Climate, Health & Sustainable Care Student Training Program

This one-year, non-credit certificate program will support research-oriented graduate and professional students and trainees to develop knowledge and research skills on the links between climate and ecological change, health, health systems & sustainability.

Interested health science and health professional students and trainees are invited to join the inaugural cohort, to develop their expertise and inform the design and growth of the training program. The first year will be a Pilot, offered as a non-credit Certificate Program, and will be co-designed with students in the inaugural Cohort.

The Collaborative Centre for Climate, Health and Sustainable Care (CCCHSC) is an EDU-C of four health science faculties at U of T: the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, and the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, with an administrative home for Temerty Medicine in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. 

A mandate of the Collaborative Centre is to advance education for climate, ecology & sustainability in heath. The aim of this non-credit certificate program is to offer specialized training, to enable interested health science and health professional students and trainees to develop expertise as researchers in this emerging field.

What you’ll learn

• Knowledge of the health and health system challenges posed by climate change and the demands of sustainability
• Skills to critically assess, utilize and produce research to assess health & equity impacts of global ecological change, and inform climate action and sustainability in health services and systems
• An appreciation for the diversity of evidence and research needs in this emerging field and increased knowledge of relevant research/data collection methods

Benefits

• Exposure to academics and practitioners who are leading work in this field
• Join a cohort of like-minded students to contribute to and shape the field
• Opportunity to collaborate and network with researchers, knowledge users and leaders, to strengthen an action-oriented research community

Timeline

If you have any questions, please contact Gillian Parker: gillian.parker@utoronto.ca

See below for more information.

Admission requirements

1. Enrolled in a University of Toronto designated program:
   1. Research-intensive graduate programs;
   2. Course-based and professional graduate programs; or
   3. Second-entry undergraduate & post graduate professional programs
2. In good academic standing
3. Well written, well-articulated Expression of Interest
4. Experience/education in the field not required

As per the Program mandate the selection committee will ensure a diverse, interdisciplinary cohort that represents the four founding faculties; students and trainees in other programs at UofT are also eligible.

Program components

1. Attend in-person Program Sessions (approx. every 2 months)
   1. Orientation: (mid-Sept) meet and greet cohort and Program Directors; review Program requirements
   2. Program Sessions: (Nov, Jan, Mar, May)
   3. Presentations/Wrap-up: (end of June): research presentations, wrap-up
2. Attend the October 22, 2024 CCCSHC Symposium*
   1. *Students are encouraged to submit an abstract or poster to the 2024 Symposium
3. Attend CCCHSC Seminars (50% minimum)
4. Attend Journal Club Sessions (50% minimum)
5. Work in small teams and/or with Centre Fellow(s) to deliver one relevant activity:
   1. Written: rapid evidence review, environmental scan, research proposal
   2. Presentation at final Program Session: on research methods, careers, theme group activities
6. Produce a final report/reflection on program experience
7. Students are encouraged to submit an abstract or poster to the Symposium the following year (fall 2025)

Estimated Learner Effort total: approx. 72 hours

Averaged per month: 6 hours

Expectations of Students

• As we expect high demand for the Program, a firm commitment to completing the Program’s required activities is expected.
• Students are expected to attend all required sessions:
  • Program sessions (6) – in person
  • Symposium (1) – in person
  • Seminars (minimum of 4) – predominately hybrid, with option for later viewing of recorded seminars
  • Journal Club (minimum of 5) – virtual
• Students are expected to complete all required deliverables:
  • Written or Oral activity
  • Final report/ reflection

Students receive

• At Program start
  • All students will receive a stipend ($1,500)
  • Become a CCCHSC Member: “Student Fellow” & Bio listed on CCCHSC website as member of 1st Cohort of CHSC Certificate Program
• Upon completion
  • Certificate of Completion
  • Retain CCCHSC Membership: “Alumni Fellow” & Bio listed on CCCHSC website

This program is recorded as completed/not completed; participants must complete the required activities to obtain the certificate.

Application requirements

1. CV
2. Expression of Interest
   1. How will your education and background to-date support your success in this Certificate Program?
   2. Why are you interested in participating in this Program?
   3. How will this Program enhance your academic or professional career?
   4. How will you contribute to the success of this Program and your Cohort?
   5. What are your interests in sustainability (e.g., planetary health, OneHealth, ecohealth, political ecology of health, sustainable healthcare, climate resilience, etc.) and areas of potential focus?