Career Development and Communication Skills
This course deconstructs 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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1. Seminar Passport
Doctoral Public Lecture
Reebal Rafeh
Mapping biased competition using frequency-tagged fMRI
Oncology
Dr. Saba Balvardi
Oncology Grand Rounds
Physiology &
Pharmacology
Dr. Eugene Wong
Advancing Radiation Treatment for Cancer
Epidemiology &
Biostatistics
Dr. Richard Larouche
Improving the global surveillance of physical activity: the Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ) project
About The Seminar Passport:
The seminars I attended provided valuable insight into how advances in biomedical research translate into clinical decision-making, particularly within oncology. The Oncology Grand Rounds sessions highlighted how emerging technologies and biomarkers are reshaping patient care, while emphasizing the need for evidence-based implementation. Discussions on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) illustrated how molecular tools can inform post-surgical management of colon cancer by guiding treatment escalation or de-escalation, while also raising important considerations about sensitivity, specificity, and clinical utility. The session on fertility preservation further underscored the importance of patient-centered care, showing how clinical decision-making must integrate medical evidence with individual values and long-term quality-of-life outcomes.
The seminar on Advancing Radiation Treatment for Cancer provided a complementary perspective by focusing on technological and methodological innovation. Learning about modern radiation imaging and treatment approaches, as well as research using animal models of metastasis, emphasized the challenge of maximizing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing late toxicities driven by radiation-induced inflammation. This talk reinforced how preclinical and clinical research must work in tandem to optimize treatment strategies.
Together, these seminars deepened my understanding of the translational pipeline in oncology—from biomarker development and clinical surveillance to treatment optimization and long-term patient outcomes. They reinforced the importance of integrating rigorous evidence, ethical considerations, and technological innovation in advancing cancer care.
2. Capstone Project Goals
My capstone project addresses a neuroscience “wicked problem” by examining how early-life trauma, specifically Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), shapes neurological and physiological pathways that contribute to chronic pain. The project aims to use this understanding to inform trauma-informed, neuroscience-based models of care within the Canadian healthcare context. A central goal of this work is to strengthen my ability to critically dissect and synthesize scientific literature to address complex, interdisciplinary research questions.
This capstone is supported by complementary rotations that reinforce both scientific rigor and applied learning. My science rotation focuses on investigating the role of the neuroligin-3 (nlg3) gene in fecundity, longevity, and innate immune responses, fostering a critical approach to experimental design and interpretation. In parallel, my community rotation involves analyzing population-level health data to identify stroke risk factors across Southwestern Ontario, with an emphasis on improving communication skills and professional engagement with health organizations.
Together, these experiences support my broader academic goal of integrating interdisciplinary knowledge to bridge basic neuroscience research with real-world clinical and community applications, while strengthening critical thinking and science communication skills.
3. Capstone Project Goals Part 2
My capstone project addresses a neuroscience “wicked problem” by examining how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) influence neurological and physiological pathways that contribute to chronic pain, with the goal of informing trauma-informed models of care in the Canadian healthcare context. This work has strengthened my ability to critically analyze and synthesize complex scientific literature across disciplines.
This project is supported by complementary rotations that reinforce both research and application. My science rotation focused on the role of the neuroligin-3 (nlg3) gene, strengthening my approach to experimental design and data interpretation. My clinical rotation provided exposure to real-world patient care, where I observed how evidence is applied in time-sensitive settings such as stroke intervention. In parallel, my community rotation involved analyzing population-level data to identify stroke risk factors across Southwestern Ontario.
Together, these experiences have helped me integrate basic neuroscience with clinical and community perspectives, while further developing my critical thinking and communication skills.
My capstone project and seminar participation strengthened my ability to engage with complex, interdisciplinary research and translate it into meaningful insight. By examining how early-life trauma influences neurological pathways involved in chronic pain, I developed a more integrated approach to synthesizing neuroscience, clinical evidence, and population-level data. Complementary rotations and seminar reflections pushed me to think critically across disciplines, communicate research clearly, and connect scientific findings to real-world health contexts. Together, these experiences reinforced my commitment to thoughtful, trauma-informed, and evidence-based approaches in neuroscience and health research.