Faculty Member Profile: Education Assessment Director

When you’re an experienced traveler, adventure and opportunity is around every corner. From getting stuck on a glacier to walking in a lava tube, Dr. Alison Baker is comfortable stepping into new places and new roles. A traveler, physician, mentor, and teacher, Baker recently added another title to her CV when she stepped into the role of assessment director in 2021 for the Department of Family Medicine (DFM).  

The assessment director is a key part of the educational leadership team responsible for the development and oversight of the overall assessment strategy for our residency program. Working closely with colleagues, Baker’s goal is to ensure robust and comprehensive assessment tools are in place. “I will be working closely with faculty and residents to ensure that the assessment process has educational value, is clear and transparent, is open to feedback, and is part of a continuous quality improvement plan,” says Baker.

Assessment can be intimidating and often nerve wracking, both for the learner and the faculty member. And when assessment is done poorly, it can undermine even the strongest training programs. “Assessment that solely looks at whether trainees complete the curriculum rather than their competency or that becomes reduced to completing check boxes without specific and timely feedback can lose sight of individual learner development,” says Baker. Strong assessment tools are a key part of the overall process, and the department uses a multifaceted approach to capture feedback through tools, such as field notes, in-training assessment reports (ITARs) and portfolio reviews. The existence of these tools meant that when the pandemic hit, the department’s assessment model was able to pivot and keep up with the changing learning environment. 

As an assistant clinical professor, Baker is one of over 1,400 part-time faculty members in the department. With learners placed with preceptors throughout the province, our part-time faculty are essential to the success of our educational programs, bringing new experiences and perspectives to teaching and leadership roles. Though Baker began the assessment director role in 2021, it was not the first leadership role she has taken on in Family Medicine, having been the Faculty Development Site Coordinator for the Grand Erie Six Nations site from 2017 to 2021.    

When asked about advice for other faculty considering taking on a role in the department, Baker encourages anyone with an interest to become involved. “The DFM Weekly Announcements email communication and the Faculty Portal are great resources to learn more,” Baker shares. She also recommends getting involved by joining a committee or attending the Spring Retreat. “The annual DFM Faculty Development Spring Retreat is an opportunity to learn more about the department and its members and to ask questions about your interests, whether that be in teaching, research, or faculty development,” she says.  

As for what inspires her across all her roles — personal and professional — her curiosity and sense of adventure come through. “I have always aspired to the tenet of life-long learning. I am passionate about all my roles and can find something enjoyable and exciting about each one,” says Baker.