Course Instructor (DFCM Course: CHL5603Y / FD03: Social, Political and Scientific Issues in Family Medicine)

Description of Organization

DFCM's Academic Fellowship and Graduate Studies Program offers many opportunities for health care professionals at all levels to expand their knowledge and advance in their careers. Taught by leaders and experts in their field, our programs will help you become competitive for opportunities to grow and evolve your career.

Job description:

The Department of Family and Community Medicine invites applications for a renewable part-time/casual position of Course Instructor, FD03 / CHL5603Y, for the Academic Fellowship and Graduate Studies program in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto.

The effective date of this appointment is September 1, 2025.The role will involve teaching across two academic terms, Fall and Winter (September – December + January - April).

This seminar course is currently offered in person (in person seminars and online modules on alternating weeks) at the graduate and continuing education levels and is in high demand. The students are health care professionals from both domestic and international experience from the following programs:
 

• MPH and MPH-Advanced Standing (Family and Community Medicine) (required)
• MScCH (Family and Community Medicine) (required)
• MScCH (Health Practitioner Teacher Education) (elective)

Continuing professional development programs offered through the Department of Family and Community Medicine:

• Medical Education Fellowship (elective)
• Academic Fellowship (required)

Course Description:
This seminar series is intended to focus on both the principles of primary care and the emerging issues in healthcare. Participants will be required to participate in student and guest speaker live seminars. Additionally, students participate in online learning including viewing seminars, reading, reflection, and discussion boards. The issues will generate discussion both online and during sessions on the social, political and scientific issues that directly or indirectly influence primary care. It is important to note that the seminar series is not intended to cover clinical topics per se unless such a presentation emphasizes the scientific debate around a particular clinical topic. The course focuses on an in-depth study of Ian McWhinney and Thomas Freeman’s acclaimed Textbook of Family Medicine (2016).

Objectives:
At the completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Analyze and evaluate presentations on a variety of social, political and scientific issues in primary care
• Broaden their understanding of the forces that influence one’s ability to provide quality health care in Ontario, Canada, and the rest of the world

Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Program Director and in keeping with the goals and objectives of the Academic Fellowship and Graduate Studies Program, the course instructor of FD03/CHL5603H has the overall responsibility for designing, planning, implementing and evaluating the course curriculum for both the graduate master’s students and continuing professional development students.

The responsibilities of the Course Instructor, assisted by the program director and administrative coordinator include:

1. Overall design of the course

a) Goals and objectives: The Course Instructor ensures that there are well-defined specific competencies and objectives for the course that are aligned with the overall program.

b) Overall plan for course delivery: The Course Instructor ensures that the overall plan for the course is suitable for achievement of the objectives within the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies, DFCM & DLSPH and works cooperatively with the administrative staff to implement the course.

c) Collaborative Communication: The Course Instructor is responsible for communicating regularly and in a timely fashion with learners, the program director and administrative team to keep them apprised of curricular developments, to ensure appropriate site support is arranged as necessary for all sessions and assignments. The course instructor is responsible for updating and loading all course material to the Quercus online e-learning platform.

d)The current course is delivered under a blended format of both asynchronous online modules and synchronous in class seminars on alternating weeks. The course is divided into 12 modules consisting of 2 weeks in each module over two terms. Students are required to view and/or attend a minimum of 40 seminar topics. It is expected that the course instructor will participate in migrating the course to a formal hybrid or fully online format, if the program proposes a delivery modification.

2. Scheduling of the course

The Course Instructor ensures a rational course design. They will ensure integration of covered topics with other courses and avoidance of overlap. The Course Instructor is responsible for scheduling sessions and guest speakers within the course and works with the administrative staff to confirm course dates, avoiding overlap with other courses and recognizing space availability restrictions.

3. Course materials

The Course Instructor ensures that materials (such as readings) for the course are made available to students while being in compliance with copyright policies. The Course Instructor ensures that the syllabus, Quercus course shell and website course description are kept up to date.

4. Student assessments

a) Assignments: The Course Instructor ensures that assessment descriptions and rubrics are prepared and implemented. At least one student assessment must be completed and marked prior to the mid-term of the course and course drop deadline. School of Graduate Studies policy on fraud and plagiarism must be adhered to.

b) Assembly of student marks and final grades: The Course Instructor ensures that all student assessment feedback and marks are published to Quercus within two weeks of completion of the assessment. The Course Instructor will submit final course grades for graduate students through e-Marks as instructed by the DLSPH Graduate Office and by the grading deadline. Continuing education learner final assessments are submitted by the same deadline to program staff.

c) Identification of and provision of assistance to students in need of extra work or possible remediation: The Course Instructor will implement strategies to identify students in difficulty. The Course Instructor will meet with students who are having difficulty or who have not met minimum standards to explore possible contributing reasons for the substandard performance as well as advise them as to how to proceed in order to improve. The Course Instructor will promptly inform the program director of any students experiencing difficulty.

2. Course evaluation

a) Responses to individual student concerns: The Course Instructor is also available to meet with individual students who may have concerns of various types related to their academic performance or the conduct of the course.

b) Course Evaluations: The Course Instructor will adhere to the task requirements of the evaluation periods for implementation of overall course evaluations through the Quercus-housed Blue Course Evaluation system, including setting aside in class time during the student evaluation period for evaluation completion and the parallel system for course evaluation by continuing education learners.

3. Participation in committees

a) The Course Instructor will participate in the Academic Fellowship and Graduate Studies Curriculum Committee throughout the year. These are typically held 3 times per year. There will be one Post-Term Course Meeting individually with Program Directors and administrative staff. The course instructor may be asked to sit on the Admissions Committee and review program applications once a year. All afore-mentioned meetings are currently held virtually.


Required qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of 3-5 years of clinical experience
• Experience in Family Medicine/Primary Care
• Preference will be given to candidates with relevant Master’s degree training and health professions teaching experience
• Hold, or be eligible to hold, Academic appointment(s) through the DFCM, DSLPH & School of Graduate Studies, U of T
• Applications from teaching teams will be considered

Term of Commitment:

Usual Term is 1 year, renewable

Faculty are engaged to teach the course on an annual basis. The ideal candidate would commit to teaching for a longer period of time to provide both growth and sustainability in the curriculum.

The remuneration is consistent with graduate / CPD level course instruction and is set on a yearly basis by the DFCM.

To apply: 

Interested applicants can send a current CV and Letter of Interest to familymed.grad@utoronto.ca
Deadline: April 4th, 2025