Michelle Lazarus

Having begun my career as a cell biologist, my shift to the education realm is a sizeable transition which placed me in the role of “student” again.  During my progression from novice to expert, I learned new nomenclature, new research techniques, and new paradigms.  My teaching philosophy is founded, therefore, not from my teaching experiences, but rather from my learning experiences.  My philosophy can be summed in four themes: 

1. Scaffolding knowledge.  Providing a story, rather than lengthy details, empowers the learner to connect and apply concepts during the learning process, instead of memorize details. Evidence of my efforts to accomplish this can be found in unsolicited student comments following a teaching session:  “[the session] really cleared a few things I hadn't connected in my head”;

2.  Enabling the learner.  Creating an effective environment and providing the right amount support is essential. Within my capacity as chair of the advisory committee of young anatomists (ACYA), I led the charge in developing monthly newsletter articles targeting needs of other early career faculty; these have become the most viewed sections of the newsletter;

3. Incorporating and modelling professionalism. Topic knowledge is inseparable from the professional context within which it will be used. By integrating clinical “handover” approaches for peer to peer anatomy laboratory teaching (expanded upon later), I merged content knowledge with professional skills.  Much of my current research focuses on exploring this theme further;

4. Fostering collaboration.  Whether working with students or peers, I value equality and teamwork. Successes in these areas exist because of my cooperative approach to achieving the goals.  From co-investigators on grant submissions to co-authors on publications, evidence of my leadership favouring collaborative teams abounds; these teammates bring expertise from multiple specialty areas, creating a diverse and simultaneously cohesive group. 

Reserach in the Lazarus Lab for Medical Education Research focuses on building an evidence-base to support a variety of teaching approaches and philosophies within the field of medical education.  Contact me for more info!