Research Interests

Educational Technology, Faculty Development, Stroke Rehabilitation 

Spotlight

Heather MacNeill is the Interim Assistant Dean, Faculty Development, for the new Toronto Metropolitan University School of Medicine. Her academic focus is on educational technologies in health professions education. She is Associate Professor, and co-instructor of a masters class in educational technology at University of Toronto. She is a practicing PM&R physician and Medical Director of Stroke Rehabilitation at Sinai Health. 

She has been teaching about, creating and researching the effect of educational technologies in healthcare for over a decade, including authoring the AMEE (Association of Medical Education of Europe) Guides to Online Learning, Part 1, and Part 2. She is dedicated to teaching other health professions educators on evidence informed use of educational technology to promote accessibility and effectiveness in medical education.

Selected Publications

1. The following 2 papers were written with a team of international medical educators in educational technology in health professions education as AMEE (Association of Medical Education) Guides to Online Learning. They were in the top 6 most read articles in Medical Teacher throughout 2023:

   • MacNeill H, Masters K, Nemethy K, Corriera R (First Author) AMEE Guide 161. Online Learning in Health Professions Education. Part 1: Teaching and Learning in Online Environments: AMEE Guide No161, Medical Teacher. 46(1), 4–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2023.2197135 

   • Masters K, Nemethy K, Corriera R, Carver T, Benjamin J, MacNeill H (Senior Author). Online Learning in Health Professions Education. Part 2: Tools and Practical Application: AMEE Guide No163. Sept 23, 2023. Medical Teacher. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2023.2259069 and accompanying website- https://www.onlinelearninghpe.com/ 

2. Featured as a “must read” medical education article by https://hopkinsbayviewinternalmedicine.org/must-reads/ (affiliate of John Hopkins University): 

   • Masters K, Nemethy K, Corriera R, Carver T, Benjamin J, MacNeill H (Senior Author). Online Learning in Health Professions Education. Part 2: Tools and Practical Application: AMEE Guide No163. Sept 23, 2023. Medical Teacher. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2023.2259069 and accompanying website- https://www.onlinelearninghpe.com/ 
     
     

3. MacNeill H, Paton M, Schneeweiss S, Wiljer D. (First Author) Perceived Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Continuing Professional Development (CPD) During COVID-19- CPD Providers’ Perspectives. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions (JCEHP) 44(2):p 147-150, Spring 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/CEH.0000000000000512  

Selected Research Funding

Peer Reviewed

2024 Toronto Metropolitan University School of Medicine and Chang School of Continuing Education Ministry of Colleges and Universities

Ontario Micro-credentials Challenge Fund Development of 5 competency-based faculty development microcredentials on essential clinical teaching skills.

Project lead for SoM. $354,050 ($250,000 plus $104,050 in-kind contribution)

2023 Lee K, Green S, Martin D, Grundland B, MacNeill H, Got T, Wintemute K. (Collaborator) EDF grant, University of Toronto Development of a Planetary Health e-learning module for family physician residents and teachers $10,000 (plus $10,000 in kind funding from DFCM)

2021-2024 Telner D, MacNeill H (Co-Principal Investigator) Bahr T, Nemethy K Art of the Possible Grant, Dept of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) How well does a health practitioner graduate course on educational technology meet educational technology needs? $5,000

Non Peer Reviewed

2024 MacNeill, H on behalf of Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Medicine. NovoNordisk Non-restrictive educational grant to develop online learning in Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Faculty Development $20,000 (plus $20K in-kind funding)