The Department of Medicine launches a new consolidated website

On September 7, 2016 we launched the Department of Medicine’s new, consolidated website – the first, major “web renovation” in almost a decade. We – and it truly has been a collaborative effort – have invested nearly two years into creating a “virtual communication” that showcases how the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, “meaningfully impact(s) health through international leadership in education, research and the translation of new knowledge into better care and health outcomes.”

In early 2015 we conducted qualitative research by sitting down with more than 100 stakeholders – vice-chairs, division directors, program directors, senior and junior faculty members, trainees, clerks, support staff, etc. – to understand how the Department of Medicine’s website could effectively demonstrate that we:

1. Are “united by the pursuit of excellence and the goal of improving patient health and outcomes.”
2. Are “nurturing the next generation of leadership—a core value of the department, and (that we have) a long tradition of unrivaled commitment to educational excellence.”
3. “Recognize the contributions of all our faculty members, our inter-professional colleagues and both our hospital and university identities.”

From these focus groups, surveys, interviews and comparative analyses of web metrics and “competitive websites,” we were guided by two principles when creating this website:

1. The whole of our department is greater than the sum of its hospital and divisional parts.  As “a whole,” you will notice that each of the 19 divisional “micro-websites” have been consolidated into one “Department of Medicine macro-website,” though divisional content has not been removed – it’s simply been migrated. In the spirit of continual collaboration and sustainability, support staff – departmental and divisional – will (or have been) trained on the new website platform so we can continue to communicate both departmental and divisional missions, visions and strategic priorities. Please note that the divisional websites have not yet been decommissioned, they have been redirected and archived. Should you notice some divisional content has not been migrated to the DoM website, contact our communications officer, Jocelyn Lagerquist and she’ll work with your division to ensure the content is moved over to the new site.
    
2. Though we want to attract the best and the brightest trainees and faculty members, we’ve also articulated Department of Medicine processes (Appointments, Continuing Faculty Appointment Review, Senior Promotion, etc.) more clearly. Additionally, we’ve worked closely with program directors and administrators to set-up “intranets/portals” (Blackboard or ShareFile) so faculty and trainee resources can be accessed freely.

As you’re perusing the new Department of Medicine website, please feel free to provide feedback to Jocelyn. Every great website should adapt to the needs of the users, and you should be able to find any piece of information you’re looking for in three URL clicks or less. If that’s not the case, we need to know how we can make improvements.

Thank you to everyone who provided vision, reviewed divisional “site maps,” drafted content (redrafted content), participated in photoshoots, provided technical support, etc.