will be of special interest to clinician teachers, clinician educators, program directors, rotation coordinators, and competence committee members and chairs.

🗓️ Friday, May 30, 2026 – Meridith Marks Day - Education Scholarship
Celebrate and advance educational scholarship! Friday will showcase research excellence through oral presentations, posters, and interactive workshops on research methods. Don’t miss the plenary session highlighting innovative approaches and inspiring ideas in health professions education.

Mark your calendars and plan to be part of this collegial, energizing event!
More details—including calls for abstracts and registration information—will be shared soon.

Do you have a great idea for a workshop that will serve this community? Or would you like to get involved in shaping this event? Contact [email protected] to share your thoughts and expertise.

Together, let’s continue advancing the future of postgraduate medical education!

Upcoming MESH Rounds:

Monday September 15, 2025 from 4h30 - 5h30 with Dr. Andrew Hall

Monday November 17, 2025 from 4h30 - 5h30 with Dr. Nancy Dudek

Monday December 15, 2025 from 4h30-5h30 with Dr. Jolanta Karpinski

More details to come soon!

Ignite your journey in health professions education research—in the heart of Ottawa

Join us in Summer 2026 for the inaugural Ottawa-SPARK, a vibrant and immersive 5-day course designed to introduce participants to the breadth of research approaches in health professions education.

Led by an internationally recognized faculty of scholars and educators, this program goes beyond surface-level exposure. Through engaging instruction, hands-on workshops, and personalized coaching, participants will apply concepts to their own ideas or projects—leaving with foundational knowledge, practical skills, and early progress on scholarly work.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Differentiate among key research paradigms (e.g., post-positivist, constructivist) and explain how they shape research questions, study designs, and analytic approaches.
2. Identify and describe a range of methodologies and methods, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed approaches used in education research.
3. Apply course concepts to develop a preliminary research plan, aligning research questions with appropriate paradigms, methodologies, and resources for rigorous execution.
4. Demonstrate foundational research skills through practical exercises in survey design, interviewing, statistical analysis, and consensus methods—supported by daily coaching and workshops.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for those new to health professions education research or with limited exposure to the field. It is especially suited for:

• Clinician educators and aspiring education scholars seeking a clearer understanding of available methods, their application, and how to access resources for rigorous research.
• Early-career researchers and recent graduates aiming to explore diverse research designs, deepen methodological understanding, and build confidence in applying them.

Whether you are just beginning or expanding your research journey, Ottawa-SPARK offers a dynamic and supportive environment to grow your skills, connect with peers, and be inspired.

Join us in Ottawa in the summer of 2026—and spark your future in health professions education research.

Key Details

Dates: July 6–10, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (walking distance to the Rideau Canal)
Cost: $4,000 CAD
Course Leads: Dr. Kori LaDonna (PhD) and Dr. Susan Humphrey-Murto (MD, MEd)

Program at a Glance

Monday: ​Introduction to Research Paradigms, Survey Design
Tuesday: ​Quantitative Research, Quasi-Experimental Design
Wednesday: ​Qualitative Research
Thursday: ​Knowledge Synthesis, Consensus Methods (Nominal Group/Delphi)
Friday: ​Program Evaluation

Daily Skills Development & Coaching

Hands-on sessions will cover:

• Designing a survey
• Conducting an interview
• Coding interview transcripts
• Conducting statistical analyses
• Controlling and accounting for confounding factors
• Choosing Delphi & Knowledge Synthesis software
• Practical strategies for building a research team, budgeting, and applying for grants

Daily small-group coaching will support integration and application of course concepts.

Faculty

Monday: ​Doug Archibald, PhD | Claire Touchie, MD, MHPE
Tuesday: ​Vicki LeBlanc, PhD | Timothy J. Wood, PhD
Wednesday: ​Kori LaDonna, PhD | Roy Khalife, MD, MHPE
Thursday: ​Tanya Horsley, PhD, MBA | Susan Humphrey-Murto, MD, MEd
Friday: ​Geneviève Gauthier, PhD | Andrew Hall, MD, MHPE