In June, 2003, the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program (CCHCSP) agreed to forge a partnership with the Pediatric Scientist Development Program (PSDP) and the Paediatric Chairs of Canada (PCC) in response to a proposal by the PCC. This partnership aimed to (1) Promote access of Canadian paediatric residents and paediatricians in training to the best clinician scientist training programs in North America; (2) Facilitate the repatriation of paediatrician clinician scientist trainees to Canadian universities; (3) Encourage the development of the best educational practices via the synergistic activities of the CCHCSP and the PSDP.
Subsequent to the approval in principle of this partnership, Dr. Hugh O’Brodovich (President of PCC), Dr. Peggy Hostetter (Director of PSDP) and Dr. Norman Rosenblum (Principal Investigator of CCHCSP) worked collaboratively to design an implementation plan. This work resulted in the presentation of a proposal by the PCC and the CCHCSP to the PSDP Steering Committee on November 1, 2003, which was unanimously approved. This partnership continues now under the ENRICH umbrella as follows:
- The ENRICH Director is a member of a PSDP committee and vice versa
- Canadian PSDP trainees will take part in the ENRICH curriculum
- The PSDP and ENRICH will aim for the attendance of 2 trainees in each program at the ENRICH and PSDP Annual Symposia
- Qualified PSDP trainees will be encouraged to apply to the ENRICH postdoctoral and new investigator pathways
- The ENRICH will provide full financial support for:
- ENRICH participation in PSDP administrative activities
- Travel of ENRICH learners to the PSDP symposium