Invigorating the Careers of Mid-Career Faculty with Drs. Karen Leslie and Umberin Najeeb

Department of Medicine, Culture & Inclusion Faculty Development Sessions 2025-26

A collaborative session between the Department of Medicine and the Department of Pediatrics. Faculty from both departments are welcome to participate.

Session Overview: Join us for an interactive workshop designed to provide a safe space for conversations about the challenges and needs of mid-career faculty involved in teaching and education. While the session focuses on mid-career clinician teachers/educators, everyone is welcome to attend.

This session will include a variety of activities and methods of participation, including those focusing on career mapping and reflection. A brief didactic presentation will provide an overview of the literature. Additional approaches will be utilized to foster critical observation and effective questioning, and to identify ways that individuals can be supported to navigate this stage of their professional lives. We will engage in rich discussions and learn from each other’s experiences. An approach of respectful dialogue is required of all participants. 

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE: This session is designed specifically for mid-career faculty members (defined as 10+years into their career), institutional leaders in academic settings, however it is open to all.

Objectives: 

• Describe the challenges and opportunities experienced by mid-career faculty.  
• Identify career development and mentoring needs.
• Discuss approaches at the individual and organization level to address these needs.

Facilitator Bios: 
Karen Leslie is a staff paediatrician in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at SickKids and a Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto.  Dr. Leslie is a clinician-educator, involved in teaching and learning activities across many different contexts and learner groups, including undergraduate, postgraduate, continuing education and faculty development.  In her clinical role, she oversees the SickKids Adolescent Substance Use Program and also works in the Gender Care Clinic as well as with the Adolescent Medicine Consultation Service.  She is past director of the U of T Centre for Faculty Development, and continues to be involved in faculty development work with national and international organizations, including the Association of Medical Education of Europe (AMEE).   Her scholarly interests are in the areas of faculty development, career development and mentoring, as well as systems of care and outcomes for adolescents with substance use.

Umberin Najeeb, Vice-Chair, Culture and Inclusion, is a clinician educator in the Department of Medicine, centre researcher at the Wilson Centre and staff internist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She completed her medical training from University of Peshawar and an accelerated residency in Internal Medicine from University of Toronto, followed by Education Scholars Program from the Center of Faculty Development. Dr. Najeeb's scholarly work is two-fold, centred on the transition and integration of internationally educated health professionals into their training and working environments and health profession education with specific focus on curriculum design, program development, faculty development and mentorship.

Please click here to register for this event. A Zoom link and calendar invite will be sent to registrants.