It is said that the best predictor of the future is the past.
The current training program ranked 13th out of 86 funded
training programs and as such was funded by CIHR centrally
and not at the institution level. Over the last 6 years,
the Training Program has received excellent annual and
mid-term evaluations (see response to reviewers section).
The quality of the national and international trainees
attracted to the program is indicated by
the fact that 77% have acquired external salary awards
worth over $1.4 million. For the year 2007 alone, the
19 current members of the program published 46 scientific
publications. Trainee satisfaction with the Program was
assessed in an evaluation survey and their overall satisfaction
was rate 3.72/4 (good=3.0, excellent=4.0). While the
full summary of the survey can be viewed in the Appendix, some
of their specific comments include:
- The ICID program was an integral and important part of
my doctoral training which has equipped me to work more effectively
in the field of public health (academically and practically).
- I think the program is exceedingly valuable.
- I thank all the program coordinators and mentors.
This was a great training opportunity, which has
substantially contributed to the success of my
career.
All
graduates of the Training Program have gone onto careers
in health research. PhD students graduating
from the Training Program have gone on to perform postdoctoral
and clinical microbiology fellowships in Toronto and PDF
positions at Harvard Medical School. Others have been directly
recruited to positions with Office of the Chief Veterinarian
in Manitoba or post-doctoral fellowship training in Field
Epidemiology with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
Graduating PDFs have gone on to permanent Research Scientist
positions at the PHAC and faculty positions in Texas and
the University of Manitoba. Graduating clinical fellows have
gone onto clinician scientist faculty positions at the University
of Manitoba and consultancy work in International Health.
This suggests that graduates of the Training Program are
able to secure highly competitive jobs.
In fact, two of the co-applicants in the renewed version
of the Training Program (Javier Mignone and Marissa Becker)
are themselves graduates of the Training Program. Both have
secured academic positions and because of their positive
association with the Training Program, are keen to take on
leadership roles in the renewed program and help bring the
Program to that next level of excellence. This also demonstrates
that the Training Program is continually bringing in new
mentors with fresh ideas and enthusiasm.
