2014-2015

News Release

REF NO.: 68

SUBJECT: Memorial University receives national innovation award for physician leadership and management program

DATE: November 5, 2014

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has recognized Memorial University for innovation in physician leadership and management.

The Professional Development and Conferencing Services office in the Faculty of Medicine was awarded a 2014 Royal College Accredited Continuing Professional Development Provider Innovation Award for a program it developed in partnership with the Gardiner Centre at the Faculty of Business Administration.

The award was announced at the Sixth National Continuing Professional Development Accreditation Conference in Toronto, Ont., on Sept. 30 and was presented in St. John’s during the Health Care Leadership Forum on Nov. 1.

The national award is for the Physician Management and Leadership Program developed by the Professional Development and Conferencing Services (PDCS) office, an accredited provider of university continuing professional development (CPD) for health-care professionals and the Gardiner Centre, which offers management and professional development training to business professionals, employees, executives and entrepreneurs in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Physician Management and Leadership Program is a 10-module accredited certificate program designed to equip physicians and other health-care professionals in the Atlantic health-care systems with the skills and expertise required to excel as effective leaders. Using a combination of online, onsite and blended approaches to

learning, it’s been designed so that learners can participate around their busy schedules.                                                                                                                    

Drawing from the findings of a comprehensive needs assessment process and incorporating the latest research and educational practices, the accredited program explores emerging leadership strategies and applies them to the specific requirements of a region’s health-care system.

Dr. Mohamed Ravalia, a senior physician at the Notre Dame Bay Memorial Health Centre in Twillingate, N.L., completed the program. Under the supervision of Dr. Ravalia and his team, medical students and postgraduate trainees (residents) come to Twillingate to learn about rural medicine. Some residents spend up to a year in the community as part of their training.

Dr. Ravalia felt that by completing the program, it would help him align his needs as a leader with those of the institutions that he would be working with.

“Physicians don’t always receive a lot of training in leadership and governance issues, so I thought that this program could help fill that missing piece,” he said. “It exceeded my expectations. I was provided with an opportunity to network with like-minded physicians and a very inspiring faculty. This foundational step will help me going forward.”

The program was developed through a steering committee that included senior faculty and staff from both PDCS and the Gardiner Centre in order to maximize the experience in leadership and management training within the two. It included representation from that Department of Health and Communities Services and senior leadership with the regional health authorities.

“This is a great partnership between the Faculty of Medicine’s Professional Development and Conferencing Services and the Faculty of Business Administration’s Gardiner Centre in collaboration with the regional health authorities and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Fran Kirby, director, PDCS. “This allows us to enhance the skills and competencies of physician leaders and health-care professionals in the Atlantic Canadian health-care systems.”

 “Our collaboration with PDCS is one example of the kind of partnerships we undertake in order to offer customized, quality training to a variety of organizations,”

said Brian Hurley, director, Gardiner Centre. “Leadership skills are not just required in business; the type of training we offer can benefit professionals in many different sectors.”

More information about the Physician Management and Leadership Program and its upcoming schedule is available online at physicianleadership.ca.

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