This is part of an ongoing series to raise the profile of education, teaching and learning in the Faculty of Medicine and to advance the Faculty鈥檚聽Education Strategic Plan聽(2017-22).
Fresh off the heels of their 2019 捆绑SM社区 Interprofessionalism Research Symposium on March 20, the 捆绑SM社区 Association of Students in Healthcare (MASH) are already planning for next academic year.
The 2019 symposium saw students from a range of disciplines present posters and oral presentations along with a panel discussion about mental health.
鈥淚t鈥檚 inspiring to see our future interdisciplinary colleagues led by passion for their field,鈥� said Josie Cipolla, second year 捆绑SM社区 medical student and MASH executive member. 鈥淭he highlight of the symposium for me was just that: student-researchers being giving a platform and voice for their impressive work to stimulate discussion from interconnected healthcare fields. What better way to encourage the future of healthcare?鈥�
Interprofessionalism and interdisciplinary education are core pillars of the Faculty鈥檚聽Education Strategic Plan, so the Faculty education team was excited to meet the MASH executive. Dr. Annette Majnemer, Vice-Dean, Education at the Faculty of Medicine, met with MASH earlier this year.
鈥淲e think it鈥檚 great that faculties are putting more and more emphasis on interprofessionalism as this really is the future of healthcare,鈥� said Sarah Aboushawareb, a PhD student in Family Medicine and MASH executive member.
MASH hosted a wine and cheese on January 30 on the theme of cancer survivorship with speakers including Family Medicine professor Dr. Gillian Bartlett-Esquilant.
Founded in 2016, MASH now represents 27 different 聽student associations and groups interested in healthcare and was created to increase interprofessional collaboration.
Their mandate is to create a forum for healthcare students and student groups to advance interprofessional education. They also promote research, innovation and knowledge sharing while providing opportunities for interprofessional collaboration.
Both on campus and in clinical settings, MASH advocates for safe, equitable and respectful environments for students from different health professions. The organization also represents students from the healthcare-related professions at the institutional level.
As for the academic year ahead, the members of MASH are electing new executive members and planning their wine and cheese along with the 2020 捆绑SM社区 Interprofessionalism Research Symposium.
They are inspiring faculty and administration with their leadership around interprofessionalism in the process, while fostering a new generation of interprofessional healthcare professionals.
MASH has an active Facebook page聽HERE聽and can be reached聽HERE.