Winter 2015 (Volume 25, Number 4)

Can You Tell Me What CanREAL Really Is?

By Raheem B. Kherani, BSc (Pharm), MD, FRCPC, MHPE;
Susan Humphrey-Murto, MD, FRCPC, MEd;
Christopher Penney, MD, FRCPC

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Can What?CanREAL stands for Canadian Rheumatology Education and Learning. This subcommittee of the CRA Education Committee was founded on the premise of “promoting scholarship in rheumatology education.” About 15 years ago, Dr. Lori Albert originally convened a small nucleus of educators as an informal group. At the 2012 CRA Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), the group met and formed this working group subcommittee. At the 2013 CRA ASM, the CRA provided official subcommittee status.

What do we do? The purpose of CanREAL is to:
• Promote exchange of ideas and best practices for rheumatology education at the undergraduate and postgraduate level.
• Promote scholarship in rheumatology education in Canada.

Can Who?The CanREAL membership structure is an open committee membership of individuals interested in undergraduate and post-graduate medical education. A special welcome is extended to rheumatology trainees considering a career in medical education. Those interested in getting involved can contact:
• Dr. Raheem B. Kherani, Chair: raheem.b.kherani@gmail.com
• Dr. Susan Humphrey-Murto, Vice-Chair: shumphrey-murtomd@toh.on.ca
• Dr. Christopher Penney, Secretary and Chair, CRA Education Committee: penney@ucalgary.ca

Can When and Where?Face-to-face meetings are held at the CRA ASM each year. Teleconferences have been set up as needed throughout the year with the support of the CRA.

Can Why?CanREAL provides a national forum for collaboration in rheumatology education, innovation, and scholarship. Early collaborations are developing with shared projects and connections that the CRA fosters through support of organizations such as CanREAL. There have been discussions reviewing a potential new award, entitled the Medical Education Innovation Project Award to complement the recently developed Practice Reflection Award. Future directions include ongoing round-table discussions amongst rheumatology educators nationally to share best practices and innovations, and to provide a platform for the development of scholarship across institutions. Through collaborations within the CRA there is opportunity for the development of more web resources and enhancing the educational delivery of the CRA ASM.

Can YOUengage with medical education in rheumatology nationally? Absolutely. Join us for the next CanREAL meeting in Lake Louise.

Raheem B. Kherani, BSc (Pharm), MD, FRCPC, MHPE
Clinical Assistant Professor,
University of British Columbia
Medical Lead,
Arthritis Program,
GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia
Rheumatologist,
West Coast Rheumatology Associates
Richmond, British Columbia

Susan Humphrey-Murto, MD, FRCPC, MEd
Director of Education Research,
Department of Medicine,
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario

Christopher Penney, MD, FRCPC
Associate Clinical Professor,
University of Calgary
Rheumatologist,
Richmond Road Diagnostic & Treatment Center
Calgary, Alberta