Learning

As a world-renowned academic health sciences centre, SickKids embraces and promotes the value and importance of education as one of three pillars within our organization: care, learning and research. The Learning Institute was founded in 2007 to support and enhance education and teaching activities across the organization and beyond. It has strengthened our focus on education and raised the bar on knowledge translation, but learning at SickKids pre-dates the Learning Institute and has been an integral part of our history from the very beginning.

Black and white photograph captioned "H.S.C.'s Second Function is Education" showing a diverse group of medical students or staff. Includes nurses in uniforms with caps and medical personnel in white coats, arranged in two rows with bookshelves behind them and reference books on the table.

“HSC has three main functions: patient care, education and research. The thirteen young people in this photo illustrate the thirteen facts of our educational programme. It is apparent that The Hospital for Sick Children is making a substantial contribution to the education of doctors, nurses, technicians, therapists, dietitians, research investigators and hospital administrators,” proclaimed the 1963 Annual Report.

First female resident physician

Dr. Margaret McCallum-Johnston was a pioneer in the practice of anesthesia and helped pave the way for many female physicians to follow.

A woman of many firsts, Dr. McCallum-Johnston was Canada’s first female anesthesiologist and the first female to be offered a position as a resident physician with The Hospital for Sick Children in 1900. This photo of Dr. McCallum-Johnston first appeared in the 26th annual report of The Hospital for Sick Children, published in 1901.

Black and white portrait photograph of a young woman with short, wavy hair, wearing a white collar with a dark bow tie or ribbon. The historical image appears to be from the late 19th or early 20th century.

First nursing student

Josephine Hamilton becomes the first nursing student accepted to train at the hospital in 1886, resulting in the formation of The Hospital for Sick Children School of Nursing, which operated until 1974. Over 2,600 nurses graduated from the School of Nursing between 1886 and 1974.

Black and white portrait photograph of a Victorian-era nurse wearing a traditional uniform with checkered dress, white apron, collar, and nursing cap.

Nursing students at SickKids

Black and white photograph of nursing students in a classroom setting with anatomical models. Rows of women in white uniforms and caps attend an anatomy lecture.

Graduation or capping ceremony photograph showing three rows of nursing students in white uniforms with caps, all holding floral bouquets in front of an ivy-covered building.

Five nursing students in traditional white uniforms with caps working at a laboratory bench with microscopes and scientific equipment in a black and white photograph.

Five nurses in traditional uniforms with white caps and black capes walking together outside an ivy-covered hospital building in a black and white photograph.

Medical education

Students at the University of Toronto’s Medical College at the corner of Gerrard and Sackville streets begin to receive training at The Hospital for Sick Children in 1894 as part of their medical education.

Historical black and white photograph captioned "MEDICAL COLLEGE, GERRARD STREET" showing a Victorian-era brick building in winter. The two-story medical school has arched windows, multiple chimneys, and a central cupola, with snow covering the ground and bare trees surrounding it.

Dr. Alan Brown, Chief of Paediatrics, establishes the first paediatric, post-graduate course in 1923, formally connecting The Hospital for Sick Children with the University of Toronto.

Black and white photograph from approximately the 1950s showing a medical professor in a white coat giving a lecture to a classroom of students. The professor stands at the front of the room next to a chalkboard, gesturing while addressing the seated audience.

Staff Library opens

The first staff library opens at SickKids in 1919, and Dr. Theodore Drake is one of the regulars. “An up-to-date library representative of all the world's greatest authorities on children's diseases, and subscribing to all the periodical literature of value to the paediatrician,” the 1920 Annual Report proudly declared.

Black and white portrait photograph of a medical professional or researcher in a white coat and bow tie, sitting in an office with bookshelves filled with medical or scientific texts behind him.

The Hospital Library’s familiar location at 555 University Avenue across from the Rotunda was not its first location in the building. The original library was located closer to the Main Auditorium, as pictured here in 1962. As the library’s offerings grew, so did the demand for space.

Black and white photograph from approximately the 1950s showing two women in white lab coats working at a medical or hospital library desk. They're seated at typewriters with bookshelves visible in the background, likely documenting medical records or research in a healthcare setting.

Family Information Centre established

Ruth McCamus in the Family Information Centre, established in 1979 to provide medical information for families in the form of books, pamphlets and films. “The dispersion of the traditional family has created an important new role. Young parents whose own parents are thousands of miles away are turning to HSC staff for answers to questions that might otherwise remain unanswered,” reported the hospital newsletter, What’s New.

Black and white photograph of a female healthcare professional in a white coat with a stethoscope around her neck. She's holding what appears to be a children's book and standing in front of shelves filled with pamphlets and educational materials in what looks like a hospital resource room.

Available 24/7, on-site nurses provided free advice, and specialized inquiries were referred to hospital services or agencies.

Black and white photo of hospital Family Information Centre with staff in white coat greeting visitors.

The Family Information Centre pioneered accessible support for caregivers, leading to resources like hotlines, and the launch of AboutKidsHealth in 2004, a website that provides trusted health information from the experts at SickKids to a worldwide audience.

Screenshot of the SickKids hospital website homepage titled "AboutKidsHealth." The page features health information sections including Condition Centres (listing diabetes, heart conditions, brain tumors), News, Health Library, and children's health resources. The tagline reads "Trusted Answers from The Hospital for Sick Children."

Learning Institute

The Learning Institute was founded in 2007 to support and enhance education and teaching activities across SickKids. Dr. Susan Tallett is appointed the first Chief of Education.

Dr. Tallett, who worked at SickKids for almost 40 years, is recognized as one of the most enthusiastic proponents of teaching and learning in the storied history of the Department of Paediatrics, a compassionate leader and mentor, and a strong and effective advocate for education and equity at all levels.

Dr. Tallett has been a pioneer in many ways, designing and implementing innovative educational initiatives that are now considered core to our practice.

Black and white photograph of a female doctor or nurse in a white coat examining an infant patient. She wears a stethoscope and is interacting warmly with the baby.

The Hospital for Sick Children’s first Vice-President of Education, Pam Hubley, is appointed in 2015.

Portrait of a smiling woman in a red jacket standing outside in front of a SickKids hospital sign. She has shoulder-length hair and appears to be an administrator or healthcare professional associated with the children's hospital.

Simulation Program

The Learning Institute’s Simulation Program has been in formal operation since 2009, providing novice to seasoned health-care professionals the opportunity to participate in hands-on training without any risk to patients. It creates a realistic environment in which students can practice and develop skills before they enter a clinical situation, increasing both confidence and competence in overall patient care. The Simulation Program received accreditation by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 2013.

Three medical professionals in yellow protective gowns and face masks attending to a patient in a hospital setting. Medical monitors display vital signs in the background as they perform a procedure.

Black and white newspaper or magazine clipping titled "AMA Supervisor Training First Graduates Receive Diplomas" showing a formal group photo of graduates arranged in three rows. Women sit in front row while men stand behind, with all participants named in caption below the image.

SickKids is committed to supporting continuing learning and professional development for all our staff, and supports full and part-time staff pursuing degrees, diplomas and professional designations, like these American Management Association supervisor training grads from 1971. SickKids also supports staff attending conferences, workshops, seminars and internal educational events.

Vintage black and white aerial photograph of large hospital complex with multiple buildings surrounded by urban neighborhood.

Explore SickKids history

Discover how SickKids grew from humble beginnings to become a world leader in children's health, committed to our vision: Healthier Children. A Better World.

Learn more about our history

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