Join patients who have partnered with researchers in the past for a fireside chat as they describe what interested them in working to shape dermatological research, the different types of contributions they have made to developing studies, and what they wished researchers knew about working with patients as partners in research. This discussion will be moderated by Rachael Manion, Chair, Patient Advisory Council, Skin Investigation Network of Canada (SkIN Canada) and include a Q&A with patient research partners.
One of the strategic aims of the Skin Investigation Network of Canada (SkIN Canada) is to foster and promote the growth of future skin researchers. The virtual trainee workshop 2020 represents a part of this aim, and will focus on the theme ‘career path’. It features a variety of career paths available to trainees and early career investigators as indicated in the program below. In addition, trainees will be given an opportunity to join patient representatives for a fireside chat which will occur immediately following the workshop.
A fireside chat with patient research partners moderated by Rachael Manion, Executive Director Canadian Skin Patient Alliance & Canadian Association of Psoriasis Patients, Chair, Patient Advisory Council, SkIN Canada.
Patients who have partnered with researchers in the past described what interested them in working to shape dermatological research, the different types of contributions they have made to developing studies and what they wished researchers knew about working with patients as partners in research.
We were very fortunate have patient research partner panelists Dawn Richards, Christian Boisvert-Huneault and Latoya Palmer, who had different experiences as part of different research teams. They shared their experiences as collaborators with research teams. Three main goals that were addressed in this workshop were 1) Provide a sense of different roles patients can have as part of research teams 2) why patients are engaged in research as research partners or team members rather than simple participants. 2) Importance of patient engagement.
Full workshop video recording of the fireside chat and panel discussions can be viewed here. ⇑
This workshop was focused on the theme ‘career path’. This session was moderated by Dr. Anie Philip, Executive Committee Member, SkIN Canada.
Invited speakers who are at the pinnacle of their careers discussed key points:
Trainees will be able to use this valuable information to develop strategies for choosing a specific career path and achieve the desired goal.
Assistant Dean, Biomedical Science Education, Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at McGill University and Associate Member of the Institute of Health Sciences Education.
“I always wanted to be a scientist – that was the easy part. Being a professor was much more that I bargained for!”
His advice on how to become an academic scientist included key strategies: passion, reading, commitment, networking, taking advantage of opportunities and experience. Full recording of the presentation can be accessed here ⇒.
Career Path: Clinical ScientistDermatologist at Women’s collage hospital, clinical scientist at Women’s collage research institute and assistant professor in the department of medicine at university of Toronto.
His presentation on choosing career path as clinical scientist gave insights in to what lead him to medical training, clinical teaching and research training and also the factors that influenced: Academic environment, mentors and enjoyment for the process of research.
Senior biologist and evaluator at Health Canada.
“Probably the most important thing that got me to this career path: working for government is to start asking questions to my network, start talking to people in and around government”
Dr. Turpin through his talk gave many tips into where to start in this career path and pros and cons of working for the government.
Full presentation about the required skills and types of jobs that are available to science graduates and how you get in to a position within the government can be found here. ⇒
Dr. De Luca is a partner with Bereskin & Parr LLP and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. She is a lawyer and registered patent agent in Canada and the United States and practices in all areas of intellectual property. She obtaining her Ph.D. from McGill University and conducted research in the areas of inflammation, signal transduction and virology before earning a law degree from the University of Toronto.
“It is important to listen to all of the clues that you have internally, I am very happy where I am, it uses the skills I have to the best”
In her presentation titled “Not So Typical Careers in Science” Dr. De Luca talked about promoting careers, leadership and entrepreneurship for women in the life sciences. Her key points of advice to trainees seeking “patent law” as their career path are to find a good mentor, learn from each opportunity, assess what you enjoy and where your skills lie and where they do not, take classes, go to seminars, read and keep record of your accomplishments and most of all network.
