DocTalks Presented by Podagogies

Heather Mac Neill, Curtis Maloley, and Chelsea Jones

Podcast by Heather Mac Neill, Curtis Maloley, and Chelsea Jones

Episodes

  1. Doc Talks: Embedding Indigenous Health and Reconciliation in Medical Education with Dr. Jamaica Cass

    09/29/2025

    Doc Talks: Embedding Indigenous Health and Reconciliation in Medical Education with Dr. Jamaica Cass

    Dr. Jamaica Cass discusses her work in Indigenous health, emphasizing the importance of incorporating decolonization and reconciliation into medical education. She provides insights into her role as the Indigenous health lead, including creating a culturally safe admissions process and developing a longitudinal, mandatory curriculum that addresses the colonial roots of Indigenous health disparities. She also talks about how she approaches her clinical practice serving an Indigenous community and ways to approach this work with care. As Indigenous Health Lead, Dr. Jamaica Cass will participate in providing guidance in all aspects of work at the school of medicine. This will include working with the executive committee to develop an Indigenous admissions policy, pursue Indigenous community engagement and develop an Indigenous Health curriculum. A member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, Turtle Clan, Dr. Cass practices Indigenous Health as a primary care physician on-reserve at Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. In addition, as an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Queen's University, she currently supervises both undergraduate clerks and family medicine residents. Dr. Cass earned her PhD from Queen's University in breast cancer molecular biology before pursuing a career in medicine. She completed her Medical Doctorate at Tulane University, and completed her family medicine residency at the University of Calgary.

    21 min
  2. DocTalks: CBME and Family Medicine with Dr. Marina Malak

    08/05/2025

    DocTalks: CBME and Family Medicine with Dr. Marina Malak

    Dr. Marina Malak joins DocTalks as part of the mini-series on Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) as TMU welcomes its first cohort of residents. Bringing a family medicine perspective, Dr. Malak explores how CBME is structured by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), including the Triple C curriculum—comprehensive care, continuity, and a focus on family medicine. She unpacks how TMU is building an educational program from the ground up and reflects on assessing complex competencies like professionalism and trust. The episode also tackles how failure can be reframed as growth, the role of cultural context in assessment, and what it means to help learners feel truly ready for independent practice. Dr. Marina Malak is a family physician in Mississauga, Ontario, and the Director of Assessment and Competence of Family Medicine/Enhanced Skills at the Toronto Metropolitan University School of Medicine (TMU SoM). She is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and McMaster University, a board member of the National Committee of Continuing Professional Development at the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), and a Peer Guide and Mentor with the Ontario College of Family Physicians of Ontario (OCFP). She is also an advisory member of the Halton Physicians Association, and a Wellness Mentor and community physician leader with Trillium Health Partners. She is passionate about patient care; medical education; and promoting mental, physical, and emotional wellness. Read the transcript: https://tinyurl.com/9w4xe9z4

    22 min

About

Podcast by Heather Mac Neill, Curtis Maloley, and Chelsea Jones