Philanthropy in education

At the beginning of my 2-week CEEP Selective, I had the enriching opportunity to spend one half-day with Dr. Ho Ping Kong, learning from his myriad of experiences in medical education. During this clinic, I had a special opportunity to be a part of Dr. Ho Ping Kong’s photoshoot to capture teaching with Harvey, the patient simulator. Thereafter, Dr. HPK explored a fascinating and underexposed topic of medical education: philanthropy in education. He discussed the process of establishing a Centre for Excellence in Education and Practice (CEEP), dedicated to enhancing bedside clinical teaching and emphasizing the art of medicine. He described the promise he had made to his residents many years ago that he would purchase Harvey as an educational tool, later realizing that the actual cost of the simulator was ten-fold what he had expected. Despite this challenge, he was determined to find a way, eventually receiving a substantial philanthropic donation to support his promise.

As a medical student at the University of Toronto, I have been fortunate to learn from piooners in medical education and world-renowned educators. However, along the process, I had not realized the cost associated with novel initiatives and endeavours, particularly in the technological sector. Medicine is becoming increasingly technological and expensive. As such, it is important for medical students who are embarking on this journey to understand not only how to utilize the technology and resources that are at our fingertips, but also the process of acquiring and implementing them as educational tools and in clinical practice. One avenue is by building partnerships with other education centres, the technological industry and philanthropists. This would allow us to develop novel educational programs, be at the forefront of clinical teaching, and evaluate outcomes through scholarship.

I am excited to be a part of an evolving profession. As I begin the journey of residency in a few months, I will keep my eyes and mind open to the role that technology plays in clinical education. Furthermore, I will reflect on the process of obtaining and implementing novel technology as educational tools, with a passionate goal of establishing medical education programs that meet the unique needs of a rapidly growing field.

- Usman T.