About the CFD
The Centre for Faculty Development (CFD) is a partnership between the University of Toronto (UofT) and St. Michael's Hospital (SMH) - a fully affiliated teaching hospital. The CFD is committed to enhancing the academic development of faculty in the Faculty of Medicine, additional Health Science Faculties (i.e. nursing, pharmacy, etc.) at UofT, and other institutions through innovation, capacity building and scholarship in the design, implementation and evaluation of faculty development. In addition to this commitment, the CFD welcomes anyone, regardless of whether they have a faculty appointment or not, who has a role related to teaching, education and academic work in their healthcare organization or setting.
Locally, we work collaboratively with groups and sites to provide programs across the greater Toronto area and province. Nationally and internationally, we collaborate with other institutions and welcome the continued opportunity to work with others in the development, delivery and evaluation of faculty development, and in the creation of new knowledge and understanding about faculty development.
What is Faculty Development?
Our current working definition of faculty development is as follows:
Faculty Development is a broad range of activities that institutions use to renew or assist faculty, supervisors, preceptors, field instructors, clinical educators, and status appointees in their roles. These activities are designed to improve an individual's knowledge and skills in teaching, education, administration, leadership and research.
Vision, Mission and Values
Vision- Advancing faculty development across the health sciences to promote academic excellence
Mission- To enhance teaching, learning and leadership in the academic health sciences system through faculty development.
Values- As leaders who are committed to excellence and the well being of faculty, students and their communities, the CFD embraces the following core values:
- Collaboration – Valuing and recognizing the wealth of knowledge and expertise of colleagues and partner institutions.
- Critical inquiry and scholarship- Valuing ongoing questioning of what is done and striving to be scholarly in all programs and projects.
- Innovation and creativity- Valuing creative thinking and calculated risk taking in creativity, delivery, and evaluation.
- Adaptability and responsiveness- Valuing flexibility in addressing the needs of an ever growing, diverse audience.
- Social accountability- Valuing the support the CFD provides to the health care system and the communities it serves.
History
Organizational Structure
Committees
The CFD has 10-15 program or project committees active any given time. Our core committees are: Governance Committee; Executive Council and Education Development Committee.
Governance Committee
This committee is advisory to the CFD Director and the CFD Executive Council. The committee has the responsibility for oversight of the unit’s accountability and monitoring the quality of the educational and research activities of the Centre.
This is accomplished by:
- ensuring leaders in professional practice, research and education advise on and commit to the success of the centre’s strategy and operations
- facilitating links to major educational organizations that can help advance the CFD’s mission
- advising on the identification of potential funding sources and opportunities
- providing feedback and approval of strategic plans
- reviewing the annual budget, annual reports and externals review documents
- ensuring that the Centre functions in a manner consistent with the mission, values and ethics of the Hospital and the University
Executive Council
The Executive Council is responsible for overseeing matters of day-to-day success of the CFD.
This is accomplished by:
- advising on policies, practices, goals and objectives
- informing the CFD of pertinent external initiatives and developments
- assisting in the establishment and monitoring strategic plan implementation
- advising on strategic relationships with the university and hospitals, our partners in professional education, other hospitals and community health providers
Education Development Committee
The Education Development Committee advises on the planning and delivery of our innovative instructional development activities.
This is accomplished by:
- identifying and prioritizing educational needs of our faculty
- identifying opportunities to align and create synergy among faculty development initiatives and resources within and outside the CFD
- identify new ideas for faculty development and educational scholarship
- participating in the process of planning and delivery of faculty development sessions
Communications
Each year, the CFD produces program brochures and reports to apprize learners, teachers and colleagues of new projects, milestones and outcomes. Please feel free to review, circulate and share any of these documents.
Membership
Our membership program supports educators by promoting excellence in teaching, research, education scholarship and leadership. Through formal affiliation, CFD Membership offers opportunities and benefits such as:
- A platform for networking with colleagues in the areas of teaching, education scholarship, education leadership and faculty development
- Mentoring and career development
- Enhancing identity and recognition within home department
- Opportunities to participate in working groups/committees
- Invitations to attend all Centre sponsored events
- Invitations to attend special members only events
- Access to CFD educational resources
There are 3 membership categories: General Member/Teaching Specialist, Academic Educator and Honorary Member. The Centre is accepting applications for the General Member/Teaching Specialist and Academic Educator categories.
Do you need more information? If so, please review the information below, consult our Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact:
Camille Borromeo
Education Program Coordinator
(416) 864-6060 x77419
Email Camille Borromeo
General Member/Teaching Specialist
A General Member Teaching Specialist is a health sciences faculty member committed to the teaching and supervision of learners. The appointment is renewable every 3 years. Applications are now being accepted.
Academic Educator
An Academic Educator is a health sciences faculty member who has demonstrated accomplishment and is engaged in educational scholarship and leadership which could include curriculum planning, program development, program evaluation, teaching/supervision innovation, and/or faculty development. The appointment is renewable every 3 years.
There is an opportunity to obtain the faculty developer designation within this category. It will identify individuals who have demonstrated accomplishment in the development, delivery and/or evaluation of faculty development activities and identifies this as a focus of their scholarly educational activity
Honorary Member
An Honorary Member (by invitation only) belongs to an academic institution other than the University of Toronto and participates in the academic activities of the CFD. These individuals are involved in faculty development activities at their home institution.
