Catharine Walsh

• Staff Physician, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

• Scientist, Child Health Evaluative Sciences

• Educational Researcher, SickKids Learning Institute

U of T Positions

• Director, Medical Student Research Scholars Program, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
• Scientist, The Wilson Centre for Research in Education, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
• Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics
• Associate Professor (status), Institute of Medial Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
• Associate Professor (status), Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
• Full Member, School of Graduate Studies

Dr. Catharine Walsh, MD, MEd, PhD, FAAP, FRCPC is a staff gastroenterologist in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, an Educational Researcher in the Learning Institute and a Scientist at SickKids Research Institute in Toronto, Canada. She is also a Scientist at the Wilson Centre for research in education. Dr. Walsh received her medical degree from University of Toronto. She subsequently pursued residency training in Paediatrics and a fellowship in Paediatric Gastroenterology at SickKids. Dr. Walsh also completed a Master of Education and a PhD in health professions education at University of Toronto, in conjunction with a research fellowship at the Wilson Centre. Her program of research focuses on examining factors that influence the acquisition of complex clinical skills and on identifying best practices in the training and assessment of clinical skills, including methods of optimizing learning within simulation-based environments.

Research

Dr. Walsh’s 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. Dr. Walsh also conducts educational measurement research focused on the assessment of competence and performance of health professionals. Her 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;
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.

Education & experience

Degrees

• 2014: PhD (health professions education), Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2009: Master of Education, Health Profession Education Specialization, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2003: Doctor of Medicine with Honours, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 1999: Bachelor of Science with Distinction, Life Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON

Postgraduate, Research and Specialty Training

• 2008–2014: Clinical Fellow, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2007–2014: Research Fellow, The Wilson Centre for Research in Education, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2007–2014: Clinician Investigator Program, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2007–2009: Resident, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2003–2006: Resident, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
  Experience
• 2021–Present: Director, Medical Student Research Scholars Program, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2021–Present: Director, Comprehensive Research Experience for Medical Students, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2021–Present: Director, Graduate Diploma in Health Research, Institute of Medical Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2021–Present: Full Member, School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2021–Present: Associate Professor, Institute of Medical Sciences (status), Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2020–Present: Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2020–Present: Associate Professor (status), Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2018–Present: Scientist, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON
• 2016–Present: Cross-appointed Scientist, The Wilson Centre for Research in Education, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2014–Present: Paediatric Gastroenterologist, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON
• 2014–Present: Educational Researcher, SickKids Learning Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON
• 2015–2020: Assistant Professor (Status), Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2015–2020: Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

Achievements

International

• 2015, 2019: NASPGHAN Endoscopy Prize, North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.
• 2016: WCPGHAN Endoscopy Prize, World Congress of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
• 2015: Teri Li Award, North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

National

• 2022: Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Young Scholar in Quality Innovation Award, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology
• 2021: Young Educators Award, The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada
• 2020: Special Commendation, IHDCYH Talks Video Competition, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• 2018: Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Education Excellence Award, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology
• 2016–2020: Career Development Award, Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program
• 2009–2014: Doctoral Award, Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program
• 2008: Career Enhancement Program Award, Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program

Regional

• 2022: Long Term Contribution to Continuing Medical Education Award, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto
• 2019: Hall of Distinction Inductee, Havergal College
• 2018–2023: Early Researcher Award, Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science
• 2018: Division of Gastroenterology Intramural Award in Quality of Care/Patient Safety of Education, University of Toronto
• 2016: Susan Ditchburn Young Alumna Award, Havergal College
• 2012: Postgraduate Medical Trainee Leadership Award, University of Toronto
• 2010: Starr Medal, University of Toronto
• 2008: OISE Academic Excellence Award, University of Toronto
• 2003: Mary Cassidy Award, University of Toronto

See a full list of Catharine Walsh's publications.