At the TRP our goal is not to teach. Our goal is not to lecture or have you memorize some datum likely to change before you finish your degree, or that a search engine can find faster than you can formulate the question.

The TRP is a community and a mindset of people who are resources, facilitators, mentors, peers, guides and catalysts whose aim is to help those, who are looking to learn, to explore, to push the boundaries of their experience to seek knowledge.

The TRP is not intended to be divided as a degree of teacher-task-masters and students–those who know one truth and those hoping to memorize that truth. Instead, the program strives to be a community of people motivated to learn, to seek knowledge, to help others to be more and do more. In this community, the focus is not on the content but on understanding the processes, the mechanisms of creative problem-solving and innovation.

Students learn alongside the faculty–we learn together and from each other. We learn from real-world contexts and from failure–not from arbitrary grades or standardized testing–because our collective goals are not to pass a test or earn a grade but to improve lives, to learn to champion change that will improve the lives of others.

Now, we are starting to seek people join our 2021 cohort. Those motivated to learn, those seeking to move beyond their comfort zones, to challenge ambiguity, who want to focus on the processes of innovating of generating new ideas and championing change for positive impact are the kindred spirits we seek–these are the people we seek to join our ranks.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in a different kind of graduate program, who is motivated to learn by doing and is seeking a transformative education, then we need to talk. Come to an information session, read the website, arrange a consultation with someone from our team.

One day soon, we, trainees, mentors, facilitators, students, residents, PI’s, researchers, clinicians, healthcare professionals, and many others, will form a global network of professional translators, who think globally but work locally to improve the health and well-being of people in our communities. And together we will transform health, care and medicine.

Join us.

#UofTMed International Student Reflection by Anat

As a pharmacist in Israel with a secure job and bright prospects, relocation to Canada was a bold move for Anat Segal-Shalev. Faced with an opportunity to further her academic credentials, Anat chose a professional program that would allow her to fill gaps in knowledge and train her in critical problem–solving skills in health. As she approaches the completion of her 2-year master’s degree at the TRP, she reflects on her journey.  

An Exploration of New Boundaries 

I used to have a great job at a big pharmaceutical company in Israel. I loved my job and enjoyed being a part of this global industry, but when an opportunity to move to Canada emerged, I knew I wanted to take the time to study. I started searching for a degree, and my first option was UofT, as it is so well known and has a renowned reputation.  My background and qualifications as a pharmacist-led me to the IMS, where, I came across the Translational Research Program serendipitously.
I read about the program and it made me curious and excited. Even though the field of translational research was new to me, I immediately understood how necessary this field was becoming in the healthcare world. In addition, I could not find a similar program almost anywhere else in the world that focused on competencies in problem-solving in healthcare. This made me even more confident that such a program would give me an added value and an eminent advantage in the competitive healthcare environment I was a part of. I, therefore, decided to apply to be part of the 2017 cohort and prepared for a big transformation in my life.
As an international student, my learning experience was intensified by the move to a new country. I had many gaps in knowledge and in understanding the health innovation pathway and often felt different from most other students.  However, there is no better program to feel unique in. I had the privilege of meeting phenomenal people, who embrace diversity and differences. They taught me how to see diversity as an opportunity to learn and grow. I learned to think more open-mindedly without getting easily intimidated, to expect the unexpected, and to be willing to ask for help if needed. The program enabled me to grow both as a person and as a professional.
The TRP is a greenhouse for students who are eager to explore their own boundaries and challenge others to do so with them. It offers exceptional opportunities that push students outside of their comfort zones, to look far ahead but also deep inside themselves. The best part is that the learning experience is so rich and varied, that I learned even more than I expected. I never knew I had the ability to develop so many new skills and evolve so much in such a short period of time.
There are so many gaps in our healthcare system, and there is a need for people who will drive change with new ideas and innovations, using the unique approach of translational research. Thanks to the program, today, I am ready to take on challenges in the healthcare environment with a more comprehensive approach.

Bio: Anat Segal-Shalev has ten years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and recently completed her Master of Health Science in Translational Research degree from the University of Toronto.  Connect with Anat on Linkedin. 

Editor: Zoya Retiwalla for the TRP