General Information
Scarborough Health Network (SHN) is a community teaching hospital, nestled in one of the most diverse communities in Canada. With our three hospitals, multiple satellite sites, and many regional and speciality programs, we are the third largest community teaching hospital provider in Ontario.
SHN offers unique educational opportunities in both hospital and community settings for medical students, residents, and fellows – as well as dental, midwife, and physician assistant students. Our 400+ faculty-appointed physicians are experts in their fields, training learners in classrooms, cutting-edge simulation labs, and through hands-on experience across a range of medical specialties.
We have a rich history of teaching that includes a longstanding affiliation with the University of Toronto and membership in the Toronto Academic Health Science Network. With our new Education Strategy 2024-2029, we are expanding in bold and exciting ways – such as our growing partnership with U of T and the upcoming Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health opening in 2027; as well as building greater infrastructure, including an all-new state-of-the-art facility.
We are proudly preparing a new generation of healthcare professionals with the skills, compassion, and knowledge to meet the evolving needs of diverse communities like Scarborough.
Message from Dr. Samir Grover, Executive Vice President, Academics
When I first arrived in Scarborough, the diversity struck me right away, and it has never stopped inspiring me. That diversity is not just a characteristic of our community – it’s an asset, and it lies at the heart of a transformation that will see SHN become Canada’s leading community teaching health network.
Message from Dr. Caroline Chan, Academy Director, Scarborough Academy of Medicine
My journey with SHN began over two decades ago, and I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of our educational initiatives. With deep roots in the Scarborough community, I am committed to fostering an environment that nurtures the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Featured news
A new era of learning at SHN – Major transformation of our spaces are coming!
In preparation for taking on a growing number of learners, we’re making big changes to facilities across our organization, and we couldn’t be more excited to share our design plans with you!
Meet Our Team
SHN Education Leadership
| Dr. Samir Grover | Executive Vice-President, Academics |
| Sasha Singh | Director, Education |
Scarborough Academy of Medicine
| Dr. Caroline Chan | Academy Director, Scarborough Academy of Medicine |
| Dr. Grant Chen | Physician Lead, Faculty Development, Scarborough Academy of Medicine |
Medical Education Office
| Charmaine Retanal | Executive Assistant to Executive Vice-President, Academics |
| TBA | Administrative Assistant, Education |
| Benson Fong | Education Coordinator (Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry, and Lab Medicine & Pathology) |
| Lauryn Prummel | Education Coordinator (Obstetrics/Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Midwifery) |
| Michelle Diep | Education Coordinator (Medicine, Medical Imaging) |
| Rachel Marcelo | Education Coordinator (Anaesthesia, Surgery, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Physician Assistants) |
| Stacey McKeown | Program Coordinator (Family Medicine) |
| Prince Olagoke | Digital Communications Coordinator |
Physician Education Leads
| Anesthesia | Dr. Laurie Sellings |
| Education and Innovation | Dr. Joshua Landy |
| Emergency | Dr. Kristine Lamorena |
| Family Medicine (Postgraduate) | Dr. Jennifer McDonald |
| Family Medicine (Undergraduate) | Dr. Karthika Sithamparanathan |
| Medicine | Dr. Pegah Shahriaree (Shah) |
| Obstetrics/Gynaecology | Dr. Nina Venkatarangam (Venka) |
| Paediatrics | Dr. Leah Tattum |
| Psychiatry | Dr. Paris Lai |
| Surgery (General) | Dr. Sailaja Nallapaneni |
| Surgery | Dr. Ryan Katchky |
Contact information
Location:
Education Office
Centenary Hospital, 11th floor, Room 1180
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
E-mail: MedicalEducation@shn.ca
Please note that while our Education Office operates during regular business hours, our team members often work flexibly across our hospital network, attend meetings, and support learners at various locations.
We recommend contacting us in advance to ensure that a member of our team is available to assist you when you arrive.
Learner Opportunities
Learners seeking an opportunity at SHN
At Scarborough Health Network (SHN), all clinical placements and rotations must be arranged through a learner’s home institution. If you are interested in completing a rotation at SHN, please contact your school’s placement or clinical education coordinator to express your interest and request that your rotation be arranged accordingly.
Undergraduate Medical Students – Core Rotations
Undergraduate medical students must be registered through the University of Toronto’s MD Office, which will coordinate the rotation with SHN directly.
Undergraduate Medical Students – Elective Rotations
If you are seeking an elective rotation at SHN, you must formally apply through the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) Portal.
When submitting your elective request, please specify Scarborough Health Network (SHN) and the clinical area in which you wish to rotate.
Postgraduate Trainees (Residents, Clinical Fellows, and Visiting Electives)
All postgraduate medical trainees must register with the University of Toronto’s Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Office in order to complete a rotation at SHN. This applies to University of Toronto trainees as well as visiting elective trainees from other institutions.
Please note: SHN is unable to independently arrange or directly accept placement requests from learners without coordination through the appropriate institutional processes.
Learners starting a placement or rotation at SHN
If your placement or rotation at SHN has been confirmed by your post-secondary education institution and they have sent your information, SHN’s Medical Education Office will contact you with the Learner Registration Form.
All learners are required to submit a completed Learner Registration Form no later than three weeks prior to the start date of their placement or rotation. If you have not yet been contacted by a member of the Medical Education Office to complete your registration, please email MedicalEducation@shn.ca to request access to the online Learner Registration Form.
Please note that registration is mandatory prior to beginning any clinical or educational activities at SHN, and in order to be provisioned with essential tools and resources required for your placement, including:
- SHN ID badge
- Active Directory access
- SHN email account
- Epic clinical information system access
Failure to complete the registration process will result in delays or restrictions. Timely registration ensures that all necessary access and supports are arranged in advance of your start date.
Applying to be an observer at SHN
At this time, SHN has suspended all observerships and is working to rebuild our observership program to provide you with the best possible experience. Please check back regularly for updates and information.
Physician Information
Teaching at SHN
At Scarborough Health Network (SHN), we are proud to serve as a community teaching network, committed to advancing medical education for over 40 years. We continue to expand our educational footprint across our three hospital hospitals – Centenary, General and Birchmount – all in support of our mission to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care.
Our physicians play a critical role in shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals. SHN’s teaching network includes physicians who provide education across a variety of settings:
- Within our hospitals
- In their community-based practices
- At the University of Toronto
We are dedicated to fostering an enriching learning environment that balances excellence in patient care with a strong commitment to education. Physicians at SHN have the opportunity to engage with learners through a wide range of clinical and educational experiences across multiple teaching sites.
At SHN, faculty contribute to education through diverse teaching styles, including:
- Direct supervision: Hands-on clinical teaching and mentorship at the point of care
- Classroom and seminar instruction: Delivering lectures, tutorials and case-based discussions
- Academic engagement: Participating in curriculum development, assessment and academic leadership roles
To join our vibrant teaching community, becoming a faculty-appointed physician is an essential step. Faculty appointments are made through the University of Toronto and open the door to exciting opportunities for clinical teaching, professional development, and academic collaboration.
To learn more about faculty appointment requirements and how the Medical Education Office can support you in applying, please see the information below in our Getting Started with your Faculty Appointment section.
Getting started with your faculty appointment
At SHN, we have a dedicated team in place to provide end-to-end support for physicians interested in applying for faculty positions.
As a faculty member, you will play a pivotal role in mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals, sharing your expertise and passion for patient care. We invite you to join our esteemed team of educators who are committed to academic excellence, innovative teaching, and fostering a culture of lifelong learning. Your involvement will not only enrich the lives of your students but also enhance your professional growth and satisfaction. Apply today and be a part of shaping the future of medical education at our hospital.
Below you will find a glossary of key terms and a detailed list of the steps required for application to each department/division. If you have any questions, please reach out to MedicalEducation@shn.ca.
We look forward to helping you along your journey to becoming a member of faculty!
| Category | Description |
| Full Time | Clinical Appointment – 80% or more of your professional working time |
| Part-Time | Clinical Appointment – 20-79% of your professional working time |
| Adjunct | Clinical Appointment – less than 20% of your professional working time |
| Academic Ranks | |
| Lecturer | Usual Entry-Level Level Rank |
| Assistant Professor | Requires a master’s level degree (after MD) and 1-2 peer-reviewed first author publications. Promotion is possible after 5 years at Lecturer Rank. |
| Associate Professor | Requires academic productivity and/or local or regional distinction. Promotion possible after 5 years as Assistant Professor. |
| Professor | Requires national/international levels of academic distinction and/or extreme productivity. |
| Academic Position Descriptions | |
| Clinician Teacher | Engaged in research, teaching, and education with clinical responsibilities. High clinical competence is crucial. Applicable to full-time, part-time, or adjunct appointments. |
| Clinician in Quality and Innovation: | Focused on quality improvement, patient safety, knowledge translation, or healthcare innovation. Enhances health outcomes through leadership and collaboration. |
| Clinician Investigator – Track A | Primarily focused on research (40-70%) and engaged in academic activities for at least 80% of their professional time. |
| Clinician Investigator – Track B | Major focus on research (less than 40%) and other academic activities. |
Overview of the faculty appointment process
Department of Anesthesia applications
Department of Diagnostic Imaging applications
Department of Family and Community Medicine applications
Department of Medicine applications
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology applications
Department of Paediatrics applications
Department of Pathology applications
Department of Psychiatry applications
Department of Surgery applications
Department of Surgery – Ophthalmology applications
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Department of Surgery – Otolaryngology applications
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Department of Surgery – Radiology Oncology applications
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