About the Summer Institute
Climate and environmental change pose an accelerating and complex threat to 21st-century health systems. There is an urgent need for transformative change to reduce our health systems’ contribution to global carbon emissions and to adapt to the health, health equity and health system impacts of climate change. Despite this need, few of the relevant research or health professional training programs equip students with the knowledge and skills required to lead, manage, analyze, inform, or deliver sustainable health systems.
The Summer Institute on Sustainable Health Systems was created to fill this gap and provide health research and health professional trainees with the opportunity to increase awareness of sustainable health systems and current action in Canada.
Through guided learning activities, meetings with local sustainability leaders and nation-wide panel discussions, the Summer Institute aims to develop trainee knowledge, leadership skills and capabilities, and build professional, interdisciplinary networks of trainees and professionals with shared interests.
CASCADES, and its partners, will be offering the Summer Institute to trainees studying in Canada again in 2023. This year, we have expanded the number of in-person hub locations from 5 to 11 at universities across Canada representing 8 provinces.
Goals of the Summer Institute
- Equip health research and health professional trainees in Canada with knowledge and skills required to lead, manage, analyze, inform, or deliver sustainable health systems
- Fill the knowledge gap by increasing trainee awareness of sustainable health systems and current action in Canada
Learning Objectives of the Summer Institute
- Gain familiarity with topics and concepts salient to sustainable health systems;
- Increase awareness of sustainable health systems and current research and action in Canada;
- Develop leadership and professional skills and capabilities for creating a sustainable learning health system; and
- Build a professional interdisciplinary and inter-professional network of researchers, practitioners, clinicians, leaders, and trainees interested in, or working in, the area of sustainable health systems.
Format of the 2023 Summer Institute
The Summer Institute will to be held the week of June 19 – 22, 2023
In-person hubs will be located at the following universities:
- Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland
- Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec
- Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec
- University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
- University of Toronto- St. George Campus, Toronto, Ontario
- NOSM University, Sudbury, Ontario
- University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
A virtual hub will be offered for those unable to attend an in-person hub.
English will be the language of instruction at all hubs except the in-person hubs at Université de Sherbrooke and Université de Montréal, which will be in French. The virtual national panel will be bilingual with simultaneous interpretation.
Certificate of Completion
Trainees who participate in all 4 days of the Summer Institute will receive a certificate of complete from CASCADES.
Cost of Attendance
There is no cost for selected trainees to attend the Summer Institute. Trainees attending in-person hubs will receive lunch and refreshments each day. Trainees will, however, be responsible for any transportation costs incurred to travel to the selected hub, as well as any accommodation costs incurred during the Summer Institute. Trainees are invited to email CASCADES@utoronto.ca if there are financial barriers that prevent them from participating in the Summer Institute. If possible, funds will be offered to assist.
Trainee Eligibility
The Summer Institute is aimed at graduate trainees currently enrolled in (or graduating in 2023 from) relevant university training programs in Canada, including:
- Health services and policy trainees - MSc, PhD, post-doctoral fellows
- Public health programs – MPH, DrPH
- Health administration – MHSc, MPP, MBA
- Healthcare professional programs (if at a graduate level or the trainee has completed a prior undergrad degree. More information for trainees with a prior CEGEP diploma here).
The applicant must commit to attend the entire program, June 19 – 22, 2023.
Submission of a complete application (CV and cover letter)
Submission Timeline
- The final deadline for applications is Monday, April 10, 2023.
- Applicants will be notified of the status of their application no later than Monday, May 1, 2023.
- Invited trainees must confirm their acceptance to participate by Monday, May 15, 2023.
How to apply
Application forms available in English and French
Upload Cover Letter and CV.
In your cover letter, please include:
- Learning experiences and ambitions as a trainee
- Involvement/ interest in health research and/or health professional practice/ policy/ governance
- Involvement/ interest in climate, sustainability
- Reasons for wanting to participate in the Summer Institute.
