External Events

Each year, the Canadian Association for Medical Education (CAME) presents recognition awards to individuals making significant contributions to medical education in Canada. 

Do you work with an inspirational medical educator? Would you like to recognise your colleague’s contributions to medical education? Please help us recognise the stellar work done in medical education at University of Calgary by nominating a colleague.

Nomination is easy – all we need is a paragraph outlining why someone should get the award – use the form attached and send to ugfm@ucalgary.ca by midnight NOVEMEBER 26, 2021.

We are seeking nominations for the following CAME awards:

1. CAME Certificate of Merit: to promote, recognize and reward faculty committed to medical education in Canadian medical schools. For more information, please visit: https://www.came-acem.ca/awards/came-certificate-of-merit-award/
    
2. NEW for 2022! CAME Rising Star – Certificate of Excellence: to recognize learners who have demonstrated a commitment and/or passion for medical education. For more information, please visit: https://www.came-acem.ca/awards/came-rising-star-certificate-of-excellence/

Winners will be notified internally during the first week of December 2021. If you have any questions regarding these awards, the nomination process or about CAME, please let me know.

Martina Kelly
CAME Representative, Cumming School of Medicine

Autistic traits in struggling learners: a blind spot in medical education

Presenter:  Dr. Marie Giroux, Université de Sherbrooke

Monday, October 25, 2021
10:00am and 1:00pm sessions  (same content, live delivery)

Register at ohmes@ucalgary.ca

Autistic traits (AT) exist in students, residents and physicians. Often associated with strengths and talents, they may also explain significant challenges for learning, teaching and practicing medicine. However, AT remain under-recognized and misunderstood by educators, clinicians and affected individuals alike, despite impacts on communication and interactions. Very little has been published in medical education about this delicate and potentially controversial topic.

In this presentation, we will explore different angles to raise awareness and understanding of AT-related difficulties in medical education. Namely, useful concepts from the field of autism will be described and paralleled with contextual examples. We will also share some preliminary ideas for future directions.   

Learning objectives: 

1. Describe neurocognitive characteristics and patterns of challenges suggestive of autistic traits in struggling learners
2. Reframe difficulties that may be encountered by teachers in these situations
3. Explore how a “neurodiversity lens” might support optimal learning and accountable standards for medical competence while nurturing diversity with respect and dignity.

The Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning at the University of Calgary has a number of activities and supports for the scholarship of teaching and learning, including workshops, funding and a journal club.