Dr. Robyn Hutchings
The Southern Medical Program is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Robyn Hutchings as interim Director, Faculty Development for the Southern Medical Program (SMP) based at the Clinical Academic Campus at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH).
Dr. Hutchings is a pediatric emergency medicine physician and Clinical Instructor with the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics. While based in Kelowna, Dr. Hutchings splits her time commuting monthly to Edmonton for her work in the emergency department at Stollery Children’s Hospital.
For the past five years, Dr. Hutchings has served as an Assistant Clinical Professor for the University of Alberta’s Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. She actively supports medical education opportunities for students, residents, and fellows as part of her practice as well as the pediatric emergency medicine simulation program at Stollery Children’s Hospital. For SMP students, she serves as a preceptor for clinical skills and portfolio coach for the Flexible Enhanced Learning (FLEX) course.
As Director, Faculty Development, Dr. Hutchings will be responsible for the planning and implementation of faculty development programs at the SMP’s primary education sites in Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon, and Trail in addition to supporting clinical faculty across the Interior Health (IH) region.
Dr. Michael Purdon
The SMP would also like to recognize the tremendous work of Dr. Michael Purdon as outgoing Director, Faculty Development. Over the past three and half years, Dr. Purdon has made great strides in fostering and advancing faculty development opportunities for clinical faculty at the SMP’s primary education sites and rural communities throughout the IH region.
He spearheaded the development of the SMP Master Teacher Certificate Program enabling countless faculty to enhance their teaching and mentoring skills and positively impact the learning environment for our students. We are truly grateful for Dr. Purdon’s efforts as faculty development champion and pleased he will continue to be engaged with our program as a preceptor for SMP students.