International visit of health professions educators strengthen ties with Monash

In July, seven representatives of the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Profession Education (MGH-IHP) from various international locations spent an engaging week working with colleagues in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences. The interprofessional group, comprising faculty and scholars of the MGH-IHP Master of Science in Health Professions Education (MScHPE) course completed Level 1 Higher Degree Research supervisor training and participated in a unit of the Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education. MScHPE and Monash PhD and Masters in Health Professions Education (MHPE) students presented their research projects, and several research collaborations have ensued.

This visit was the first by the MGH-IHP group as part of a collaboration between the Office of the Deputy Dean Education, MNHS and the MGH-IHP. Student and academic exchange in education through the respective Masters in Health Professions Education courses, and in joint HDR research supervision are features of this collaboration. 

According to Dr Deborah Navedo, Course Director, MScHPE “The main purpose of the visit was to deepen the collaboration between our two organisations. Margaret Hay, through the Office of the Deputy Dean Education and HealthPEER has been very proactive in building this collaboration over a number of years.” 

The visit follows several years of visits to the MGH-IHP and the Harvard Macy Institute by MNHS staff. A/Prof. Margaret Hay is leading the collaboration, which was initiated during her sabbatical with the Harvard Macy Institute in 2011, and advanced through annual returns to Boston subsequently. A/Prof. Hay holds an adjunct appointment with MGH-IHP. Prof. Alan Leichtner, Dr Navedo and Dr Mary Knab hold adjunct appointments at Monash University. In June 2014, A/Prof. Hay, Prof. Wayne Hodgson, Deputy Dean Education, and A/Prof. Liz Molloy, then Director, HealthPEER, visited the MGH-IHP and Harvard Macy Institute as part of the collaboration. 

Dr Navedo was struck by the similarities between the two masters programs. 

“Each of our courses has very similar goals, and shared common learning needs. Ultimately, we face very similar challenges that we can solve much better working together than in our own silos” she said.

Students completing the Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education worked side by side with the visitors during their on campus study days. 

One student commented, “How wonderful it is to see the overseas exchange. I so enjoyed the variety of people and the experiences they shared. It made this unit feel extra prestigious. To hear how things are being done in other countries has planted a seed with me to now consider the idea of travelling to learn in different countries/cultures. I want to thank you for that new long term goal.”

A/Prof. Hay said “the next visit is already being planned, and we hope this will become an annual exchange of academics and masters students across both institutions well into the future”.