Education Research & Scholarship

Creating, mobilizing and applying knowledge across the organization and beyond.

Goal Statement: 

Education research and scholarship will be enhanced to improve learner, teacher, and patient experiences and outcomes.

2023 Success Measures:

1. Sunnybrook will be viewed as a leader in research related to “patient as educator” by TAHSNe partners.
2. Double the number of “patient as educator” education research publications.
3. 5 per cent increase in the number of successful education research grants related to “patient as educator” research.
4. 25 per cent increase in number of “patient as educator” presentations at education conferences.

Overview

In 2013, Sunnybrook established the Education Research Unit (ERU) in response to the changes across the system in the way that health education was being delivered. With its unique focus on education research across the spectrum of health providers, the ERU’s stated purpose was to provide Sunnybrook with the capacity to help frame, study, and answer practical questions about training and learning in innovative ways.

Much has been achieved since then in building capacity, creating a welcoming interprofessional space for education research and scholarship³, contributing to TAHSN-wide collaborations, and encouraging participation in education research and scholarship across all of Sunnybrook’s programs. From the grant submissions received, there is evidence of a growing interest in education research and scholarship across Sunnybrook. There is also evidence of a wide range of expertise – from novice to expert.

The recent granting of an ACMS Professorship in Education Research and the successful recruitment of the first full-time education scientist provides the opportunity for major education research and scholarship contributions in the area of engaging patients as educators and examining shifting power relations and access to knowledge and expertise. Patients will be included in ethical and equitable ways across the education research continuum (i.e., generating research ideas to implementing change) in alignment with foundational principles and best practices in patient engagement research (Forsythe et al, 2018; Harrison et al, 2019). In addition, education research and scholarship capacity will be developed more broadly through the hosting of workshops in partnership with other TAHSNe members as well as through the provision of mentorship by the new Sunnybrook education scientist and other seasoned researchers and scholars.

Consistent communication and building awareness of the ERU and education research and scholarship activities will support ongoing relationship and partnership building both locally and across the system, giving rise to an interprofessional community of practice.

Special attention will be paid to education research and scholarship within the other four strategic directions of the Education Program, fostering a culture of innovative critical inquiry to create new knowledge. In the post- COVID-19 world, speeding up the dissemination of knowledge in both traditional and non-traditional ways will be critical. Impact will be demonstrated through narrative, using a modified version of the Most Significant Change Methodology to demonstrate effectiveness beyond the traditional quantitative outcome measures (Dart and Davies, 2003).