Advancing Healthcare Education Through Research
As Canada’s only post-secondary school embedded within a research hospital network, The Michener Institute of Education at UHN embodies a culture of enquiry and continual quality improvement. Whether that takes the shape of formal research through The Institute for Education Research (TIER) – Michener’s research arm – or through projects funded by our research partners or projects initiated by our faculty and students, Michener is making a significant contribution to education sciences and best practices in healthcare education.
The Michener Institute of Education’s Policy & Procedure Manual for Responsible Conduct of Research.
Research Partner: Future Skills Centre
Since 2020, Michener and UHN educators and researchers have secured several grants from the federal government’s Future Skills Centre that advance research into teaching and learning in the health professions. The following projects are currently underway with our education partners across the UHN community.
The Michener Institute of Education at UHN and the Vector Institute, with support from a $1.52 million grant from Future Skills Canada, launched a two-year project to empower frontline healthcare professionals with the skills to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into patient care. Titled Accelerating the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, the initiative brought together top AI experts and healthcare educators to co-design training that blended cutting-edge technology with real-time clinical practice, aiming to advance compassionate, AI-enabled healthcare across the system.
The Institute for Education Research (TIER) at UHN, in partnership with local organizations, Michener’s School of Continuing Education, and the University of Toronto’s Centre for Interprofessional Education, developed an online, evidence-informed education module to support Personal Support Workers (PSWs). With over $183,000 in funding from Future Skills Centre, the one-year project expanded the existing CACE Homecare curriculum to include realistic, simulation-based training on infection prevention and control, COVID-19 basics, and wellness and resilience — while also providing advocacy tools to highlight the vital role of PSWs in patient care.
With support from the Future Skills Centre, Michener conducted research to design and evaluate its Digital Health and Data Analytics program, which launched in September 2021. The program targeted healthcare professionals looking to leverage digital tools and data to improve care, as well as IT professionals seeking to transition into healthcare. It equipped graduates with the skills to analyze and apply data and digital technologies across healthcare and other sectors where evidence-based decision-making was key to innovation and problem-solving.
The Future Skills Centre supported a four-year project by UHN and the Michener Institute to address the shortage of specialists treating diabetic foot complications—a leading cause of lower limb amputations. By retraining and upskilling healthcare providers such as nurses, doctors, wound specialists, and personal support workers, the project aimed to expand access to evidence-based care. In collaboration with partners like Diabetes Action Canada, CorHealth, and the Conference Board of Canada’s VBHC Canada, the initiative assessed workforce needs and improved outcomes for people with diabetes while enhancing health system efficiency.
The Institute for Education Research (TIER)
The Institute for Education Research (TIER) is the research arm of The Michener Institute of Education at UHN. As part of the UHN Research family, TIER plays a critical role in improving the quality of education and overall competency of learners, while helping to ensure health care providers across all disciplines are well-poised to respond to emerging technologies and medical breakthroughs.
Research Data Management
Research at Michener is formally conducted through The Institute for Education Research (TIER) within UHN – through projects funded by our research partners, by TIER appointed Principal investigators (PIs). For all such research, Michener Institute would follow the UHN Research Data Management Strategy and rely on UHN infrastructure and policies for data retention and storage. Such research would also be conducted according to the Michener Institute’s policy on Responsible Conduct of Research (under review).
For quality improvement projects and research conducted by non-TIER appointed members at Michener, the Institutional Analysis & Evaluation (IAE) group will be responsible for collection, analysis, and interpretation of data to support internal stakeholders with planning, decision-making, and continuous quality improvement. Institutional Analysis and Evaluation will also provide consultative support to Michener faculty and staff engaged in culture of inquiry. Such data collection and analysis would be guided by the Michener Institute’s “DRST Review Procedure“, Data Review/Scholarship Tracking “(DRST) Submission Requirements & Administrative Review Policy”, “Intellectual Property Policy” and “Responsible Conduct of Research Policy” (under review).
Michener Institute of Education at the University Health Network recognizes the importance of effective research data management (RDM) in promoting high-quality research, ensuring data integrity, and complying with ethical and legal obligations. This strategy outlines an approach that includes promoting and advancing institution-wide principles, practices, and support services to enable Research Data Management (RDM) that meets the needs of our research community and aligns with broader Michener Institute policies and data oversight goals.