Master Teacher Program
Applications for 2026-2028 are being accepted.
Applications must be received by Monday, June 22, 2026 by 5:00 PM. See below for details, requirements, and the link to the application form.
Teaching is one of the core missions of the Department of Medicine. The department is dedicated to providing high quality teaching for learners across all levels in diverse educational environments. The ability of the department to achieve this goal depends on the recognition and support of its outstanding teachers, and the creation of opportunities to promote the development of excellence in teaching skills among faculty members.
Overview
The Master Teacher Program is a two-year instructional development certificate course designed for full time faculty members, clinical fellows including PGY5s, and clinical associates with major teaching responsibilities. The program provides a core series of interactive seminars on medical teaching and education topics. Program participants are also provided with opportunities to present their own teaching through clinical teaching practica. The core series includes sessions on essential teaching topics:
- small and large group teaching techniques,
- bedside teaching,
- assessing learner needs,
- promotion of understanding and retention of knowledge,
- evaluation and assessment,
- feedback,
- teaching in difficult situations,
- competence by design,
- IMGs education,
- equity, diversity, inclusion, and allyship,
…and many other relevant teaching and education topics.
The practicum is conducted in small groups with participants having opportunities to practice their own teaching and receive feedback. It is expected that the group will become a strong cohort that will promote individual growth and development of each member through feedback and interaction. Therefore, individuals participating in the program must make a full commitment to attend all sessions (mostly in-person) to support this process over the two-year duration of the course.
MTP is not a graduate course leading to a Master's degree. The program will lead to a "Certificate of Completion of the Master Teacher Program" from the Department of Medicine.
Goal
The goal of the Master Teacher Program is to provide advanced training for clinician-teachers to enhance their teaching effectiveness. The program will help physicians develop excellent teaching skills relevant to their clinical settings. Ultimately, the program will foster the careers of a cadre of superb "master teachers" who provide the highest quality of teaching to our learners.
Curriculum
- The program is a two-year course that runs September–May.
- Participants are required to attend one half-day session per week, scheduled on Wednesday afternoons for the September 2026 to May 2028 cohort.
- Participants are required to maintain a minimum attendance of 80% each year as part of their commitment to the program.
Year 1
The core seminar series occurs every week for a total of at least 13 sessions; each session is about three and a half hours in duration. The topics of the core series includes: a series of microanalytic teaching skills (learning climate, control of session, communication of goals, understanding and retention, evaluation, feedback, self directed learning). A further 13-week seminar series on mentoring, lecture techniques, small and large group teaching, curriculum design, education scholarship, and other medical teaching topics will be presented. A reading program will be included.
The practicum includes sessions that follow or are interspersed with the core seminar series. Participants will have the opportunity to present their own work and receive feedback from their peers and co-director(s). This includes observation of videotaped teaching sessions or direct observation of teaching (lectures, whiteboard teaching, CBL teaching, etc.).
Year 2
Ongoing workshops with the core group of participants - This is a continuation of the practicum started in the first year. Again, interspersed with practicum sessions, will be interactive teaching sessions on a wide variety of topics relevant to clinical teachers.
Scholarly Project Work - Approximately one quarter of curricular time in the second year will be devoted to project work. Each participant, either individually or as part of a small or large group, will work on the development of a teaching or educational deliverable that meets their own teaching needs. These projects will be of a calibre that will allow the participant to work towards presentation at a national education meeting or to publish in relevant literature.
Accreditation
The Master Teacher Program is not formally accredited with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. However various components can be claimed for Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credits in all of the MOC framework sections:
- attendance in weekly classes (0.5 credits/h),
- activity preparation (e.g. journal club, BEME guide presentations; 2 credits/h), and
- reviewing and reflecting on teaching feedback (3 credits/h).
Funding
The Department of Medicine will support the core series and practicum so there will be no participant fees for active members of the department.
For participants external to the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, an annual external participant fee ($7,500/year × 2 years) will be assessed. Further information can be obtained from the program co-directors or program administrator.
Master Teacher Program participants must have protected time to participate in half-day sessions once a week (September–May) for two years. Since individuals’ time commitments are highly variable, this should be discussed with the appropriate division director and/or physician-in chief.
Applications
The online application process includes an online application form and the following required materials as MS Word (.doc, .docx) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files:
- your application letter describing your present clinical and teaching responsibilities and future career plans. This must include an indication of your plans to commit the required protected time for the Master Teacher Program,
- your Curriculum Vitae and teaching portfolio/teaching dossier, and
- two letters of support (included with application by applicant), with at least one of them being from your Clinical or University Division Director and/or Physician-in-Chief who administers your time commitments. This letter should include:
- a description of your present teaching responsibilities,
- your potential future role in the teaching program of the institution, and
- a clear commitment to protect your time to participate in the weekly half-day classes of the Master Teacher Program for its full 2-year timeframe.
Program inquiries:
Christian Base, Master Teacher Program Coordinator
Email: mtp@utoronto.ca
Phone: 416-978-4499
Program Co-Directors
Drs. Umberin Najeeb and Geoffrey Watson.