Some Things Change, Some Things Stay the Same: Trends in Canadian Education in Paediatric Cardiology and the Cardiac Sciences

Education in paediatric cardiology has evolved along with clinical care. The availability and application of new technologies in education, in particular, have had a significant impact. Artificial intelligence; virtual, augmented, and mixed reality learning tools; and gamification of learning have all resulted in new opportunities for today’s trainees compared with those of the past. A new training model is also being used. Though currently focused on residency education, competency-based medical education is also being applied to undergraduate education in some Canadian medical schools. Competency-based medical education offers a more transparent relationship between education and physicians’ social contract with society. It provides greater accountability for programmes and learners to teach and learn the skills required to function as competent specialists. However, it has not come without challenges. Coincident with the application of this model for learners, there has been increased educational accountability for physicians in practice and for the institutions training them. Despite these changes, some things have remained the same. On the positive side, the importance of good clinical teachers to effective learning remains constant. Unfortunately, the mistreatment of learners within our education system also remains and is perhaps the most important challenge facing medical education in Canada today. Learning to be better teachers and learner advocates is an important goal for all of those involved in educating Canadian medical learners.