The Family Medicine Innovations in Learning (FMIL) program was first created to promote innovation in teaching, learning and curriculum design by creating forward-thinking, interactive approaches to education and leadership in family medicine and primary care both at McGill University, in Quebec and now around the world.
Touching all of the different teaching activities within the Department of Family Medicine, our role is to support and partner with teachers and program leaders in improving or creating material to fulfill their teaching goals. The team oversees the development and implementation of online-blended learning programs, courses, and lectures in Undergraduate, Graduate, and Post Graduate studies, as well as continuing professional development, faculty development, certificates and workshops offered within the Department of Family Medicine. FMIL is working with instructors to deliver content in an exciting way to better reach a new generation of students with different needs.
Mission
We are working to share this rich experience and unique knowledge in teaching and research in primary care by establishing partnerships across the world. We have developed a suite of innovative programs for primary care teachers, using a blended and active learning methodology. The goal of the program is to strengthen the foundation and enhance the leadership and teaching capacity of general practice teachers. Driven by a core group of McGill Family Medicine clinicians, teachers and leaders, our approach combines online courses, intensive face-to-face learning and practical activities. Using active learning principles to ensure that the curriculum is relevant to each student’s particular context, and building community-based learning cohorts to encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing, our curriculum is designed to keep students engaged in their learning experience by providing opportunities to apply their learning to their practice, both as teachers and as clinicians.
Primary Care at the Heart of Sustainable Health Care
There is a global consensus that primary care is the foundation of modern sustainable health care systems. In order to improve the quality of primary care, many countries are seeking ways to increase the number and quality of primary care physicians. One important way to do this is to increase the number and quality of teachers and leaders in family medicine.
A world leader in primary care delivery, research and education, the Department of Family Medicine at McGill has created and implemented a suite of International Education Programs intended for primary care teachers and using a blended and active learning methodology.
The goal of these programs is to strengthen the foundation and enhance the leadership and teaching capacity of general practice teachers. Driven by a core group of McGill Family Medicine clinicians, teachers and leaders, our approach combines online courses, intensive face-to-face learning and practical activities.
Using active learning principles to ensure that the curriculum is relevant to each student’s particular context, and building community-based learning cohorts to encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing, our curriculum is designed to keep students engaged in their learning experience by providing opportunities to apply their learning to their practice, both as teachers and as clinicians.
For more information, please contact fmil.fammed [at] mcgill.ca (Ms. Manxi Guo), FMIL Program Administrator.
The 12-Month Distance Blended Education Program: Fundamental Topics for General Practice Teachers
This program is intended for physicians who teach residents, medical students and other learners, and whose everyday work includes education, clinical care and management in primary health care. The program is composed of a 12-month distance learning component, and a 1-week enrichment program in the participants’ city of origin.
Distance Learning Component
Classes will be given by professors from the McGill Department of Family Medicine. Each class is comprised of 5-6 hours of classwork over a 3-4 week period. Online courses are accessed through an online learning management system (MyCourses) with IT support. Each class includes:
- Asynchronous lectures interspersed with engaging and interactive questions.
- Written assignments for participants to contextualize what was learned to their own practice
- Discussion forums to discuss and exchange ideas and course content with the professor, instructor and peers
- Virtual face-to-face meetings between the professors, instructor and participants to further discuss content, assignments, and conclusions
One-Week Enrichment Component
This session takes place either in the participants’ home location, or at the McGill Department of Family Medicine in Montreal. Special enrichment activities that apply what was learned online to the participant’s context may include:
- Exercises simulating doctor patient or teacher-resident encounters
- Interactive workshops with discussion
- Critical observation of practice in local community health clinics
- Observation and assessment of resident teaching and supervision
Such programs have been successfully implemented in China (Wuhan, Zhengzhou and Shenzhen) and Brazil (Sao Paolo)
For further details, see our brochure here.