Dr. Kara Laing is a Medical Oncologist at the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland. She received her MD from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1993 and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Memorial in 1996. She completed her Medical Oncology training at the University of British Columbia in 1998, followed by a fellowship with the National Cancer Institute of Canada, Clinical Trials Group.

Dr. Laing is an Associate Professor within the Discipline of Oncology at the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland. She has been the Chair, Discipline of Oncology, since 2013. She is involved with teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate medical students. She has completed a Certificate in Medical Education and is pursuing a Masters in Medical Education at the University of Dundee. Dr. Laing is involved with several committees locally, provincially and nationally. She was the Clinical Chief of the Cancer Care Program from 2006 to 2013.

Dr. Laing is the Past-President of the Canadian Association of Medical Oncologists (CAMO). She sits on several Advisory Boards and has done a number of invited presentations pertaining to the treatment of breast cancer.

The Manager of Operations oversees day-to-day operations, CACME accreditation of the Office, strategic and educational planning, resource planning, and performance monitoring. This role provides leadership in quality assurance across all program areas to ensure excellence in the design, delivery, and evaluation of educational initiatives. A key responsibility includes fostering partnership development within the Faculty of Medicine - collaborating with academic leaders, units, and faculty members - as well as with external stakeholders, such as community organizations, healthcare partners, and educational institutions. These partnerships strengthen the Faculty’s connections across Newfoundland and Labrador and enhance the reach and relevance of OPED’s programming.

The Director of Specialist Development provides leadership in advancing professional development opportunities for specialists and subspecialists within the Faculty of Medicine. Working in alignment with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, they oversee initiatives that support lifelong learning, continuing professional development, and maintenance of certification. The Director collaborates with clinical departments, health authorities, and educational partners to design programs that enhance clinical expertise, leadership, and teaching skills. They promote innovation in professional learning through evidence-informed approaches and emerging educational technologies.

The Director of Family Physician Development provides leadership in advancing professional development opportunities for family physicians within the Faculty of Medicine. In collaboration with the College of Family Physicians of Canada, they guide initiatives that support lifelong learning, continuing professional development, and maintenance of certification. The Director works closely with community partners, faculty, and health system leaders to design programs that enhance clinical practice, teaching, and leadership among family physicians. Through this role, the Director promotes excellence, collaboration, and continuous growth within the family medicine community.

The Director of Physician Assessment, Training & Oversight (PATO/PRA-NL) provides leadership in the assessment and preparation of physicians seeking licensure and practice readiness in Newfoundland and Labrador. They oversee programs aligned with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Medical Council of Canada, ensuring rigorous, fair, and transparent evaluation processes. The Director collaborates with clinical educators, health authorities, and regulatory partners to deliver high-quality assessment and orientation experiences for internationally and domestically trained physicians. They promote excellence in clinical supervision, assessment methodology, and educator development. Through this role, the Director supports the integration of qualified physicians into the healthcare system and upholds the highest standards of medical competence and professionalism.

The Director of the Centre for Collaborative Health Professional Education (CCHPE) provides leadership in advancing interprofessional education across the Faculty of Medicine and partner faculties at Memorial University. The Director oversees programs that bring students and professionals together to learn with, from, and about each other to improve collaboration and patient care. This role supports curriculum development, faculty engagement, and research in interprofessional education and practice. Through this work, the Director fosters teamwork, communication, and shared learning across health disciplines

As Academic Program Administrator for the Practice Ready Assessment – Newfoundland and Labrador (PRA-NL) program, the role is responsible for the coordination of program operations and candidate assessments. Responsibilities include managing application reviews, organizing selection processes, facilitating candidate orientations and other administrative duties.

The Project Coordinator at CCHPE supports interprofessional education initiatives that help health professionals collaborate effectively, advancing the Health Accord’s goals of team-based, patient-centered care across the province.

Educational Specialist (Program Development) leads the design and delivery of evidence-based onsite Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs and provides consultation on a range of educational initiatives. This role collaborates with faculty, healthcare professionals, and institutional partners to create learner-centered programs that meet the CFPC and RCPSC accreditation standards of Canada’s national physician Colleges.

The Education Specialist (Program Evaluation) oversees the course evaluation and curriculum review processes established by the Program Evaluation Subcommittee (PESC) for the undergraduate medical education program and advises on best practices in data collection, analysis, and quality improvement. This role also provides instructors in the undergraduate and postgraduate programs with their teaching-related feedback from learners and supports their applications for Promotion & Tenure.

Research Associates within OPED are available to support health education scholarship interests of all students, staff and faculty. Our Associates provide technical excellence in mixed-methods health education research, continuing quality improvement projects throughout healthcare and educational settings, grant and manuscript writing. We can support advancing health education from initial idea generation through to their development and to evaluating effective changes put into practice.

The Senior Instructional Design Specialist leads the development of online and blended CPD programs and consults on a variety of educational projects. This role also manages CFPC and RCPSC accreditation processes to ensure OPED programs meet the standards of the national physician Colleges.

The PATO Education Specialist – supports the day-to-day program development and evaluation of the Physician Assessment, Training and Oversite (PATO) Program consisting of two major pathways: (1) Practice Ready Assessment – Newfoundland and Labrador (PRA-NL); and (2) Re-entry/Re-assessment for NL physicians.

Interprofessional Education (CCHPE) supports the advancement of team-based, patient-centered care across Newfoundland and Labrador. The position oversees interprofessional learning initiatives and faculty development programs designed to strengthen collaboration among health professionals and improve patient outcomes.

The Financial Analyst (OPED and CCHPE) provides support for the administrative and financial processes within OPED and CCHPE. The position assists with the preparation of budgets and budget monitoring; accounts payable and accounts receivable processing; and processing of overtime and other one-time salary payments for OPED and CCHPE staff.

The Coordinator, Outreach and Engagement, supports the Faculty of Medicine’s mission to connect with communities, schools, and partners across Newfoundland and Labrador. This role develops and delivers outreach programs such as MedQuest, Mini Med School, and Discovery Day, while creating new initiatives that inspire youth and promote careers in medicine.

This leadership position operates at the intersection of information technology, instructional design, and educational strategy. The position establishes the overall vision and manages the organization's digital learning ecosystem, ensuring that technology effectively enhances teaching, learning, and strategic business objectives. A key responsibility involves evaluating, recommending, and overseeing the procurement, implementation, and retirement of all educational technologies and learning tools. Furthermore, this role provides strategic guidance on emerging instructional trends and technologies to drive continuous improvement and innovation within the learning environment.

The Multimedia Specialist at the Office of Professional and Educational Development (OPED) provides creative and technical support for a wide range of projects. Key responsibilities include graphic design, print and digital publications, promotional materials, and visual assets for online and in-person learning. The role also involves producing and editing rich media content such as photography, audio, and video to enhance educational resources and communications.

The OPED Secretary provides comprehensive administrative and event support to the Office of Professional and Educational Development (OPED). This role assists the Manager of Operations, the Associate Dean, and various OPED programs by coordinating meetings, maintaining records, managing communications, and supporting events. The position ensures the smooth operation of departmental activities through effective scheduling, document preparation, financial processing, and database management.

The Educational Specialist provides expertise in research, program design, and evaluation to enhance interprofessional education and collaborative practice. Work focuses on fostering effective teamwork in primary care and supporting evidence-informed approaches to interprofessional learning.

The Teaching Consultant is responsible for supporting and enhancing teaching and learning within the Faculty of Medicine. This role involves coordinating and delivering educational development programs, workshops, and seminars for faculty and learners, as well as providing guidance on effective teaching practices. The consultant also oversees initiatives aimed at improving teaching skills across the faculty.

The CQI project manager leads projects and initiatives focused on postgraduate and continuing education, supporting continuous quality improvement in curriculum development and healthcare delivery. Brings extensive experience in program evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and research, with a proven ability to align projects with evolving academic, accreditation, and healthcare priorities.

The Research Associate supports the development of research, surveys, and evaluations for a wide range of OPED’s online and onsite programming. In addition, provides research support to faculty, students, and staff across various research projects.

The Education Specialist for Assessment supports medical education programs in developing and implementing effective assessment systems, with a primary focus on undergraduate medical education. This role provides professional support to the Student Assessment Subcommittee (SAS), offers consultation to faculty on best practices in assessment design and implementation, and contributes to research on measuring learner knowledge, achievement, and competency