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Learning Institute
Annual Report
2024-2025
From Insight to Impact: The Learning Journey Ahead
As I reflect on this past year, I’m inspired by how our Learning Institute community continues to turn insight into impact. Across SickKids, learning is not just something we do — it is the way we evolve. It fuels our ability to care, to innovate and to prepare the next generation for a world that’s changing faster than ever.
This report is organized by the strategic directions that have guided us for the past five years and marks a transition to a digital format. You’ll find stories and statistics about our scope and impact. We’ve advanced new models of precision learning that tailor education to the unique needs of every learner — from bedside to boardroom, and from Toronto to our global partners. We’ve expanded our simulation ecosystem, transforming it from a teaching tool into a catalyst for system improvement and psychological safety. And we’ve strengthened digital platforms like AboutKidsHealth to connect families and clinicians with knowledge that goes beyond our walls and borders.
Looking ahead, our 2025–2030 Strategy sets a bold course anchored in three directions:
- Advancing the era of precision learning, where human-centered and AI-augmented education empower people to learn in context, in real time.
- Uniting and amplifying our education community, by weaving together clinical, academic and lived-experience perspectives into one connected ecosystem.
- Elevating the quality of every learning experience, through design thinking, human factors and rigorous evaluation that turn data into better outcomes.
These directions are enabled by our shared commitments to equity, technology and partnership — the same forces that have defined our success to date. Whether supporting discovery through our library, or mentorship that stretches across disciplines, we are shaping a learning health system where education is embedded in everything we do.
Our work is brought to life by people — educators, learners, staff, patients and families — who show every day what it means to learn boldly, teach boundlessly and transform together. Their creativity and compassion make the Learning Institute not just a place, but a movement.
Together, we are redefining what it means to learn in healthcare — and in doing so, we are building a future of Healthier Children. A Better World.
Lennox Huang, MD, MBA
Chief Medical Officer
Vice President, Education, Medical and Academic Affairs
Promote Learning to Enable a Healthier Population
We are committed to engaging and empowering the public as partners in child and youth health by translating and promoting access to evidence-based information. We continue to leverage diverse formats and partnerships to share knowledge and build capacity across Canada and around the world. These stories represent powerful examples of engaging with partners across SickKids and local communities.
The Coming for Surgery Workbook and Learning Hub, developed collaboratively at SickKids, provide families with practical resources and supportive guidance to help children confidently prepare for surgery.
The Empower™ Reading and Learning Group: Digital transformation for literacy
The recently re-designed SickKids Empower™ Reading and Learning Group website offers an intuitive platform that has empowered over 3,900 educators to more easily access resources and enhance literacy education.
Strengthening paediatric care in collaboration with Indigenous communities
This year included a focus on fostering collaborative, culturally informed partnerships with Indigenous communities, leading initiatives that support early childhood mental health and enhance paediatric expertise in northern regions through education, outreach and mutual learning.
Enhance Learning Through Innovation
A key component of our plan includes revolutionizing learning experiences through innovation. We have expanded our virtual offerings and leverage cutting-edge technology to enrich learning experiences. We are a leader in simulation, leveraging simulation modalities to enhance quality and safety. We have expanded our education teams to develop and deliver innovative programming. These stories represent the success of those efforts.
We advanced interprofessional education by introducing specialist educator roles in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Rehabilitation, fostering collaborative learning, tailored training and enhanced patient care across the hospital.
SimKIDS Simulation Program: Powering innovation and excellence in health-care learning
This past year, the SimKIDS team—working alongside key partners—unveiled a host of dynamic new offerings, including the interactive STEMventures program, the Paediatric Interprofessional Critical Advanced Resuscitation and Emergency Simulation by SimKIDS (PediCARESS) program and robust community partnerships initiatives.
Cultivate Excellence in the Paediatric Health System
Commitment to cultivating the next generation paediatric workforce, locally and globally, is fundamental to the work of the Learning Institute. We reach beyond our walls to build capacity in the paediatric workforce and amplify interprofessional training. We strive to be a global destination for paediatric learners, translating knowledge across countries and cultures. These stories showcase educational initiatives focused on empowering local and global paediatric providers.
Building the future of paediatric education globally
The Learning Institute is advancing paediatric education worldwide by fostering interprofessional training and global partnerships, including with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, to prepare future medical professionals through innovative virtual programs.
Mental Health Foundations: Cultivating a culture of compassion at SickKids
Mental Health Foundations at SickKids is an interprofessional workshop that equips staff and trainees with essential tools and practical skills to support the mental well-being of children, youth and caregivers through collaborative learning and compassionate care.
Building capacity and confidence in paediatric critical care
The Critical Care New Graduate Nurse Residency Program at SickKids has successfully strengthened paediatric critical care staffing by providing comprehensive training and mentorship, resulting in high retention and readiness among new nurses for critical care roles.
Foster an Inclusive Learning Ecosystem
We are committed to creating learning environments where all participants are welcomed, respected, valued and heard. We have built dynamic spaces for learning, and are fostering equitable, compassionate, accessible and psychologically safe learning environments. We deliver programming to support and mentor novice and experienced staff, faculty and leaders, as well as patients and families. These stories represent initiatives held across various learning environments within the Learning Institute.
Empowering students: Enhancing the SickKids student experience
In 2024-2025, the Learner Hub responded to student feedback by launching Career Information and Networking events, giving future health-care professionals direct access to expert advice and real-world insights.
Enabling learning and celebration in spaces that connect
With the new Patient Support Centre (PSC), the SickKids Conference Centre opened for event bookings in June 2024, introducing dynamic state-of-the-art meeting, learning and collaboration spaces.
By the numbers
1,131 interprofessional preceptors
supported new staff and students
9,619 simulation participants
were supported through 897 sessions
4,200 students and trainees
completed placements at SickKids
>200,000 logins
to our Learning Management System, iLearn
455 learners
participated in the International Learner Program from 38 countries
7 million page views
to the AboutKidsHealth website
267 new nurses
were oriented to various clinical areas across SickKids
127 experienced nurses
were enrolled in the new Critical Care Level 2 program
2055 learners
completed resuscitation education programs in 360 sessions
Celebrating 150 Years of SickKids: A New Digital and Archival Experience
To mark SickKids’ 150th birthday, the hospital unveiled a new SickKids History website alongside a vibrant archival display that brings its legacy to life. Launched on April 3, 2025—the hospital’s founding date—the initiative offers a compelling look at SickKids’ evolution through a thematic lens. Together, the archival display and website aim to spark curiosity, educate and celebrate SickKids’ rich heritage—honouring the past while inspiring the future. From its humble beginnings to groundbreaking medical innovations, research discoveries and global partnerships, explore the rich legacy of one of the world's leading paediatric hospitals.
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