Career Development & Communication Skills
M.Sc Interdisciplinary Medical Science 9701
Course Description As Taken From Syllabus:
Students will deconstruct how emerging basic, translational, and clinical health research is communicated in written and oral forms. Specifically, students will learn about different levels of evidence across these research pillars and the scope of knowledge claims inherent and relevant to each. Building on the learning outcomes of previous learning blocks, students will apply their knowledge to communicate complex scientific concepts, quickly, accurately, and simply by preparing brief videos. Students will have opportunities to incorporate the feedback of their peers and instructors in the production of polished videos for their ePortfolio. Students will gain an appreciation for the different methods of presenting emerging research by selecting, attending, and submitting reflection assignments on various presentation series hosted by departments and programs of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. As part of the feedback process, students will be mentored in giving constructive criticism to their peers, and in self-reflection practices to support their professional development.
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Learning Objectives:
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Develop an understanding of different levels of evidence in scientific research and the scope of knowledge claims inherent to each
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Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex scientific concepts quickly, accurately, and simply
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Assess and constructively critique self, peer, and public seminar presentations
Basic Science
Speaker: Dr. Singh
The session covered essential elements of article reviews, including assessing objectives, methodology, and results, which helped refine my ability to critically evaluate research. Discussions on giving and receiving feedback emphasized constructive communication, fostering a growth mindset. This class provided practical tools to enhance both research interpretation and presentation skills. Click the image on the left for the notes!
Translational Science
Speaker: Dr. Singh
This session highlighted the study's clear objectives, although more detail on specific goals could enhance understanding. Key critiques included methodological concerns, such as sex-based discrepancies between animal models and human patients, and better clarity in figures like bar graphs and volcano plots. Despite these limitations, the paper effectively explored interventions like caloric restriction and exercise, contextualized results within the existing literature, and addressed study limitations. The engaging class discussion offered diverse perspectives, reinforcing the importance of critical analysis in assessing translatability and the broader implications of research findings. Click the image on the right for the notes!
