Dr. Catharine Walsh, MD, MEd, PhD, FRCPC is a Clinician Scientist and Associate Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto. She is also an Educational Researcher in the SickKids Learning Institute, a Scientist in the SickKids Research Institute and a cross-appointed Scientist at the Wilson Centre for research in education. As Director of the Medical Student Research Scholars Program, Dr. Walsh leads the Comprehensive Research Experience for Medical Students (CREMS) program in the MD Program the Graduate Diploma in Health Research (GDipHR), Institute of Medical Science (IMS).
Dr. Walsh’s program of research focuses on examining factors that influence the acquisition of complex clinical skills, behaviours and attitudes, including methods of optimizing learning within simulation-based environments and the online learning context. Dr. Walsh also conducts educational measurement research focused on the assessment of competence and performance of health professionals.
Dr. Walsh’s program of research aims to advance our understanding of (1) how healthcare professionals, from novice to expert, develop and maintain clinical skills necessary for their practice; (2) how to improve education delivery and skills acquisition using technology-enhanced learning modalities such as simulation; and (3) how best to assess learners’ competence. Taken together, these lines of inquiry inform the ways in which we can enhance the training and assessment of healthcare professionals and ultimately improve patient- and family-centered care.
The Wilson Centre generates high quality and innovative interdisciplinary education science to propel transformations in health professions education.