APRIL 2026

McMaster UGME learners, faculty, and program graduates were well represented at the International Congress on Academic Medicine (ICAM) 2026, contributing to national conversations in medical education, equity, and innovation.

Learner presentations highlighted impactful work across campuses. Ewa Akomolafe (C2027) presented research examining how historical structures have contributed to inequities in medical admissions, exploring the development of the Facilitated Indigenous Admission Pathway and its role in informing the Black Equity Stream. Her work also considered the broader societal impact of these initiatives and the lived experiences of learners admitted through them.

Kieran Chalmers (C2026, NRC learner) presented on a peer-led academic initiative developed at the NRC that has grown into a core part of campus programming. The initiative supports learners in building research skills, gaining presentation experience, and fostering a connected academic community.

Jolie Yeung and Suchnoor Dhillon (C2026, NRC learners) presented their study, “The Value of Guided Near-Peer Cadaveric Dissection in Understanding Gross Hip Anatomy.” This pilot project explored the impact of a didactic and dissection-based anatomy session they co-led for first-year NRC learners. Their work examined how near-peer teaching can enhance anatomy learning, particularly in regional campus settings, and reflects nearly two years of development.

Many other UGME learners were present and actively engaged throughout the conference, and we are proud of all who contributed and presented.

Program graduates were also featured. Dr. Amirthan Sothivannan (BHSc MD, MacMed Class of 2023) was an invited speaker at the Atelier AmbassaDocteurs, hosted by the AFMC Network on Francophone Minority Communities. Currently a PGY3 Internal Medicine resident at Université Laval and incoming Rheumatology resident at the University of Ottawa (2026–2028), he shared his experience transitioning from an English UGME program to a fully French residency. His talk highlighted the importance of language in clinical practice and offered practical advice on building French proficiency, pursuing leadership and advocacy, and integrating into Francophone communities.

Faculty contributions reflected strong alignment with UGME priorities across FHS, with many UGME faculty leaders in attendance and engaged in sessions throughout ICAM. Dr. Enas El-Gouhary, FHS Well-being Director, facilitated a workshop on Joy in Work, focusing on improving the experience of learners and healthcare teams. Dr. Nina Ahuja, associate professor and medical educator, presented outcomes from her Neuroleadership program, supporting leadership development in medical training. Dr. Albina Veltman, former UGME Chair of Diversity and Engagement, contributed to a session on creating ethical spaces for dialogue in health equity and social justice work.

Together, these contributions reflect McMaster’s continued leadership in advancing medical education, supporting learner scholarship, and shaping conversations in healthcare across Canada and beyond.

In a recent feature from the Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster medical learner Ethan Michalenko shares his perspective on the UGME program and what makes the experience unique.

Ethan highlights the program’s emphasis on developing not only clinical knowledge, but also critical thinking, collaboration, and lifelong learning skills. Through problem-based learning and early clinical exposure, students are encouraged to actively engage with real-world healthcare challenges and build a strong foundation for future practice.

He also reflects on how the program prepares learners to make an impact beyond the classroom — shaping physicians who are equipped to contribute to healthcare locally, nationally, and globally.

Read the feature here.

The UGME program is pleased to welcome a new leader into a key role this spring. This appointment reflects our ongoing commitment to learner support, academic excellence, and community-engaged medical education.

Dr. Jennifer He has been appointed Director, Clerkship – Emergency Medicine, with the UGME program, effective June 1, 2026.

We look forward to the leadership, insight, and dedication Dr. He will bring to the program.

Read the full announcement on our website.

McMaster medical students Layla Chai-Rahnema (C2028, MMSC President), Wil Taylor (C2028, VP External), and Sarah Elkayed (C2028, VP Global Health) recently represented McMaster at the Canadian Medical Student Conference (CMSC) in Ottawa, hosted by the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS).

As student government representatives, they connected with medical student leaders from across the country and participated in national roundtable discussions, helping to represent McMaster’s voice on key issues in medical education.

Learners also took part in the CFMS National Day of Action on Parliament Hill, where this year’s focus was emergency department wait times. They met with Members of Parliament and Senators representing the Hamilton region and surrounding areas to advocate for Bill S-5, the Connected Care for Canadians Act, which aims to modernize Canada’s health system through improved data interoperability and reduced barriers between health technology systems. Discussions also included the importance of strengthening supports and incentives for rural medicine.

This experience highlights the important role UGME learners play in national advocacy and shaping the future of healthcare in Canada.

Congratulations to Ashlyn Chou (C2027) on her recent publication in Psycho-Oncology exploring the role of creative arts therapies in cancer care.

In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 67 randomized controlled trials, Ashlyn and her team examined how interventions such as music, art, and dance/movement therapy impact mental health outcomes. Their findings suggest these therapies can help improve anxiety, depression, and quality of life for cancer patients.

These findings suggest that creative arts therapies can complement standard clinical approaches in supporting mental health and quality of life.

Ashlyn was also recognized for this work with Best Oral Presentation at MMSRD 2025.

Read the study here.

Congratulations to Renee Fournier (C2028) on her first-authored publication in CJC Open.

Her study, “Variability in Adoption of Surgical Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: An International Survey of Cardiac Surgeons,” examined how cardiac surgeons approach a guideline-recommended procedure used during cardiac surgery. While most surgeons reported performing surgical ablation, the study identified considerable variation in technique and patient selection, influenced by factors such as atrial fibrillation type and case complexity.

The findings also highlight key barriers to broader adoption, including limited evidence and resource constraints, pointing to important gaps between clinical guidelines and real-world practice.

Read the study here.

The Orthopaedics Interest Group recently hosted a hands-on casting workshop at the Hamilton campus, welcoming 20 learners and a PGY1 orthopaedic resident.

The session began with a teaching session from Dr. James Abesteh on the principles of splinting and casting, including indications, techniques, and common pitfalls. This was followed by a live demonstration of volar and dorsal splints, as well as fiberglass short arm casts.

Learners then practiced these techniques in small groups, applying splints and casts on one another and gaining early exposure to fundamental orthopaedic skills in a supportive, low-pressure environment.

The workshop was organized by C2028 students Robert Taylor and Larry Nguyen, in collaboration with Dr. James Abesteh, and aimed to build confidence while fostering interest in orthopaedics through practical learning.

UGME learners participated in the McMaster Child Health Research Day (MCHRD), a collaborative forum bringing together researchers, clinicians, learners, and families to showcase innovation in child and youth health.

A strong showing from UGME included nine medical student presenters sharing impactful work across pediatric and adolescent health. Research topics spanned gender-affirming care, youth substance use services, childhood cancer survivorship, consent education, chronic disease transitions, and long-term impacts of prematurity.

Congratulations to Sarah Pimenta (C2028) on receiving Best Research Poster (Medical Student category) for her project, “Dating in Adolescence: Trans/gender-diverse Experiences Amplified – A Qualitative Study at McMaster Children's Hospital.”



Additional UGME presenters included Anushka Hasija (C2027), Chloe Wong (C2028), Emily Anderson (C2027), Mary Dada (C2027), Maya Fields (C2027), and Navya Manoj (C2026).

Congratulations to all learners on their contributions to advancing equitable, youth-centered care.

UGME learners participated in the 2026 Quality Improvement & Patient Safety (QIPS) Retreat, held on March 26 at the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI).

Centred on the theme Sustainability and Scalability – Resource and Environmental Stewardship, the retreat brought together participants for cross-sector dialogue and knowledge sharing in quality improvement and patient safety.

The event was facilitated by Dr. Mohammad Refaei and Dr. Ramona Neferu. The program featured two keynote speakers, Dr Wendy Levinson and Dr. Myles Sergeant, two oral presentations, and 19 poster presentations, highlighting innovative approaches to quality improvement and patient safety. Dr. Levinson, who highlighted the role of high-value care and resource stewardship in improving patient outcomes, and Dr. Sergeant, who provided a compelling overview of the impact of climate change on health systems. Dr. Sergeant emphasized practical strategies for mitigation and resilience, framing climate change as both a patient safety and health system issue.

UGME learners Samarah Maqbool (C2028), June Xie (C2028), and Justin Lee (C2027) presented their quality improvement projects as posters, contributing to discussions on improving care systems and outcomes.

Participants came from McMaster University, Brock University, McGill University, the University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University, Hamilton Health Sciences, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, and Niagara Health.

Congratulations to all learners who shared their work and contributed to advancing quality improvement in healthcare.

UGME Research-in-Progress Rounds (RiPR) welcomes learners from all years and campuses to share research or quality improvement projects and receive constructive feedback from an expert panel, including methodologists, a biostatistician, and clinical trialists.

RiPR offers a supportive space to strengthen your project, work through challenges, and gain practical next steps. Learners are encouraged to participate if they are refining a research or QI question, selecting an appropriate study design, navigating implementation issues, clarifying data analysis, or developing abstracts and manuscripts.

Reserve your spot here. For more information, please contact Seddiq Weera or Dr. Kim Lewis.

The LMP Summit 2026 is a two-day event designed for MD students interested in exploring careers in Laboratory Medicine, including pathology, microbiology, and molecular diagnostics.

Held May 23–24, 2026 at the University of Toronto (St. George Campus), the summit features case-based sessions, specialty breakouts, panel discussions with program directors and residents, and opportunities to network with peers and leaders in the field.

This free event includes meals and offers a unique chance to gain exposure to a specialty not often seen during medical training. Spaces are limited, and learners must be available for both days.

Apply now to secure your spot and explore the role of laboratory medicine in clinical care.

Learners are invited to present their quality improvement and patient safety projects at the QIPS Koala-ty Den, an interactive pitch-style event inspired by Dragon’s Den and Shark Tank.

Participants will present their projects to a panel of judges for a chance to receive funding:

• First Place: $1,000
• Second Place: $500
• Third Place: $500

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 (5:00–8:30 p.m.)
• Location: PHRI Auditorium, 20 Copeland Avenue, Hamilton
• Cost: Free (dinner provided)

Audience members will also have the opportunity to vote for their favourite projects.

Submission deadline: May 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

More information and registration available here.

The NRC is pleased to welcome Dr. Kerry Boyd to the role of Regional Education Lead, Psychiatry. Dr. Boyd has been an active, engaged, and highly respected faculty member in Niagara for many years and previously held this role.

The NRC extends sincere thanks to Dr. Catherine Krasnik for her leadership and dedication over the past six years. Her commitment to supporting learners and strengthening the program has made a lasting impact.

We look forward to Dr. Boyd’s continued leadership in this role.

The WRC Spring Gala was held at Catalyst Commons in Kitchener, bringing together learners from the Classes of 2026, 2027, and 2028 to celebrate faculty, staff, and peers. The evening highlighted the strong sense of community at WRC, with learners coming together to recognize outstanding contributions across teaching, mentorship, and innovation.

A range of awards were presented, including the Dean’s Award to Dr. Parveen Wasi, the Global Health Award to Dr. Margo Mountjoy (unable to attend), and the Lucky Iron Fish Award for Innovation to Erin Skimson, Director of MACcelerate.

Excellence in mentorship and teaching was also recognized across multiple domains, including Dr. William Chan (unable to attend), Harkaran Dial, Dr. Ryan Scanlan (unable to attend), Dr. Maria Casale (unable to attend), Dr. Mary Jackson, Heather Allan, Dr. Mark Hindle, Dr. Nicholas D’Aloisio (unable to attend), Dr. Smriti Nayan, Dr. Kendra Komsa, and Dr. Dan Finnigan.

The evening also celebrated contributions to administrative support, with Ogi Oroz-WRHN receiving recognition, and featured MAC-CARE Teaching Awards presented to Dr. Chryssa McAlister (2024) (unable to attend) and Dr. Philip Harvey (2025).

The event reflected the strength of the WRC community and was made possible through the efforts of WRC staff and leadership, who organized an exceptional evening celebrating excellence across the program.