Robert Maudsley Fellowship for Studies in Medical Education
This fellowship increases the number and quality of professionally trained medical educators in Canada by providing training in the science of medical education to selected promising candidates. The program helps specialists acquire knowledge and skills in the field of medical education in order to develop educational programs, evaluation methods and medical education research that apply to any phase of the continuum of medical education.
Residents and Fellows are eligible to receive $40,000 (total) for up to 2 years of study. An amount equivalent to 75 per cent of the grant will be disbursed upon project commencement, and the remaining 25 per cent upon project completion and receipt of a final report.
Eligible programs of study must begin after July 1, 2023, but no later than June 30,2024. Note: Applicants in their last year of their Masters or PhD program are not eligible for this fellowship as the disbursement of money awarded for the 2024 fellowship occurs in the spring of 2024.
Funds will be deposited with the grant recipient’s professional corporation, university or hospital department. Use of funds must respect the spirit of the Fellowship that seeks to support the conduct of research (e.g. tuition, salary support to protect time for research, research staff support, presentation of findings etc.).
A financial statement prepared by a third-party administrator is expected upon completion of the Fellowship.
Eligibility
Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, as well as Royal College Fellows or residents registered in a program accredited by the Royal College. They must also demonstrate registration (full- or part-time) in a master’s-level or PhD-level university program in education, or a subject field or program of study closely related to medical education. On-line programs of study are eligible.
Applicants must provide a letter of support from a Canadian faculty of medicine. Residents require a letter of support from their Royal College residency program director indicating that the program director has approved the resident’s intended course of study in education.
This fellowship funding is for up to two years of study. Applicants may reapply for up to an additional two years of funding (PhD program). Repeat or renewal applications will be considered on a competitive basis along with all other applications received in the same year and will require an outline of the progress of the previous year’s work.
Individuals who currently hold funding from the Royal College (as a Principal Applicant) are not eligible to receive funding in this competition. He/she may still supervise a trainee or student, and can be a co-investigator on proposals submitted by other PIs. Please note an application is considered closed only when the Education Research Grants Committee has approved final submission documents and financial items have been resolved.
Selection
The Royal College Education Research Development Committee selects successful candidates on the basis of overall merit using the following criteria:
- applicant’s education and experience relevant to medical education
- benefits to the applicant and to medical education
- quality of the proposed medical education project(s) to be undertaken (this should be a research project, a development project or an innovation related to medical education)
- quality of mentorship
Number
At least one fellowship will be awarded each year.
Budget
A budget outline and justification must be provided. An amount equivalent to 75 per cent of the grant will be disbursed upon project commencement, and 25 per cent upon project completion and receipt of a final report.
The final report must be sent to the Program Coordinator, Research Grants and Awards, Research Unit, Royal College.
Submission
Applications must be submitted by completing the online grant form by the application deadline (no exceptions) on or before September 26, 2023, before 11:59pm (applicant’s local time). Attachments sent by email will not be accepted and are ineligible to be attached to the application.
What to include in your application
- Please download and complete the Grant Budget template. Once completed, please attach the document. Use of the Royal College Budget Template is mandatory.
- Budget justification.
- Letter of introduction: Attach a letter describing your previous medical-education-related activities and future plans for a career in medical education. Also include a brief description of your proposed degree program and explain how this program will be of particular value to you and to medical education or to the institution where you will work.
- Two letters of reference: One reference letter must be written by a Fellow of the Royal College, the other reference letter by your mentor or supervisor. Reference letters should include a discussion of your general clinical and professional abilities, medical training and experience, scholarship in medical education, and potential for a career in medical education. Your mentor or supervisor’s reference letter must provide an outline of his/her plan for mentoring you, his/her relevant experience, and the resources available where the work will be carried out.
- Letter(s) of acceptance (if available): If a letter of acceptance is not available at the time of application, the award will be conditional on providing of a letter of acceptance as soon as it becomes available and in advance of the planned studies.
- Letter of support from a Canadian faculty of medicine (and Royal College residency program director, if applicable): Institutional letters of support should outline the applicant’s past accomplishments, the quality of scholarly work to be undertaken by the applicant, the applicant’s potential for a career in medical education, and the impact this training will have on the applicant’s career and practice community. If it is anticipated that the applicant will return to a faculty position, discuss the applicant’s anticipated faculty position (if known), and the applicant’s anticipated workload, including percentage of protected time the applicant will have to pursue medical education scholarly activities in the future. The letter of support should be written by the dean or associate dean of the faculty of medicine, or the applicant’s university departmental or divisional chair.
- Your project proposal. [Note: please enter your Name (First_Last) in the upper right-hand corner of each page submitted.]
Please describe/discuss:
(a) the medical education project to be undertaken, using the following headings as appropriate (maximum 3 pages):
i) background
ii) objectives and/or hypotheses
iii) methods
iv) expected outcomes
v) evaluation
vi) timeline for completion
vii) applicant’s role in the project
(b) your proposed program of study and its relevance to medical education
(c) the benefits of this fellowship to you and to medical education
Re-application: please describe accomplishments to date and future plans, as well as the connection to the original application (maximum 250 words) – optional (if renewal) - Your curriculum vitae (Canadian Common CV acceptable)
(a) your training and experience including clinical and teaching activities (list chronologically, giving dates and places)
(b) your presentations, publications, and innovations, including any related to medical education. - Your mentor or supervisor’s curriculum vitae
Background
Dr. Robert Maudsley, MD, FRCSC was a passionate mentor and innovator in the field of medical education. He was instrumental in the development of the original CanMEDS Framework, and at the time of his death was associate director of Internationally Educated Health Professionals at the Royal College. Dr. Maudsley died suddenly in October 2012. Through this grant, his legacy as a committed medical educator will continue.
Answers to frequently asked questions
- This fellowship is not restricted to Canadian universities. You can go anywhere in the world providing that the centre you plan to visit is a recognized centre of excellence in the relevant field.
- You will receive an email upon receipt of your application.
- You will receive competition results by email by late February 2024. It will not be possible to obtain results by telephone.
- Late applications will not be considered.
- All items pertaining to your application must be received at the Royal College by 11:59 p.m. local time, September 26, 2023.
- Applications must be submitted by completing the online grant form.
Submission deadline
Applications for the 2024 Robert Maudsley Fellowship for Studies in Medical Education grant competition must be received by 11:59 p.m. (local time), on September 26, 2023. Late applications will be considered ineligible.
For additional information
Program Coordinator, Research Unit
E-mail: researchgrants@royalcollege.ca
