DOSE Retreat 2024:
Shaping the Future of Surgical Training

By Carolynna Olha
NOVEMBER 20, 2024

On October 30, 2024, the Department of Surgery held its first Surgical Education Retreat in Livingston Hall, at the Montreal General Hospital. The full-day event was facilitated by Liz Falco, an accomplished educator and coach, and gathered over 50 participants to explore the establishment of a new Division of Surgical Education (DOSE), aimed at elevating educational programs to new heights while promoting collaboration and a greater sense of community. The diverse group of attendees, including Faculty, trainees, educators, administrators, scientists, leaders and other team members, participated in interactive challenges with a hands-on, action-oriented approach to designing various components of DOSE. The event was hosted by Dr. Melina Vassiliou, our Associate Chair of EducationÌýand designed and developed in consultation with a duo of expert educators: Drs. Maryam Wagner, and Carlos Gomez-Garibello, both from Â鶹AV’s Institute of Health Sciences Education (IHSE).

The overall purpose of the Surgical Education Retreat was to design and develop components (systems, structures, programs, and services) for the new DOSE. ​ The retreat also aimed to foster a culture of learning, teaching, and research to advance patient care, ensuring all stakeholders (trainees, faculty, admin, and patients) belong and thrive. ​ With the objectives of elevating educational standards, nurturing faculty excellence, advancing educational research, and fostering collaboration and partnerships, participants engaged in a design sprint to create prototypes and solutions for various challenges related to communication, belonging, innovation, faculty support, and organizational structure within DOSE.

Throughout the day, participants remained highly engaged and very collaborative during the various challenges, contributing to a productive and dynamic environment that fostered creativity and innovation. A nice touch was the coffee bar, hosted by the Baristocrats, which added an element of enjoyment and kept our inspiration fueled throughout the day while creating a social hub where participants could gather and engage in conversations.

A very special thank you to Justine Chamoun, Maryam Wagner, Carlos Gomez-Garibello, Stefanie Maione, Carolynna Olha, and to our amazing facilitator, Liz Falco. Your dedication and hard work made this retreat a resounding success!