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Excellence in Community-Based Teaching and Education Awards

Nominations are now closed. This award will open for nominations again in October 2025.

To acknowledge the significant contribution of an increasing number of community-based teachers to the learning of students and trainees (MD, PGME and Rehabilitation Sciences) at the University of Toronto, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine offers five awards to recognize excellence in community-based teaching across health professions education.

Award Categories

Excellence in Community-Based Teaching (Community Hospital)
This award recognizes excellence in teaching and education at a community hospital.
Excellence in Community-Based Teaching (Clinic/Office/Practice)
This award recognizes excellence in teaching and education at a community-based physician office/clinic.
Excellence in Community-Based Teaching (Rehabilitation Sciences)
This award recognizes excellence in teaching and education at a community-based office/clinic OR community hospital. 
Sustained Excellence in Community-Based Teaching
These awards recognizes sustained (normally 10 years) excellence in community-based teaching and education, and may include mentorship, the integration of scholarship in teaching, interprofessional collaboration, etc. Two sustained excellence awards will be available annually: 1) Sustained Excellence in Medical Education & 2) Sustained Excellence in Rehabilitation Sciences.

Eligibility

The awards are open to MDs and Rehabilitation Sciences faculty members who: 

  • Are clinical teachers of Health Professions learners including MD program students, Postgraduate (PGME) resident trainees or Rehabilitation Science Students within the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine;  
  • Teach and practice primarily in the community environment, including University of Toronto Community Affiliate Hospitals or community-based office/clinic setting (not associated with Full Affiliates of the Faculty of Medicine); and  
  • Are faculty appointed within a Temerty Faculty of Medicine Department/Program and have the support of two learners, and either their Department Chair or Hospital Chief. For non-MD faculty members, including Rehabilitation Sciences, the appropriate Practice Lead or Manager may sign off on the nomination. 

Note: Self-nominations will not be accepted. Those who have received an award in any of the three categories are ineligible for 5 years.

Criteria

The following criteria will be considered in reviewing each nominee:  

  • Use of innovative or creative teaching methods and demonstrated ability to lead learners to think critically 
  • Excellent communication skills, good rapport with learners, and encouraging learners to have interest and enthusiasm for the subject area 
  • Strong evidence of mentorship, serving as an effective and positive role model and fostering interdisciplinary skills and connections 
  • Quality and consistency of teaching evaluations 
  • Incorporation of principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility-related considerations in teaching and practice

Nomination Process 

Nominations must be made via the online nomination form. The person completing the form must ensure that the nominee is aware of the nomination. Please note: a nominee may only be nominated only in one category.

Nomination Requirements

Letter of Nomination from the Relevant Department Chair or Chief
For those submitting in the Rehabilitation Sciences category, the appropriate practice lead or manager may sign off on the nomination. This letter of support should speak directly to how the candidate meets the above criteria.
Two Letters of Support from Former Learners or Trainees
For all award categories, the adjudication committee will accept letters from learners that are dated within the last 24 months.
Curriculum Vitae
No page limit.
List of Teaching and Education Awards Received
If applicable. Please note whether these are local, regional, national or international.
Teaching Evaluations
TES or other teaching report, see notes below.

Notes on Teaching Evaluations:

When uploading teaching evaluation data, you will be asked to: 

  • Explain how student ratings are normally conducted in the relevant division/faculty and include a blank copy of the survey instrument. 
  • Account for irregularities in the data (low ratings that result from significant changes to a course, gaps in ratings that are due to a leave of absence or special assignment or reduced teaching responsibilities, change in the rating form, etc.) 
  • Ensure all data includes course titles, course level, dates, class sizes, number of completed evaluations. 

Category

Teaching Evaluation Requirements

Categories 1-3

Requires 2-5 years teaching evaluation data.

Category 4:

Sustained Excellence

Requires 10+ years of teaching evaluations as well as a teaching dossier.

Where 10 years of teaching evaluation data is not available, the nominee may include an explanation as to why this is not available and provide alternative evidence of efforts to engage learners, introduce innovative teaching methods, and provide mentorship. Alternative evidence may include pre and post learning tests to demonstrate knowledge gains; demonstrated use of evidence-based approaches to pedagogy; success in student learning outcomes; peer review of teaching; course development efforts; or course materials. Evidence presented should demonstrate continued excellence over a minimum of 10 years.

Adjudication Process

  • Nomination files will be reviewed by the Community Based Teaching Awards Adjudication Committee. 
  • Nominees will be notified of the results by April 2025. 

For questions regarding the awards or process, please contact: 

Office of the Vice Dean, Medical Education 
Temerty Faculty of Medicine 
medicine.awards@utoronto.ca