The CHUM Summer Academy, inspiring a new generation of health professionals
Supported by Desjardins, charitable partner
According to Statistics Canada, the number of vacant healthcare positions in Quebec is up by 69.3% in two years—nearly twice as much as other industries. The health industry is facing a wave of complex challenges: a major labour shortage, an accelerating digital shift and a new generation of workers who are underprepared to use artificial intelligence (AI) in real-life healthcare settings.
The Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) is committed to finding solutions so it can continue to rise to the challenge and provide exceptional care and services. One of the CHUM’s promising, visionary projects is the CHUM Summer Academy, launched by the Direction de l’enseignement et de l’Académie CHUM in 2018. This inspiring initiative, a priority for our Act Faster Than Disease campaign, aims to introduce students aged 15 to 17 from all backgrounds to a wide variety of healthcare jobs through an educational approach that is innovative, compelling and fun. Thanks to Desjardins’ generous contribution of $500,000, the program is upgrading and expanding its offering to impact even more youth.
“Over this incredible week, I’ve spent time with more than a dozen specialists in different fields and learned just how important artificial intelligence is in healthcare. I now have a new interest, and I’m even more excited to go into healthcare. The CHUM Summer Academy must continue to be a major source of inspiration for future generations of healthcare workers!”
A unique, immersive hospital experience
Since the launch of the Academy, nearly 800 students have put on the shoes of CHUM hospital staff to experience their daily life. Now, Summer Academy 2.0: The future of health (SAFH) is back with new programming to better prepare these students to respond to changes in the healthcare sector. The programming is divided into three main streams:
- A hospital immersion program: Each year, students will spend five extraordinary days engaging in a captivating series of activities. Sixty students are expected at the CHUM for the two 2024 cohorts. Simulations, practical workshops, conferences and AI-focused mentorship will introduce students to a vast array of medical careers.
- Virtual workshops, accessible to all: These workshops will facilitate discussions with hospital specialists, teach students about the importance of digital technology in healthcare and help them develop new skills. Hundreds of participants are expected to attend these online sessions.
- Strategies and tools, including a guide for other healthcare institutions: These solutions will promote the program and, ultimately, allow it to scale throughout the entire Quebec network.
Do you know any young people aged 15 to 17 who are passionate about learning and eager to explore the wonders of the healthcare world? Encourage them to sign up for Summer Academy 2.0: The future of health, a unique experience that could shape their future! Share this opportunity with them today. [French only]
The future is young
Giving today’s and tomorrow’s youth the means to achieve their ambitions and encouraging them to grow and thrive is one of the missions of Desjardins Group and its President and CEO, Guy Cormier.
By supporting the establishment of the CHUM Summer Academy, Desjardins wants to encourage young people to discover the world of medicine and motivate them to aspire to a career in healthcare. Possibilities abound: respiratory therapist, nurse, laboratory technician, radiologist, doctor, social worker, physiotherapist and so much more.
“At Desjardins, we’re determined to do everything we can to help young people discover their passions, carve out their path and make their dreams come true. We support the CHUM Summer Academy, a fantastic project that gives curious young minds a glimpse into the reality of a major teaching hospital so they can explore its universe of stimulating discoveries. As Quebec is grappling with an aging population that requires increasing levels of care, we are proud to help pave the way for the next generation by opening minds and developing talents and callings that will ultimately benefit all of us.”
Not only has Desjardins given generously to the CHUM for more than 30 years, it is also an active Foundation partner, sponsoring one of the Foundation’s most iconic events: the Grand Banquet de l’extraordinaire, which will be held at Windsor Station on March 28.
Thanks to the unwavering commitment of charitable individuals and businesses like Desjardins, we can do our part to transform healthcare education, train a promising new generation of healthcare workers and build a world where healthcare and research teams can act faster than disease.
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!
