For the third year in a row, a McMaster scientist wins Canada’s top award for new medical educators

McMaster University scientists - all women - have won the top award in Canada for up-and-coming medical educators from the Canadian Association for Medical Education (CAME) three years in a row.

This year's recipient is Dr. Sandra Monteiro, a McMaster University medical education research unit (MERIT) scientist.

It's very humbling," she said. I just hope to continue to reflect or emulate the characteristics of this award."

The Meridith Marks New Educator Award is given out annually to early-career academics who have made a significant contribution to medical education," according to the award description.

Monteiro, a cognitive psychologist, said she enjoys bringing an interdisciplinary lens" to medical education.

It allows me to draw from my foundations in psychology and cognition and how the mind works and think of how I can use that knowledge to improve education, to improve experiences of learners and faculty who typically are dedicated to patients," she said.

Dr. Meredith Vanstone, also a MERIT scientist, won the award last year. In 2019, Dr. Teresa Chan, director of the clinician educator program in the university's postgraduate medical education department, was recognized for her work.

Jonathan Sherbino, assistant dean for the medical education research unit, said three consecutive wins for McMaster women in science is notable."

It's very clear that in medicine in general, there is the inequity," he said. But there is increasing attention to how we address these structural issues."

Sherbino said this recognition gives recipients profile that allows their work to be more widely understood." A national award can help early-career scientists win grants to support their research, advance their careers, and win additional awards.

The system may be biased against them, but here is a way to help un-tip that balance and so that their own careers can be profiled and move forward," he said. It allows (them) to start building momentum in advancing their careers and having an even bigger impact not only here in the McMaster community, but also across Canada."

Kate McCullough is a Hamilton-based reporter covering education at The Spectator. Her work is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Reach her via email: kmccullough@thespec.com