It is an honour to serve as Director of the Institute of Health Sciences Education (IHSE), in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. Reflecting on the last few years, I am deeply inspired by the vibrant and diverse community that forms the backbone of this Institute—scholars, researchers, educators, clinicians, learners, administrators, collaborators, friends and supporters. We are united in our shared commitment to advancing research and innovation in health sciences education, and in recognizing its critical role in shaping the future of healthcare and the healthcare workforce. I am equally excited about the opportunities and transformative work that lies ahead.
In 2025, we celebrate an incredible milestone, the 50th anniversary of our work to advance scholarship and innovation in medical, health professions, and health sciences education at McGill. This work began in 1975 with the launch of the Centre for Medical Education, which in 2019, became the Institute of Health Sciences Education, the first research institute of its kind in Canada. The 50th anniversary is a landmark achievement which underscores McGill’s enduring legacy as a global leader in health sciences education research and innovation. Throughout the year, we will be marking this momentous occasion with a series of exciting events and initiatives to honour our history, celebrate our community’s contributions, and look ahead to the next 50 years of impact and excellence. I invite you to join us in celebrating this remarkable journey.
Over the past few years, the IHSE has continued to thrive and achieve extraordinary success. Our community has been at the forefront of education research, driving innovation and producing groundbreaking work that has shaped educational practices, informed policy, improved patient care, and enhanced healthcare systems across the country and around the world. IHSE members have made significant contributions to understanding and improving clinical and professional education, bringing patient voices to the table, fostering humanistic and equitable approaches to care, improving health care systems, and developing new frameworks for assessment, simulation-based learning, clinical reasoning, reflective practice, faculty development, professionalism, curriculum design, peer mentorship, use of artificial intelligence, and much more. These achievements reflect the exceptional talent, dedication, and collaborative spirit of our community.
This period of growth and accomplishment would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of so many. I want to express my deepest gratitude to our benefactors and donors, whose generosity enables us to pursue transformative projects, and to our past leaders, whose vision laid the foundation for all that we have accomplished. I am also grateful to our faculty members and admin team, whose expertise and collaborative spirit have significantly strengthened our capacity to lead and innovate.
As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we will host the 2025 Richard and Sylvia Cruess Symposium in Health Sciences Education. This event will build on the success of last year's inaugural symposium, and provide a space to exchange knowledge about the remarkable contributions of the McGill community in health sciences education research and innovation. The symposium will offer an extraordinary opportunity to look back and reflect together on our collective achievements, and to look forward and engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of our field. We warmly invite you to join us, and we look forward to celebrating with you!
Our PhD students in health sciences education represent the future of our field. Their research, creativity, and passion are a source of ongoing inspiration. These talented individuals are advancing knowledge, driving innovation, and ensuring the continued evolution of evidence-informed knowledge to improve health care. We are immensely proud of their accomplishments and their role in shaping the future toward a competent and compassionate health care workforce, and equitable and patient-centred health care systems.
As we move forward, the IHSE’s work continues to be anchored in three key pillars: advancing research, enhancing education, and fostering community. By driving innovation, improving educational practices, and addressing the complexities of healthcare systems, we aim to create transformative impacts that will resonate for generations to come. Our contributions inspire evidence-informed practice, competent practitioners, compassionate care, equitable policies, and justice-oriented systems, ensuring that health professions education remains at the forefront of healthcare transformation.
To everyone who has supported the IHSE—whether through your time, expertise, resources, or collaboration—a heartfelt thank you. Together, we continue to create a lasting impact, building on 50 years of history while shaping an extraordinary future for health sciences education research and innovation locally, nationally and around the world.
Elizabeth Anne Kinsella, PhD
Director, Institute of Health Sciences Education
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