PARO Awards 2024

We want to hear from you. What is your perspective on excellence in medical education?

This is your chance to influence who and what is valued and awarded in the medical education community.

Do you think your Program has provided you with an exceptionally positive and rewarding educational and clinical experience? Is there an individual who has advocated on your behalf during residency? Has there been a clinical teacher who has inspired you to reach your goal of becoming a successful physician?

If so, now is the time to ensure that these deserving individuals or programs are recognized for their contribution to your training. Awards can bring to attention to the behaviour which you want to acknowledge and reward. It is one way to demonstrate what is important to you and what you value in your learning experience.

Each year, PARO provides an opportunity for residents to submit nominations for the following Awards.

Any resident or group of residents who are currently enrolled in an Ontario training program are eligible to participate. The deadline for nominations is Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 1000hrs

Please click on the award category links above for more information on how to submit a nomination. If you have questions, email awards@paroteam.ca.

This is your chance to recognize those remarkable individuals who have had a positive influence on your training!

Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award
Concept of Award

The objective of the PARO Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award is to publicly acknowledge the essential role that good clinical teachers play in the training of new physicians.

All nominees receive a letter from PARO informing them of their nomination and a list of the nominees will be sent to the Postgraduate Dean and Dean at their university. At a nominee’s request, a letter is also sent to their chief or supervising head. Award recipients receive a framed certificate and a $1,000.00 donation to the award recipient’s charity of choice. Recipients also typically receive significant recognition at their site.

There are up to seven awards presented yearly: two for University of Toronto (due to its size) and one for each of the other five medical schools across Ontario: University of Ottawa, Western University, McMaster University, Queen’s University and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

Eligibility

Any clinical staff member involved in full or part-time clinical teaching of residents is eligible for nomination.

Nomination Procedure

Any individual currently enrolled in an accredited residency program in the province can make a nomination. Residents are encouraged to collaborate and submit one joint nomination. This can be done in a single letter or a collection of letters (maximum of 5) that contain the names and email addresses of the Resident nominators for verification purposes.

To be considered, the nomination package must:

  • Include a completed Nomination Form
  • Include a detailed letter(s) (minimum of 300 and maximum of 750 words) outlining the reasons for nomination (see Judging Criteria).
    • Please ensure that you provide sufficient information to convey the strengths and efforts of your nominee.

A resumé of the nominee is not required and will not be considered in the selection process.

Judging Criteria

Some areas that the Awards Selection Committee will consider include:

  • passion for teaching and encouraging a culture of learning
  • encouraging a love of medicine
  • proficiency in delivering clear and relevant information
  • quality of clinical and beside teaching
  • teaching at a high academic level
  • comprehension and appropriate use of the literature
  • appropriateness of teaching for level of trainees
  • ability to relate to and appreciate patient needs
  • being a positive role model- demonstrates their love of medicine
  • interest in trainees personal development and well-being
  • ensures all resident experiences are valued
  • actively supports a vision of an equitable medical culture
  • encouragement of a team approach and seeks out voices that may not be at the centre
  • commitment to the evaluation process
  • innovative techniques
  • curriculum development
  • connecting teaching with problem solving and research

To access the nomination form and upload your supporting letters, please click here.

Lois H. Ross Resident Advocate Award for a Non-Clinician
Concept of Award

The Lois H. Ross Resident Advocate Award was created in 1997 and is named for the first Executive Director of PARO in recognition of her many years of tireless efforts towards improving the lives of residents in Ontario. This award was developed to include non-clinical staff such as program assistants and administrators to reflect the importance of these people in the day-to-day life of a resident. The Lois H. Ross Resident Advocate Award is bestowed upon one individual in the province who has consistently advocated on behalf of residents and resident issues, within their role as an administrator or program coordinator.

All nominees receive a letter from PARO informing them of their nomination and a list of the nominees is sent to the Postgraduate Dean and Dean at their University. At their request, a letter is also sent to their chief or supervisor.

The award consists of a framed certificate and a $1,000 donation to the award recipient’s charity of choice. Recipients also typically receive significant recognition at their site.

Eligibility

Any administrator or program coordinator who works with residents is eligible for nomination. The nomination letter(s) should convey how the nominee demonstrates their passion for resident issues, going above and beyond their required responsibilities, to improve the personal, work and educational wellbeing of every resident.

Nomination Procedure

Any individual currently enrolled in an accredited residency program in the province can make a nomination. Residents are encouraged to collaborate and submit one joint nomination. This can be done in a single letter or several letters (maximum of 5) that contain the names and email addresses of the Resident nominators for verification purposes.

To be considered, the nomination package must:

  • include a completed Nomination Form
  • include a maximum of five detailed letter(s) (minimum of 300 and maximum of 750 words each) outlining the reasons for nomination.

Please ensure that you provide sufficient information to convey the strengths and efforts of your nominee.

Please note: a resumé of the nominee will not be considered in the selection process.

Judging Criteria

Areas that the Awards Selection Committee will consider include:

  • examples showing how the nominee goes above and beyond their job description to demonstrate a clear passion for resident issues
  • consistent advocacy on behalf of residents and resident issues
  • openness and responsiveness to resident questions and feedback– ensures all resident experiences are valued
  • attentiveness to resident needs and seeks out voices that may not always be heard
  • level of approachability
  • specific examples of areas where the nominee has made a significant improvement in the education, equity in medical culture, or wellness of residents
  • demonstrated proactive approach
  • creates a positive culture in which the love of medicine can be fostered.

To access the nomination form and upload your supporting letters, please click here.

Dr. Robert Conn Resident Advocate Award for a Clinician
CONCEPT OF AWARD

The Dr. Robert Conn Resident Advocate Award was created in 2020 and is named in honour of PARO’s Chief Executive Officer in recognition of his role as the exemplar MD of resident advocacy. The Dr. Robert Conn Resident Advocate Award is bestowed upon one individual in the province who has consistently advocated on behalf of residents and resident issues, within their role as a clinician or teacher.

All nominees receive a letter from PARO informing them of their nomination and a list of the nominees is sent to the Postgraduate Dean and Dean at their University. At their request, a letter is also sent to their chief or supervisor.

The award consists of a framed certificate and a $1,000 donation to the award recipient’s charity of choice. Recipients also typically receive significant recognition at their site.

ELIGIBILITY

Any clinician or teacher who works with residents is eligible for nomination. The nomination letter(s) should convey how the nominee demonstrates their passion for resident issues, going above and beyond their required responsibilities, to improve the personal, work and educational wellbeing of residents and actively supports and pursues a vision of an equitable medical culture.

Any individual currently enrolled in an accredited residency program in the province can make a nomination. Residents are encouraged to collaborate and submit one joint nomination. This can be done in a single letter or several letters (maximum of 5) that contain the names and email addresses of the Resident nominators for verification purposes.

To be considered, the nomination package must:

  • include a completed Nomination Form
  • include a maximum of five detailed letter(s) (minimum of 300 and maximum of 750 words each) outlining the reasons for nomination.
    • Please ensure that you provide sufficient information to convey the strengths and efforts of your nominee.

* Please note: a resumé of the nominee will not be considered in the selection
process.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Areas that the Awards Selection Committee will consider include:

  • examples showing how the nominee goes above and beyond their job description to demonstrate a clear passion for resident issues and seeks out voices that may not always be heard
  • consistent advocacy on behalf of residents and resident issues
  • openness and responsiveness to resident questions and feedback
  • attentiveness to resident needs – ensures all resident experiences are valued
  • level of approachability
  • specific examples of areas where the nominee has made a significant improvement in the education, opportunities or wellness of residents
  • demonstrated proactive approach
  • creates a positive culture in which the love of medicine can be fostered
  • actively supports and pursues a vision of an equitable medical culture.

To access the nomination form and upload your supporting letters, please click here.

PARO Residency Program Excellence Award
Concept of Award

The PARO Residency Program Excellence Award was created to recognize those programs that have consistently provided an exceptionally positive and rewarding experience to their residents, while producing physicians who are expertly trained to deal with the challenges in their upcoming careers.

All nominated Programs receive a letter from PARO informing them of the nomination and a list of the nominees is sent to the Postgraduate Dean and Dean at their University.

The award recipient Program receives a framed certificate of recognition and PARO makes a $1,000.00 donation to the Education Fund of the chosen program.

Eligibility

A resident or group of residents in Ontario may nominate any accredited training program in the province. A program may be nominated based on strengths in one category or multiple categories.

Nomination Procedure

Any individual currently enrolled in an accredited residency program in the province can make a nomination. Residents are encouraged to collaborate and submit a joint nomination. This can be done in a single letter or several letters (maximum of 1,500 words combined) that contain the names and email addresses of the Resident nominators for verification purposes.

To be considered, the nomination package must:

  • include a completed Nomination Form
  • include detailed letter(s) outlining the reasons for nomination

Judging Criteria

A. Educational Excellence

The most important component of program excellence is the educational component. While all the other components of an excellent program are important, the primary mandate of a residency program is education, and it is through education that a program most benefits itself, its residents and society at large.

Examples of excellence in education include:

  • is passionate about learning and creating a learning culture
  • superb teaching/preceptoring
  • well organized half-days that are well attended by residents
  • significant amount of time devoted to education
  • standardized and regular feedback on resident performance
  • ensuring that residents in need of extra teaching are identified and assisted in a supportive manner
  • research and conference opportunities made available
  • developing research opportunities for those residents who are interested
  • solid teaching to both on and off service residents (where applicable)

B. Resident Well-Being/Good Work Environments

Residents who are content within their program make better learners, teachers and service providers than those who are not. Because of this, encouragement and fostering of resident well-being is a significant component of what can make a program great.

Examples of positive resident well-being features include:

  • generally fostering environments conducive to residents and their families
  • ensures all Resident experiences are valued
  • good resident-resident and resident-staff relationships
  • excellent mentors and role models within the program
  • relative ease in obtaining vacation time (see item C)
  • program social nights

C. Contract Compliance

Any program nominated for the award should respect the contractual rights of residents and help ensure that they are met.

D. Attentiveness to Resident Needs

Excellent programs will also determine, and respond to, the various and changing needs of their residents. This could include distributing and responding to feedback forms from residents, assisting with career placements, and have supervisors that will address the specific needs of residents – academic or otherwise. Examples of how the program acts in support of an equitable medical culture.

E. Innovations in Resident Education

While not essential for a program to be first-rate, innovations created within a program to improve any of the above characteristics can contribute significantly to program excellence.

F. Consistency

A program that has been consistently excellent over many years in the above categories will be viewed favourably. While not a primary consideration, the selection committee may use – at its discretion – repeat nominations in past years, or other evidence of consistent excellence that is provided in the nomination letter(s), in its selection process.

To access the nomination form and upload your supporting letters, please click here.