The fully online, 12-month graduate program is designed for working professionals and future health leaders. 

Delivered asynchronously (a type of course) and offered in English or French this interdisciplinary program bridges medicine, biomedical research, disability studies, social justice, community engagement, and equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Students will complete a hands-on, community-partnered project in collaboration with hospitals, research institutes, or non-profit organizations or a student-led capstone project.

Graduates are prepared for roles across health care, research institutes, government, NGOs and the private sector, such as:

• Accessibility Specialist / Consultant (health care, research, policy, and digital).
• Accessibility Program Manager or Auditor (clinical, academic, or industry settings).
• Community Engagement Lead or Patient/Partner Engagement Advisor.
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion & Accessibility Advisor in research administration and funding environments.
• Knowledge Translation/Implementation roles focused on inclusive design and barrier removal.

Skills include universal design, assistive technology awareness, inclusive communication, policy literacy, and experiential project leadership relevant to biomedical ecosystems.

Prospective candidates include biomedical, life and health sciences, engineering/computing, or social sciences graduates, and MD students, residents and health care professionals seeking to embed accessibility and social accountability in biomedicine.

Admission: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (or prior graduate work); 
• Minimum admission average of 7.0 (or equivalent). Applicants below 7.0 may be considered with significant formal training and relevant experience per uOttawa regulation C‑2. Program is bilingual (English/French). Proof of proficiency is required. 
• Letter of intent from the applicant. 
• No reference/support letters are requested.

Format

Fully online (largely asynchronous with select synchronous activities); 12 months; full time or part time; bilingual cohorts.

Courses (core)

• MED8166 Professionalism & Professional Skills
• MED5110 Critical Disability Studies in Biomedical & Medical Research (3u)
• MED5111 Biomedical Science Communication I (3u)
• MED5112 Accessibility in STEM & Biomedical Sciences (3u)
• MED5113 Social Justice & the Public Trust in Medicine (3u)
• MED5114 Diverse Perspectives in Biomedical Research: Lived Experiences & Ethical Engagement (3u)
• MED5115 Seminars in Accessibility in Biomedicine (3u)

Experiential requirement (choose one, 6 units): 

MED7910 Community-Partnered Project or MED7911 Capstone Project, both using the self-directed framework (proposal, interim reflection, final portfolio/report).

This is a self-funded program and is not eligible for OSAP funding. Students are responsible for tuition and related fees.

More information coming soon. We welcome your questions at [email protected].