IHPME is an incredible place to grow. You gain practical tools, supportive mentors, and a community that stays with you long after graduation.
Motivated by a desire to leave a lasting impact, Maha Al Mandhari began her studies in the Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS) program to strengthen the health system she was part of.
“Working in critical care, I saw how system design, communication, and processes could either support exceptional care or create avoidable risks.”
QIPS’ focus on blending clinical experience and health systems leadership provided her with the opportunities to take her experience as a critical practitioner to the next level and enact real change.
Al Mandhari graduated in 2022 and has since held various leadership roles which eventually brought her to Toronto General Hospital (UHN) where she works as a Staff Anesthesiologist and Intensive Care Physician.
She also serves as the Director of Quality and Safety for the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine (IDCCM), focusing on advancing systems-wide initiatives and safety efforts in ICUs across the city.
According to Al Mandhari, her experience as an IHPME student empowered her to step into leadership roles to drive system-wide change, design effective interventions, and unite people around a shared vision for improvement.
Ultimately, her time at IHPME was defined by a diverse and supportive community of “thinker and doers” who challenged and inspired each other.
This, infused with the practical learning and mentorship culture offered through the QIPS program, has had a lasting impact on her professional growth and leadership aspirations.
Now, she urges other practitioners who are considering the QIPS program and are passionate about shaping the systems they work in to take the plunge and apply.
“IHPME is an incredible place to grow. You gain practical tools, supportive mentors, and a community that stays with you long after graduation,” says Al Mandhari. “IHPME doesn’t just teach you how to run QI projects, it teaches you how to think differently, lead confidently, and make meaningful change.”
Read More Stories
Victoria Boyd
Learn more about Victoria Boyd’s transformative journey through the HPER program at IHPME, which ignited her passion for health professions education research.
Anam Shahil-Feroz
Before, I used to focus only on the small tasks of each project, but this journey has helped me realize the importance of seeing how every step in a project contributes to a larger impact. During her nursing career, Dr. […]
Sarah Neu
Learn about Sarah Neu’s contributions to patient care, healthcare policy, and her commitment to mentoring future healthcare professionals.
Alan Gob
Dr. Alan Gob discusses his experience in the QIPS program and how it prepared him for his current work.
Duminda Wijeysundera
Duminda Wijeysundera shares how CEHCR was the necessary springboard to an exciting and fulfilling career in academic healthcare.
Michael Hillmer
Michael Hillmer shares three highlights that stood out as a learner: the supervision, training environment, and becoming a leading expert.
