The Learning, Development and Support team within Medical Affairs plays a vital role in empowering Nova Scotia Health physicians with the skills and knowledge required to thrive in today’s complex and rapidly evolving healthcare environment.
The learning opportunities provided aim to improve leadership confidence, foster collaboration, and support continuous professional growth.
We offer a range of innovative, physician-centered learning opportunities through multiple formats, including:
- Asynchronous modules available in the Learning Management System (LMS)
- Live online seminars
- In-person workshops
- Communities of practice
- Podcasts
All learning opportunities provided by Medical Affairs are peer-validated; developed by physicians, for physicians, ensuring relevance, credibility, and practical value. Many qualify for CME credits (see program details).
Winter/Spring 2026 Programs
- NEW! C3 Learning Module for Physicians
- Doctors' Lounge Community of Practice for NS Health Physician Leaders
- Leading Through Coaching Workshops
- Medical Affairs Webinar Series: Inspired Leadership for Physicians
- Podcast: A Prescription for Leadership
C3 Learning Module for Physicians
A physician-focused Care Coordination Centre (C3) training module is now available to support physicians in learning how to use C3. The link below provides physicians with direct access to the module with no login required.
Physician Learning Module for C3
C3 provides physicians with real-time information and tools that support clinical decision making and patient flow, including:
- Visibility into patient needs, locations and care priorities.
- Workload balancing tool to support the distribution of clinical responsibilities.
- Live tracking of discharges and outgoing EHS transfers.
- Situational awareness features that offer an overall view of the unit and hospital census.
- A streamlined process to escalate patient issues and support timely care progression.
- Identification of patients with prolonged lengths of stay (LOS).
If you would like to get access to the Physician Learning Management System (LMS) for more learning opportunities, please contact Jane Bolivar at janee.bolivar@nshealth.ca for more information.
Doctor’s Lounge Community of Practice for Nova Scotia Health Physician Leaders
All physicians in formal leadership roles within NS Health are invited to participate in the 2026 Doctor’s Lounge Community of Practice.
This is a virtual forum covering a series of facilitated topics, with accompanying interactive programing modules on each topic housed in our learning management system (LMS). Physician Leaders across the province can connect and build skills, competencies and confidence around complex leadership topics. The forum will provide leaders with the opportunity to build a network of support through colleagues and other experts in leadership development, workplace conflict and resilience.
Overall Program Objectives:
Participation in the program will provide participants the opportunity to:
- Develop skills to prepare for, facilitate, and follow up after meetings concerning conflict and discord in the workplace (CanMEDS: Leader, Communicator, Professional)
- Recognize and demonstrate ways to navigate as leaders in a hierarchical system (CanMEDS: Leader, Communicator, Professional, Collaborator)
- Develop ways for effective communication in high stress environments (CanMEDS: Communicator, Leader)
- Use trust building as a strategy for moving conflict into collaboration (CanMEDS: Leader, Communicator, Collaborator)
- Identify strategies to strengthen civility in teams, foster respect, engagement and burnout prevention (CanMEDS: Communicator, Leader, Collaborator, Professional)
- Describe how to design meaningful alliances (CanMEDS: Leader, Communicator, Collaborator)
- Support team wellness through building resilient and supportive teams (CanMEDS: Leader, Communicator, collaborator; Health Advocate)
- Define how to create psychologically safe spaces (CanMEDS: Leader, Communicator, Collaborator, Health Advocate)
- Review the LEADS framework for Physician Leaders (CanMEDS: Leader, Communicator, Professional, Collaborator)
- Identify the fundamentals of conflict resolution, including the dynamics of conflict and effective strategies for resolution (CanMEDS: Leader, Communicator)
- Engage with fellow participants to develop a deeper understanding of systems contexts (CanMEDS: Communicator, Collaborator)
- Focus on capacity-building around peacebuilding and conflict navigation efforts (CanMEDS: Leader, Communicator, Collaborator)
This programming is fully accredited for Section 1 and Section 3 of the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, as well as 1.0 Mainpro+® and 1.0 Mainpro+ Certified Assessment Activity credits with the College of Family Physicians of Canada. See bottom of this section for more information.
2026
May 13 | Doctor’s Lounge (5–6 pm, Virtual): Group Coaching: Designing Alliances – Executive Coaches Lorie Campbell and Verna MacDonald
This interactive session invites participants explore and practice the art and impact of coaching conversations in clinical and leadership settings. Through guided dialogue, reflective exercises, and peer engagement, participants will learn how to intentionally design coaching alliances that foster trust, clarity and mutual commitment. The session will introduce foundational coaching principles, highlight the importance of co-creating agreements, and offer practical tools to enhance communication and collaboration.
CanMEDS Roles: Leader, Communicator, Collaborator
Participants will be able to:
- Design coaching alliances through guided dialogue
- Apply the practice and art of coaching conversations in the clinical leadership setting
- Apply techniques to intentionally design coaching alliances that foster trust, clarity and mutual commitment
- Employ co-creating agreements and other practical tools to enhance communication and collaboration
To Register: Contact Jane Bolivar, Manager, janee.bolivar@nshealth.ca
Sept 23 | Doctor’s Lounge (5–6 pm, Virtual): Team Wellness for Physician Leaders: Building Resilient and Supportive Teams – Executive Coaches Lorie Campbell and Verna MacDonald
There are a lot of great resources that speak to individual physician wellness. In this interactive session, participants will expand the wellness focus to overall team wellness. With a look to defining what is team wellness, recognizing signs for burnout and disengagement, participants will gain insight into strategies they can employ to foster psychological safety. Participants will learn best practices around delivering effective, compassionate feedback as a wellness tool, and also engage in reflective leadership practices. Embedding wellness practices into team routines by creating of culture of check-ins and debriefs and enhanced communication is a powerful approach to ensuring the health and wellbeing of team members. As a key takeaway, participants will be asked to consider a personal action plan, including ‘One thing I will do differently tomorrow’. Real life scenarios and cases will be discussed and participants will be encouraged to come with a case from their experience for discussion in small groups.
CanMEDS Roles: Leader, Communicator, Collaborator
Participants will be able to:
- Define team wellness
- Recognize signs of burnout and disengagement
- Apply strategies to foster psychological safety
- Deliver effective, compassionate feedback (as a wellness tool)
- Engage in reflective leadership practices
- Embed wellness into team routines
To Register: Contact Jane Bolivar, Manager, janee.bolivar@nshealth.ca
Oct 14 | Doctor’s Lounge (5–6 pm, Virtual): Designing Psychologically Safe Spaces in Healthcare Leadership: Policy, Practice & Real-World Cases – Dr. Arla Day
In high-stakes healthcare settings, psychological safety is an important concept and law that is meant to protect individuals and create a safe environment for leaders and team members to have a voice and share concerns. Physician leaders play a pivotal role in shaping team culture. Psychological safety improves patient outcomes by encouraging error reporting and dialogue, reducing burnout and enhancing team performance. As of September 1, 2025, Nova Scotia’s Occupational Health and Safety Act was amended to include psychological health and safety. Through this session, participants will become knowledgeable about this act, understanding that it not only helps physician leaders meet legal obligations, but fosters safer care environments and enables more effective, engaged teams. Real life scenarios and cases will be discussed, and participants will be encouraged to come with a case from their experience for discussion in small groups.
Dr. Arla Day is a Canada Research Chair and Full Professor in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Saint Mary's University, and a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association. Dr. Day is a founding member of two research and community outreach centres: The CN Centre for Occupational Health and Safety and the Centre for Leadership Excellence. Arla chairs the Nova Scotia Psychological Healthy Workplace Program committee and is on the Steering Committee for the American Psychological Association’s Business of Practice Network, which oversees the state, provincial and national healthy workplace awards and programs.
CanMEDS Roles: Leader, Communicator, Health Advocate
Participants will be able to:
- Recognize the historical, legal and policy framework
- Explore leadership’s role in psychological safety
- Discuss real cases and strategies
To Register: Contact Jane Bolivar, Manager, janee.bolivar@nshealth.ca
Nov 18 | Doctor’s Lounge (5–6 pm, Virtual): LEADS Refresher – Executive Coaches Lorie Campbell and Verna MacDonald
This session will offer participants a high-level overview of leading through the LEADS lens in the unpredictable, complex and dynamic context of healthcare. Through this overview, participants will assess the status of their LEADS capabilities within the five domains. This exploration will create an opportunity to be intentional in expanding the development of LEADS aspirational capabilities in their leadership practice. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect and identify strengths in their leadership practice around systems thinking, team leadership, change navigation and self-motivation. Examples of ‘living LEADS’ in clinical settings, academic environments and within the overall system will be shared. Participants will gain insights through self-reflection tools and peer sharing to identify growth areas for ongoing, intentional competencies in their leadership effectiveness. Real life scenarios and cases will be discussed, and participants will be encouraged to come with a case from their experience for discussion in small groups.
CanMEDS Role: Leader, Communicator, Collaborator
Participants will be able to:
- Identify the aspirational capabilities that are demonstrated strengths in their leadership practice in systems thinking, team leadership, change navigation and as a self-motivated leader
- Share examples of ‘living LEADS’ in clinical settings, academic environments and within the overall system
- Utilize the self-reflection tools to identify growth areas for ongoing, intentional competencies in their leadership effectiveness
To Register: Contact Jane Bolivar, Manager, janee.bolivar@nshealth.ca
Dec 9 | Doctor’s Lounge (5–6 pm, Virtual): Practical Survival Skills for Physician Leaders: Efficiency, Delegation and Strategic Leadership – Dr. Steven Soroka
Very complex demands are placed on physician leaders. Physicians often ‘hit the ground running’ when they assume leadership roles. This interactive session is designed to equip leaders (new and not new) with important insights and skills to help them navigate as leaders in practical, helpful ways. Best practices drawn from real life experience, participants will learn how to apply co-leadership strategies for clarity and precision and embrace techniques to prioritize effectively in high-demand environments. They will gain clarity around what tasks can to delegated to supporting staff and ways to leverage administrative and executive assistants. Participants will reflect on identifying ‘time wasters’ and confidently say ‘no’ when appropriate. Ultimately, this interactive session will provide solutions and ideas for workflow improvements for better efficiency while also enabling and empowering physician leaders. Real life scenarios and cases will be discussed, and participants will be encouraged to come with a case from their experience for discussion in small groups.
Dr. Soroka is Professor of Medicine at Dalhousie University and a Nephrologist in the Department of Medicine at Nova Scotia Health. He received his medical degree at the University of Saskatchewan in 1990 and has held several leadership positions at various levels of the healthcare system. He was a medical advisor to the Nova Scotia Provincial Renal Program, Physician Lead of the Capital District Renal Program, VP of Medicine for Capital Health, and the Executive Medical Director of the Central Zone of the Nova Scotia Health Authority. He was also the medical director of Nephrology clinical trials for 12 years. He was a medical advisor to the Nova Scotia Chapter of the Kidney Foundation from 2006–2012. Dr. Soroka has been a surveyor for Accreditation Canada since 2008 and the Senior Medical Director for the Nova Scotia Health Authority Renal Program and Pharmacy Services since 2016. In 2022, he was acknowledged as a Patient Safety Leader champion and was the recipient of the Nova Scotia Health 2022 Making Waves Award Program Leadership Excellence Award – Physician Leader. In March 2023, he was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Nova Scotia).
CanMEDS Roles: Leader, Communicator, Health Advocate
Participants will be able to:
- Apply co-leadership strategies to improve team dynamics
- Prioritize effectively in the high-demand clinical setting
- Delegate tasks and leverage administrative assistants
- Identify ‘time wasters’ and confidently say ‘no’ when appropriate
Implement workflow improvements for better efficiency
To Register: Contact Jane Bolivar, Manager, janee.bolivar@nshealth.ca
This activity meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by Dalhousie University Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education for up to 1.0 Mainpro+® Certified Activity and up to 1.0 Mainpro+ Certified Assessment Activity credits.
This activity is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) and an Accredited Self-Assessment Program (Section 3) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by Dalhousie University Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education. You may claim a maximum of 1.0 Section 1: Group Learning hours and 1.0 Section 3: Self-Assessment Program hours (credits are automatically calculated).
Approval Statement:
Educationally approved by Dalhousie University Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education.
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Leading Through Coaching Workshop
One day, in-person workshop for Nova Scotia Health physicians with more than three years of formal leadership experience. Workshops are offered quarterly by zone and are facilitated by Executive Coaches Lorie Campbell and Verna MacDonald.
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Medical Affairs Webinar Series – Inspired Leadership for Physicians: Leading with Presence, Empathy and Purpose
2026
Apr. 28 | 5–6:30 p.m.: Grief Education Series for Physicians: Honouring Your Grief and the Grief of Others – Sarah Burm, PhD and Matt Fillier
The Grief Education Series for Physicians is offered as part of the NS Health Medical Affairs' Webinar Series and Dalhousie University's Faculty of Medicine Professional Development Webinar Series.
This series of four (4) virtual sessions is meant to support physicians in understanding the necessity and value of engaging in difficult conversations around the experience of loss. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about grief and loss in a safe and supportive environment. Participants will leave with a better understanding of grief literacy in the context of healthcare and recognize key challenges associated with expressing grief in clinical work environments. They will develop greater comfort and capacity for reflecting on personal and professional experiences with grief and loss, and identify actionable strategies to promote grief literacy within clinical settings.
Each webinar in the grief education series is eligible for Continuing Medical Education Accreditation.
Honouring your Grief and the Grief of Others (Session 4 of 4)
Participants will explore culturally responsive and ethically grounded approaches to honouring grief in diverse healthcare teams, settings and communities. They will develop strategies for creating space for grief in clinical practice and organizational culture.
Facilitated by Sarah Burm, PhD, Associate Professor and Education Research Scientist in the Office of Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education at Dalhousie University, and Matt Fillier, Grief Practice Lead, Palliative Care Network, NS Health.
Learning objectives:
- Explore culturally responsive and ethically grounded approaches to honouring grief in diverse healthcare teams, settings and communities
- Develop strategies for creating space for grief in clinical practice and organizational culture
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Recordings of previous webinars
Reflective Practice in Medicine for Anti-Oppression – Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed
Reflective Practice is a requirement for effective anti-oppressive practice and care. This webinar explores reflexive practice questions and practices that practitioners might employ in order to deepen their anti-oppressive practice. The recording is available here.
Planetary Health & Healthcare Leadership – Dr. Nabha Shetty
Physician accreditation organizations agree that contributing to planetary health is an important objective in healthcare. This webinar will get participants ‘up to speed’ on the concept of planetary health, why it's important and how we all have a voice in making it a priority. The recording is available here.
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Podcast Series
Watch (and listen) for our monthly podcast series, “A Prescription for Leadership,” where executive coaches, Lorie Campbell and Verna MacDonald, share insights around leadership and welcome subject matter expert guests to talk about a variety important topics!
This podcast is shared in Executive Vice President of Medicine and Clinical Operations, Dr. Nicole Boutilier’s newsletter. Subscribe here.
Visit our library of podcasts here!
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Get in touch!
Reach out if we can help! To learn more about the learning and development opportunities provided by medical affairs, or request learning supports, please email:
Tanya Lush, Director, Physician Learning, Development & Support at Tanya.lush@nshealth.ca.
