Sent on behalf of Dr. Neil Sweezey, GDipHR Director
Dear Colleague,
I write to ask prospective faculty supervisors to submit a proposed research project for a medical student in the new Graduate Diploma in Health Research (GDipHR) program.
The GDipHR program will supersede the existing Comprehensive Research Experience for Medical Students (CREMS) Research Scholar experience, which was introduced in 2010. Whereas a CREMS Scholar presently receives no academic credential upon successful completion of the existing program, completion of the enriched GDipHR program will lead to awarding of a Diploma and its recording on the graduating medical student's academic transcript. It is expected that the first GDipHR students will begin their program in January, 2019. No offer of admissions will be made to the program pending final approval by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.
Please submit proposed research projects on the attached Supervisor and Project Information form (by email only) to gdip.hres@utoronto.cano later than Sept. 4, 2018. Acceptable projects will be posted on the GDipHR website for perusal by interested student applicants. Please also sign and submit the attached Commitments form that you accept the GDipHR program requirements in the event that you take on the supervision of a selected student.
The supervision of such students can be beneficial to faculty in multiple ways. They are very bright and accomplished; many will go on after graduation, GDipHR in hand, to do further research training as Residents, Fellows and/ or graduate students on their way to eventual faculty positions as clinician-scientists. In seeking supervisors for such training, they will naturally consider applying to faculty they have encountered during their GDipHR. But before then, they will contribute to the environment and productivity of their supervisors’ research programs, bringing fresh perspectives and a quest for eventual applicability of their results to the clinical arena.
The new program offers important advantages to the students as well. For those who have not had any previous research experience, completion of the GDipHR will offer graduate level training and an additional U of T credential without prolonging the time required to receive their MD degree. It will provide exposure to cutting edge health-related and translational research by world – class faculty from the U of T Faculty of Medicine and School of Public Health from a broad range of disciplines and research methodologies. It will also provide advantages in competition for future advanced training positions. For those who have already completed graduate research training before starting the MD program, it will permit them to remain current in research and perhaps to explore new areas and approaches while completing their MD in the standard four academic years.
This request is addressed to prospective GDipHR research project supervisors. The application process for a first year MD student interested in the GDipHR program is outlined at https://md.utoronto.ca/graduate-diploma-health-research-0 . After identifying a project of interest, students are strongly encouraged to meet with the prospective supervisor, to ensure that they have a clear understanding of what will be involved in undertaking the proposed research project. They will have until Oct 20, 2018 to submit a complete application package. By Dec. 7, successful applicants will be notified of their selection and will be required within 10 days of notification to obtain the written commitment of the faculty member to supervise their specific research project in GDipHR.
