TORONTO, December 7, 2020 – The Michener Institute of Education at UHN is creating new programs in artificial intelligence to meet the health system’s need for digitally-literate health professionals. The new Digital Health and Data Analytics Program will consist of a new full-time program in the School of Applied Health Sciences, new curriculum in these emerging areas in the School of Applied Health Sciences’ current programs, and an expansion of professional development programming in and beyond the Artificial Intelligence Health Care certificate program curriculum in Michener’s School of Continuing Education.
Significant investments and advances in health care technologies and practices have created a need for digital- and data-literate health care professionals. Artificial intelligence algorithms are transforming how medical conditions are being analyzed, diagnosed and treated. Complex and massive data sets are informing significant health care decisions and clinical practices. The ability to read, manage and understand large data sets, to provide virtual care and to protect patient privacy are increasingly critical skill sets for today’s health care professional. The Digital Health and Data Analytics Programs will fill this growing and critical skills gap in the health care labor market.
“Keeping pace with rapid change requires new ways of learning, and Michener has a long history of preparing graduates and the current workforce to embrace new technologies,” says Harvey Weingarten, Principal of Michener’s School of Applied Health Sciences. “We expect that graduates of these programs will become leaders and pioneers in the effective integration of digital- and data-driven processes on the frontlines of care.”
As Canada’s only “school within a hospital” dedicated exclusively to health care education, the Michener Institute of Education at UHN is uniquely positioned to prepare health care professionals in these emerging fields. Michener’s new programs will support health care professionals at every point in their career pathway using virtual learning, workplace learning, data simulation and modelling, micro-credentialing and collaboration with other institutions.
“Canada is poised to lead the world in artificial intelligence, data science, robotics and beyond – we’re already seeing exciting advancements in patient care at UHN thanks to the latest technologies and innovations. Michener’s cutting-edge programs are critical for ensuring that providers are provided the knowledge and skills they need for delivering tomorrow’s care,” says Dr. Kevin Smith, CEO of University Health Network.
New programming in the Digital Health and Data Analytics programs will begin in September 2021.
About The Michener Institute of Education at UHN
Established in 1958, The Michener Institute of Education at UHN is Canada’s only post-secondary institution devoted exclusively to health sciences education and is home to the only health sciences school within a hospital network in Canada. The Michener Schools of Applied Health Sciences and Continuing Education offer full-time and part-time education in Imaging, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Medical Radiation Sciences, Primary and Critical Care and other specialized applied health programs. With a robust and responsive curriculum that emphasizes inter-professional collaboration and simulation-based training, graduates are prepared to deliver quality diagnostic and therapeutic services. As Ontario’s health human resource planning partner, Michener is publicly funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and further enriched through partnerships with universities, private sector companies and leading health care organizations. For more information, visit us at michener.ca.
Contact:
Jacqueline Waldorf
Director of Communications and Marketing, The Michener Institute of Education at UHN
647-465-9587
jwaldorf@michener.ca