Annette Majnemer, OT, PhD, Professor, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy and Senior Scientist, Research Institute of the 91社区 Health Centre鈥檚 Child Health and Human Development Program, recently stepped down from her role as inaugural Vice-Dean, Education in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS). We spoke to her about what she considers her most important achievements over the past six years, her plans for the future and her newest passion: bubbyhood!
Prof. Majnemer, you were the first person to hold the position of Vice-Dean, Education in the FMHS and you served two terms. What are you most proud of from your two terms?
Well, I鈥檒l start by saying that I鈥檓 very proud of what we accomplished in developing a faculty-wide education strategic plan called Project Renaissance听[Read the听final report听(笔顿贵). Our task was to create a cross-cutting plan relevant to all units and departments, and we involved more than 1,200 stakeholders to come to consensus on meaningful goals and potential actions for the different schools within the Faculty. I am especially grateful for the ongoing support that Dean Eidelman provided in accomplishing our strategic plan.
We also achieved much in terms of breaking silos in the Faculty, and promoting more cross-talk among schools and departments so they can share best practices, information and resources, and be inspired by each other鈥檚 successes. Another achievement was introducing a model to identify champions of educational leadership in each unit, department or school to promote and advance educational innovation and initiatives. And even before equity, diversity and inclusion became a Faculty priority, we made it integral to our thinking to include diverse voices and perspectives, and also look at equity in terms of access to educational resources.
How would you like to see the seeds you planted grow and flourish?
The FHMS has evolved from a mixed governance structure of schools, departments and programs to six distinct schools, which each provide a focus for education. The emerging strategic collaborations, and continued innovation both within and across schools to promote educational excellence, will be important going forward.
There are also new opportunities on the horizon. The pandemic derailed educational innovation to some extent with the rapid pivot to remote teaching and learning. It was a very intense learning period for both our instructors and learners, but we gained expertise in online education, and now have an opportunity to capitalize on that with, for example, international education, continuing education, continuing professional development, and online degree programs and certificates which broaden our scope of learners to include graduates, frontline clinicians, and the public at large.
How do you feel as you pass the baton to your successor, Farhan Bhanji?听
I鈥檓 very excited for him and for the FMHS. Farhan will bring new insights and a breadth of knowledge and expertise to the Vice-Dean role. He is a very thoughtful, scholarly individual, an innovator, a leader and a team player. Educational leadership for the FMHS is in very good hands.
You have described yourself as a lifelong 91社区ian. Your husband and kids are also 91社区ians. What makes this place special for you and your family?
Yes, you can definitely say we鈥檙e all very tied to 91社区! We have eight degrees among us, and there鈥檚 actually a ninth in progress for one of my daughters. There鈥檚 no question that 91社区 has given all of us a very strong foundation in terms of our respective career paths. I think we鈥檝e all done well and are very indebted to 91社区 as an educational institution.
My husband Michael [Shevell, former Chair of the Department of Pediatrics] and I are very grateful for having the opportunity to be leaders within 91社区. It has been very enriching and we鈥檙e very proud of what we鈥檝e accomplished in these roles. We have also appreciated working with other leaders, other Faculty members, and we鈥檙e both very involved in really trying to support distributed leadership, so helping to foster new leaders. I鈥檇 also add that for both of us it鈥檚 been very important to focus on stakeholders, whether patients or learners, to guide our leadership towards creating the best impact for them.
What鈥檚 next for you?
I鈥檒l be taking a sabbatical until September 2023. I haven鈥檛 been on a sabbatical in 25 years so I鈥檓 really past due! I have a very active research lab so my focus will be on phase 2 of the CHILD-BRIGHT SPOR network, as well as the new DIVERT Mental Health training program, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and several other research projects.
I really enjoy spending time with our daughters, who are both incredible women, and I have a granddaughter and another on the way so 鈥榖ubbyhood鈥� will also be a major preoccupation! Michael and I have also long had the travel bug and we鈥檝e always thought it鈥檚 wonderful to have the opportunity to see and learn about different cultures. So after nearly three years of staying close to home we鈥檙e ready to hit the road again. While Vice-Dean, I was on 35 committees so this year is going to be quite different!听