Pictured above: Nathan Ho, director of pharmacy and preceptor, chats with University of Toronto pharmacy student Olakemi Vilasa

Celebrating 15 years of transforming care through education

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is a world leader in care, research and education in pediatric disability. Thanks to philanthropic support from our generous donors, the Teaching & Learning Institute (TLI) is celebrating its 15th anniversary, building on more than a century of teaching and learning — from its beginnings as an in-house school program to becoming a fully affiliated University of Toronto teaching hospital. TLI has always leveraged education and knowledge exchange to transform care for children and youth with disabilities and developmental differences, and their families.

"TLI brings our academic mission to life — advancing the best care through teaching, educational research and knowledge mobilization in partnership with clients and families,” says Dr. Golda Milo Manson, vice president of medicine and academic affairs. “For 15 years, TLI has helped our teams deliver evidence-informed supervision and teaching to our trainees and students so that the next generation of health professionals can provide care that adapts to each child’s strengths, goals and individual needs.”

Learning together, improving care

Formally established in 2011, TLI is Ontario’s only teaching institute based at a dedicated pediatric rehabilitation hospital. Today, it leads the way in interprofessional learning in childhood disability, leadership development and authentic, workplace-based training. 

Each year, more than 500 students from across Canada build their skills at Holland Bloorview — learning with and from clinicians, researchers, families and from each other through interprofessional opportunities. 

Opportunities abound for students to hone their collaborative competencies and their leadership skills. These benefits emerge through formal interprofessional education opportunities and student leadership experiences as well as being part of the practice environment. TLI’s student coordinator, Kim Jones-Galley, along with more than 30 health-care professionals who serve as clinical education liaisons, ensure every learner feels supported, welcomed and prepared to grow.

Empowering staff

TLI is committed to empowering staff as educators, scholars, leaders and as learners. As a teaching hospital, staff supervise students as preceptors and contribute to teaching, interprofessional education, simulation-based education and academic service.

As a University of Toronto teaching hospital, TLI values its strong partnership with the Centre for Faculty Development (CFD). With support from CFD, the institute delivers strong faculty development, including its annual Teaching & Learning Day. 

Darlene Hubley, interprofessional education leader and co-chair for Teaching & Learning Day says, “Faculty development in collaborative, interprofessional environments at Holland Bloorview contributes to an atmosphere of enthusiasm, connection and team-based support for learners."

Family-focused education

At the heart of TLI is a deep commitment to education to enhance client- and family-centred care. Through the award-winning Family As Faculty program embedded across numerous education offerings at the hospital, trained family leaders share their lived experience and expertise to educate clinicians, students and families. With support from the client and family integrated care team, they help shape research, curriculum and practice. This approach ensures learners hear directly from those at the centre of care, strengthening collaboration, communication, equity and respect.

"We create leadership experiences that matter — real, supervised learning in a pediatric setting,” says Shauna Kingsnorth, director of academic affairs. “Our students become adaptive, diversely skilled providers who are ready to deliver team-based care. Families are co-teachers. Their voices shape how we learn and how we care.”

Turning research into action

At Holland Bloorview, researchers and clinicians work side by side so innovation makes its way into children’s lives quicker. TLI is home to Evidence to Care (EtC), a knowledge mobilization team that partners with clinicians, researchers and families to translate the latest evidence into practical resources for everyday care. EtC has earned recognition including the SickKids Learning Institute inaugural KTPC Award of Excellence Video Competition (2018) and two Dr. John Whittaker awards from the Bloorview Research Institute.

"We turn research into action,” says Christine Provvidenza, EtC lead. “As knowledge brokers, we integrate research, education and care — partnering with scientists, trainees, clinicians and families to make complex information usable and drive meaningful impact for children and youth.”

Together with families, we are continuing to transform agile, equitable care through the power of education, research and knowledge mobilization.

By Suelan Toye