New office serves FHS faculty’s continuing professional development

A new office has been created within the Faculty of Health Sciences to further advance health sciences and medical education as well as professional development opportunities for faculty members and health-care professionals.

The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) office is an amalgamation of the Continuing Health Sciences Education Program, Program for Faculty Development, and Learning Technologies Lab. Its headquarters will be based at the David Braley Health Sciences Centre in downtown Hamilton.

Serving at its helm is Khalid Azzam, who has been appointed as the inaugural associate dean of Continuing Professional Development. He is a professor of medicine and past assistant dean of Continuing Health Sciences Education in the Faculty.

“The three groups have come together to work more efficiently and seamlessly to benefit faculty members and external learners,” said Azzam.  

Each of the three groups will continue their projects and offerings, but streamlined through a centralized office.

Continuing Health Sciences Education supports schools, department, programs and faculty members in designing, planning, developing and delivering effective continuing education activities for practising health-care professionals. The Program for Faculty Development is responsible for supporting and enabling faculty members to fulfill their academic and professional responsibilities as educators, scholars, academic clinicians, leaders and university citizens. The Learning Technologies Lab supports the effective use of technology as it related to teaching and learning in health sciences education.   

Reporting to Azzam, the team’s leadership includes Nishma Singhal, assistant dean of Continuing Health Sciences Education; Teresa Chan, assistant dean of the Program for Faculty Development; Ilana Bayer, director of the Learning Technologies Lab, and Danielle Stayzer, the new manager of Continuing Professional Development.

“I’m excited at the talented team assembled to deliver these programs and services,” said Azzam. “Each of these leaders bring knowledge and experience that will be an asset to this new collaboration and benefit those we are serving.”

The creation of the CPD office was the result of a recent review of business processes, organizational needs and best practices. The new office will allow for greater strategic oversight of the various programs. It will also permit greater efficiencies, improved quality, increased productivity and enhanced scholarship.

Mark Walton, vice-dean of Faculty Affairs, said the new CPD office is an integral asset to the continuum of education.  

“The mission of Faculty Affairs is to enhance and support faculty member success, well-being and academic advancement,” said Walton. “The CPD office allows us to meet, if not surpass, this mission.”             

Paul O’Byrne, dean and vice-president of the Faculty of Health Sciences, said: “This is an innovative change to our continuing professional development offerings in the Faculty and I believe it will yield meaningful outcomes.”   

To learn more about the Continuing Professional Development office, email manager Danielle Stayzer at stayzer@mcmaster.ca.