Media Advisory - World's medical experts coming to Toronto to examine new and better ways to train doctors

TORONTO, Oct. 15, 2014 /CNW/ - More than 1,800 doctors and medical educators from around the world will convene at the International Conference on Residency Education (ICRE) from October 23-25, 2014, to re-imagine how Canada's doctors are trained.

Hosted by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, ICRE is the largest conference in the world devoted exclusively to advancing residency education, the period after medical school where doctors complete their medical and surgical training.

"The way we train doctors is changing rapidly," said Dr. Jason Frank, Chair of ICRE and the Royal College's director of education. "With rising health care costs and growing demands for care, it is urgent that we find innovative ways to ensure today's doctors are ready to meet the needs of tomorrow's patients."

With more than 60 workshops and 200 papers and poster sessions, the conference will provide a unique opportunity to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with resident training and education. Key topics include:

• Is a tired doctor a safe doctor? A public panel hosted by Dr. Brian Goldman, host of CBC's White Coat, Black Art, on October 24 will examine the safety of doctors working long hours and the impact on patients.
• Incorporating social media and new technologies into training - An October 25 plenary lecture "Futurecasting in educational technologies: Fun new toys and a reality check" as well as other sessions will look at how newly-developed technologies and platforms can be used to promote learning in exciting ways and push the boundaries of education.
• Disruption, peer to peer healthcare, creativity and YouTube: New skills for new doctors: Dr. Mike Evans, whose YouTube series has reached more than 10 million viewers, will look at how technology has changed health care for doctors, patients and the training system.
• Competence By Design: Canada's medical education system is rooted in 100-year-old traditions, including a "time-based" model of training (time spent in residency programs). Several ICRE sessions will examine Canada's trailblazing efforts to create a new education model focused more on the skills and abilities that have been mastered, rather than the time spent in a particular rotation of training.

The complete ICRE program is available at www.royalcollege.ca/icre.

SOURCE: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Tom McMillan, Senior Communications Specialist, Royal College, 613-218-570, [email protected]; Kate Slean, Marketing Communications Specialist, Royal College, 613-297-8583, [email protected]