Focusing on accreditation and continuous improvement, the event offered a chance for PDs to exchange and share knowledge on a range of topics
On June 4, 2025, McGill’s Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Program Directors gathered at the Faculty Club for a retreat dedicated to enhancing the quality of residency training. The event offered a forum to discuss strategies for implementing the new accreditation standards and for strengthening continuous improvement (CI) processes at the program level.
Canada’s postgraduate medical education accreditation system—known as CanERA (Canadian Excellence in Residency Accreditation)—served as a central focus, guiding discussions on aligning program practices with national expectations. The retreat also fostered collaboration and knowledge sharing amongst Program Directors, underscoring McGill’s ongoing commitment to educational excellence in medical training.
“Program Directors’ retreats are a fantastic occasion to get together with our Program Directors and discuss topics of interest to all our training programs,” said Leon Tourian, MD, Associate Dean, PGME. “We’ve been quite fortunate to cover very relevant topics in the past such as equity, diversity and inclusion, or planetary health, and this retreat continues in that spirit—preparing our programs for updated accreditation standards surrounding safety and wellness. We have also delved into sharing easy-to-use methods for ensuring continuous improvement.”
Celebrating leadership in medical education
The day began with the Faculty Postgraduate Education Committee (FPGEC) meeting, highlighted by the recognition of two outstanding Program Directors for their leadership in residency education. Established in 2017, these awards celebrate Program Directors who demonstrate exceptional leadership and foster ongoing innovation in residency training across disciplines.
Linda Ofiara, MD, FRCPC, Program Director of the McGill Adult Respirology Residency Program, received the 2025 Program Director Leadership Award. This honor recognizes her long-standing commitment to mentorship, academic excellence, and the continuous advancement of postgraduate medical education.
Karl Muchantef, MD, Program Director in Diagnostic Radiology, was awarded the Emerging Leader Award. In just over a year in the role, he has distinguished himself through innovative curriculum design and a strong focus on resident engagement.
New accreditation standards and continuous improvement (CI)
Following opening remarks from Dr. Tourian, and Joanne Alfieri, MDCM, MMEd, Assistant Dean of Curricula, PGME, the retreat shifted focus to the updates to accreditation standards, for which PGME programs will be evaluated in 2027. Gabriela Ghitulescu, MDCM, Assistant Dean of Accreditation, PGME, introduced key changes and new expectations for Accreditation, particularly those related to wellness and safety.
Anali Maneshi, MDCM, FRCP (EM), Assistant Dean, Resident Affairs, and Co-Director at the Office of Medical Learner Affairs (OMLA), presented a new physician well-being curriculum, part of the revised accreditation requirement that emphasizes wellness across the residency lifecycle. The curriculum includes practical tools such as the S.T.O.P. technique and strategies for managing fatigue. Attendees discussed implementation challenges and opportunities within their programs.
Dr. Tourian then introduced the upcoming PGME United wellness and safety policy, which expands safety to include psychological, cultural, and professional dimensions.
Later in the morning, Dr. Ghitulescu guided participants through the CI Roadmap to Excellence, focusing on Standard 9. Program Directors worked in groups to brainstorm practical ways to evaluate and enhance their educational programs, supported by templates and examples for documentation.
The retreat closed with a Q&A and reflections, equipping program directors with the tools and strategies to foster meaningful improvement and well-being in their programs ahead of the next PGME accreditation cycle.
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