Latest Big Ideas Lecture
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Online
Dr. Stella Ng
Exploring Critical Pedagogy as a Pathway to Addressing Challenges in Healthcare
Join Dr. Stella Ng as she dives into the topic of preparing healthcare professionals to navigate the complex social landscape in healthcare. In this talk, she will discuss the challenges that come with teaching social determinants of health and cultural competence and why these approaches have received critique. Dr. Ng will then introduce an alternative approach called critical pedagogy, which shifts the focus beyond the self and toward questioning assumptions and societal power dynamics. By incorporating critical pedagogy principles, healthcare learners can develop the critical reflective capabilities necessary to thrive in their social roles as healthcare professionals. Discover how personal experiences and relationships can play a pivotal role in shaping these capabilities, and learn how critical pedagogy and critical reflection can transform healthcare for the better!
When there is no clear-cut answer to be found, how can we act in ways that are collaborative, compassionate, and ethical? Stella is passionate about preparing those who work in health care and health science for indeterminate zones of practice, where uncertainty and value conflict prevail. Her research program has shown that critical reflection is crucial to navigating these common yet complex aspects of everyday work. Stella's passion was sparked by the challenges she experienced as a pediatric audiologist in the public school system, which motivated her to launch her research program in reflective practice, critical reflection, and critical pedagogies. She mobilizes this research within her extensive education and leadership work, which has been recognized with a Minister's Award of Excellence, a Ministry Early Researcher Award, and a Meridith Marks New Educator Award. Stella is currently the Director of the Centre for Advancing Collaborative Healthcare & Education, a Scientist at the Wilson Centre and The Institute for Education Research, and an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto.
