McMaster at ICAM 2024 in British Columbia

In April, McMaster University participated in the ICAM 2024 conference held in British Columbia. This event focused on academic medicine and included international speakers, plenaries, and accredited courses addressing global healthcare challenges.

Attendees engaged with leaders discussing advancements in medical technology, global health issues, and the future of healthcare education. These sessions provided insights and skills for professional development.

The conference experience was enhanced by networking that connected attendees with the health education professionals working across British Columbia’s diverse healthcare regions.

A highlight for McMaster University attendees was the McMaster Alumni reception hosted by Robert Whyte, Vice Dean of Health Professional Education at the Faculty of Health Sciences. Held on April 14, 2024, the event connected alumni, celebrating shared achievements and Robert Whyte's leadership in health education.

ICAM 2024 showcased McMaster University's role in academic medicine. The knowledge shared and connections made will influence McMaster's contributions to healthcare and inspire future innovations in the field.

Indigenous History Month at McMaster

McMaster University honoured Indigenous History Month in June with a series of events and initiatives dedicated to celebrating Indigenous culture, history, and contributions. It serves as a crucial opportunity to recognize and amplify Indigenous voices, fostering understanding and appreciation within the university community.

For more information on Indigenous History Month events and activities at McMaster University, please visit: Indigenous History Month 2024.

Celebrating Pride Month at McMaster

Throughout the month of June, McMaster University celebrated Pride Month with a variety of events and activities aimed at fostering inclusivity and support for the 2STLGBTQIA+ community. From educational seminars to vibrant cultural celebrations, the university embraced diversity and provided opportunities for learning and solidarity.

For more details on the Pride Month events and activities at McMaster University, please visit: Pride 2024 at McMaster.

Cirrus Platform to Replace ExamSoft

At the end of the 2023-2024 academic year, the Physician Assistant Education Program (PAEP) and Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) program are migrating assessment activities from ExamSoft to a new digital assessment platform called Cirrus.

PAEP and UGME intend to begin using Cirrus for written assessment as of 1 August 2024.

Because assessment activities and the feedback gained from assessment are critical for advancing learners through their training, a project group has been established to guide the migration effort. Students, faculty members, and staff members will receive instructional materials and invitations to synchronous training as the migration date approaches. A MedPortal page dedicated to the ExamSoft-Cirrus migration is now live; this webpage contains information about the rationale, goals, and timeline for migration. Updates on the process of migration will also be regularly added to the ExamSoft-Cirrus migration webpage.

Leadership Announcement

The UGME program wants to share the exciting news of the appointments of Dr. Darren de SA (left) as MF1 Director, and Dr. Meredith Vanstone (right) as MD/PhD Director, both effective July 1, 2024.

Please join in wishing Dr. de SA and Dr. Vanstone congratulations on their new positions.

Applications Open: Clinical Skills Preceptor - Hamilton Campus

The UGME Program is seeking faculty who are interested in teaching clinical skills workshops focused on practicing physical examination skills working with Standardized Patients (SPs) for groups of pre-clerkship students on selected topics during their pre-clerkship phase of the UGME program.

Applications are being accepted now for all Medical Foundations but especially MF1. Please open this document for more information and how to apply.

NRC Tutor Recruitment for PreClerk MF1 and IF Roles

Niagara Regional Campus is excited to announce tutor recruitment for the upcoming Pre-Clerkship MF1 and IF roles. We are seeking dedicated physicians to join our team for the following positions:

C2027 MF1 Tutor Recruitment

• Duration: 11 Weeks (Aug 12th to Oct 25th)
• Modules: Intro to Medicine, Respirology & Cardiology

C2026 IF Tutor Recruitment

• Duration: 12 Weeks (Aug 26th to Nov 15th)
• Modules: Host Defense and Neoplasia, Complexity and Chronicity, Maternal and Child Health Risks with Aging-Related Care

Tutors are integral to our medical education program. Your expertise will help shape the future of medicine by guiding students through these critical foundations. Interested faculty members can sign up through the following links:

• MF1 Tutor Sign-Up Form
• IF Tutor Sign-Up Form

Inspiring Future Physicians at Discovery Days

On May 30, 2024, Canadian Medical Hall of Fame hosted their annual "Discovery Days in Health Sciences" symposium at the HHS McMaster University Medical Centre (MUMC). The event welcomed around 200 high school students from 43 schools across Ontario. The students spent the day immersed in presentations and interactive workshops, exploring various careers in the health sciences.

UGME learners played a key role in facilitating workshops and ensuring a positive experience for the high school students. Their engagement in such important events is valued, as it contributes to inspiring the next generation of medical learners.

You can read more about the symposium here about it here, or watch the video.

Improving Skin Health for Hamilton's Unhoused

The SkinCARE Project, led by Class of 2026 learner Miranda Branyiczky, is a student-driven initiative providing dermatologic care to Hamilton’s unhoused population. Through the Hamilton Hub clinic, the project offers skin care kits, informational pamphlets, and community resource connections. Each kit includes essential items and a handwritten note from a volunteer.

Miranda was inspired to start this project after noticing many clients with untreated skin concerns at the Hamilton Hub. So far, over 100 kits have been assembled and are being distributed during the afternoon clinic. Feedback is being collected to improve future distributions.

Raising Awareness and Support for Vitiligo

Shahnawaz Towheed, a Class of 2026 learner, co-founded Vitiligo Voices Canada, the first nationwide support group for individuals affected by vitiligo—an autoimmune disorder causing patches of skin to lose pigment. Having lived with vitiligo since childhood, Shahnawaz is deeply passionate about raising awareness and amplifying the voices of others facing similar challenges.

Vitiligo Voices Canada illuminated the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, and 17 other Canadian monuments across 9 provinces in PURPLE on June 25th for World Vitiligo Day, as part of the #Lit4Vit campaign. This initiative aims to spotlight the emotional and social hurdles encountered by those with vitiligo, fostering increased understanding and support within the community. Their social media page is featuring authentic patient narratives from individuals living with vitiligo throughout the month of June. 

Class of 2025

The career team is currently holding one-hour meetings with the Class of 2025 students. These sessions focus on discussing prospective residency applications and reviewing CV drafts to support medical students in their residency application efforts.

These helpful appointments will be offered until mid-July. In August, Second Round Career Counselling Appointments will begin, continuing until the CaRMS application deadline at the end of November. Students are reminded to mark key CaRMS deadlines on their calendars if they haven't done so already.

Additionally, a variety of excellent digital resources are available on the Career Counselling and Resources section on Medportal.

Class of 2026

Thirty-minute Career Counselling appointments remain available for the Class of 2026. Students can book a session through the Jane app, choosing to meet virtually or in person at their convenience.

While in-person meetings at the Waterloo and Niagara Regional campuses are paused for the summer, they will resume in September. Regional students will receive information regarding dates and times before the end of the summer.

MedPortal Resources

Career exploration and selection processes often overlap. As students discover and narrow down their medical interests, they are encouraged to check out the digital resources available on Medportal. (Your Career Journey > Tab 2 > Choosing a Specialty).

Career Fair

Student Affairs is seeking input to ensure the upcoming career fair aligns with student preferences. A brief survey regarding the fair's format is now available for feedback: Career Fair Survey.



Responses will play a crucial role in determining whether the fair should be hosted in person or online. Participation is greatly appreciated!