Strategic Plan Refresh Retreat
On Friday March 7th 2017, we gathered at the University
Club to review the progress of the 2012-2017 Strategic
Plan and discuss future endeavours. Dean Trevor Young
welcomed and congratulated the Department on its
ability to achieve “efficiency in finite resources”, a testament
to our success and creativity in the collaboration
of talents within our own community. In this spirit, the
Department of Surgery’s Strategic Plan 2018-2023 will
be entitled Aspire, Advance, Achieve.
Ori Rotstein discussed the formal institution of a
mentoring program for junior faculty members and its
future expansion to include the Scientists. The Faculty
Development Committee will implement a variety of
strategies to target faculty wellness, increased diversity in
the surgeon profile, and leadership opportunities.
Robin McLeod spoke about the Quality Committee’s
accomplishments over the past five years, including hospital-
wide guidelines and databases for identifying gaps
in care. Future priorities will concentrate on knowledge
translation, stakeholder involvement for widespread dissemination,
and clinical trials.
As the recently appointed Vice -Chair of Education,
Najma Ahmed discussed new priority areas for the next
plan. Topics such as satisfaction in the undergraduate
experience and its subsequent effect on choosing surgery
as a career path will be addressed, as will the role of simulation
and technology in clinical learning and practice.
All of this in the setting of competency based education.
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Michael Fehlings spoke to the ongoing successful
contribution of our trainees and faculty in terms of
grant capture, impact factor, and innovative knowledge
generation. Moving forward, the Research Committee
will focus on enhanced collaborative efforts between
the Research Institutes and Hospitals, and the generation
of interdisciplinary research. Shaf Keshavjee supported
these ideas in congruency with the Innovation
Committee’s action items, including increased peer support
for commercial efforts and an educational exchange
similar to Stanford’s Biodesign Innovation Fellowship.
While several of our faculty members and residents
travel to low-income countries to develop capacity building
in surgical skills, it is often performed in silos and
independent of Departmental oversight. Avery Nathens
talked about building a formal global surgery office with
visible online presence, infrastructure, trainee programs,
and philanthropic support over the next few years.
In addition to the pillar leads, Australian neurosurgeon
Kate Drummond led an inspired presentation on
women in surgery. She attributed her career satisfaction
to mentors and peer support, and emphasized the importance
of diversity in the workplace. Recommendations
for a supportive environment include a cultural change
with engaged management, educational outreach, and
a complaints management system. To complement the
discussion, Karen Devon presented a highly moving
look into Intimate Partner Violence in the medical
workplace. Guests were invited to contribute their own
Department-specific suggestions, which will be reviewed
and incorporated into the wellness domain of Faculty
Development initiatives.
The day concluded with an exciting keynote address
from Steve Williams, an animator and graphic designer
whose most notable work includes pioneering the
stop-motion animation techniques first utilized in the
cinematic blockbuster, Jurassic Park. It was an inspiring
reminder to push the conventional boundaries of problem
solving.
As the Strategic Plan coordinator, I will facilitate
committee meetings to further develop these ideas into
defined goals and measurable activities. By the end of
2017, Aspire, Advance, Achieve: 2018-2023 will be complete,
and ready for its January implementation. I look
forward to building our new Strategic Plan with all of
you. If we aspire on a lofty scale, we can advance, and we
will achieve our goals in uncommon hours.
Joanna Giddens, MBA, BAH,
Strategic Plan Coordinator, Department of Surgery,
University of Toronto
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