
Women’s College Hospital (WCH) is an internationally recognized academic health sciences centre, fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. It offers unparalleled mentorship, teaching, leadership and learning in an ambulatory environment with a focus on generating sustainable health system solutions.
WCH’s team of professionals and learners are revolutionizing patient care and the patient experience by transforming inpatient to outpatient care models and enabling the most effective integration of virtual care.
WCH’s Education Department supports humanistic education and care, engaging patients and communities in working to improve processes and practices. The team strives to create life-long learners, while also aiding the path of our future healthcare professionals.
Our Team
Dr. Lenkov is the Director for Undergraduate Medical Education for Peters-Boyd Academy in the Faculty of Medicine at Women’s College Hospital. Dr. Lenkov has been a physician with Women’s College Hospital for 20 years and has been a Medical Educator for 18 years. Dr. Lenkov completed her Bachelor of Science Degree and her MDCM from McGill University.
Jennifer.alexander@wchospital.ca
Jennifer is the Medical Education Coordinator here at Women’s College Hospital, overseeing the Postgraduate and Undergraduate Medical students from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She has been with Women’s College Hospital since 2004 and has been the Medical Education Coordinator since 2005. Jennifer completed her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and History at Ryerson University as well as a diploma of Medical Administration at Herzing College.
Victoria is the Patient and Community Engagement Lead, starting at Women’s College Hospital in summer 2022. In this newly created position, her responsibilities include enhancing how the hospital works with patients, community groups and others with lived experience to ensure innovative and impactful relationships. Victoria is originally from the UK and completed a Bachelor of Science degree at Durham University and a PhD in cancer research from Newcastle University. She has a range of professional experience in research science, health writing and patient advocacy.
Joyce has recently been appointed to the role of education scientist at WCH. She is a PhD-trained scientist with 30 years of experience in qualitative and mixed-methods education research, program development, and evaluation. She is excited to be helping to build a culture of education scholarship across WCH departments. Joyce is currently developing a consultation system for clinical staff and faculty to assist WCH stakeholders with their education scholarship.
Sharon.Tan@wchospital.ca
Sharon is the Manager of Learner and Student Services. Sharon holds a Master of Public Health in Indigenous Health with a collaborative specialization in Aging and the Life Course. She has experience building relationships with over 20 government, non-profit, and industry partners to support student practicum experience. Sharon manages Learner and Student Services at WCH including the student experience, supervisor/preceptor development. She will also be responsible for policies and procedures related to students/learners, identifying opportunities of interest, and providing support for strategic education initiatives and capacity building.
Carly.Gasparotto@wchospital.ca
Carly holds a Bachelor’s of Applied Arts in Media Studies and Communications from the University of Guelph and a Journalism , Print and Broadcast Diploma from Humber College. Though her formal schooling prepared her to ask different types of questions, she has taken full advantage of what she has learned and has applied it the roles that lead her to Women’s College Hospital. Carly comes to WCH from Trillium Health Partners, (THP), where she was the Program Administrative Assistant for the Education Office. Prior to her time at THP, she was the PreClerkship & OTN Education Coordinator at North York General Hospital (NYGH). In her role at NYGH she not only managed the first and second Year U of T Medical Students, but also assisted with the on-boarding of the postgraduate and undergraduate medical students across the organization. She worked with different departments to manage and submit faculty appointments as well as supported the Interprofessional Education sessions. She has close to 6 years of Education experience within a hospital setting and looks forward to using the transferable skills she has acquired in her new role with the Nursing, Health Disciple & Research Students at WCH.
Fully affiliated with the University of Toronto (UofT) Women’s College Hospital is a world-leading institute in health for women, health equity and health system solutions – a hospital designed to keep people out of the hospital with specialty clinics offering unique and one-of-a-kind experiences.
We’re proud to host over 1,200 student learners per year from a variety of health professions. These learners have the opportunity to participate with world-class educators in the provision of high-quality person-centred care.
If you are a student/learner and are interested in a placement at WCH, please work through your academic institution and your placement advisor. If unable to go through your academic institution/placement advisor, please contact the WCH Learner Registration Office and they will reach out to the respective Education Coordinator:
WCH Learner Registration Office
Please note that observerships are NOT coordinated through the Education Department or the Learner Registration Office.
- Observerships are coordinated through the Department of Medical Affairs and Professional Practice, respectively.
Learners at WCH
To those joining WCH as a student learner, welcome! We are thrilled you chose to continue your education with us, and we look forward to being part of your journey. The Education Department has compiled a collection of helpful information to assist you through your time at WCH.
Working with the Research Operations and Women’s College Research Institute, we facilitate the research trainee experience. This includes onboarding, offboarding, and being the primary contact for student needs relevant to the hospital.
A trainee includes:
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- A student enrolled in an academic program or course which requires them to participate in a practicum/placement/co-op, and who is being supervised by WCH Clinician/Scientist.
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- A current graduate student (Masters/PhD) being supervised by WCH Clinician/Scientist.
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- A Post-Doctoral Fellow (who has concluded their PhD) working under a WCH Clinician/Scientist.
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- A medical student participating in a research block, or conducting research work as part of their training. Note: Medical students who are doing research work as part of their training, but are not required to do so expressly by their program MAY be eligible for onboarding as a trainee
Trainees are not WCH employees or volunteers. Trainees are engaged for the purpose of training and academic credit. Some trainees may be paid via stipend.
*Medical students who are doing research work as part of their training, but are not required to do so expressly by their program MAY be eligible for onboarding as a trainee. Please see guidelines below:.
They must be University of Toronto undergraduate medical students, or registered through the University of Toronto – as WCH is affiliated with the University of Toronto, we can accept their students;
They must provide proof of enrollment in the medical school program and their current year of study;
They must provide a current copy of their CV;
Their engagement can only be for the duration of the academic year.
For Pre-clerkship Year 1 and Pre-clerkship Year 2: Beginning of September to 30 May (or any period between).
For Clinical Clerks Year 3 (CC3) and Clinical Clerk Year 4 (CC4): Beginning of July to 30 June (or any period between).
If the student does not fulfill the above, they cannot be onboarded through Education at WCH.
Onboarding a Research Trainee
Required Documentation:
- Current CV
- Proof of enrollment, award, or completion, such as one or more of the following:
- Proof of enrollment in course/program which requires them to participate in a practicum/placement/experiential learning OR proof of enrollment in their Masters or PhD program requiring a research/thesis component (e.g., Letter of Registration, completed course registration form)
- Evidence of completion of PhD (for a Postdoctoral Fellow)
- Letter indicating receipt of a research training program and/or award
- Their Supervisor’s name
- Prospective start and end date of engagement – best if this is outlined in the information provided by the academic institution. The dates and details of the trainee’s engagement must match any back up documentation you provide. All documentation should be provided a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the expected start date, but if it is available, it can be provided sooner.
- Total stipend amount if applicable. Stipends are paid out on a monthly basis.
- Cost centre that will cover the cost of the stipend.
If you are unsure with what documentation is required, please contact us.
Once all documentation is received, the Letter of Engagement can be drafted for the research trainee which acts as their contract.
All documentation should be sent in one email to Sharon.Tan@wchospital.ca with a clear subject heading and trainee’s full name (“Requesting Letter of Engagement for FirstName LastName”). Please do not send items one at a time. This will not speed up the process.
Below is a summary of the onboarding process for research trainees and the contacts involved.
- Trainee and Supervisor initiate the Onboarding Process: Once the trainee and supervisor jointly agree to engage in a practicum/placement/co-op, an email with the required documentation is sent to the Education Coordinator, Nursing, Health Disciplines, and Research.
- Education collects required forms and documentation: Once drafted, the letter of engagement is sent to the supervisor and/or their delegate (e.g., Research Manager) for review, and signature of the supervisor. The letter along with the other required onboarding documentation is sent directly to the trainee for their review and signature.
- Education prepares and provides network credentials for access and onboarding: After receiving all forms and documentation before the start date, Education will provide the student with the following, if relevant to the role:
- WCH email and network access
- Security ID badge form
- Setup trainee for E-Learning courses
- If paying a stipend, the stipend request will be processed and will require additional signatures from the cost centre owner.
All forms and documentation must be signed and provided by the trainee at least 1 week before the start date. The trainee must also fulfill requirements by Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness. Late completion of onboarding requirements will lead to delays.
Medical Student Travel Bursary for Education Scholarship
Through a generous donation, the Department of Academics at WCH now offers medical students a travel bursary to promote education scholarship. This bursary is available to University of Toronto medical students supervised by a WCH clinician who have presented their education research or scholarship at an academic conference (e.g. medical, healthcare, education).
Up to $1,500 will be awarded among successful applicants (i.e., a total of $1,500 annually) to help cover costs such as travel, accommodation, conference registration, and posters. Successful applicants will be notified via e-mail and be recognized at the annual Women’s College Hospital Day of Excellence in Academics event in the spring.
The bursary submission deadline is Friday October 27, 2023.
FAQs from Learners
As you prepare to begin your placement at WCH, you may have questions about your placement and experience at the hospital. The Education Department at WCH has put together a collection of FAQs to help you navigate your time with us.
If PPE is required, it will be supplied by the departments where your rotation is occurring. If you have concerns, please speak to your supervisor or contact the Education department.
Rotations for Faculty of Medicine Learners will be determined by U of T. The Registrar and Education Coordinators will work together to try to place you in a clinic and with a supervisor to meet your experience and interest. It may not always be possible because of supervisor availability. However, the placement will be in a clinic appropriate to the level of your education and interest
Learners schedules usually follow the same schedule as the Supervisor. You can discuss schedules with your supervisor on your first day.
Education Awards
Education Awards applications for the year will be arriving soon. Check this space for more updates.
This is open to physicians, staff including nurses, allied health, non-clinical staff who supervise students, and administrative staff who support students/learners.
Contact Information:
Sharon Tan, Room 2440 – 76 Grenville St.
Sharon.Tan@wchospital.ca
Help Us Train Our Future Physicians
Womenʼs College Hospital is committed to providing practical learning experiences for our medical students. We welcome you to become a patient partner in our Volunteer Patient Program to assist in the education of our future physicians.
The Volunteer Patient Program involves ambulatory patients in the training of medical students and helps develop medical studentsʼ interpersonal skills through encounters with patients in a non-clinical setting.
An Ideal Participant
- Has a means of transportation to and from Womenʼs College Hospital
- Is comfortable speaking in English
- Has at least one medical issue they are comfortable discussing with a student
- Is available Thursday or Friday mornings for two hours for a minimum of twice per year
What Can You Expect From the Experience?
- Full supervision by a licensed physician
- Our promise to keep your health information private and confidential
- A stipend to cover travel costs
- A no-obligation rule that allows you to opt out of the program at any time
- An opportunity to provide feedback at the end of the academic year as to how we can improve the program
*Please note that we will not provide you with healthcare recommendations
What Is Required from You?
- Two hours of your time (on Thursday or Friday mornings for a minimum of twice per year)
- Willingness to be involved in this unique medical training experience
- Having a discussion in English with one or more medical students about at least one medical issue
- Being comfortable while medical students review your medical history and perform a non-invasive physical examination under the supervision of a licensed physician
If you are interested in volunteering for the program or have any questions about participation, please contact: Jennifer Alexander, Education Coordinator jennifer.alexander@wchospital.ca