March FacDev Madness 2026
March 2 - 6, 2026
What is it?
March Madness: Faculty Development Edition
From March 2 to 6, 2026, the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine invites you to join us for a week of faculty development activities ranging from civility discussions, learning resources, and much more!
This is a pilot virtual Faculty Development initiative focused on nurturing civility, wellness, and communication (and more) within our community. It is an opportunity for all members of the department to share, learn, and engage in crucial discussions while continuing to improve the work environment for learners, our colleagues and ourselves.
All activities qualify for either Section 1, Section 2, or Section 3 MOC credits.
Summary:
Participate in the Challenge Here
Read
"Physician Well-Being 2.0" (Dr. Tait Shanafelt)
Hosted by the Canadian Medical Association, this article outlines the transition from individual "resilience" to organizational "culture of wellness". Read the article.
Engage
"Resilience in the Era of Sustainable Physicians"
A series of activities and videos from McMaster University designed to help Canadian physicians mitigate burnout. Browse all activities.
Watch
"Every doctor makes mistakes. But," says physician Brian Goldman, "medicine's culture of denial (and shame) keeps doctors from ever talking about those mistakes, or using them to learn and improve." Telling stories from his own long practice, he calls on doctors to start talking about being wrong. Watch the TED Talk.
Wellness Resources for Faculty
Supporting wellness — emotional and physical — is an essential element in fostering the high performing, respectful and sustainable community . We strive to value and innovate for the wellbeing of faculty members – from the classroom and the lab to the clinic and the hospital ward – fostering support for a healthy and positive work life for all.
"7 Steps to Resolve Any Conflict" (Dr. Amanda Brisebois)
"How to turn a group of strangers into a team" (Amy Edmondson)
Read
CMPA Best Practices
Well-functioning teams also result in less provider burnout and greater provider resilience. In CMPA data, communication breakdowns and teamwork failures are common reasons for patient safety incidents (accidents in Québec). Inter-professional communication issues are a key factor in delays in diagnosis, mishaps in surgery, medication incidents, and failures in the monitoring or follow-up of patients. Learn more.
Engage
CMPA Clinical Communication Program (CPP)
The CCP is an intensive, evidence-based program that strengthens physicians’ communication and interpersonal skills. Through simulated patient interactions and best-practice training, this confidential, colleague-to-colleague program helps doctors improve patient engagement and manage challenging clinical conversations. Learn more.
Lead
TeamSTEPPS Framework
TeamSTEPPS is an evidence-based framework to optimize team performance across the health care delivery system. Adopted by the American Hospital Association, it is based on four teachable-learnable skills:
- Communication
- Leading Teams
- Mutual Support
- Situation Monitoring
The TeamSTEPPS framework reflects the connections between these four skills and how they contribute to highly reliable, safe and effective care for every patient.
Download your TeamSTEPPS Pocket Guide.
Dr. Lefkowitz is a staff physician and education lead in the Division of General Internal Medicine at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, a scholar at The Wilson Centre for Research in Education, University Health Network/University of Toronto, and an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
Read
Lefkowitz A, Maniate JM, Kuper A.Disagreeing respectfully: embracing complexity facilitates civil discourse. Can Med Educ J. 2025 Nov 6;16(5):66–72. https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.82086
Read the article.
Read Dr. Ariel Lefkowitz's article in Maclean's, "A Doctor’s Plea for Civil Discourse"
Practice
The 10:5 Rule
This week, when you are within:
- 10 feet of someone: smile and make eye contact.
- 5 feet of someone: greet them with a friendly hello.
It’s a small gesture that can have a big impact.
Dr. Turner explains how even mild incivility in the OR significantly reduces the cognitive bandwidth of the entire team, directly increasing the risk of medical error. Watch the TEDx Talk.
Listen
"Dr. Manners: Operating Room Etiquette" Podcast with Dr Carol-Anne Moutlon
Dr. Carol-Anne Moulton, of University Health Network, is on a new medical mission — to change the culture of operating rooms at one of Canada’s biggest hospitals. The goal? To design ways of promoting civility and friendlier, happier staff while ultimately making things safer for patients. Listen to the podcast.
Lead
"Civility Matters" Toolkit
Whether you’re looking to spark meaningful conversations, create a visual impact, gather feedback, or implement a comprehensive training program, this toolkit will support you every step of the way through tools and resources tailored to cultivating a culture of respect and civility in the work environment.
Together, let’s cultivate a culture of respect, empathy and collaboration!
“Civility Matters” is spearheaded by physicians who understand the unique challenges and opportunities for promoting civility in healthcare. Explore the "Civility Matters" toolkit here.
Giving direct feedback while showing genuine care creates stronger teams and relationships. A story about a beloved but underperforming employee reveals how avoiding hard truths out of kindness can backfire, hurting both individuals and teams. Embracing radical candor, which balances caring personally and challenging directly, helps prevent toxic cultures and builds trust. Respect and honest communication foster growth, even across divides. Watch the TED Talk.
Practice
Centre for Faculty Development MicroModule: Feedback
Bring your own teaching context to life by building a personalized case. Learn how the evidence-informed CRAFT framework can strengthen responsive, adaptive, and growth-oriented reciprocal feedback conversations. Leave with an actionable plan to elevate your feedback practice. Return to the module anytime. Rebuild your case, revisit the content, and continue refining your approach as your teaching evolves. Register for the module.
Learn
Feedback Resources