New structure for faculty development, social accountability and community engagement and interprofessional education
In line with our goal to clarify Faculty priorities to ensure we effectively and efficiently advance our mission, in March 2025, we announced organizational changes for three offices: Faculty Development; Social Accountability and Community Engagement (SACE); and Interprofessional Education.
In the last few years, work had begun to define next steps in the evolution of these mandates to meet emerging needs. This endeavour was informed by the Faculty’s strategic planning consultations, the EDI Working Group report and evolving accreditation standards, as well as University-level strategic goals. It was accelerated by the current budget challenges and future outlook.
We are now in the process of introducing a new Faculty-level organizational structure that will position these priority mandates under the direct purview of the VP-Dean Office, regrouping them into two hubs. This change is being guided by our strategic plan priorities to deliver with and for our communities, to provide outstanding education to outstanding learners, including faculty members, and to stay focused on our mission while we transform to meet needs.
The hubs, reporting to the Vice-Dean, Education and Community Engagement, are the following:
- Community engagement and belonging: The increasing number of School- and unit-specific social accountability and community engagement activities implemented since the inception of SACE has been a very positive evolution, one that has moved beyond the scope of a single office. With the original SACE mandate fulfilled, this Faculty hub will now assume responsibility to support the local activities that are already embedded, underway and aligned with our mission. It will also help to cultivate new initiatives that will advance our social accountability and community engagement objectives. The important work of the Indigenous Health Professions Program (IHPP) is closely linked to this portfolio. While not part of this transition, the IHPP will also be supported by the Vice-Dean through the hub. We are very appreciative of the progress made by the SACE Office, in collaboration with valued partners in Quebec’s diverse communities, the Faculty and the University.
- Education support, enhancement and innovation: In recent years, the Faculty has expanded to two campuses and broadened its clinical teaching network to respond to the growing demand for more trained health professionals across Quebec. There is now a clear need for bilingual faculty development and interprofessional education activities that also embrace digital innovation. This Faculty hub will build on strengths and activities, increasing their reach and ensuring they are easily accessible to all, as well as sustainable, in ongoing collaboration with the Faculty Development and Interprofessional Education leadership and teams.
The transition to this new organizational structure began in March and will continue through to April 30, 2025, and beyond. We are deeply committed to working with our partners to ensure a smooth transition and to effectively deliver on our core mission and these priorities, together.
Further details of the vision and form of these two hubs will be shared as they take shape.
Lesley Fellows, MDCM, DPhil
Vice-President (Health Affairs)
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Demetra Kafantaris, MBA
Executive Director, Administration and Operations
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences