This is an AES virtual session.
Invited Speaker: Nicole N. Woods, PhD - Richard and Elizabeth Currie Chair in Health Professions Education Research, Institute Director, The Institute for Education Research, Senior Scientist, The Wilson Centre, Director of Research, The Michener Institute, University Health Network, UHN-Toronto General Hospital
Bio: Nicole (Nikki) Woods, PhD, is the Richard and Elizabeth Currie Chair for Research in Health Professions Education. She is also Director of The Institute for Education Research (TIER) at University Health Network and Senior Scientist at The Wilson Centre, University of Toronto. Dr. Woods leads an internationally recognized research program that uses methods and principles from cognitive psychology to advance medical education theory and practice. Her research has significant implications for education across the developmental continuum and various health disciplines. A Fellow of the Karolinska Institute Prize for Medical Education Research since 2019, Dr. Woods is currently a Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. In 2021, Dr. Woods was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN.
Description: Integration as the Engine of Expertise. The Case for Reductionism in Medical Education
Clinicians are increasingly expected to manage complexity, uncertainty, and novel problems, yet educational responses often focus on expanding competencies and adding content. Drawing on research from the learning sciences and health professions education, this session argues that expertise develops not through the accumulation of knowledge but through the integration of explanatory basic science and clinical knowledge. This session offers theoretical grounding and practical instructional approaches for preparing learners to think effectively in complex care environments.
Learning Objectives:
Upon the end of the sessions, attendees will be able to:
- Describe how integration of explanatory basic science and clinical knowledge supports expertise in complex clinical situations.
- Contrast knowledge integration with competency expansion as approaches to preparing learners for uncertainty and novelty in healthcare practice.
- Identify instructional strategies that promote cognitive integration across classroom and clinical settings.
Scheduling Note: The Center for Faculty Excellence strives to avoid scheduling conflicts, though some overlap may occur. Most virtual programs are recorded, so please register to receive the recording and any follow-up materials if you are unable to attend live. The CFE follows the GW holiday calendar and does not schedule programming on university-recognized holidays and observances.